This Week's New Releases

What the heck! How did it become August??? It's still incredibly hot here but my kids go back to school on Wednesday. Yes, this Wednesday, August 3rd. Crazy right?

Do you make to-do lists? I making book lists. Books to buy. Books to read. Books to review. Books I'm wishing for. I make other to-do lists too but those are work not fun.

Here are some books to add to your list!

Julie Cross made me a fan with her novel Letters to Nowhere. I have yet to read anything by Mark Perini so this should be interesting to see how they collaborate.

You Before Anyone Else
Julie Cross/Mark Perini
Young Adult/Contemporary

Model Finley needs someone to help her shed her "good girl" persona, so she'll try Eddie on for size.

New York City model Finley is fed up with hearing the same feedback at castings: she needs to take some serious action to wipe the "good girl" stamp from her resume if she wants to launch to stardom.

Enter Eddie Wells. He's shallow, predictable…and just as lost as Finley feels. Deep down, Finley is drawn to Eddie's bravado, his intensity. Except Eddie is hiding something. A big something. And when it surfaces, both loving and leaving Finley will become so much harder.

Lorelei James has written some sexy cowboy romances. She switches to a more urban setting with this series about the Lund siblings.

Just What I Needed
Lorelei James
Need You Series/Book 2
Contemporary Romance

Trinity Carlson might be having the worst day ever. And that was before she started drinking in a dive bar, right across from her ex and his new girlfriend. So when she finally decides enough is enough, she grabs hold of a hot, blond stranger and gives him the kiss of his life.

Walker Lund never expected that a chance at love would hit him right on the mouth. Since the moment his brother decided to settle down, Walker has been dodging his family’s hopes that he’ll do the same.  He’s never been interested in following in anyone’s footsteps. 

But when he discovers his sexy assailant has given him a fake name and number he suddenly finds himself in the mood for a little hot pursuit...

Colleen Hoover. Have I read anything by her I didn't like? Don't think so. :)

It Ends With Us
Colleen Hoover
Contemporary Romance

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

Book #26 in the series and I'm still enjoying it. There are similarity with the heroes and the snarky banter is always present but the series is still entertaining and the extensive character descriptions on Kenyon's website help immensely!

Dragonmark
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark-Hunter Series/Book 26
Paranormal Romance

Centuries ago, Illarion was betrayed– a dragon made human against his will, then forced to serve humanity as a dragonmount in their army, and to fight for them in barbaric wars, even while he hated everything about them. Enslaved and separated from everyone he knew and from his own dragon brothers, he was forced into exile in a fey realm where he lost the only thing he ever really loved.

Now he has a chance to regain what’s been lost— to have the one thing he covets most. But only if he gives up his brothers and forsakes the oaths he holds most dear. Yet what terrifies him most isn’t the cost his happiness might incur, it’s the fact that there is just enough human in his dragon’s heart that he might actually be willing to pay it and betray everything and everyone– to see the entire world burn...

I'm reading this right now and have been caught up in the story from the beginning. Watch for the review shortly.

A Promise of Fire
Amanda Bouchet
The Kingmaker Chronicles/Book 1
Fantasy

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her... even if that means falling in love with her. 

This Week's New Releases

Today is the longest day of the year, the Summer Solistic. Which means, if you enjoy reading outside, you had more daylight to enjoying your outside reading nook.  As the summer continues to heat up, you might have to seek the cool of the inside but that won't stop any of us from buying new books!

It looks like it's the week of the contemporary romance! Any historical releases this week? If you have any new releases not on the list, please mention them in comments. :)

I haven't read anything by Ms. Michaels but I do enjoy the second chance romance trope. I find I'm curious to see how this one works out.

Say You'll Stay
Corinne Michaels
Contemporary Romance

One word.
Stay.
It was all he had to do. Instead, he got on that bus and took my heart with him.

That was seventeen years ago.

I moved on. Marriage. Kids. White picket fence. Everything I ever wanted, but my husband betrayed me and I was left once again.

Alone, penniless, and with two boys, I had no choice but to return to Tennessee. He wasn’t supposed to be there. I should’ve been safe. However, fate has a way of stepping in.

This time around, the tables are turned. It’s my decision. Second chances do exist, but I don’t know if we can repair what’s already been broken . . .

I've read a couple of Ms. Sheridan's novels and have always intended to read more... it's that darn TBR pile, always getting in the way. I like the fact the hero is the one who goes through the change from "quiet, sensitive" to "gorgeous, powerful". And I'm curious to know what the heroine did to break his heart.

Ramsay
Mia Sheridan
Contemporary Romance

Lydia De Havilland is shocked when Brogan Ramsay suddenly reappears in her life. Several years before, Brogan was the son of her family's gardener, and the boy she hurt and betrayed. But Brogan is no longer the quiet, sensitive boy she remembers. Now he's a man—gorgeous, powerful . . . and seeking vengeance.

Brogan Ramsay can't let go of the memory of Lydia tricking him cruelly, leaving his heart shattered and his family penniless. And now he's back to destroy her family the way his was destroyed. There's only one problem . . . the girl who wounded him so badly years ago is now a woman who still has the power to render him breathless.

Ramsay is the story of betrayal and wrath, of the strength of regret and the power of forgiveness. It is the story of the thin veil between love and hate, and how more often than not, when we seek to inflict pain on others, the heart we wound is our own.

Let's just take a moment to enlarge the cover, (click on it), and bask in all that luscious ink!

Okay, come back and read the blurb. Sounds good, yes? I love starting over stories and this one looks like both the hero and heroine will be starting over but for different reasons.

Broken
Jordan Silver
Contemporary Romance

Kerryanne Lashley is trying hard to pick up the pieces of her life after suffering a horrible betrayal. Not only did her husband of ten years, her high school sweetheart the man she thought would be hers for a lifetime cheat on her, but he did it with her best friend.

Now she’s taken to hiding herself away in a ratty apartment, which is all she can afford these days.

Kyle Clancy wants out of the little nowhere postcard town as soon as possible. He hadn’t set foot in the place since he was a kid, and the only reason he’s here now is to try to talk his grandpa into moving to the big city since his grandma’s passing.

He had no more interest in a relationship of any kind than Kerryanne did, but one fateful encounter on a sidewalk in the early morning sun would soon set these two on a collision course with destiny.

Well, it wouldn't be a complete list without a book from a series I'm behind on. Although, technically I'm not behind on this series since it's a spin-off, and new adult, of Ms. James' Rough Riders series. Still, it reminds me I need to catch up on the series and add this one to my reading list.

Unbreak My Heart
Lorelei James
New Adult/Contemporary Romance

The right love is worth the wait.

Sierra

Seven years have passed since I fell for Boone West. The brooding bad boy. We were friends, even when I secretly wanted more, but I settled for what he offered. After he left Wyoming--and me--I grew up. Moved on. Or so I believed until he blew back into my life with the scorching force of an Arizona desert wind. 

I'm not that innocent sixteen-year-old girl anymore--I'm a businesswoman who swore never to settle again. But this older, wiser, version of Boone unsettles me. How am I supposed to resist his megawatt smile and his built-army-strong body? Especially when he's inserting himself into every aspect of my life? Now he's determined to prove he can offer me everything that he couldn't before--and he's the only man that can fix the heart that he broke.

Boone

Joining the army? Best decision I ever made. Even though it meant I had to leave her behind. Sierra McKay. The wide-eyed beauty, who saw more in me than I saw in myself. I didn't dare offer her anything more than friendship, because one kiss, one touch and I wouldn't have had the guts to go.

I've worked hard to become the man I am. I have a career. A purpose. After a chance encounter with the one woman I never forgot--I'm not leaving else to chance. Now that I've chased her across three states, I'm ready to demonstrate that the passion we couldn't act on before burns hotter than ever between us. And I'll use every weapon in my arsenal to show Sierra McKay that she's always been mine.

It's a friends-to-lovers, one of my favorite tropes. The blurb doesn't give much away but it does sound like a fun romp!

Man Candy
Melanie Harlow
Contemporary Romance

He’s back. 

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.

But I can't resist. 

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.

Review: Strong, Silent Type

Strong, Silent Type
Lorelei James
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rough Riders/Book 6.5 (novella)
Samhain/May 5, 2009

From the author's website ~

...Tough. Taciturn. And a fool for letting her go…

Wyoming rancher Quinn McKay thought he’d only have to bide time until his levelheaded wife came to her senses and called a halt to this “trial separation". He never believed the marital rough patch would drag on for a coon’s age.

Libby McKay knew when she married the gruff, laid-back cowboy that he wasn’t prone to blathering about his feelings. But three months have passed and her stubborn-as-a-mule husband is still living by himself in the horse trailer. It seems he’d rather hold onto his pride than hold onto her.

Quinn realizes Libby is determined to move on if he doesn’t loosen his tongue and he’ll lose the only woman he’s ever loved. In a last-ditch effort to keep her in his life, he offers her one weekend of uninterrupted sexual decadence.

Reigniting the passion is easy. The hard part comes after the sheets have cooled and they find out if what remains is strong enough to survive past mistakes.

Warning: Old-fashioned groveling leads to smokin' hot sexual encounters steamin'-up the truck windows, rockin' the horse trailer-proving even an old married dog can learn naughty new tricks.

Lorelei James' Rough Riders series is such a treat to read. It has that small town, close family feel while still delivering sexy, emotional relationships.

Strong, Silent Type is about an established couple, Quinn and Libby McKay. They grew up together and fell in love in their teens. It's 14 years later and they've been married for 9, but Quinn and Libby have come to a low point in their marriage. They've been going through some rough times and have drifted apart. Libby decides to shake things up by changing her looks but when asked what he thinks, Quinn tells her he liked the old Libby. Oh, boy. Wrong answer Quinn! Libby reaches the breaking point and kicks him out.

Libby is a librarian at the local school. She's likable in a sweet girl-next-door way. Libby decides to change what she considers her frumpy looks for a new, updated style. She hopes it will get some response from Quinn and possibly rejuvenate their marriage. Libby is desperate when she kicks Quinn out. It's a move she hopes will help Quinn see that their marriage is in need of help.

Quinn thinks Libby kicking him out is temporary and she'll come to her senses in a few days. Three months later... Quinn is at his wits end and finally stops waiting around for Libby to "come to her senses". Such an irritating phrase! But Quinn redeems himself in very creative way. I loved seeing him woo, romance and just down right sweep Libby off her feet. They have issues to work through but there is no doubt they are still deeply in love.

One of the differences between this story and the previous books, besides having an established couple, is that Quinn is not like his McKay cousins. He doesn't have a rep for being a hound dog with the women. In fact, Libby is the only woman he's ever been with. Which I thought was a nice change and so sweet. Libby and Quinn do find their way out of the downward spiral their marriage had taken. Even though this was a novella, they did talk about their problems while recreating the intimate bond they use to have. It would have been hard to believe they resolved anything had they simply had wild, crazy sex all weekend. Nice but still...

I do hope we see more of Libby and Quinn in future books. I enjoyed seeing what happens after the Happily Ever After. The reality that it's not always hearts and roses but relationships take work to keep them going.

Rating: B+

Books in this series ~

Long Hard Ride
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Cowgirl Up and Ride
Tied Up, Tied Down
Rough, Raw and Ready
Branded as Trouble
Strong, Silent Type
Shoulda Been a Cowboy
All Jacked Up
Raising Kane
Slow Ride (Free Novella)
Cowgirls Don't Cry

Favorite New Series of 2010

Whenever I read about a great new series or a series that everyone loves I'm tempted to pick it up but at the same time I know I shouldn't start a new one until I've caught up with the ones I'm currently reading. And then there's the series that I have sitting in my mountainous tbr pile, waiting for me to start ~ Hello Meljean Brook, Anne Bishop, Lois McMaster Bujold, Diana Gabaldon, Cindy Gerard, Kim Harrison, Eloisa James, Sabrina Jefferies and many more. But that didn't stop me from picking up some new series in 2010 which was good since I found some real gems. So, the tbr pile gets a little bigger but I have some wonderful auto buy authors and their reads to look forward to. New worlds to explore and new characters to love. So it's all good!

In no particular order, here are some outstanding series you really should be reading!

Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series. This is an amazing Young Adult series that has kept me completely enthralled in the mythical world Kagawa has created. I love reading about Megan, Puck and Ash. The next book, The Iron Daughter, is set for release on January 25th. You can go here to read the free novella, Winter's Passage.


Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamer series. Love, love, love this series! It's another Young Adult series that I initially picked up for my teen, who loves it too! Vincent knows how to put the reader on the edge of the seat, keeping tensions high while still writing about the ups and downs of teen relationships. Do yourself a favor and start reading this series if you haven't already. You can go here to download My Soul to Lose, the free prequel novella.


And lest you think it's all about the YA, nope. Cowboys are one of my favorite types of heroes and Lorelei James knows how to write hot, alpha cowboys! I finally started reading her Rough Riders series this year and let me tell you, it was about time. They are full of sugar and spice and all things hot and sexy. This is one erotic series where the relationships don't take a backseat to the sex. It's all rolled up into one steamy tale of cowboys and cowgals and their love for each other. Definitely a series I can easily recommend. Bonus - the covers are gorgeous!


Elizabeth Hoyt aka Julia Harper aka a favorite author in either genre. Ms. Hoyt started her Maiden Lane series this year with Wicked Intentions, a top ten read of mine. Only one book into the series and I have no doubt it will become one of my favorite historical series. You know it's a good sign when you finish a book and there are any number of secondary characters whose book you would love to read.


Is it any surprise that a Jill Shalvis series made the list? Nope. I love her writing and was thrilled to find out she's starting a new series, Lucky Harbor. It's a wonderful contemporary series about three sisters and their relationships with each other and with the men in their lives. Shalvis is an author not to be missed!


So what series stood out for you this year? Any that you now find yourself waiting in anticipation for the next installment? Any series that you think I need to start reading, like yesterday? Cause, hey, there's a good chance it's on my tbr pile. :)

Review: Tied Up, Tied Down

Tied Up, Tied Down
Lorelei James
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rough Riders/Book 4
Samhain/July 2008
Purchased

From the author's website ~

The strongest bonds are the ones unseen.

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy - and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk - wasn't in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone...

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he's the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in a plays house by her rules to prove he's a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar's insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as ta brush fire,, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she's leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren't a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her... forever?

Warning: this book contains: no holes barred kinky sex scenes, wicked rope play, blunt language, and yowzw! lots of hot cowboy nekkedness.

If I were single and the Rough Riders were real, I'd move to Sundance, Wyoming. How can you resist those cowboys and more specifically the McKay cowboys? Tied Up, Tied Down is the story of Kade and Skylar and how they must over come their past mistrust and misunderstandings and make a life together for themselves and their daughter.

Kade McKay has been out of touch for the past year. He was working an isolated section of the ranch, living there alone with little contact with the outside world. He certainly didn't keep up on the town gossip of Sundance. So when he comes back home he's in for a surprise that's as cute as can be. I loved the scene when Kade first meets Eliza. He is dumbstruck and awed by his little girl. Kade is ready to step up and do what he considers the right thing by Skylar and their child. He doesn't convince Skylar to marry him but he does get her to agree to them living together so he can help with the care of Eliza.

Skylar is not used to relying on anyone, she's more accustomed to people using her and walking away. So when she finds herself pregnant and the father is nowhere to be found, she does what she always does, and takes on motherhood alone. When the missing father turns up Skylar is worn out. She's been hard at work at her factory, getting her company up and running. She's also a single mom who is sorely in need of help. She's skeptical of Kade's offer of help but after seeing him with Eliza and his heartfelt desire to help, she takes him up on his offer. It's not a conventional arrangement, at this point their main connection is their daughter.

The arrangement is to live together and share responsibility of Eliza who is still waking up during the night. I can't blame Skylar for accepting Kade's offer of help. She's working 24/7 with some assistance from her sister India but Skylar has a hard time accepting help. I do think part of her wants Kade not only in her daughter's life but in her own except she's not ready to admit that. Living in close proximity to a sexy cowboy whom she has strong feelings for leaves Skylar open to making their relationship more physical than what she had intended. As usual James' sex scenes are smoking hot with both Kade and Skylar showing their vulnerabilities. Kade gets quite imaginative in the bedroom, he even has a secret pirate/wench fantasy. LOL Not only did I find this to be an emotionally fulfilling read but it had that humor that I have come to expect from this series.

We do get to catch up with some of the other McKays that live and work in and around Sundance. It's always fun to see previous heroes/heroines and find out what has been happening with them since there HEA. There is also a developing relationship between Skylar's sister India and Kade's cousin Colt. I like the way the different secondary characters are woven into the main story, adding to the plot but never taking over the spotlight.

I'm nearly at the half-way point in this series and it's still going strong for me. It's labeled as erotic romance and it does have some very steamy, very sensual sex scenes but the building of the relationships is also well written. I'll keep reading this series as long as James keeps writing it!

Rating: B+

Reviews for Books 1-3

Long Hard Ride
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Cowgirl Up and Ride

Best of 2010 - So Far...

The reading for the first half of 2010 has been up and down. Some great reads that I know will stay with me for a long time while others will fade from my memory, if they haven't already.

I got out the spreadsheet, sorted by grade and looked over all the A grades. There were 27 A grades with only one A+. Fourteen As and twelve A-s. I decided to pick 5 8 to spotlight of the Best So Far. I picked the ones that really stood out for me and are still stuck in my head. Titles are linked to my review.

Here they are in no particular order ~


Silver Borne by Patrica Briggs

One of my top 5 favorite Urban Fantasy series. I love the world that Briggs has created. The characters are so vivid for me. The phrase "they come alive" really applies to this series.


My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

An excellent Young Adult series that continues to give the reader great character development and story lines. If you are looking for a new YA series, give this one a try.


A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh

Ah, my love for Balogh's writing goes way back, twenty years or so. She delivers such beautiful characters with intriguing stories and A Matter of Class was no exception.


Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair

This is the second book in the Dock Five series as well as the second book about Sully and Chaz. I liked Gabriel's Ghost(book 1) a whole bunch but I liked Shades a bit more. Amazing characters, fascinating setting.


Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James

Oh, boy! So damn happy to have finally started this series. I've enjoyed all the books but this one stands out as being such a funny and emotional read. Loved AJ and Cord!


The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas

This was a re-read of Jodi Thomas, another author who I read years ago. She can write some wonderful westerns with unique characters that you wouldn't expect to find in a historical romance.


Roadkill by Rob Thurman

Another top 5 Urban Fantasy series. This is UF and there is a lot of action but Thurman can write relationships like nobodys business. She is truly a gifted author and you're missing out if you're not reading this series.


Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu

Liu's writing is the type that pulls you into the world she's created and makes you to feel what her characters are feeling, whether you want to or not. A dark, gritty series with equal parts action and emotion. I love Maxine's boys. :)


I know I said 5 then changed it to 8 but I had to include the following 2 because they were very good and I would certainly recommend them. And that makes it a top 10 list and isn't that what people usually do? :)

I'll have the review for The Iron Daughter up next week. The review for Chimera is a buddy review with Nath that will be posted at Breezing Through. Titles are linked to the author's website.

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa ~ A+

You can tell from the grade why I included this in the list. Lets just say I had some serious love for this book. It blew me away with its intensity. Definitely one to read.




Chimera by Rob Thurman ~ A

Another brother/brother story, focused on their relationship but different enough from her Cal Leandros series to make it stand apart.








An overwhelming majority of Fantasy. I did read some good contemporaries but it looks like for now at least, my heart belongs to the Fantasy genre. Here's hoping the second half of the year brings us all some great reads!

June Reads...

June is gone but where the heck did it go? Last month's reading got off to a slow start for me. The family vacation to Disneyland and California Adventure cut into my reading time. I did some reading on the drive there and back but while we were there most of my down time was spent sleeping on the non-sleep number bed or complaining about my aching feet. :) (Yes, I missed my sleep number bed. *sob* Loves that bed!)

No DNFs this month that I remember. I did have one in May. (missed posting the May reads) It was an erotic romance. The heroes were aliens and their hair came alive, among other things. And since it's erotic, the hair got really friendly with the heroine. ICK! I had other problems with the book like the old alien forced seduction. Luckily, I don't have too many DNFs and I think it's due to the fact that the majority of books I read are either from favorite authors or because of good reviews from you guys. :)

The final count is 11 books read. Not bad but I hope to read more of my personal and library TBR piles this month. Yep, I even have a library TBR pile. The city library allows 99 renewals so as long as no one requests the book, I keep renewing, having faith that I'll get to it. :)

I'll also get my challenges read for this month. *shakes fist in air* I totally flaked on every single one last month so I plan to start early, like this weekend. :D

Countdown/Michelle Maddox/Futuristic/B+
The Making of a Duchess/Shana Galen/Historical/B-
I'm Watching You/Karen Rose/Romantic Suspense/B+
Tied Up, Tied Down/Lorelei James/Erotic Romance/Review to follow
Kiss Me If You Can/Carly Phillips/Contemporary/B+
Beyond the Night/Joss Ware/PNR/B
The Iron Daughter/Julie Kagawa/YA/Review to follow
Beauty's Beasts/Teal Ceagh/Erotic Romance/B+
Embrace the Night Eternal/Joss Ware/PNR/B
Chimera/Rob Thurman/SCIFI/Review to follow
Criminal Instinct/Kelly Lynn Parra/Romantic Suspense/Review to follow

The breakdown ~

Contemporary ~ 1
Erotic ~ 2
Futuristic ~ 1
Historical ~ 1
PNR ~ 2
Romantic Suspense ~ 2
SCIFI ~ 1
YA ~ 1

The reading was definitely mixed - a little here, a little there. I suppose the Futuristic, PNR and SCIFI could all be lumped together but there's really no stand out genre. I think it all has to do with mood. I'm a very moody reader. ;)

Review: Cowgirl Up and Ride

Cowgirl Up and Ride
Lorelei James
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rough Riders/Book 3
Samhain/Purchased

From the author's website ~

Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for her dream cowboy Cord McKay to see her as more than the neighbor girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she’s pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leather—straight for his libido.

Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off all women…until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride bareback—and he realizes she doesn’t mean horses or bulls. Between his responsibilities running his massive ranch, missing his young son and dealing with the sexual shenanigans of his brother and cousins, Cord is more than willing to take AJ up on her offer. On a trial basis.

The fun and games tie them both up in knots. AJ isn’t willing to settle for less than the whole shootin’ match with her western knight. But for Cord, even though the sexy cowgirl sets his blood ablaze, he’s determined to resist her efforts to lasso his battered heart.

Sweet, determined AJ has the power to heal—or heel—the gruff cowboy…unless Cord’s pride keeps him from admitting their relationship is more than a simple roll in the hay.

Warning: This book contains: raunchy sex scenes that'll work you into a lather faster than a winded horse, graphic language, resourceful use of baling twine, ménage à quatage, and yippee! hot nekkid lovin'.

This book had me laughing so much. AJ has a dry, wicked sense of humor. She uses it sparingly, striking when least expected for more impact. God, she was funny! And sad too. My heart broke for her. She loved Cord so much! From the age of five when he "rescued" her, he was AJ's knight in shining armor. Then when she got close to him and got to know him, not just sexually but simply hanging out, that's when she fell in love with the man, not the hero of her memory. This was truly a beautiful love story.

The glimpse of AJ, aka Amy Jo, that we got in Long Hard Ride (book 1) was of a shy, young woman still in her teens with a goody-goody reputation. The AJ we meet now has grown up and is more sure of herself and the new direction her life is taking. She is ready to go for what she wants and what she wants is Cord McKay. She's loved him for years but he's only seen her as a little girl or his younger sister's best friend. Or more recently, his babysitter for his young son. He's never seen her through the eyes of a man looking at an attractive woman. AJ plans to change that and make Cord see the woman she has become. AJ still had this vulnerable side, complete with insecurities, but she went for it even though she was afraid of being hurt. I was surprised at how much I liked AJ. She didn't leave much of an impression on me prior to this book. She wasn't a character I was looking forward to reading about like India or Skylar, but she left a distinct impression on me as I read reading her and Cord's story.

Cord McKay is the oldest of the McKay brood and he has very typical eldest child characteristics. He's responsible and puts family first. His dedication to the ranch and his son are what make him such a great guy. They're what also make him so hard to get close to. He has an ex-wife that left him less than eager to get into anything serious and he has a young son to raise. But right now his son is spending a few months with Cord's ex and Cord is all alone in his big house and missing his son terribly. He's desperate enough to meet his brother Colt at the local bar. While waiting he spies a sexy woman on the dance floor with legs that go on forever. Imagine Cord's shock when he finds out it little Amy Jo Foster!

Cord had such a battle going on inside his poor, confused brain. LOL He still thought of AJ as his little sister's friend while his eyes were telling him she was all grown up and hot as hell! There is an age difference - thirteen years. But AJ is a very mature 22. She knows what she wants and is aware of the consequences of her actions. Cord, he had a hard time letting go of the age difference. AJ is the one that propositioned Cord to teach her about sex. The arrangement was to last only until Cord's son Kyle, got home - 7 weeks. It was also to be kept secret. Too many nosy family members around that might not approve.

AJ was happy to just have Cord and tried to convince herself that if all she got of him was a few weeks, then she'd take it. Cord thought that AJ wouldn't want an old cowboy like him for anything permanent. I loved the way James had these two getting to know each other on a totally different level than they previously had. They had known each other all of AJ's life, had been neighbors but this was very different. They took care of each other after a long day of work and saw to each others needs in and out of the bedroom. You really did get to see them fall in love. They really made a great couple!

There are also a couple of secondary story lines going with Cord's brother Colt and the McKay cousins, Kade and Kane. These cowboys are out of control and it takes a tragedy to get them to see how screwed up their lives are. I like the way the families interact with their joking, teasing and looking out for each other. There is definitely a sense of community running through this series.

There are also a lot of laughs in Cowgirl Up and Ride. I already mentioned AJ's sense of humor. And there is a bachelorette party that AJ attends along with many of the other women in town. I laughed so hard at the bachelorette party scenes. It was girls gone wild - young and old. Lighted penises! Need I say more? :)

James does an amazing job balancing the sexy, the funny and the emotional into a beautiful and entertaining love story. She makes these character, who could end up feeling very similar, all feel very different and unique. Each with their own faults and weaknesses. Each overcoming and dealing with whatever life throws at them while falling in love. Seriously love this series!

Rating: A

Reviw: Rode Hard, Put Up Wet

Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Lorelei James
Erotic Contemporary Romance/Western
Rough Riders series/Book 2
Samhain/October 2007
Purchased

From the publishers website ~

Workin’ up a hot, sticky sweat is pure pleasure with a hard-ridin’ cowboy…or two.

Struggling stock contractor Gemma Jansen swallows her pride and tracks down circuit rider Cash Big Crow to offer him a job managing her ranch. Cash agrees on one condition: theirs won’t be strictly a working relationship. She’s the boss during the day, but once she’s corralled in the bedroom, Cash calls the shots. Despite concerns about their age difference, Gemma consents.

Cash suspects the sexy widow hides an untapped wild streak. He intends to loosen her tightly held reins of control—even if he has to break out his horsewhip to do it.

But Cash is in for a surprise. Gemma proves a rough and ready participant in any leather-n-lace game Cash dreams up.

Between riding herd on his wayward daughter, Macie, and rowdy cowboy Carter McKay doggin’ Macie’s every boot step, Cash struggles to hide his true feelings for Gemma – except this time, Gemma’s grabbed the bull by the horns and she’s playing for keeps.

Summer’s going to be a hot one at the Bar 9.

And Samhain's Unique Warning:

Warning: this book contains: explicit sex nine ways ‘til Sunday – including ménage a trois, inventive use of ropes, naughty girls getting spanked, stubborn men getting hog-tied, graphic language and whoo-wee! hot nekkid cowboy action.

This time we get two stories for the price of one. A May/December romance with an older woman and younger man. The second romance is with a cowboy turned artist and the daughter of the man in the May/December romance. This was a fun and at times emotional read. All four characters have baggage, lots of baggage. James doesn't downplay the importance of past loves and past experiences.

Gemma Jansen is a cowgirl through and through. She may be 48 years old but ranching is in her blood and she can't imagine doing anything else. The problem is that ever since her husband Steve died she's had to do it alone. Unfortunately it's proved to be too much for her to handle alone. She's also had some problems with the rodeo circuit and the reps not wanting her cattle. All of this had led Gemma to offer Cash Big Crow a job. Cash could use the work but he wants more than just money in payment. He's wanted Gemma for a long time and this is his chance to have her. Sneaky bastard. :)

Cash has been working the rodeo circuit for years. That's were he met Gemma. He's retired from rodeo but not from ranching. He doesn't have a real home, moving around where the jobs take him. You get the feeling he's not certain what he'd do with a permanent place to come home to. He's also trying to reconnect with his adult daughter, Macie. She was raised by her mother and only saw Cash sporadically over the years. They both want this second chance at a relationship so when Cash accepts Gemma's job offer, he brings Macie with to Gemma's.

Macie hasn't had an easy life. She's learned to rely on herself. It's easier that way and less disappointing. She's not afraid of hard work and gets a job right off when she gets to Gemma's. She meets Carter McKay, an artist who also works at Gemma's ranch. Carter comes from a rodeo family but he never had the desire to get thrown off broncs or bulls. Carter is immediately attracted to Macie and Macie appreciates Carter's sexy, good looks. They have to remember to watch out for Macie's dad, Cash. He's not crazy about the two spending so much time together but there's not much he can do since Macie is an adult.

Carter is a brilliant artist but his also self-centered. He uses Macie as his inspiration and can't see what he has in her past what she means to his art. I liked Carter but there certainly were times when I thought he was a real ass. Macie is such a special human being and Carter doesn't cherish what she offers him.

I liked both of these couples but for different reasons. If had to pick a favorite it would, hands down, be Gemma and Cash. There was such love and tenderness in Cash for Gemma. He got past her hang up with their age difference. Cash is ten years younger than Gemma. And Gemma was stubborn enough to get through to Cash and help him realize he did deserve happiness and that happiness was with Gemma. They fit so well together. Maybe it was because they were older and had suffered such deep losses. With Carter and Macie there was definitely immaturity on Carter's part and some on Macie's too. They were a sweet couple but Gemma and Cash's relationship seemed to go much deeper.

And since this is an erotic romance, yes there was very steamy, smoking hot sex scenes. Boy-howdy! Take the warning above to heart. James writes with vivid details and an even more vivid imagination. It's not all wham bam thank you ma'am. There's tenderness, caring, need and desire. These men and women strive to fulfill their lover's fantasies. It's all about the giving and receiving. :)

Ms. James has written 8 full length novels and one novella in the Rough Riders series along with a number of other hot cowboy erotica. She is also the author of the Julie Collins Mysteries and the new Mercy Gunderson Mysteries. Both written under the name of Lori Armstrong.

Rating: A-

Long Hard Ride (Rough Riders series, book 1)

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: Long Hard Ride

Long Hard Ride
Lorelei James
Erotic Contemporary Romance/Western
Rough Riders series/Book 1
Samhain/May 2007
Purchased

From the author's website ~

One lucky woman…three sexy cowboys…she’s in for the ride of her life!..

Channing Kinkaid itches for a change; a wild western adventure with an untamed man. Determined to shed her inhibitions and embrace the steamier, seamier side of life, she sets her sights on hooking up with a real chaps-and-spurs-wearing cowboy.

Enter Colby McKay—bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper. From the moment he sets lust-filled eyes on the sweet and fiery Channing, he knows he’s found the woman who’s up to the challenge of cutting loose. What rough and rowdy cowboy could resist a no-holds-barred sexual romp with a sassy young thing starring as his personal buckle bunny?

Intrigued by Channing’s bold proposition of horsing around on the road, Colby impulsively sweetens the deal; sexual escapades not only in his bed, but in the bedrolls of his rodeo traveling partners, Trevor and Edgard.

Although Channing’s secretly longed to be the sole focus of more than one man’s passions, Colby’s demand for complete submission behind closed doors will test her willful nature.

Can Channing give up total control? Especially when not all is as it seems with the sexy trio? Or will the cowboys have to break out the bullropes and piggin' string to break in this headstrong filly?

I always get a kick out of the warnings on Samhain books. Here's the one for Long Hard Ride.

Warning: This title contains the following: lots of explicit sex, going strong long after the cows come home, graphic language that’d make your mama blush, light bondage with bullropes, ménage a trois, and – yee-haw! – hot nekkid cowboy man-love.

This is my first ebook purchase for my new nook™. I've been wanting to try Ms. James' Rough Rider series for some time now. So when I won the nook™ from the ladies at The Book Binge and Barnes & Noble, I knew it would be the first ebook I purchased. Believe me, it was a good ride!

Channing Kinkaid has taken a break from her real life and ventured into a completely new world. The world of the rodeo. Cowboys, horses, bulls and spurs are giving Channing the new experiences she's longing for. Not all of her choices are good ones. Choosing to follow the circuit with Jared the loser cowboy turned out to be a bad choice. Channing dumps Jared the loser cowboy and takes Colby McKay up on his offer to ride along with him and his two rodeo travel partners, Trevor and Edgard. Since Channing is wanting new experiences, Colby is willing to give it to her. If she wants to ride along with the three cowboys, she has to agree to be with all three cowboys. Yee-haw!

It may sound like all that is going on is hot, naked sex and believe me, there is a lot of that. But there was also a story about people and how they react when society tries to dictate what they should be, should do, should feel. The characters are fully developed. James shows us their strengths and weaknesses and their beautiful flaws.

Colby McKay comes from a family of cowboys. Family is a big part of Colby's life. He grew up with four brothers and a sister. His parents are still a big part of his life along with his siblings and an assortment of cousins. Colby is a straight shooter. He tells Channing what he wants from her and what he plans to do to her. Colby is very much a dominant male. He's in charge in the bedroom or wherever the mood might carry him and Channing. There were moments when I felt that alpha-ness came on a little too strong but I never felt he would physically hurt Channing with his domination. There were other influences that spurred Colby's protectiveness towards Channing. I liked seeing how Colby worked through his changing feelings towards Channing.

Channing isn't a cowgirl but a city slicker from back east. She has decided to embrace the rodeo lifestyle if only for a little while. I loved how she was so determined to experience this adventure. She wanted to make memories to take with her when she goes back to her "real" life. Some might say Channing is a loose woman for agreeing to sleep with three men and they might be right. I guess it just depends on your definition of loose. I didn't think of her that way. It's like she wanted to take this period in her life to be someone else. Someone who blurred those lines of traditional values and sometimes, just erased them. Whatever the people of the rodeo circuit thought of her, she had a kind heart and a love of life. Channing was an easy woman to like whom I felt such empathy for. She grew up with such structure that it was suffocating her. This was her one rebellion, her one chance to really experience life and I'm so glad she took it!

Colby's two rodeo pals, Trevor and Edgar, give the story another dimension to what could have been a traditional romance. Channing develops relationships with not only Colby but also Trevor and Edgar. All three relationships are different. Different levels, different intensities. The most intense and deepest relationship was of course with Colby. They play the role of the "traditional" hero and heroine. Channing becomes friends fairly quickly with Trevor. Her friendship with Edgar came at a slower, more tentative pace. I enjoyed the friendships of these four people. The men had that closeness that comes from living and working together. That history influenced how they interacted with Channing. Channing, for her part, helped them to unravel their conflicting feelings and make some hard decisions that they might not have made without her as the catalyst.

Lorelei James writes some very hot, very erotic scenes. The balance between playfulness and seriousness is well written. There are some heavy emotions that are dealt with in the story but there is also fun and joy and friendships made. James shows her extensive knowledge of the life of the cowboy and what it's like to follow the rodeo circuit. I loved that western flavor of living on the road, the excitement of the rodeo and the hard work and hard play that's part of that life.

I've already read Rode Hard, Put Up Wet, book 2 in the Rough Riders series and have Cowgirl Up and Ride, book 3, waiting for me on my nook™. Yep, I'm totally hooked on these cowboys and cowgirls and James' Rough Rider series.

Rating: B+