ARC Review: Sunrise Point

Sunrise Point
Robyn Carr
Contemporary Romance
Virgin River/Book 19
Mira/April 24, 2012

Tom Cavanaugh may think he wants a traditional woman, but in Virgin River, the greatest tradition is falling in love unexpectedly....

Former marine Tom Cavanaugh’s come home to Virgin River, ready to take over his family’s apple orchard and settle down. He knows just what the perfect woman will be like: sweet, decent, maybe a little naive. The marrying kind.

Nothing like Nora Crane. So why can’t he keep his eyes off the striking single mother?

Nora may not have a formal education, but she graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. She’s been through tough times and she’ll do whatever it takes to support her family, including helping with harvest time at the Cavanaugh’s orchard. She’s always kept a single-minded focus on staying afloat...but suddenly her thoughts keep drifting back to rugged, opinionated Tom Cavanaugh.

Both Nora and Tom have their own ideas of what family means. But they’re about to prove each other completely wrong...

Hard to believe this is the nineteenth book (including novellas) in the series. The reason I started reading this series is still there - that close-knit, small town feel good sense I get when reading a Robyn Carr book. I love returning to Virgin River and catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones. Which is good since the romance between Nora and Tom was probably the weakest part of the the story.

Nora Crane knows what it means to be down and out. Landing in Virgin River was one of the best things to ever happen to her but it didn't come easy. Nora is a single mom who fell for the wrong guy. That wrong guy left her and her two girls with no means of support except for the kindness of the residents of Virgin River. Nora doesn't like to take handouts but she will gladly swallow her pride for her girls. Nora is a no-nonsense, hard worker who is very easy to like. Even after everything that's happened to her she still has a positive attitude.

Tom Cavanaugh loves apples. The orchard has been in his family for years and he knows everything there is to know about apples. I liked that Tom was happy to be taking over the family business instead of resentful that it fell to him. He and his grandmother, Maxie, run the family business and have a wonderful relationship. The problems I encountered with Tom were his inflexible ideas of what makes the perfect wife. Far too often I wanted to yell "she's right there Tom!" and point at Nora. But Tom thinks he's too smart, he knows what he wants and Nora and all her problems not to mentioned her kids, didn't fit his idea of perfect. Oh Tom, why do you have to be such a fool!

The romance begins as employer/employee relationship with Tom not wanting to hire Nora but getting pushed into it by his grandmother Maxie. I did like seeing how Tom's first impression of Nora changes as he sees beyond her small stature and lack of experience to her tenacious will to succeed. As Nora and Tom work together Tom begins to fall for Nora but still thinks she all wrong for him so he's looking elsewhere. Nora stays cool through it all and shows she's the mature one in the relationship.

The gangs all here! Once again we get to see many of the familiar faces of Virgin River. I loved catching up with Jack and Mel, Preacher and Paige. Then there's Luke and his friend Cooper, a new character who has future hero written all over him. So while the romance didn't thrill me, I was still happy to be back in Virgin River if only for a little while. Until next time...

Rating: C+

Virgin River Series

1. Virgin River
2. Shelter Mountain
3. Whispering Rock
4. A Virgin River Christmas
5. Second Chance Pass
6. Temptation Ridge
7. Paradise Valley
8. Under the Christmas Tree (novella in That Holiday Feeling)
9. Forbidden Falls
10. Angel's Peak
11. Moonlight Road
12. Midnight Confessions (novella in Midnight Kiss)
13. Promise Canyon
14. Wild Man Creek
15. Harvest Moon
16. Bring Me Home for Christmas
17. Hidden Summit
18. Redwood Bend
19. Sunrise Point
20. My Kind of Christmas (October 2012)

TBR Challenge Review: The Wild Marquis

The Wild Marquis
Miranda Neville
Historical Romance/England/1818
Burgundy Club/Book 1
Avon/March 9, 2010

The Marquis of Chase is not a reputable man.

He is notorious for his wretched morals and is never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms . . . though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers. Ejected from his father’s house at the age of sixteen, he now lives a life of wanton pleasure. So what could the Marquis of Chase possibly want with Juliana Merton, a lovely, perfectly upstanding shopkeeper with a mysterious past?

A moment’s indiscretion?

A night’s passion?

Or a lifetime of love?

Even the wildest rakes have their weaknesses...

Little history on how this book landed in my TBR pile. Last summer Romance Writers of America(RWA) held their annual conference in New York City. The wonderful Nath from Books, Books and more Books ventured across the border to join in the craziness that is RWA. After braving the insanity of the author signings, Nath was a sweetheart and sent me a box of delicious books she got at RWA. Hilcia from Impressions of a Reader was kind enough to add The Wild Marquis to the box. I love getting books but this was especially nice since it was from two of my favorite bloggers!

bib·li·o·ma·ni·a
   [bib-lee-oh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh] noun excessive fondness for acquiring and possessing books.

With a heroine who loves books it was easy to relate to Juliana Merton. Juliana grew up literally surrounded by books. Her guardian was a collector to the point of obsession. She gained her love of books early and it continued when she met and married Joseph Merton who owned a bookshop. After her husband is murdered Juliana takes over the shop but it isn't easy for a woman in trade. I did like Juliana, very much. She's smart and witty but practical when it comes to her position in society. Her reaction to the Marquis of Chase is realistic but he does bring out a romantic side of her, which I loved!

The Marquis of Chase has made a name for himself among the ton as being The Wild Marquis. He's not the type of man you would expect to have an interest in rare and collectible books which is why he needs Juliana's help. Cain is smart but he knows when to seek assistance. He's surprised when he finds J. C. Merton is a woman. But he's quick to see the potential in obtaining Juliana's help. Cain is an enigma of a hero. His background is shady but he is a titled lord of the realm. He enjoys allowing others to think he is nothing more than a rake but there is much more behind that rakish grin.

The plot centers around an auction of rare and collectible books, all from the same collector. As the days of the auction progress, Juliana and Cain spend more time together with both revealing little bits and pieces of their pasts. When Cain's family commitments encroach on their time, we see another side of both Cain and Juliana. Cain and Juliana must also deal with an unknown enemy who is after what they are not sure of. So there is a mystery to solve as well as the romance running throughout the story.

The look into the world of book collecting is fascinating. With the collectors bidding against each other, trying to determine who is after what and how to win against their rivals. It's a small, inclusive world and with Juliana's help Cain is able to fit right in. I really enjoyed solving the mystery of who was after Juliana and how she and Cain discovered her link to the auction's collection.

The romance is a fun one with Cain and Juliana far more similar than you would imagine. Juliana shares her love of books, teaching Cain about the various bindings, origins and histories while he shows Juliana that she is far better than she believes. She was a little too stubborn when it came to her feelings of inadequacy regarding her relationship with Cain going beyond a working relationship and into a more romantic, permanent one.

Overall this was a lovely romance with an absorbing mystery to solve. It was also my first Miranda Neville but will not be my last since I have the next two books in the series sitting not so patiently on the TBR pile.

Rating: B+

The Burgundy Club Series

The Wild Marquis
The Dangerous Visount
The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton
Confessions From an Arranged Marriage

Review: Facing It

Facing It
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Hearts of the South/Book 8
Samhain/April 7, 2009

Mired in a brutal marriage for far too long, Ruthie Chason takes her courage and her children in hand to flee the trap that has become her life. Yet she’s no fool. She knows he’ll come after her once he discovers she possesses criminal evidence that will put him away for good—and seal her deadly fate if he ever catches up with her.

Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Parker offers emotional refuge, a safe place to begin to reclaim her life…if she can let herself trust the strong, quiet cop that far. Chris surprises himself when he agrees to act as guardian for Ruthie and her children. He does it as a favor, then finds something about her calm strength soothes his battered soul. Now if only he can silence the demons from his past that make him cautious of falling too fast for any woman.

I just can't seem to keep myself away from this series! This time it's the quiet deputy Chris Parker along with his police dog Hound who fall for the abused sister of Chris' friend and boss. Ruthie and her kids run home after escaping the man who controlled their lives. In Facing It Winfree examines domestic violence and does it in a way that is different but keeps the characters real.

For years Ruthie has been planning and hoping for the opportunity to escape her abusive, controlling husband. When she does, she heads home to Georgia and her family. Her brother, Tick Calvert, is with the local law enforcement and is more than willing to help Ruthie and her kids. I liked how Winfree shows Ruthie's fears and how she must overcome those fears not only for herself but for her kids.

Chris Parker has been a character in this series for some time now but we don't know much about him. Neither do his coworkers. They know he's a good cop and an all-around good guy but know very little about his background. There are even rumors that he's gay. It's odd that in this small town where everyone seems to know everyone and everything about each other, little is know about Chris. Which made it all the more interesting to get to know him right along with Ruthie. Turns out he's not gay, Ruthie confirms that. :) He is a good guy who has some deep buried secrets not so different from Ruthie's.

Ruthie is of course hesitant to start any romance, she's still married and her husband isn't about to give her and their kids up easily. But she does begin to feel something for Chris. I think it had to do with Chris' own experiences which gave him an ability to read Ruthie better than most. I won't say I found their romance truly believable under the circumstances but the emotions were so strong it was easy to get swept up in their story.

There is a secondary romance that was pure bliss to read. Two FBI partners are trying to fight off their attraction for each other, all the while not realizing the feelings are mutual. I think I was just as invested in their story line as I was in Chris and Ruthie's. I wanted to know where this romance was going and how it was going to get there. Considering it wasn't the main romance, it still left a strong impression.

I've mentioned before that this is a family centered series and that is unmistakably felt here. Ruthie's family rallies around her and her children, giving them many shoulders to lean on. In the end it's Chris' shoulder Ruthie leans on and he ends up leaning on her.

Rating: B

Hearts of the South ~

Truth and Consequences
His Ordinary Life
Hold On to Me
Anything But Mine
Memories of Us
Hearts Awakened
Fall Into Me
Facing It
Uncovered

Review: Memories of Us

Memories of Us
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance
Hearts of the South/Book 5
Samhain/June 10, 2008

Beneath the lies is truth - and temptation that neither of them can resist.

Investigator Celia St. John is hopelessly attracted to the one man she shouldn't want, district attorney Tom McMillian. Arrogant and completely alpha, McMillian is the type of man she likes - a tough son of a bitch. The problem? He's her boss, and he's still hung up on his ex-wife.

Since his marriage to a law enforcement agent failed after the death of his infant son, Tom has avoided emotional involvement with any woman. Despite his attraction to Celia, he refuses to get involved with another cop.

Their no-strings affair quickly becomes a tangled web of intrigue as they investigate an illegal baby adoption ring and more than one murder, one of which points to Tom as a suspect. The more they dig under the lies, the higher the risk, not only to their relationship, but their lives.

Yes, I'm moving right on through this series, the end is near which makes me sad. The last book published in the Hearts of the South series was released in July of 2009, since then there has been no sign of any more books to come. Which is sad because this is a very good romance series with the added feature of a small town setting and suspenseful plots.

Celia St. John is a top investigator for the District Attorney's office. She is smart, professional and she's also fallen for her boss. He's clueless. hehe. Celia does know about Tom McMillin's past and the feelings he still has for his ex-wife. But that doesn't stop Celia from going for what she wants. Thankfully she wasn't a wimpy, crying heroine. Celia is tough when it comes to doing her job and that strength comes through in her pursuit of Tom.

Tom McMillian is a District Attorney with a reputation for not backing down. It took me a long time to warm up to Tom. His fixation on his ex-wife really bothered me. He admits their marriage was over years before the divorce and yet he comes across at being obsessed with her. She's moved on with a new husband and baby on the way so it's not as if Tom has a chance of getting her back. Then when he does get over her it's "BOOM", hey it doesn't hurt to see her anymore. It felt as it his letting go was forced to make way for Celia.

Celia and Tom do get it on with the caveat that it's only casual, no strings attached. And they won't let it affect their working relationship. Yeah, we all know how that's going to play out. LOL Tom and Celia make their fantasies come to life. The scenes are classy and sexy with a wildness to them. Loved it!

The mystery surrounding the murder and the possible illegal adoption ring is a strong emotional part of the story. Winfree doesn't sugarcoat the facts of the violence involved in the murder, it's brutal. I did enjoy seeing how the DAs office interacts with the local police force as well as catching up with previous heroes and heroines of the series. The books are family centered whether it be biological family or work family, they all pull together and are there for each other. I really appreciate how well those elements factor into the series.

Even with my slow warm-up to Tom, I was easily pulled back into this small Georgia setting and the characters that populate it. Even if there are to be no more books in this series, I have no doubt I will be re-reading and revisiting these characters in the future.

Rating: B+

Hearts of the South ~

Truth and Consequences
His Ordinary Life
Hold On to Me
Anything But Mine
Memories of Us
Hearts Awakened
Fall Into Me
Facing It
Uncovered

Review: A Week to Be Wicked

A Week to be Wicked
Tessa Dare
Historical Romance/England/1814
Spindle Cove/Book 2
Avon/March 27, 2012

When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin…Time is not on their side.

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove’s confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be…anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to

• fake an elopement
• convince family and friends they’re in “love”
• outrun armed robbers
• survive their worst nightmares
• travel four hundred miles without killing each other

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

What they don’t have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.

Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . love.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series and the novella, to say that I was looking forward to A Week to be Wicked would be an understatement! Hats off to Ms. Dare. Colin and Minerva's story was totally worth the wait!

Minerva Highwood has a habit of fading into the shadows of her beautiful sister Diana. Minerva is rather bookish and prefers the attention of others diverted elsewhere except when it comes to the very rakish Lord Payne. Minerva doesn't want his attentions anywhere near her sister and she's determined to make it so. This sets off a chain of events that even the intelligent Minerva could not have foreseen. She is wonderful in her loyalty to her family and her exuberance for her love of rocks. I found Minerva to be an amusing heroine with plenty of depth hidden behind her glasses and her books. Her curiosity is endearing, whether it be about fossils or Colin's body. She is easy to relate to which can be a challenge when you're talking about a character from nearly 200 years ago.

Colin Sandhurst comes off as a typical rake of the time period. He loves women, flirts shamelessly and doesn't deny it. In walks Minerva into Colin's depraved lifestyle and turns it upside down. Colin has dark childhood memories driving him in his life. He plays at the indulgent lifestyle but doesn't truly engage in life. In a way he stays on the outside, much like Minerva. As Colin and Minerva's road trip progresses we get to see Colin become more than the rake he plays so well and become a man worthy of Minerva. I loved how Dare showed us Colin coming out of his shell and being who he was meant to be. Dare also does well showing how Minerva's influence on Colin not only affected him, but also affected her. She began to see the power she had on him.

The romance is a road trip romance, which I love! It's a journey for Minerva and Colin not only in the physical sense but it became an emotional awakening for both of them. They take on different roles to suit each situation they find themselves in. This gives them a chance to explore what they want to be. I loved how Dare gave Minerva and Colin room to grow and make mistakes along the way. I would say this is a romantic comedy with Minerva and Colin trading barbs with underlying tenderness. The dialogue is sharp and witty. I lost track of the times I laughed out loud at their antics.

A Week to Be Wicked was pure pleasure to read. It can be read as a stand-alone, Dare does well filling in the various characters back story. But I would highly recommend this series.

Rating: A

Spindle Cove Series ~

A Night to Surrender
Once Upon a Winter's Eve (novella)
A Week to be Wicked
A Lady by Midnight (August 28, 2012)

Review: Risk No Secrets

Risk No Secrets
Cindy Gerard
Romantic Suspense
Black Ops Inc/Book 5
Pocket Books/May 18, 2010

A deadly international mission reunites a sexy Black Ops, Inc. hero and his sizzling former love in Cindy Gerard's seductive romantic thriller.

A red-hot attraction...
Twelve years of chasing bad guys didn't erase beautiful Sophie Baylor from Wyatt Savage's memory. If he had another chance, he'd never let her leave. So when she tracks him down from El Salvador and begs for help, he doesn't ask questions -- he just goes.

Starts with a terrifying threat...
Sophie is grateful her daughter survived a kidnapping attempt, but she won't forgive herself until the girl who was mistakenly abducted is safe. Wyatt is the only man brave enough to take on the mysterious terrorists behind the crime; and the one irresistible man she wishes she had never let go.

...and unleashes an unforgettable adventure
Sophie knows Central America's steamy jungles and sticky politics better than anyone. Yet she refuses to hide in fear. Then she becomes the enemy's number-one target. Wyatt lost her once, and he won't lose her again -- even if he has to fight, kill, or die to save her.

Moving right along in this series. I did read the previous book, Feel the Heat but for some reason didn't review it. Probably because it was my least favorite in this series. The good news is, Risk No Secrets is a winner! It's a second chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. Gerard played it out beautifully with both Wyatt and Sophie showing maturity regarding their feeling and the stressful situations they find themselves in.

Wyatt Savage is reevaluating his life. He's taking a break from his high stress job as an operative for Black Ops Inc, and spending some time at his parents home in Georgia. In his words he's feeling "Battle-weary. Bone-weary. Soul-weary." I like that Gerard addresses the fact that these warriors do burn out and get to the point where they have to be realistic in their abilities. How the job not only affects their physical health but their mental and emotional health. Wyatt is smart enough to realize that while he's still in top form, he can't continue in his line of work indefinitely.

Sophie Baylor has made a life for herself and her daughter in El Salvador but it's not without it's dangers. Kidnapping is a very real fear in a country where it is becoming commonplace. When the kidnappers strike close to home, Sophie turns to Wyatt for help. After twelves years and Sophie calls Wyatt tells you something about how deep her feels for him were and still are. The fact that Wyatt doesn't hesitates to help Sophie tells you how deep his feelings still are. It's much more than friendship on both their parts whether they want to admit it or not. Sophie tends to be more cautious when it comes to her feelings for Wyatt. I didn't really get why since she is divorced so there's no reason to hold her back.

Wyatt and Sophie do have a history and Gerard shows us some of it in flashbacks. I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fan of flashbacks but these were fairly short and showed how a young Sophie and Wyatt had the beginnings of a romance before someone else came between them. The present situation doesn't allow much time for romantic interludes but Gerard made the romance work, allowing enough time for Sophie and Wyatt to get reacquainted and realize they both still had feelings beyond friendship for each other. The tenderness Wyatt shows for Sophie really came off as genuine making it easy to see why she fell for him.

One of the strengths of this series is the "band of brothers" feel each story has. The guys are there for each other, they don't let their brothers go it alone. I really like that Gerard continues this aspect of the series, it strengthens the values each of the men places on their team. The developing romance is still front and center, enhanced by the company of the men.

Risk No Secrets is another winner in the Black Ops Inc. series. There's only a few more heroes left and while I look forward to reading their stories, I know I'll miss these heroic men.

Rating: B+

Black Ops Series ~

Show No Mercy
Take No Prisoners
Whisper No Lies
Feel the Heat
Risk No Secrets
Leave No Trace (novella in Deadly Promise anthology)
With No Remorse
Last Man Standing

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)

Review: Hearts Awakened

Hearts Awakened
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance
Hearts of the South/Book 6
Samhain/September 2, 2008

It’s not the past that wounds us…it’s the ghosts we hold on to.

A lifetime ago Mark Cook’s pregnant wife vanished, taking everything and leaving an empty, aching hole in his life. Since then, as penance for his failure as a husband and father, he’s refused to allow himself to live. Refused to lay his sleeping heart on the line for any woman.

Enter Tori Calvert, his best friend’s baby sister. Suddenly, against his will—and against his better judgment—that same damaged heart seems determined to reawaken. And Mark’s not sure he can withstand the pain.

When she was a teenager, a vicious attack ripped away Tori’s very essence as a woman. Finally she feels ready to focus her existence on something other than her job as a rape crisis counselor. And to step outside the shelter of her loving, protective family. She trusts Mark more than any man, yet fear holds her back.

Fear that even the healing light of love may not be enough to banish the shadows of the past.

Mark and Tori - two people hiding from their pasts. This was such an emotional story. Winfree knows how to show the pain of loss and the long lasting effects that loss has a someone. What surprised me was what a good feeling the story left me with, even with the very difficult themes Winfree took on.

Tori Calvert runs the local women's crisis center where she helps women deal with domestic violence, having suffered the horrendous violation of rape when she was a teen. It's been years but the damage the rape inflicted on Tori still controls her. She has tried dating but after the last guy she dated turned out to be a horrible mistake, she now questions her judgement when it comes to men. The exception being Mark Cook, her brother Tick's coworker and good friend. Tori has had feelings for Mark for quite some time but doesn't feel comfortable action on them. I loved how Tori is portrayed as a woman who has overcome much of her past but realistically it's still there and has shaped her life. She's a very strong heroine who understandably still has a vulnerable side when it comes to men.

Mark Cook, aka Cookie, has been a cop for nearly 20 years. He's a nice guy, a guy everyone likes but he doesn't talk about his past. He's very good at keeping up a facade of this easy going, ladies man when the reality is Mark is trying to keep any deeper feeling buried. So he dates women he knows he won't form any long-term attachment to. Then there's Tori. The way Mark fights his growing feelings for Tori really showed how much he's holding on to the past but there's a part of him that wants to start living for more than just his work. Winfree does a wonderful job in showing Mark's need to have more than just casual flings but he still has a fear of committing to a serious relationship.

Tori and Mark's romantic relationship develops out of growing friendship. Both are hesitant to explore the romance yet each has an almost desperate need for more than what they now have. I loved these two together! Their romance was believable in not only the obstacles they had to overcome but how they dealt with those problems. As they become closer they really start to "get" each other and that is so important when building any kind of relationship. I also loved how they looked out for each other long before the romance. They both lived in the same apartment complex and each kept an eye out for the other, with Mark looking out for Tori's safety and Tori watching to make sure Mark got home after his late nights. It was sweet!

A story in the Hearts of the South series could not be complete without having some well meaning, if a bit meddling, friends and family members involved. We get to catch up with past characters and see how both Mark and Tori look to others for advice and support. I really like this small southern community.

If I had any problems it was Tick's stubbornness when it came to Tori and Mark. It took him a long time to look beyond Mark's past string of flings to see the man he admired. Tick's overprotective nature with Tori began to wear thin. If it had been up to him, Tori would never have dated let alone had a serious relationship. Tori really should have stood up to Tick a lot sooner.

There are a roller coaster of emotions played out in Tori and Mark's story. The very difficult subjects of rape, abuse and loss of a loved one are all seen through these characters. The darker story line is tempered by the affable teasing of Mark and Tori's family and friends. Another well written addition to the Hearts of the South series.

Rating: A

Hearts of the South

Truth and Consequences
His Ordinary Life
Hold On to Me
Anything But Mine
Memories of Us
Hearts Awakened
Fall Into Me
Facing It
Uncovered

Cover Love: ICED by Karen Marie Moning

Karen Marie Moning posted the cover for her next release, ICED, on her Facebook page. She also included a quote from the book.

[Dani] I figure the folks that are the most interesting get to go to heaven. I mean, if I was God, that’s who I’d want there with me. I also figure being eternally happy would be eternally boring so I try not to be too interesting, even though it’s hard for me. I’d rather be a superhero in hell than an angel in heaven. What the feck would I do all day if I wasn’t kicking demon ass?

ICED is scheduled for release October 30, 2012. The full title is ICED: A Dani O'Malley Novel. Those of you who read the Fever series are familiar with Dani, who more or less disappeared at the end of Shadowfever. Now she's coming back and I find myself looking forward to reading more about Dani and what has happened to Dublin and the characters from the Fever series. I don't think anyone who read the Fever series is surprised with the spin-off series. There were still a lot of loose-ends at the end of Shadowfever. Now we get this new generation of heroines and heroes and I find I'm starting to really look forward to the release. I do hope we catch up with Mac and Barrons but keep Dani, Christian and Ryodan as the main focus. I've always liked Dani's character and after reading the teasers Ms. Moning has posted on her Facebook page, I'm excited to get back into the Fever world!

What about all of you? Do any of you plan to continue with the spin-off series?

ARC Review: Born to Darkness

Born to Darkness
Suzanne Brockmann
Futuristic Suspense
Fighting Destiny/Book 1
Ballantine/March 20, 2012

Dishonorably discharged, former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin is down to his last ten bucks when he finally finds work as a test subject at the Obermeyer Institute, a little-known and believed-to-be-fringe scientific research facility. When he enters the OI compound, he is plunged into a strange world where seemingly mild-mannered scientists--including women half his size--can kick his highly skilled ass.

Shane soon discovers that there are certain individuals who possess the unique ability to access untapped regions of the brain with extraordinary results-including telekinesis, super strength, and reversal of the aging process. Known as "Greater-Thans," this rare breed is recruited by OI, where they are rigorously trained using ancient techniques to cultivate their powers and wield them responsibly.

But in the depths of America's second Great Depression, where the divide between the haves and the have-nots has grown even wider, those who are rich--and reckless--enough have a quick, seductive alternative: Destiny, a highly addictive designer drug that can make anyone a Greater-Than, with the power of eternal youth. The sinister cartel known as The Organization has begun mass-producing Destiny, and the demand is growing. But few realize the drug's true danger, and fewer still know the dirty secret of Destiny's crucial ingredient.

Michelle "Mac" Mackenzie knows the ugly truth. And as one of the Obermeyer Institute's crack team of operatives, she's determined to end the scourge of Destiny. But her kick-ass attitude gets knocked for a loop when she discovers one of the new test subjects is the same smoldering stranger who just rocked her world in a one-night stand. And although Shane quickly discovers he isn't a Greater-Than like Mac, as an ex-SEAL, he's got talents of his own. But Mac's got powerful reasons to keep her distance from Shane-and reasons to want him close. She's used to risking her life, but now she faces sacrificing her heart in the ultimate war on drugs.

A long blurb for a long book. There is a lot going on in Suzanne Brockmann's new futuristic romantic suspense series. There are not one, not two but three romances taking place and while I didn't disliked all three couples, I never felt as though I knew any of them very well. There is also a lot of information to take in regarding the current status of the world and more specifically the Greater-Thans and the Less-Thans and the Obermeyer Institute's (OI) role in this new world.

First up we have Mac Mackenzie who is a very powerful Greater-Than. She hooks up with former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin one night in a bar. Mac has a hell of a lot of issues when it comes to men, not the least of is her ability to manipulate them to be attracted to her. She has some very cool powers but you definitely get the feeling she resents them. She doesn't believe a man could honestly be attracted to her but instead believes it must be her power to make them think they are. This makes it very difficult for Shane to get Mac to let him be more than anything but a casual sex partner.

Shane Laughlin thinks he got lucky when Mac picks him up in a bar. He sees her as this amazing woman surrounded by mystery which only makes him want to find out more about her. Shane is pretty much a what-you-see-is-what-you get type of guy. He puts his feelings out there for Mac and doesn't let her negativity deter him. While I liked him, I had a hard time seeing him with Mac. He was just too nice for her. In their relationship, Mac was the alpha and Shane was the beta. I wish it would have been more balanced.

The other two couples, who were not as center stage as Mac and Shane but very nearly so, didn't come as any surprised when they paired up. And if you're familiar with Brockmann's previous works it won't come as a surprised that one of the couples are two gay men. Brockmann is know for focusing on societal issues in her novels and she does so again in Born to Darkness but it's not as overt as some of her previous works.

The main problem I had with all three of the romances is that there wasn't enough time devoted to each individual couple to make me feel like I knew why they were together. The most believable of the three couples were the two men. They had know each other for years and had both been hiding their attraction so when they do confess their feelings, they simple expand on their friendship and become lovers. The other two couples developed their relationships during stressful situations which made it difficult to believe that the results would have been the same if the situations had been different.

There is a lot of information to take in. Brockmann gives extensive details as to how the OI works with the Greater-Thans and the Potentials to help them utilize their powers. It's a fascinating world but there was almost too much covered when you consider there were also the three romances and the fight against The Organization and their sinister plans. It is a dark and sometimes depressing landscape of a future that I'm still not sure what caused it. There didn't seem to be any one thing that brought this futuristic world to this point. There is mention of wars and stock market crashes but no one specific thing.

As for the various plots, there is a lot of jumping around that left me wishing more focused had been placed on only a few plots. I will say that I do like the world that Brockmann has created and the science behind it, I only wish it had offered a greater focal point and fewer romances.

Rating: C