Review: A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #5)

A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #5)

by Terry Spear

Blurb:

 There are all kinds of surprises under the mistletoe!

As a protector of all jaguar-kind, Guardian agent Demetria MacFarlane isn’t surprised to get a call near Christmas—but when she’s sent to protect a cub whose species she didn’t even know existed, her holiday season gets complicated. And it doesn’t help that her partner is a distraction of the hottest kind.

Hotshot JAG agent Everett Anderson can handle dangerous poachers and wildlife traffickers, no problem…but kids? Everett fears he’ll be stuck cub-sitting under the Christmas tree, but working with one sexy Guardian she-cat may be the best present he’s ever gotten.

Themes:  Jag-shifters, paranormal

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 I never thought I would see the day, but Terry Spear has managed to fully surprise me and brought together her two awesome series with a bang.  While I am a loyal fan of both her series, Heart of the Wolf and Heart of the Jaguar, I never thought she would actually bring the two series together, but I seriously enjoyed seeing the way it worked out.  This story revolves around the sexy as hell Jag-shifter Everett and the sweet and loving Guardian she-cat that has grabbed his heart and attention. Everett has been trying unsuccessfully to get Demetria to give him a chance as a male to make her own, but when they are paired together on a case he gets his chance.  Demetria doesn’t really think that Everett is the male for her, but when he comes after her, full-court-press, she finds it harder and harder to resist the sweet, sexy, and obviously loving male that he turns out to be.  Then the impossible happens and a wolf-shifter toddler—which to this point they believed to be pure fiction—brings these two jaguar-shifters together on a mission to get him back where he belongs with his family. Everett knows that he needs to convince Demetria how deep his feelings for her go, and when he has the chance, boy does he succeed.  I enjoyed getting to know him and seeing how he shows his love for the she-cat, even though I wondered at times if he would succeed.  Demetria is just a little bit stubborn, which being sometimes mule-headed myself I can fully appreciate.  However, she is the type of woman that fiercely protects those she loves as well as those around her that cannot protest themselves, which makes her the perfect woman for a male like Everett who longs for a family to complete his life. They are extremely compatible in all ways, including in the bedroom (*blushes*) and when they accept that fact and give in to their love Demetria and Everett find that a true and deep love can overcome any differences or obstacles.  I enjoyed seeing these two worlds cross and hope to see more of that in future books in either of the series.  I cannot wait to see more sexy cats and alpha wolves lose themselves to love and mating, and maybe we’ll even see a cross mating or two livening up these worlds (*hint, hint*).  The magic of the worlds Terry Spear has created only becomes more and more amazing and more and more complicated as the series progress and I cannot begin to imagine where her writing will take us next, but I can guarantee that I will be along for the ride as she takes us along with her.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Thanksgiving is one of the greatest traditions and a perfect excuse to get your family together and indulge yourself in an awesome meal.  I have my turkey thawing and all my sides planned out and I really can’t wait.  Food is definitely a very close second to my favorite hobbies.  With my mom still recovering from surgery and my family recovering from some seriously busy months, thanksgiving will be a nice break from all the cravenness of life.  Enjoy your time off and the family I hope you are able to surround yourself with.  

So I wish you all a wonderful and family filled Thanksgiving.  Whatever the holiday means to you—family, football, food, or rest--- I hope you get all you want and offer your thanks for it.  

In Honor of my first time doing thanksgiving, I want to share with you all, once again, my recipe for my favorite Thanksgiving Day dessert.  After all that rich, juice, and carbs filled thanksgiving dinner I go for something even richer and CHOCOLATY!

Nutella Chocolate Cake 

Yield: 8 inch cake

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Nutella Icing

1 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup Nutella hazelnut spread

4-5 cups powdered sugar

3-4 tbsp milk or water

Chocolate Ganache

6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. Prepare four 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides.

2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together.

3. Add eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix well.

4. Add vanilla to boiling water and add to mixture. Mix well.

5. Pour into four 8 inch cakes pans and bake at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs. I baked the cakes in two batches, two at a time, with about 1 1/2 cups of batter per pan.

6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.

7. Make icing while cakes cool. Beat together butter and shortening until smooth.

8. Add Nutella and mix until smooth.

9. Slowly add 4 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

10. Add 2-3 tbsp of milk or water and mix until smooth.

11. Add fifth cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

12. Add more water or milk until the right consistency.

13. Once cakes are cool, remove cake domes from top with a large serrated knife.

14. Place first layer of cake on cake plate. Pipe an even layer of icing onto cake.

15. Add second layer of cake and pipe another even layer of icing on top.

16. Add third layer of cake on top and pipe another even layer of icing on top.

17. Top icing with fourth layer of cake.

18. Place chocolate chips in a metal bowl.

19. Microwave heavy cream until it starts to boil. Remove from microwave and pour over chocolate chips.

20. Cover bowl with saran wrap for 5-7 minutes.

21. Whisk chocolate and cream until smooth.

22. Allow to sit for a few minutes until it just starts to thicken, then pour over the top of the cake.

23. Once chocolate ganache has firmed up, top with remaining icing and sprinkles, if desired

Many Blessing,
Michelle the Romance Witch

Review: Size Matters (A Perfect Fit #1)

Size Matters (A Perfect Fit #1)

by Alison Bliss 

Blurb:

 The rules of (fake) engagement . . .

Leah Martin has spent her life trying to avoid temptation. But she's sick of low-fat snacks, counting calories, and her hyper-critical mom. Fortunately, her popular new bakery keeps her good and distracted. But there aren't enough éclairs in the world to distract Leah from the hotness that is Sam Cooper - or the fact that he just told her mother that they're engaged . . . which is a big, fat lie.

Sam sometime speaks before he thinks. So what started out as defending Leah's date-ability to her judgmental mother soon turned into having a fiancée! Now the plan is to keep up the fake engagement, stay "just friends," and make Leah's family loathe him enough to just call the whole thing off . But Sam has an insatiable sweet tooth, not only for Leah's decadent desserts but her decadent curves. Her full lips. Her bright green eyes. Yep, things aren't going quite according to plan. Now Sam has to convince Leah that he's for real . . . before their little lie turns into one big, sweet disaster.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.25  stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Ok let’s be honest here, every single reader out there has their own personal hang-ups that they bring with them subconsciously when they start picking reading material, and one of mine is “fuller-figured women need love too”.  I haven’t found very many novels that do it well enough for me to say I’m a true fan, but this story was cute and sweet and I can see that I will probably give any future novels by this author a chance as well.  Leah is a woman that I can fully understand, a woman that all her life has fought with her weight and the traditional views of what makes a woman beautiful, and deals with a mother that constantly picks at her about her weight, blaming her nastiness on her desire to help.   Leah has worked her ass off to make her bakery business a success and even though it doesn’t make her acceptable to her mother, and won’t let anyone get in the way of keeping that success.  When Sam comes into her life, he confuses the hell out of her with his hot and cold behavior.  Once minute he is charming and sweet, offering her sweet kisses and passionate embraces, and then the next moment he pushes her away with harshness and cold distance.  Sam has just ended a relationship with a slightly crazy woman and he has no desire to be roped into another, but he cannot resist Leah.  He makes mistakes with her again and again, and when he tries to help her he ends up putting them both into the crosshairs of her mother.  Leah has no idea how to deal with Sam but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to remember that their relationship is pure fiction.  The emotions he pulls out of her are in no way fictional and as he pulls her in then pushes her away, she knows that he will break her heart far too easily.  I liked both of these characters, but the continuous push-pull of their actions and the wishy-washiness of their relationship was too much to me, taking it from being natural to being a farce.  Had the characters come to terms with the fact that sometimes a person doesn’t really know what they need, the story would have been far shorter and I wouldn’t have lost interest the few times I did.  Mostly that repetitiveness dragged the plot down in places where I would have loved to see more of them proving their love for one another instead of them becoming a true couple in the very end of the story. I can’t say that the story kept my interest at every minute, but it was enjoyable and hits on many serious relationship and personal issues that are common for big girls.  I am looking forward to future novels and hoping that Leah’s BFF finds her own HEA.  I’ll be keeping an eye on Ms. Bliss as her career continues and hope to read even more enjoyable novels with her touch.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Dark Protector (Moon Shifter #6)

Dark Protector (Moon Shifter #6)

by Katie Reus 

Blurb:

 He walked away once; he won't do it again.

Wolf shifter Aldric Kazan is no stranger to pain. Since the loss of his mate a century ago, he won't allow himself to fall for someone again—not even the feisty female who stirs things in him that he thought were gone long ago. But as a supernatural investigator, he's forced to team up with the same woman he vowed to stay away from.

She let him in once; she refuses to do it again.

Natalia Cordona refuses to back down from any challenge—even if it means joining forces with Aldric, the sexy and brooding man who won't get too close. Locating missing vampires before a volatile war breaks out seems nearly impossible as the duo struggle with their explosive and undeniable attraction. Now it's up to Natalia and Aldric to trust each other to stop an all-out war from breaking out that would destroy the harmony they've all worked so hard for.

Themes:  wolf-shifters, paranormal

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Katie Reus strikes again with another installment of the great series about wolf-shifters and their packmates.  Reus takes on an amazing journey through love, loss, and the acceptance of destiny in all of her novels and this story is no exception to her pattern.  The Cordona pack and their new additions always provide the readers with a good time and the way she is able to find them love and bring them together takes the kind of skill that very few authors in the current market display.  I love reading just about anything from Reus and experiencing the love between Natalia and Aldric as they come to accept that they are meant to be is the reason all readers devote their time to books.  Aldric has lived with his grief for a long time, ever since the death of his mate and unborn child almost a century earlier, so even though he feels the attraction to Natalia as much as she does to him, Aldric cannot let himself give in to the possibility of happiness that she offers.  Natalia has known from the very beginning that Aldric was her mate and his continued denial of their connection and any possibility of being together have led her to the breaking point. Determined to put him out of her mind, she embarks on a mission to help her packmates solve a string of missing person’s cases, but fate of course has a way of dragging you right where she wants you.  Forced to work together on the mission, Aldric takes the time to show Natalia that he is ready and willing to take her as his mate, but she won’t make it easy for him now that he has finally changed his mind.  Aldric is typical alpha male, finding his mate, but having wallowed in his grief and guilt for decades, he fights this offer of happiness for far too long.  Once Aldric accepts that Natalia is the female that he wants and decides to fight for her, he becomes one of the sweetest and most loving males, determined to do whatever it takes to convince Natalia to give them a chance.  Natalia has no chance once Aldric puts his full attention on making her his, but she is a real badass in her own right and I loved seeing her in the role of a hero and protector.  These two have fought their attractions for so long that once they give in to the heat between them there is no way that the two of them will ever be able to deny they are made for one another.  I loved seeing Natalia take her man to task and bring her around to her way of thinking so they could finally come together as they were always meant to.  I look forward to future stories about this pack and their friends, and possibly even seeing some of their vampire buddies find their very own wolves to love. Keep up the awesome writing Katie and I’ll keep bringing you more and more fans and readers for your work. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2)

Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Wellington was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her skills as a hunter of men had gone from merely brilliant to full-on uncanny. Her mysterious rescuer wants her to put them to the test. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.

If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk.

And the way his arms wrap around Vinnie tells its own story. Whatever else Raze is concealing, he can’t hide his desire . . .

Themes: post-apocalyptic world

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I remain extremely wary of saying that I am loving this series, but as the series progresses I have to say the concept is growing on me.  I am NOT a fan of any type of zombie story, but the scientific probability and obvious research that went into this series before it was begun show me that it’s not just your typical brain eater plot. Rebecca’s skill in making her characters so believably destroyed and secretive makes the reader even more interested in them.  We met Raze in the first story and along with the leaders of his new community readers were suspicious of his sudden appearance at the gates of the compound.  Raze feels instantly attracted to Viv, even as he knows that he will have to betray her in order to get what he desperately needs. She has come to them on the heels of a rescue, where she was held by the president of the United States, who is in fact a ripper, one of the people that survive the Scorpius infection only to become sociopaths.  Viv is still trapped in that terror in her mind and in a lot of ways is terrified of where her future might be leading.  As they spend more time together, neither of them understanding the pull that won’t let them walk away from each other, Raze and Viv become inseparable.  The chance of two people in this new and terrifying world of Scorpius finding an HEA is slim to none, but they both understand that the only way to find happiness is to grab all the pleasure you could whenever you could.  Raze is a bit of an enigma and I can’t say I was rooting for him in the beginning, but once he showed his true colors and admitted to his purpose, begging for the help he needed and actually working with his new family, I began to like him more. Viv lives in fear every moment, but she can’t resist the sensual Raze and when she realizes how much he needs her, she does everything in her power to the be warrior, the woman, he needs.  I am enjoying the series, though I cannot say I am in love with it, but as always Rebecca Zanetti’s skill with words, characters, and world building makes every moment of reading the story worthwhile and enjoyable.  I am looking forward to where the series is going and hoping that there is a brighter future for humanity in the coming stories. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Roadside Assistance (Body Shop Bad Boys #2)

Roadside Assistance (Body Shop Bad Boys #2)

by Marie Harte

Blurb:

Underneath the axle grease and tats

He's a gentleman

Foley Sanders figured he'll always be content with a life of cars and casual hookups. Until a run-in with Cyn, a statuesque firecracker with a hate-on for men, leaves him bewitched and intrigued-much to her annoyance.

Maybe Cynthia Nichols was a little hard on Foley, that muscular, tattooed, super-hot mechanic next door. But she's tired of feeling defensive about her size and has sworn off men. She's got a new job, new life, perfect plan. Foley has trouble written all over him-no way is she going to fall for his charms.

Foley might look like a bad idea, but underneath, he's all gentleman. Too bad Cyn's not buying it. What's a bad boy to do when the goddess of his dreams won't give him the time of day?

Themes: contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

This series has quickly become one of my favorites.  I have only read a few stories by Ms. Harte, but I have enjoyed each and every one and am always keeping my eyes open for any of her new stories. This series revolves around some rather sexy mechanics that have come together to form their own little family.  Marie’s ability to make her men both badass-alpha and sweetly loving is a true sign of a gifted author and the way she brings her lovers together through all the dramas and problems of everyday life shows she has true skill.  This story about Foley and Cyn hits home for me in a lot of ways because I can sympathize with Cyn’s worries and self-consciousness about her size.  I enjoyed getting to know Foley as he convinced Cyn to give him a shot and see if they could have a future together.  Foley was a smart man, who doesn’t let the beliefs of others effect how he thinks and acts; he is truly a man who has charted his own course and has not let anyone define his place in the world, or tell him what type of woman he should try to make his own.  He's obviously good with his hands, sexy as hell, and more than able to make any woman happy, but there is of course always the way that he shows his love and emotion for the woman that has grabbed him heart and soul.  Cyn has serious doubts about Foley when he continues to try convincing her to give their relationship a chance, but soon he finds a way to get his woman.  Cyn is a woman that goes after what she wants, and has decided that having a man around isn’t necessary for her happiness, but she cannot deny her intense attraction to Foley.  When they finally give in to the desire that burns between them the intensity and passion is hot enough to burn the house down, both of them intensely sexual individuals that don’t back down from any challenge.  I loved getting to see Foley prove to Cyn that her size not only didn’t matter to him, but the love between them would always provide her the confidence she needed to know she would never be alone again in the world.   There were of course the requisite issues with Foley’s best friend and roommate, but I hear he’s getting a story of his very own real soon and I imagine that he will find his own love one day.  Marie Harte’s series about sexy mechanics and the women that steal their hearts is one that I can see myself reading and re-reading long into the future.  Another awesome series to add to my bookshelves and I can guarantee this one will be a series I’ll share with friends and fellow readers so they too can enjoy the greatness of these Bad Boy Mechanics.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini-Review: Big Package

Big Package

by Opal Carew 

Blurb:

 Baby it’s cold outside…but things are about to heat up.

I missed the last bus to my sister’s for Christmas, and now I'm stranded in a bus station—in the middle of a blizzard—with a giant package covered in naughty wrapping paper.

Then he shows up: Kalen Welles, the football star from my high school fantasies—and offers me a ride.

Just when the car is getting cozy, the roads get shut down due to snow.

Luckily there’s a nearby cabin where we can hole up for the night.

A warm fireplace, cozy blankets, pent-up longing we both spent years ignoring… maybe I’ll be able to unwrap Kalen's big package before Christmas morning.

But when the snow clears and the ice melts, will the former football star and the shy nerd finally get a happy ending?

Themes: holiday, erotica

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Ok let’s be honest,  every now and then a reader just needs a quick and naughty read to make a girl smile, whimper, and sigh. It doesn’t matter how farfetched the story is or how crazy the characters are, it’s just about the easy, light, and sexy words that make for a great short story. Big Package is a story that will make you smile, even as you groan at the silliness of the plot.  Holly has just dumped a total dickhead and is on her way to visit her sister and her husband for the holidays, but her ex has gotten the last laugh for sure. His final “gift” to her causes her to miss her bus and there’s no way that she can make it time for Christmas, until by freak coincidence she runs into her high school crush Kalen.  Kalen doesn’t realize who Holly is immediately, but once they are on the road Kalen finds himself insanely attracted to the woman she has become.  Of course a crazy sexy holiday story would not be complete without our lovers finding themselves trapped in a snowy cabin in the woods with nothing to do but enjoy the pleasure of one another’s bodies.  Holly was a sweet character and I can see how she might doubt the pull between Kalen and herself, but in the end she finds her confidence and trusts in their relationship.  Kalen is a big boy, in every sense of the word, and he has found himself unable to find his lasting love, but there is no denying that Holly seems perfect for him.  The heat and intensity between these lovers is enough to melt the snow of a Canadian winter and I found myself more than once reaching for a cold drink.  Even for all that this story was just a short sexy read, there were some very emotional and intense moments between the lovers as they went beyond simply having sex and found themselves in a truly loving relationship that I can see being intense for a long time to come. I enjoy all of Opal’s works, never doubting that the sensuality and sexiness will carry the story even though they can sometimes seem a bit unbelievable.  I look forward to future holiday reads along this line from Ms. Carew and know that I cannot resist a well written bit of erotica.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Always Be True: Tino (Sergeant Joe's Boys #2)

Always Be True: Tino (Sergeant Joe's Boys #2)

by Alexis Morgan 

Blurb:

 When Sergeant Joe and his wife, Marlene, adopted Tino Gianelli as a teenager, the foster kid began to heal from his deep insecurities. Now, with a successful military career behind him and a good job as a contractor in the family construction business, Tino shouldn’t have any reason to doubt himself. He’s fallen hard for a beautiful heiress, and she seems to be crazy about him too. So why does he keep trying to hide his working-class roots?

Natalie Kennigan’s ideal guy is someone who will consider her an equal and his best friend, not merely a box to check on the road to success. Tino—with his down-to-earth personality, generous heart, and passionate embrace—might just be the one, at least until he finds out about Natalie’s family money and starts treating her like the typical rich girl who needs to be wined and dined. Natalie will have none of it. She won’t be happy until he accepts her for who she truly is—just as she wants to love the real Tino.

Themes: contemporary

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I have been a fan of Ms. Morgan’s work for many years now, but though I have enjoyed her paranormal and historical novels, I was skeptical about her crossover into the realm of contemporary romance.  This series, revolving around three amazing men that grew from the lost and broken boys adopted by an old soldier and his loving wife some twenty years earlier, is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  I found myself drawn to this series from the beginning, not just because of Alexis’s writing skill, but because I can fully appreciate how much a truly loving family could change the way a person’s life progress and how much a difference that love can mean to them even after the man who saved them is gone.  As clichéd as it is to say, Tino has come to a crossroads in his life and he is feeling a little bit lost as he tries to make a decision about his future.  He has spent many years in the military, serving his country proudly, but now that the man he called father has passed and his older brother has found love, he is wondering if it’s time for some changes in his life as well.  While he is contemplating his navel, his adoptive mother suggests that it might be a good usage of time to do some volunteering and he agrees, never imagining he will meet the woman of his dreams while doing so.  Tino finds himself drawn to Natalie and is willing to see if he can convince her to go out with him, but when he learns who she really is, he stupidly tries to impress her with money instead of just being the sexy, badass, and sweet guy she has gotten to know.  I loved seeing Tino dealing with his issues and finding a way to let his past go so he can embrace a future with Natalie in his life.  Nat on the other hand is just trying to live her life on her terms and convince her family that she could never be happy in the tiny box of being an “heiress”.  She is obviously a truly good woman, determined to improve the lives of others, running her family’s charity with a true hands-on approach and a devotion to her goals that is often single-minded.   Her strength of character definitely didn’t come easy as she found a way to live beyond the expectations of her parents to just be a pretty, but useless socialite, and seeing how much she has succeeded in her goals shows that even the smallest of efforts can be life-changing for those that don’t have even the most basic of necessities.  Being with Tino gives her an immense amount of happiness, but she refuses to give up the woman she wants to be, just to be with him.  I loved seeing Tino and Nat find their balance and find love together, even as they both found their niche in their world. 

It’s impossible to read a story like this without being genuinely affected by the lives presented in the pages and hoping for them to find true happiness together for the long haul.  I am dying to read the final story in this series and seeing all three of these sexy brothers find their loves and future secured.  I am curious about the possibility of a time jump allowing for a fourth book where we see Tino’s new nephew all grown up and finding his own love after his tumultuous past and the love he was finally offered as a member of Tino’s family.  Morgan’s skill at tapping into a person’s subconscious feelings and doubts to show that others can often be dealing with the same fears you are is amazing, and her ability to share the love of her characters with us is truly what makes her such a great author, no matter what series she is writing.  Alexis scores a hit again with Tino and Nat’s story and of course it was awesome to get to see the lovers from the previous novel as well. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Her Rogue Alpha (X-Ops #5)

Her Rogue Alpha (X-Ops #5)

by Paige Tyler

Blurb:

 HE'LL DO ANYTHING FOR HER

Former Special Forces Lieutenant Jayson Harmon can't believe that his war scars don't matter to beautiful feline shifter Layla Halliwell. Why would she saddle herself with a broken man?

But Layla knows that Jayson is a hero to the core, and that only she can heal his wounded soul. So when Jayson is deployed on another deadly mission, no way is Layla staying behind...

Themes: Paranormal, Shifters

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 The story of Jayson and Layla has been a long time coming, little bits and pieces of their lives being shared with us in previous novels.  They have both had their traumas and problems in the last few years dealing with the changes in their circumstances, but they are both determined to share their lives and are slowly falling deeper in love.  Tyler’s series about shifters and their agent partners, working to keep the world safe from rogue shifters and humans that are causing problems the world over, is beyond interesting and I have enjoyed each installment, but Jayson and Layla’s story was more emotional and was obviously the kind of love story that shapes a person forever.   Jayson has been in a serious rut ever since a freak accident on a mission in the Middle East left him fighting for the ability to walk and be the man he once was.  When his friend comes to see him in the hospital, bringing along his woman and her sister, Jayson’s world changes forever.  That sister was Layla and what he felt for her was not only deep and intense, but it gave him a reason to keep fighting for his full recovery.   Now that he has found a way to possibly join her in her new role as an agent of the X-ops team, Jayson is willing to do just about anything, even if it could end up killing him.  Layla knows that Jayson is her mate, but the harder she fights for him, the more he seems to pull away from her.  Jayson is obviously the kind of alpha male that is not used to having to rely on anyone but himself and his struggles are ones that can truly only be understood by someone who has lived that truth or is one of the people that love and support them.  The psychological and physical wellbeing of a soldier that has lost himself after serious injury was a great way for Paige to show the growth and change that love can cause.  Layla was the kind of sweet but stubborn woman that would make a good partner, both professionally and in life, for a man like Jayson, whether he’s ever able to be the man he once was or finding a way to accept the way his life is now. The love between Layla and Jayson was obvious, if not as obviously sexual as previous novels.  The two of them began the relationship in previous novels so the typical getting to know you portions of the story were not needed, but as they worked together in the field they found out all kinds of new information about each other.  The acceptance that they found together and their ability to find their love strengthened even as they worked to defeat their enemies and fulfill their mission shows readers that love can be found in even the most unlikely of places.  I am looking forward to more stories in this series and I keep hoping that the shifters and their mates can solve the mystery of who is creating and unleashing the ferals into their world.   The series just keeps getting more and more interesting and if you have missed the previous installments I recommend you grab the whole set and settle in for the long read over the holidays.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Slow Burn (Colorado High Country #2)

Slow Burn (Colorado High Country #2)

by Pamela Clare

Blurb:

Victoria Woodley is done with men. Fresh off a dating nightmare, she flies from her home in Chicago to Scarlet Springs to take part in her best friend’s wedding. Who picks her up at the airport? Eric Hawke. Of course. She made a fool of herself over him last time she was here. He’s cocky, charming, and sexy as sin. But the fact that she’s attracted to him is all the proof she needs that he’s bad news. She would ignore him if she could. But he’s the best man, and she’s the maid of honor. She can’t just tell him to jump in a lake—especially not when her lips are locked with his.

Eric isn’t looking for a relationship. Between running the firehouse and volunteering for the county’s search and rescue team, he has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need to get tangled up with a woman from the big city, especially one whose idea of roughing it is going without designer coffee. Yet from the moment he looks into Victoria’s big brown eyes, the attraction he feels is too strong to deny. Faster than he can imagine, the spark of desire that has smoldered between them since the first day they met will flare into full-blown passion.

But can Eric convince Victoria to set aside her doubts and trust him with her heart before their time together runs out?

Themes:  Contemporary, firefighters

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

 As always when Ms. Clare begins a story there is the expectation that the story will end happily ever after and we will enjoy drama, sweetness, and sensuality as her characters take their journey to that HEA.  There is no denying that some of us were wary when she began her new series about a small town in Colorado, where the men are alpha, dangerous and sexy while the women are smart, sassy and sensually amazing.  Eric’s story has been tugging on our hearts and imaginations since the first book in the series and I was thrilled not to have to wait very long for it.  Eric is the kind of hero that sneaks up on us; he seems like such a brave and cocky guy that there’s no way he can be deep enough to cause a woman to fall madly in love with anything but his sexy body.  But getting to know Eric I have decided that while he is definitely arrogant he is also sweet, loving, and brave—and in no way could you call him shallow or selfish.  Victoria was the kind of woman that we all need to have in our lives to be our conscience and our guiding light when we aren’t sure about ourselves.  She is a true friend and is willing to go toe to toe with any man in order to get what she wants out of life.  Seeing these two find a way to overcome their differences and find a place in each other’s lives reminds us all that the way we are living our lives, though possibly fulfilling, is not always the best way to live.  Eric and Victoria came together in an intense and scarily fast relationship that quickly developed past the sexy fling they both thought they would get.  The passion between them was off the charts from the very beginning and as that heat mellowed into a deep love, the warmth they continued to share let the readers enjoy their love even more.  Ms. Clare is definitely one of the best romance authors around, IMO, and I can guarantee, even if you have never read any of her other work, giving her Colorado High Country series a chance will be a decision you won’t come to regret.  I cannot wait to see where the story goes next and what wonderful characters we’ll meet next.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Renegade Dragon (Dragon Heat #4)

Renegade Dragon (Dragon Heat #4)

by Lolita Lopez 

Blurb:

When her best friend goes missing during Spring Break, bio-engineering student Eris Jones refuses to believe Ivy is dead and follows the trail of clues to a mysterious, secluded estate.

Locked away in the lair beneath his home, dragon shifter Niko Drakon suffers terribly from a massive overdose of a synthetic drug that forces his body into the mating heat. When her sweet, alluring scent hits him, Niko's dragon overtakes him and he breaks free from his bonds.

Captured by the snarling, winged creature, Eris thinks she must be hallucinating when her touch transforms him into a human male-a dangerously sexy and highly seductive male. After one taste of Eris, Niko realizes a single week will never be enough. He wants her forever by his side and in his bed. But convincing the human to take a chance on a dragon won't be easy and suddenly Niko is faced with the hardest choice in his centuries of life.

Themes:  dragon shifter, paranormal

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

This series has been surprisingly interesting and well written for a set of short-ish novellas all about sexy dragon shifters and their mates.  I admit I have a bit of a weakness for Dragons, with several series currently on my plate, but Ms. Lopez’s work has been intriguing and has a special angle.  My biggest issue is there is way too much going on in such a short story.  If they were a bit longer it wouldn’t seem quite so farfetched that her characters were going through all of this together. We met Nico in previous stories and it was great to see his and Eris’s story pick up right where the previous one left off.  Eris was the type of character that keeps you on your toes at the same type she does Nico.  I enjoyed seeing her standing up for herself and ultimately kicking serious ass, but she was a little quick to make rash decisions.  Nico was intense in every definition of the world, falling for Eris quickly and making her his mate with very little forethought.  The two of them together made the story fun to read, but there lacked the depth I would love from a longer story.  I will say I loved the irony of Nico’s gods-given task and the name of the woman he falls in love with, bringing in just enough Greek mythology to make my little classicist heart beat harder.  I am looking forward to whoever’s story is next in this series, but Nico and Eris’s story was a nice way to spend an afternoon in another world.  I enjoy Ms. Lopez’s work and hope that future stories might be a little bit longer to allow for more character development and relationship. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.