ThunderStruck by Kendall Grace (EC title)

ThunderStruck by Kendall Grace

PUB May 29, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Desperate to distance herself from her previous life, and her high-powered ex, Jo Montgomery moves to a tiny slice of Georgia, an impetuous decision if there ever was one. Though not nearly as impetuous as throwing herself into an intimate relationship with her new neighbor. Hawk Stephens, a horse breeder and local celebrity, is sex personified, a man built for dark deeds in dark places. But he wants far more from Jo.

Every instinct tells Silent Hawk that Jo is The One, and despite her obvious uncertainty, his Apache beliefs give him faith. The signs are unmistakable. His skittish little filly requires a strong hand, patience…and blazing, mind-bending sex that leaves no doubt to his feelings and intentions.

But before their love affair has barely begun, the reemergence of Jo’s ex, coupled with a potentially tragic event, forces Jo to make decisions that not only damage Hawk’s beliefs, but could also shatter their tender romance beyond repair.

A Romantica® western erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

****Spoilers Ahead****

 ARC Provided by NetGalley

I have to say although the book was good, I was really expecting a little bit more suspense and drama than what I read. The blurb and the cover attracted my attention more than anything else, I got a thing for hot cowboys with a six-pack that look like a washboard….oh the things those abs can do…..

Anyway, back to the book, I liked the book because unlike most stories, the one who really believed in “true love” was Hawk, he was the one who believed, who wanted, who craved, and who felt quite unlike most male characters I’ve read of before. Jo, on the other hand, was the one who was skeptic, who I guess needed more than just signs or even faith.

I was however, giving Jo’s background, expecting a little more drama into her ex-husband and it just felt a little unnecessary to involve him, if his role was really very small, however, I have to say that while it gave insight into what Jo was feeling, his small role didn’t add up to the amount of anxiety and over-the-top fear-like emotion I could sense from Jo at his possible re-appearance in her life. So on that front, I was a bit disappointed, however, if you want a quick-paced story that you can read on a nice relaxing rainy day or beach day, then this is the book!

I give it 3.5 stars.

Taken By Him by Red Garnier PUB May 28, 2013 Review

Taken by Him (The Billionaire’s Club #2) by Red Garnier

ARC Supplied by NetGalley

The Billionaire’s Club: The wealthiest, most powerful men, not only in Chicago, but in the world.  They are used to having whatever they want, whenever they want it.

Luke Preston is the ultimate playboy among his billionaire friends.  Every bad girl in Chicago has surrendered in his bed.  Some good girls, too.  But when he ends up in the hospital after an assassination attempt, his friends suggest he take a long vacation to recoup, regroup and lay off the women until the man is caught.  However, when Luke lays eyes on the stunning brunette across the beach, she inspires every dark, erotic thought his mind can conjure.

Peyton Lane has always been serious and responsible and she’s determined to have some fun for once in her life.  And that means a deliciously, sexy affair with a stranger while she’s on vacation.  So when a blond Adonis named Luke crosses her path at the Cancun resort, she’s determined that he will be the one. But Peyton gets more than she bargained for when Luke introduces her to a passion unlike any she has ever experienced and she discovers that behind that charming smile are secrets and a beautiful, damaged soul.

Red Garnier takes readers deep into a world of incredible emotion and undeniable power and possession.

Also, don’t miss CLAIMED BY HIM, the first unforgettable story in The Billionaire’s Club, available now.

****BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD****

ARC was supplied by NetGalley:

This is the second book in the Billionaire’s Club Series, but each novel is a stand alone so there’s no need to read it in sequential order, but me being me, of course I’d recommend reading it in sequential order, but that’s another story and besides the point.

Ms. Garnier really never seizes to amaze me with her writing skills and her ability to create characters that I fall in love with and sometimes, even if it sounds a bit obsessive, I kind of want to skin them and be them….but again, that’s another story…

This book follows the story of Luke Preston, typical bad boy/playboy, who at his friends’ request has kept a low profile after being shot by an ex-lover. He travels to Cancun where he meets Peyton,  [notice how Preston rhymes with Peyton, I wonder if it was done on purpose?],  who has been living a very dull and staid life and is need of a fling to shake it off and reinvigorate her life.

There is a lot of sex in this book, but unlike a lot of erotic-themed novels it also contains a great deal of story plot before we get to that. There is a lot to be learned about both characters and a lot to love about both characters. Both characters are well-developed and both have a character/story arc that flows naturally and is not forced.

I liked that both characters are also willing to live in the moment and have no expectations of what could happen, and when they meet again, it definitely becomes very evident that both characters are ready for the story to evolve into their HEA.

The story itself is very realistic and very well edited as well as thought out. There’s emotion, there’s thought, there’s evolution and more importantly, although it is a 112 page novel, it more than makes up for length in the amount of passion and emotion evoked by Ms. Garnier. I give it a 5 stars.

One Night of Misbehavior – Shelley Munro

One Night of Misbehavior by Shelley Munro

“Charlotte Dixon ignores her stepmother’s edict and, in an act of disobedience, attends one of the social events of the year—a masquerade costume ball. Charlotte’s naughtiness escalates when she dances and smooches with a sexy mystery man. The night of anonymous passion that follows makes her yearn for a different life, but the next day she’s back to her dull routine of household management.

 

Advertising tycoon, Ash Marlborough is about to set a private investigator on the trail of his nameless princess when she waltzes right into his place of work. Charlotte is shocked to meet her masked man in the flesh, and even more perturbed when he asks her out on a date. Despite craving another night of sexy loving, she doesn’t have time for a man, not when she wants to reinvent herself and grasp a new, improved life with both hands. But Ash knows what he wants, and he’s determined to win the heart of his princess. Let the dance of seduction commence.

 

Warning: Contains a conniving stepmother, selfish stepsisters, a grandmother with fairy godmother tendencies and a sexy masked man who is willing to face them all for the love of a good woman.”

*****FAIR WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD*****

Shelley Munro weaves a modern Cinderella, Charlotte Dixon. Although I normally tend to stay away from modern versions of fairy tales, I have to admit Ms. Munro did a really great job of not only maintaining the essence of what is “Cinderella” but of also making the story her own. 

When we first meet Charlotte we realize that she really is a genuine and caring person, who would do anything for her grandmother, including putting her life and dreams on hold to take care of her as her health declines, Unfortunately, for Charlotte, putting her life on hold also means dealing with her stepmother and stepsisters who feel that she should also take care of them. When Charlotte’s grandmother sends her to “the ball” she meets Ash Marlborough, who has everything and can have anything and everything he could ever want. I liked that Ms. Munro made Ash so human, so flawed, rather than just a “Prince Charming.”  

Although, the story of how they come to get to know each other is one that has been told and re-told in so many books and ways, Ms. Munro made it funny and fresh, but most importantly she made it her own, rather than just another book with the same plot. I liked how Ash and Charlotte’s story and relationship developed and how they organically developed a no-sense, no-drama relationship without the interference of third parties. 

What I found the most refreshing was that the protagonist of this story, Charlotte, is an everyday kind of girl in search of a life worth living, a life where independence is the ultimate goal rather than finding her Prince Charming. I liked that she is not your typical virgin protagonist who does not know what she really wants or who she is but rather she’s an everyday girl in search of independence, of life and success.

Overall, this was a really great read and I rate it 4.5 stars.

Book Reviews Forthcoming

Hi, this is my first time blogging and since I spend so much time reading, I’ve decided to put my degree to use and will start writing reviews as soon as the books come in. Please be patient with me, but it shouldn’t take that long, also if you want to send me some book names that you’d like to know about before you read please feel free to let me know.