Captured by Julia Rachel Barrett

Summary:

Mari never expects to find herself in a cage in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she's headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race is vegetarian, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt's entire life into question, the biggest question...can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?

Reviewer: ScarletRose
An extraordinarily strong woman is taken from earth to a strange, alien world that after first glance seems much like our earth. She has faced terrible loss, yet managed to stay alive ...that bodes well for her survival in this hostel new world.

If you love Alien/Human romances, then you will be enthralled by Captured!

The heroine, Mari, awakens in a cage, naked and terrified. She has no idea where she is or how she got there...enter the hero, Ekkart...her captor. To him, she and the other women he and his fellow trappers have taken are just animals heading for the auction to be either slaughtered, or used as strange alien prostitutes. The 'animals' are kept sedated for easier transport.

But Mari wakes up... and she is pissed! She confronts her captors, intrigues Ekkart and makes him question everything he has ever believed. He must come to terms that what he does is morally wrong, in- humane and this will turn his life up-side down.

I loved this book! Ekkart is pissed that the cargo is awake.... Mari tells him.... ___you! LOL She gains his respect and he gains his heart... this is a wonderful love story that will have you rooting for this wonderful couple...and the lovemaking isn't bad either...in fact it is HOT....

Captured is the first book I have read by author Julia Rachel Barrett but it will not be the last.... I give it 5 stars....

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing

Fading (A Flirty Fantasy of Falling Idols 2) by Cecilia Gray

Summary:

Ever had an itch you just can’t scratch?

Mhaya hasn’t. As a goddess, she doesn’t itch, or hunger, or thirst. In fact, she’s pretty much above petty human annoyances, from humiliation to heartbreak.

Until now.

Because ever since her better-known twin brother Eros gave her the boot from Mount Olympus, Mhaya has been fading from human memory. The only way to prevent her godly demise is to temporarily trade her immortality for the drudgery of pitiful, pointless humanity. Which is not exactly Mhaya’s style.

Her only ally in her quest to stay alive is the stunningly sexy, utterly unobtainable Marcus, a man who has his own reasons to see Mhaya fail. And yet, he’s somehow unable to turn his back on her… and the more she struggles to survive her brush with mortality, the more interested he becomes in showing her the very best part of being human: passionate, pulse-racing love.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
All Mhyra wants is to be back on Mount Olympus, where her family threw her out a long time ago. To be powerful enough to do so, she has to have a soul. That’s why she uses Lauris, a witch, but by doing so she hurts her lover, Marcus, whom she made immortal hundreds of years ago. To get the soul she has twelve hours to pass three tests or she will die.

Marcus decided to help her because

once you have a soul, you‘ll feel the full weight and pain of the misery you‘ve caused others, Mhaya. You‘ll finally feel guilt for what you‘ve done to my soldiers. And I want to be there when it happens.

This book is the second in the Fallen Idols’s series and it is a wonderful story. I totally loved how Ms. Cecilia Gray shows what Mhyra is feeling for the first time as a mortal when she felt hunger and she was tired. Although she was the wicked goddess in the previous story, in this one we start to understand her, to love her.

I loved the moments when she feels what true love is, when she faces her second task:

Find the courage to face your greatest fear.

She realized that her greatest fear was losing Marcus and not dying. In addition, she finally understands why she wanted a soul and it wasn’t about the power she could get, but because Marcus could finally get what he wanted all these years.

If you think that this was the most interesting part of the book, you are wrong. The best part is the end, it will make you laugh and cry and love every single word. It definitively is the best book I've ever read! You should try it, it won’t let you down. 5 stars… if I could give it more, I would!

Also, Ms. Cecilia Gray revealed to me that the next book of the series, Fleeting, will be available in late Spring/early Summer. I will be counting the days, as she's on the top of my Favorite Writer’s list.

Lord of Illusion (The Elven Lords 3) by Kathryne Kennedy

Summary:

Acclaimed for her world-building, Kathryne Kennedy's third book in her haunting new historical paranormal romance series features transcendent writing.

Rebel Drystan Hawkes dreams of freeing England and discovers the key to opening the door to Elfhame lies with Camille, a young slave woman. Drystan sets off to rescue her and find the key that will send the dreaded elf lords away forever. But who is rescuing whom?

Reviewer: Fashionta
In this third of book of The Elven Lords series, fifty years has passed since the last novel. We are introduced to old and new areas with the story of Drystan, another half elven child who joined the rebellion due his connection to the heroine and hero of the previous novel.

He is an interesting character, who’s gift has also been a curse to him as he searches for the person he believes is the way to gain England’s freedom. He’s passionate about this work. The author shows this clearly, in simple words to describe him after a late night of work at the start of novel which sets the story and the journey on which we are about to be taken.

The person in question is a young woman who's been stuck in slavery but managed to rise to the position of servant twice and has been set back by unfortunate events. Most people believe her to be worthless and the author uses this to show the best of both lead characters. This couple work well together, which is something I love and follows the tradition set in this series.

Kathryne Kennedy has written another amazing book and this world continues to grow and become more creative as the series grows. I look forward to future releases and recommend this series to anyone who's looking for a good historical fantasy series. I give this book 4.5 stars

Publishing Date: Feb. 01, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Courtesy Of: NetGalley

The Warlord's Revenge by Alyssa Morgan

Summary:

All Jane Stewart wanted was a normal life. To be happy and fall in love. Her criminal family made that dream impossible, dragging her all around the countryside of England to escape the enemies they so easily made. When revenge drives their greatest enemy, Gavyn MacLaren, to kill her family and take her as his prisoner, all her hopes and the future she's dreamed of are dashed.

Travelling on horseback to Scotland with the warlord isn't easy for Jane, considering she finds him to be an uncivilized brute who only spared her life to get her pregnant with his child. She also can't stop admiring how clever and handsome Gavyn is, and with each passing day she spends as his prisoner, her attraction to him becomes an irresistible temptation.

Will Jane surrender to her passion for Gavyn before she can escape him?

Reviewer: PurpleRose
After reading Alyssa Morgan's second book, the first word that comes to mind is frustration, great frustration! It would definitely take a prologue and an epilogue for the story to become a satisfactory one, in my opinion.

I'm not saying it is a bad book because it isn't. It's very well written, with very good descriptions and action. It begins very violently with Jane hiding under the table, witnessing the slaughtering of her entire family by the hands of a fierce and dark barbarian. She is overwhelmed by the amount of blood and cannot look away. The only thing she knows is that she is going to die. She is young and slim but she is a fighter too in her own way. If she has to die, well so be it, but she will not make it easy for him and she will not beg for mercy!

Gavyn MacLaren lost everything he had and is here for revenge, he is a very determined man and won't take no for an answer. Jane is a spirited and intelligent young woman who dreamed once of happiness and love. But very quickly after the death of her mother, she discovered the hard way that it could never be. She intends to escape at the first opportunity!

The interaction of both characters was very believable and explosive and the love scenes were hot; no doubt about it the author knows how to describe things.

It is a short story that has a lot of good points, but it lacks background of both characters. You want to know much more about their past and their future. So for The Warlord's Promise, her latest novel, I give a 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Phaze
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Swap by V.A. Gyna

Summary:

After Lisa runs into her best friend's husband, whom she had a crush on since she was thirteen, she hatches a plan to seduce him. Lisa's hunky boss is the bait as she devises a plan for a partner swap aboard his yacht with her best friend and her husband.

Reviewer: Jasmine
In this story, when Lisa sees her old high school crush, Jeff, she launches an outrageous plan to have sex with him.

To ensure success, Lisa includes in the plan her best friend, Jenna, who is married to Jeff. Lisa uses her hunky boss as bait for a partner swap aboard his yacht with Jenna and Jeff.

I must say despite the attractive storyline, this story disappointed me. Although Swap is a short story, I did not like the author's narrative style and give it 2 stars.

Publisher: New Dawning International Bookfair
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

The Incident by Xavier Axelson

Summary:

In the line of duty, decisions that will change your life forever are made in a split-second. Nobody knows that better than Officer Michael Carmac, whose fatal split-second decision haunts his days. Tormented by guilt, Michael seeks solace in a bottle and the friendship he has with his partner, Officer Bertram Angel. But the more he leans on Angel for support, the more Michael discovers a longing that he’s kept hidden for too long. Can Angel help ease the pain of guilt or will Michael’s hidden desires be the end of their friendship?

Reviewer: CitrusFruit
This is the story of Michael, who in the line of duty caused the death of a young boy. Although nobody blamed him, he still blames himself and can't forgive or forget. His nightmares wake him from his sleep and the scene where he wet his bed was heart wrenching. His best friend and partner Angel who is a free spirited cop but cares a lot about his friend and tries to pull him out of this hole. Both love and care about each other without knowing.

The pace was slow but it was required in this story and at the end their love making felt like a slow dance. I liked the way the author went through the characters emotions even Angel's, who was always self assured, but was flustered with his feelings towards his friend. I give 4 stars because it was nicely written and I would like to read more from this writer.

Publisher: Seventh Window Publications
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Omegas In Love (Vanguards 4) by Annie Nicholas

Summary:

Some things are best to forget. But what if the past won't be forgotten?

Born in China of a pure shifter bloodline, Katrina was raised with only one purpose--to breed. Abused by her alpha, she runs away to America as soon as she can. With a new pack and her true mate, she thinks the nightmare is behind her, but when she is abducted on the streets of Chinatown, Katrina must face her past and fight for her freedom.

It took Tyler a year to earn Katrina's love, another to build her confidence and pride, and only a moment to lose her. Broken-hearted, Tyler won't give up his search for Katrina.

But he never trained as a warrior like the other shifters. What chance does a real estate agent have in the fight for his mate?

WARNING: Explicit shifter sex, heartbroken torment, and an unstoppable shifter in love.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
This fourth book in The Vanguards’s series reveals more of Vasi’s pack and tells Katrina and Tyler’s story. It shouldn't be read as a stand alone since it's a continuation of some previous books.

Katrina and Tyler are in love and he's about to propose to her, when she is kidnapped by her old pack. Then, he finds out the she was mated to the Alpha and has to fight against three shifters, but loses.

Nothing is as it should be, because when he goes home to ask the help of his Alpha, Eric, he finds out that Sugar, the feminine Alpha’s twin, was badly hurt and Spice, the feminine Alpha was kidnapped by the same shifters that took Katrina.

There is a lot of action and twists, and less romance and love than in the other books. However, it was very well written with plenty of tension, emotion, and sentiments.

Katrina changes from a women sure of herself to a frightened one when she remembers what happened when she was with her old pack, what they did to her and knowing what they will do her again. Then, she finds courage in the love she feels for Tyler.

Tyler goes through a similar change. He is a real estate agent and he always tried to find a way to avoid a fight, but when they take his mate, he will fight against everyone to get her back.

Although it is a short story, it has everything needed to be a very enjoyable book. I give it 4 stars, because I wanted more romance.

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

The Best Mistake by Kate Watterson

Summary:

When Lacey Billings gives her boyfriend, Ran, an erotic wake-up call in the middle of the night, she's shocked to discover that the gorgeous man she's kissing isn't Ran...it's his cousin, Rick.

Although Ran laughs off the mix-up, Lacey and Rick can't stop thinking about the unexpected encounter, and they can't escape the scorching flashbacks it's aroused.

Ran doesn't want an innocent mistake to ruin his relationship with his girlfriend or his cousin, so he proposes a solution. He wants the three of them to solve this problem the old-fashioned way, by sleeping on it...together.

Reviewer: Fashionta
This plot was something I've read time and time over again in ménage romances. Girl meets guy, falls in love with him, then the girl meets an extended family member and falls in love with him, too. In this case it's slightly different from the usual, because the heroine accidently get into an awkward situation with her boyfriend’s cousin who looks very similar and she's known for about the same amount of time.

The storyline irritated me at this point, I liked the characters but the plot was a big letdown. Such intelligent characters gone to waste! I have to give the book 3.5 stars. It's a solid piece of writing but the idea has been used before and more unsuccessfully.

Publisher: Carina Press
Review Courtesy Of: NetGalley

Surrender Her Touch by Kari Thomas

Summary:

Surrendering her touch could be fatal...; will she chose her own life over the lives of her enemies? When a shocking truth uncovers secrets from her past, Summer is faced with life or death situations. Should she accept what has been revealed and give of her healing power to the very dragon shapeshifters who destroyed her family -- or should she run as fast and as far as she can? And what about the too-sexy-for-his-own-good dragon shifter who has stolen her heart and soul --the very man who will not let her say 'No' to her deadly destiny? If she surrenders, will she lose more than just her heart and soul? Will the shifter she loves stand by and let her sacrifice everything?

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
First in Command Private Detective Slade Stryker tries to find out who is trying to kill his kind, the dragon shifters. However, Police Chief Reed Bowen removes him from the case and assigns him to protect his adopted daughter. In love with Summer from the moment he saw her picture for the first time, seven years ago, he jumps to take the assignment.

Nevertheless, he starts to see that nothing is as it should be. The mountain lion who protected her was a shifter, she wasn’t a human and although his dragon clan, Shamara, was supposed to be the last, he finds another one.

Summer saw the murder of her own clan, Fabrizio Clan, when she was four years old and only she and her grandmother survived. She never knew that she was left alive because someone had plans to take over the Shamara Dragon Clan. Now they have to find out who that person was.

I really enjoyed the book. The characters are few, but developed and the storyline was credible and full of suspense. The only thing I disliked was that Ms. Kari Thomas showed who the villain was too early. I give 4.5 stars to the story, it was too good to get less than that. If you like to read about shape shifters, you won’t be disappointed!

Publisher: Eternal Press
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders

Beneath the Starry Sky by Jessica E. Subject

Summary:

Left at the altar with bald patches on her head and her self-confidence stripped away, Tamara Johnson must pick up the pieces of her life and face her Alopecia Areata, the autoimmune disease causing her hair to fall out. She is convinced no man will date a bald woman and arranges a one-night stand through Madame Evangeline’s popular service, 1Night Stand. With her new wig held firmly in place, Tamara arrives at the Castillo Hotel in Las Vegas for a night of passion and pleasure. Anything more than one night would mean exposing her bald head, and she will never do that to any man again.

Running into the Castillo Hotel, away from the paparazzi constantly at his heels, Josh Summers wants to spend his next few days locked away from the flashing lights and screaming fans. When he finds an incredibly sexy woman wearing nothing but lingerie lying on his hotel room bed, he thinks the hotel has made a mistake. Leaving the woman, he heads for the lobby to get the situation rectified. But an unexpected text from Madame Evangeline sends him back to his room, though unsure whether the woman on the bed is really his perfect match or just another fan believing him to be like his character on television. To find out, he must risk telling her his own secrets. If Tamara can handle his imperfections, she just might be his ideal woman.

Reviewer: Dolce Amore
Left at the altar because she was bald, strips away Tamara Johnson’s self-confidence. She just wants one night of passion and pleasure because she thinks no one will ever love her.

Josh Summers just wants to be left alone. When the 1NightStand he arranged for his gay brother is no longer needed since he's now in love and Madame Evangeline has a no refund policy, his brother talks Madame Evangeline into transferring the service and Josh ends up with a date. Both of them were hurt in the past but now they've found each other.

Although the book is marked as paranormal, it has none of the elements of that genre. It's a sweet story, about two people who have been hurt. I give it 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders