Weekly Wrap-UP

This week at Smexy….

B+ review – Breath on Embers by Anne Calhoun (erotic contemp)
B+ review – Forever my Girl by Heidi McLaughlin (New Adult)
B+ review – Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep (PNR YA)
B review -  One Hit Wonder by Elyssa Patrick (contemporary)
C+ review – The Wedding Fling by Meg Maguire (contemporary)
C review – Rough Tumble by Keri Ford (contemporary)
C review – Aftershock by Jill Sorenson (contemporary/suspense)
C review – My Nora by Holley Trent (contemporary)

An On Dublin Street Christmas Story by Samantha Young
Weekend Book Deals
Guest Author Anne Calhoun
Feature: Surrender to Temptation Part 2
Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Heroes of 2012.

News From Mandi: Sealed With a Curse by debut author Cecy Robson is a cute, flirty, light-hearted urban fantasy about three sisters that have weird supernatural abilities. This is a nice start to a new paranormal world, although I was a bit disappointed in the romance aspect…we’ll see how it plays out in the next book. Review coming.

I read Room at the Inn by Ruthie Knox, which is part of the Naughty & Nice anthology. I loved this novella. So angsty, so sexy, so clever. The entire anthology is $1.99 and although I didn’t read the other two stories, I would pay that just for Knox’s contribution. Really well done. Go read it.

The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry features a cranky heroine which is a little different. She is recovering from a very traumatic car accident, and doesn’t have time for her new sexy neighbor. But when their dogs become enamored with each other, and she takes a step back and lets her new friend actually help her, a romance develops. This one was cute, but I think I said in my goodreads review, it felt like it was missing something. It was like – the story was there, but I wanted a little more charm and sparkle. Review coming soon.

I finished my week with two really great books. The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand is an absolutely adorable book set in Paris featuring a heroine who works in a tiny chocolate shop. The hero is a world famous pastry chef who moves a store in a few doors down. Enemies turn to lovers. The dialogue is cute, the setting is so magical and the eventual relationship is really sexy. I’ll be reviewing this on Monday. Highly recommend it.

Finally, Wild Burn by Edie Harris, a historical western gives us a wild, gunslinger hero and a former nun heroine. In the first few pages the hero accidentally shoots the heroine in the ear. You can imagine how she takes that. *grins* What stands out in this book is the really well done sexual tension that the author gives us. Very intense, steamy scenes. This one comes out in January.

I’m currently reading By Private Invitation by Stephanie Julian. Good start so far.

Tori News: Merry chrishanukamas and a Happy ramakwanzaadon everyone!!

Because everyone remodels RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, we have been remodeling our kitchen this week. For 12 years I have had to live with a kitchen that was decorated by a 70s pill popping housewife. Rustoleum makes a countertop refinishing kit that ROCKS it. We redid the countertops, backsplashes, the cabinets, and tiled the floor. Next, I’m getting some rustoleum appliance paint and re doing my stove and refrigerator to refresh. My appliances are only a few years old so I’m not buying new. The bathroom and our bedroom is next…then we are DONE!!! wooohoooo

Because of this, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to read. I picked up Let It Snow…: The Prince Who Stole Christmas\My True Love Gave to Me…by Leslie Kelly and Jennifer LaBrecque. A cute, light hearted Christmas anthology novella. I’ve had Shona Husk’s The Goblin King on my radar for awhile and was excited to see she wrote a novella to introduce the series-The Summoning: A Goblin King Prequel. Short and sweet, it does a fine job of introducing the premise of the series and upped my interest in starting the series.

Phoenix Arizona is an m/m paranormal erotic romance that brings two mates together as one searches for a serial killer. My review will be in RT Magazine.A Low Down Dirty Shane is a action packed UF novella that spins off of her Secret McQueen series. An enjoyable fast read with an engaging hero and heroine. Review to come. I downloaded Jennifer Estep’s Deadly Sting and while I wanted to wait to read, I have no willpower when it comes to Estep. Action packed and arc evolving, Estep keeps the series fresh as Gin fights for her life, her friend’s lives, and her heart. Review to come.

I’m currently making my way through June Gray’s DISARMserial series. I enjoyed the first two. Short but full bodied, I don’t feel like I’m being strung along. I have heard rumors though that you can read the last book and it recaps everything up to that point. So basically, you don’t NEED to read the first 4. Hmmm. I read Vanity Fare by Megan Caldwell and loved. Review to come. A romantic contemporary that follows a divorcee who has to find a job when her soon to be ex loses his. I enjoyed because while there was romance, the story focuses on the heroine coming to her own.

Jodi Thomas’s Chance Of A Lifetime was a breathe of fresh air and a welcomed trip home. Review to come. I DNF’d Broken by A.E. Rought. While the story was ok (definitely not a Frankenstein remake as touted) the editing and formating was horrible and made it challenging to read. I’m starting Jade Hart’s Ocean Kills , then it’s Lara Adrian’s Edge Of Dawn, and an interesting M/M by Jack Pyke titled...Don’t.