Here is what we talked about this week at Smexy:
B+ review – Waltz This Way by Dakota Cassidy
B review – A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
B review – Oracle’s Moon by Thea Harrison
B review – Hunter’s Prey by Moira Rogers
B review – Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
B- review – The Merzetti Effect by Norah Wilson
C review – Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton
C- review – Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
C- review – Wicked Edge by Nina Bangs
May discuss her Love for the Ugly Hero
AAD Spotlight – PJ Schnyder
Thea Harrison shared Tidbits about her Characters
Smexy’s Top Ten
News From Mandi: I started my week by reading In the Company of Witches by Joey Hill. This is the second book in her new Arcane Shot series. I really liked book one, Something About Witches and was excited to read Mikhael’s story. Didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While there is some very well done sex scenes, there are so many, it kind of made the story slow. I needed something else. I still recommend this series, but I hope the next book has a little more conflict/action in it. Then I moved on to Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas. I posted my review yesterday. I really enjoyed this, even though there is magical realism in it (I’m not always a fan of magic in my contemporaries). Sweet Addiction by Maya Banks is a well done erotic BDSM book. Y’all – it’s Dirty with a capital D. Holy wow. This series is a hit/miss with me, but this one really worked. Review to come at the end of the month. I’m currently reading If I Fall by Kate Noble. I love this author’s voice – if you haven’t tried one of her historicals, I definitely recommend that you do.
News From Tori: I’ll be honest…this week was a complete reread week. After reading Patricia Brigg’s Fair Game, I found myself suddenly with the urge to re read the entire Mercy Thompson series. GAH! I love this series so. I’m sad to say I DNF’d Anne Bishop’s Bridge Of Dreams, 3rd in her Epiherpma series, and a new author, JA Kazimer’s, Holy Socks And Dirtier Demons. Most know I’m a a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE Anne Bishop fan. I reread her Black Jewels trilogy at least once a year. I read the first two in this series and enjoyed them immensely, however, Bridge Of Dreams seems to be written as a stand alone. The first two books are completely revamped in the here and the plot is barely realized by the halfway point. Holy Socks And Dirtier Demons starts out in the present tense yet never matures past that. We never learn any back story, the set up is nonexistent, and the characters overwhelm. By the halfway mark I still had no idea what was going on and who anybody was. I am starting Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare. Loved the first 4 in this series. Looking forward to this spin off. Also reading Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson aka The Bloggess. I haven’t stopped laughing since I started. A personal memoir of “mostly true stories” that chronicles her life and her ability to laugh at the world, and most importantly, herself.
News From May: I feel like the factory with __days accident free signage – except with DNF books. Another week without – yahoo! I lost track of where I set my copy of Cherry Adair’s Kiss & Tell so reading has was suspended on that (found it. On a bookshelf. Imagine that.) What was read this week? All books to be reviewed right here at Smexy!
Demon’s Bride by Zoe Archer was a very good read! It comes out in a few months and is the second installment of her Hellraisers series. The opening scene is the wedding of our heroine and her Hellraiser – a man she really doesn’t know but will grow to love (and help defeat evils, naturally). Nice balance of development of relationship, bringing in other characters, and while it is book 2 I loved that it could stand alone.
Protector by Catherine Mann ended in a “hey let’s insta love + marry” way that made me physically gag and was such a huge disappointment overall. More on that next week here in my review.
The World is a Stage by Tamara Morgan was the winner of the week. The hands down best contemporary I’ve read since summer 2010. (aka the last time I rated a straight contemporary romance an “A” read) It was so funny, such a good time – I loved it. One of my favorite quotes is the hero showing that he knows the meaning of a word… “Proposition. Noun. A fancy way to tell a woman you want to see her honey pot.” To say I’m delighted is an under statement. The book comes out in a few months – and a full review from me as well.
I’m working on Dresden Files #8 ( Proven Guilty) now. Oh I do love me some Harry Dresden. I’m also watching at long last the Game of Thrones. I’ve read the book – so I know the crazy is gonna be intense!
orannia says
I really enjoyed this, even though there is magical realism in it (I’m not always a fan of magic in my contemporaries).
@Mandi – neither am I – as soon as the magic makes an entrance I invariably have a WTF moment :) So…lthough I love Blue-Eyed Devil to pieces I think I may pass on this.
Tori – *snap* I spent the end of Febrary re-reading the Black Jewel series :) Well…my favourite bits :) And I’m looking forward to reading Fair Game at some point this month!