What we talked about at Smexy this week:

A review – If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker
A review – By a Thread by Jennifer Estep
A- review – Devil’s Luck by Carolyn Crane
A- review – Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
B+ review- A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang
B+ review – A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan
B review – The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
B review – Angels’ Flight by Nalini Singh
B review – Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr
C+ review – A Scandalous Countess by Jo Beverly
F review – How to be Death by Amber Benson

Mandi goes back to 1984 and Falls in love with Jake Ryan

News From Mandi: I started the week by reading the very sexy, Wicked Burn by Beth Kery. This is an older book of hers that has a very dominant hero in the bedroom. I thought the sex scenes were very well done (and super erotic). Review for this is coming later. I finished Untraceable by Laura Griffin. This is the third book in her Tracers series. I kind of worked backwards – I read book four, Snapped, then read one, two and three. I really enjoyed them all. A must read for romantic suspense fans. As I mentioned last week, book five, Twisted (out this April) is a favorite of mine so far this year. I read The Saint Who Stole My Heart by Stefanie Sloane. This has a very quiet, cute romance. The suspense was just okay for me. More to come on this later. I snuck in, Fueling her Fire by Piper Trace– a lumberjack novella. It was fun. I wanted the lumberjack to be a little more gruff, but it was a quick sexy read. I finished up Fool Moon, and immediately started Grave Peril (bk 3 in Harry Dresden series). I’m so in love with these books. Don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. I also started a reread of Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair – the first book in her TFlac series. It is so over the top..but so awesome. LOL. May is rereading with me – maybe we will do a little post about it when we finish. I’ve reread the first two chapters and already have about 25 quotes I want to share. LOL.

News From Tori: It’s only when I do these weekly wraps up to I notice how really laid back my life is. heh. So I finished Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English Mystery series this week. Tres good. I loved them all and my only problem is I don’t feel Jake groveled enough. I did like that Adrien was able to vocalize what he wanted and needed easier. Quite a few fellow bloggers recommended Jill Shalvis’s Time Out to me so I gave it a try. I love JIll Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series but this one was a dud for me. Both the hero and heroine made me stabby and by the end I was just happy it was over and no one died. Shelly Laurenston’s Bear Meets Girl is #7 in her Pride series and it was worth it. I laughed so hard through out the whole book. The hero and heroine are so perfect for each other and since Blayne plays a substantial role in here…the laughs never stop. Carolyn Crane’s novella, Devil’s Luck, is a delightful romantic niblet that centers on Simon and Fawna from her Disillusionist series. Fast pacing and a full bodied story makes this a wonderful read. II would love to read an entire novel devoted to them. I’ve also done some re reads: Saving Grace by Julie Garwood, A few books from the Demonica series by Larissa Ione, and I’m currently breezing through Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series. On a non reading note, the kid is being inducted (school’s words not mine) in to The Order Of The Bear Cub Honor Society. As long as no blood sacrifices or entails eating is required…I think it’ll be all good.

News from May: First off heads up! Amazon.com had a ton of pre-orders and brand new books on their 4 for 3 deal. I loaded myself up this week with pre-orders!!

Now onto the reading. A pretty strong week I must say! I finished The Seduction of an English Scoundrel by Jillian Hunter which started strong, but some game playing by the main characters and forced drama left me cold in the end. If I were I reviewing I’d have given it a C-. On the upside, I finished books #2 and #3 in the Downside series (Unholy Magic and City of Ghosts) by Stacia Kane and WOW. This author amazes me. The story follows around a junkie who has no intention of ever not relying on drugs – she can’t imagine it. That said, this author is so great, and she presents the character in such a way, that I am able to get past the unlikeability of this character and enjoy her amazing story telling.

I also read the new Nalini Singh novella featuring Galen (set in past). Oh, oh Galen you brutal warrior you. This story was a nicely done one, I just wish it was September already so I could read Jason’s book. Seriously. Is it September yet?

I am still reading the Tattooed Duke (poor man got set aside because I simply had to read the 2 books previously mentioned!) but I’ll be finishing his story up soon. I’m also reading Protector by Catherine Mann which starts in the Mediterranean and features a (literally) tortured hero and mob boss daughter heroine who have been very busy avoiding their attraction to one another while being chased, shot at, spied on, and more on and off the cruise ship her daddy owns. (Review to come this month)

Finally, Mandi was pinned a lumberjack photo and that reminded me of a book I read years ago by Cherry Adair called Kiss & Tell. We are both re-reading this one now… and oh my. With a six and a half foot tall, size 14 shoe, shoulder length hair, scruffy loner mountain man (former military) hero and the virginal innocent heroine – oh my. As I recall there is definitely some WTF-ery here, but also a lot of tension and action and suspense – and I did really like it the first time so here’s hoping for a fun re-read.

News from Helyce:  For some reason, I’ve been in a reading slump this week.  It’s starting to freak me out a little bit! Finished up Lover Revealed by JR Ward.  Loved reading Butch’s book again.  It’s amazing the little things you forget after a while. It was fun to read about Blay, Qhuinn and John Matthew as pre-trans again. Slowly getting through Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane. I had to put it down to finish up Wicked Edge by Nina Bangs.  I finally finished this one. I loved the characters a lot, but I think if I was current with the previous books, this one would have flowed better. I’ll have a review up for this book soon.  I devoured Dance With Me by Heidi Cullinan. I thank  Mandi for this fabulous book gift. I am now a total fan of Ms. Cullinan. This book, wow! Ed and Laurie (short for Lawrence)–talk about opposites attract.  Ed is a muscular football player who had to give up the sport because of an injury.  Laurie is a world class dancer who gave up performing to teach, after a little scandal. They are both dealing with personal inadequacies, but they are perfect for each other. Look for that review coming soon too.  I’m starting Nightborn by Lynn Viehl.  I have not read this author in a long time.  Looking forward to checking out this new series.  I also hope to start Geared For Pleasure by Rachel Grace this weekend.  This one is not my usual kind of story, but I’m excited read it as I love books by Rachel Grace’s alternate identity, R.G. Alexander.  Have a great weekend all!!!