Here is what we talked about at Smexy this week:

A Review – Twisted by Laura Griffin
A Review – The Witness by Nora Roberts
A Review – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
C+ Review – Fortune Hunter by Ava March
C+ Review – Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright by Justine Saracen
C+ Review – Temptation Rising by AC Arthur
C Review – Ocean’s Touch by Denise Townsend
C Review – Table for One by Ros Clarke
D Review – Playing for Keeps by Liz Matis

Revenge Sex and Romance

AAD Spotlight – Mia Watts

Top Ten

News From Mandi: I read my first Sherry Thomas book, Beguiling the Beauty. It’s the start of her new trilogy. I was a little disappointed in the romance. The hero is very cold. I will say she writes some excellent dialogue. I’ve heard from a few book friends that the next book, Ravishing the Heiress is absolutely amazing, so I will definitely read that one. Review to come soon. Up next I read Lila DiPasqua’s new book, Undone. It is a play off of Rapunzel, with some sensual, erotic love scenes. I enjoy her books – although I had a few issues with the hero. My review will be up Monday. I also read Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost, Vlad’s book! It was good. Vlad is super arrogant and sexy and it worked for me. I also liked his heroine, Leila. We meet some new supporting characters too. I’ll post a review closer to release date. I’m currently reading On the Prowl by Christine Warren which I’m really enjoying! It has a super alpha male and an arranged marriage (they are tiger shifters). Oh I like. I’ll report back next week how the last 150 pages go. I’m also reading Kiss The Bride Anthology. Very light contemps, okay so far.

News From Tori:  I love KA Mitchell’s MM books and was pleased I found time to read two of them this week. Bad Boyfriend and Not Knowing Jack. Loved both. In Bad Boyfriend we meet Quinn who’s live in lover of 10 years suddenly dumps him to get married when a one night stand turns up pregnant. DRAMA!!! Not Knowing Jack brings an upheaval to Jack and his lover Tony’s relationship when Tony learns some things about Jack’s previous life that leaves him reeling. Emotional and humorous angst at its best. DNF’d Tom Wright’s What Dies In Summer. An promising premise that delivers instead a hot mess that desperately needs editing. Kate Cross’s Heart Of Brass, first in a new series, is a steampunk historical romance that gives us action, adventure, lost love, spies, and some REALLY hot smoking love scenes. Review to come. Angel’s End by Cindy Holby was a sweet historical romance that read like an episode of Little House On The Prairie. Seriously. Review to come. I finally was able to read Stacy Jay’s Blood On The Bayou; #2 in her Annabelle Lee series. I think I’m done with this series. While I love the storyline and the long reaching arc, I just can’t stand the heroine. Review to come. Amy Plum’s Until I Die, #2 in her Revenant trilogy, was an interesting read and gives us some much needed information to prepare us for the final book of the trilogy. Review to come. The rest of the week has been filled with Catherine Coulter re reads. I adore Coulter’s Bride series and I find myself drifting back to it over the years. One of my favorites is Mad Jack. Similar to Julie Garwood-this whole series is filled with romance, danger, some angst, alpha men, women who take no crap from their alpha men, and lots of humor.

News from Helyce:  After missing the weekly wrap up for two weeks, I though I’d have tons to report, but alas…not so much. Lots going on with the family, not a lot of time for reading recently.  Things have settled a bit now, and with the kids back to school this week I’m happy to report that I have book stuff to share this week!  First, I read Table for One by Ros Clarke.  I liked the premise of this story and certainly enjoyed the author’s descriptive language.  However at a very short 52 pages I was left a bit unsatisfied; I just wanted more.  Next up, Handle With Care by Josephine Myles.  The more I read this author, the more I adore her.  I love her quirky characters and her British humor. I really enjoyed it; review coming up this week. While I was in M/M mode, I dove into The Distance Between Us by L.A. Witt. I had not read this author before, but the blurb looked interesting as I was intrigued by the protagonists being in their 40’s. After ten years together, they break up but are living as roommates.  They take on a 3rd roommate to help with finances and he’s young and hot and they are both attracted to him. I like how the author used the uncomfortableness of the menage scenes to pull the two leads back together.  It was kind of an odd way to do it, but it really worked in this story.   I then grabbed A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster.  This is the 4th book in her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series and I loved it!  I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series so far, but the focus on the romance, with the human trafficking more in the background was a really nice change.  I loved Arizona and Spencer.  Review will be up near the end of the month. I was thrilled to find the recent release of Chase In Shadow by Amy Lane on Netgalley.  I scooped it up and proceeded to read it over the last two days. If I could have sat and read it straight through I would have.  As it was, I carried my Kindle around and read it every chance I had, even when stopped at a read light. I even read at the salon today while I had my roots touched up and didn’t even care that everyone was looking at me while tears rolled down my face. LOVED!  Amy Lane does angst so well and even though I feel like I lost my best friend at the end of her books, I will never quit her.  Chase in Shadow deals with some heavy subject matter and I’m still digesting everything that happened.  Review will be up mid May. This weekend I plan to finish up Under A Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands.  This is book 16 in her Argeneau series.  I’m not thrilled with it; it’s kinda dragging right now, but I love this series so I"ll see it through.  I will also finish up Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh.  I had to put it down to finish up some of my review books, but I’m anxious to get back to it!  After that, it’s Karma by Carly Phillips and I’m very much looking forward to reading Dare’s story!

News From May: This week I read only one book- Nalini Singh’s Tangle of Need. Now I’m a huge fan – I love her work. This particular installment while giving me healthy glimpses into past (and potential future) leading characters just didn’t work for me as a novel. I know! I’m going to be shunned forevers!! The thing is, it felt like a bridge book. A lot of cleaning up the aftermath of previous book- while setting up for next novel. The main characters just didn’t wow me – I really wasn’t compelled by their plot line I found myself wanting less of them and more of anything else. That said – Singh is an amazing talent and she has me salivating and anxious as heck for the next book in this and her guild hunter series.

Now if I can duck the rotten veggies being thrown at me, I’m onto some books that have upcoming reviews!