This is what we talked about at Smexy this week:

A review – The Siren by Tiffany Reisz
A review – Sunrise Point by Robyn Carr
B+ review – Karma by Carly Phillips
B review – Rough Ride by Keri Ford
B review – Bound to Me by Jocelynn Drake
B review  – Wicked Burn by Beth Kery
B review – Coveted by Shawntelle Madison
B- review – College Boys Daisy Harris
B- review – Under Fire by Catherine Mann
C+ review – Demonically Tempted by Stacey Kennedy
C+ review – Until I Die by Amy Plum  
D+ review – Crazy on You by Rachel Gibson

Interview with Carly Phillips
AAD Spotlight – Amanda Carlson
Smexy’s Top Ten

News From Mandi: I started the week with the historical, Invitation to Scandal by Bronwen Evans. It is a very sensual book but I had some problems with it feeling romantic. I did like the adventure feel and it has a very nasty villain. Full review to come towards the end of the month. Then I jumped to the historical m/m, Rogues by Ava March. This ends her Brook Street trilogy. I liked this one. I still like book one the best, but this one was very sexy. I maybe wanted a little more meat to the story, but still liked this love story. On the recommendation of Nicole, I read Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire. I enjoyed this one – a little too much drama towards the end that wore me out but otherwise a fun contemporary. I’ll be posting my review this week. I just finished the pnr/slightly steampunk-ish Blood Kin by MJ Scott. I really enjoyed book one last year, Shadow Kin and this one is good as well. The hero is a Templar Knight and the heroine is a thief and spy. I love this world the author has created. Review to come in early June. I’m currently reading One More Summer by Liz Flaherty. I’m also going to start A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant. Excited to try that one.

Tori News– Slow reading week. Only four books. :( Maybe I’m sick? No. What happened is I got sucked into an Anne Bishop reread of her Black Jewels Trilogy. I blame the Moria half of the writing team Moira Rogers. A.M Arthur’s debut-Cost Of Repairs-is a sweet albeit emotionally sticky mm romance. Two tortured heroes have a long road to travel towards trust and forgiveness. Perfectly balanced angst and smoking hot smexy scenes. Another enjoyable mm romance is Kim Fielding’s Good Bones. A quiet architect moves into the country to find some peace and quiet and finds romance instead. Two adorable heroes you’ll fall in love with. Nora Roberts’ The Witness was a surprise with it’s suspenseful plot, lovely romance, and engaging characters. I’ve had some problems with some of her more recent offerings so I was pleased to see this is very similar to some of her earlier stand alones. Keri Ford’s Rough Ride is a sexy book with enjoyable characters and some hot, steamy romance. I really liked the secondary characters in here and look forward to reading about their HEAs. I am currently reading Barbara Ashford’s Spellcrossed, J Lynn’s Tempting The Best Man, and Roxanne St Claire’s Barefoot in the Sand.

News From Helyce:  First up, I read Embrace of the Damned by Anya Bast.  This is my first read by this author and I really liked it. It had great bits of humor and a strong lead couple.  My review will be up later this week.  I also read Jacked Up by Erin McCarthy.  I am a big fan this series centering around race car drivers. The first three books remain my favorites in this series and I was very happy to finally get Eve’s story.  I was pleased the author did not set her up with a driver and while Nolan is involved in the racing circuit I think I would have been disappointed if her HEA was with a driver. Watching Eve’s bitchy facade tumble down around Nolan was fun.  Review to come soon.  Next up, I totally inhaled Vivian Arend’s Granite Lake Wolves books-Wolf Signs, Wolf Flight, Wolf Games and Wolf Tracks. I have fast become a huge fan of Ms. Arend and I’m so glad I had time to read these before I read an arc of book 5, Wolf Line which is due out mid June.  Great characters and world; makes me want to be a wolf shifter. Last up, I had to read Rough Ride by Keri Ford after reading Mandi’s review recently. I really liked it for the most part.  I loved the familial relationships and very much enjoyed Gretchen, Flora and Tonya who provide some very funny moments.  Gretchen and Lane have great chemistry and watching him fight his feelings while she pretty much throws herself into his path was handled really well. It’s very smexy when they finally get down to it! I didn’t think the secret that Lane was hiding was a very big deal even though it was wrecking Lane big time.  I am so ready for the next book though!!! Pretty please?  This weekend, I am reading Cowboy Casanova by Lorelei James.  I realized that Kissin’ Tell comes out in June and I had not even read the last one.  I think I put it off because of it’s BDSM content, but I’ll brave it because I love this series.

News from May: While incredibly interesting and with 2 strong secondary romances not to mention unique characters and set up  – I just can’t recommend Mary Jo Putney’s The Rake to you. Enjoyable read, yes. I admired the author’s handling of the hero’s alcoholism as well. That said, the revelations about the heroine as well as the final quarter of the book or so just left me cold. It was a good airport/plane read though.

I also read Bare Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez, a mystery that had some strong potential, but ultimately I didn’t love Lola herself. Review on this book to come soon.

I am finishing off my week (and into this weekend) enjoying Jaye Wells UF series about half vampire half mage Sabina Kane. I read the first book (Red Headed Step-Child) and am heading into book #2. I have some concerns about overall world as well as heroine herself, but I have high hopes. We’ll see!