This week at Smexy…..

A+ review – Shadows Before the Sun by Kelly Gay (urban fantasy)
A review – Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy)
A review – Shadow Rising by Kendra Leigh Castle (paranormal romance)
B+ review – Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (historical paranormal)
B review – Because You are Mine: Part One by Beth Kery (erotic contemporary)C+ review – The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand (contemporary)
C- review – Double Down by Katie Porter (erotic contemporary)

Interview with Tiffany Reisz
Interview with Beth Kery
Deals!
Why the Dark Soul series is our New Crack
Smexy’s Top Ten

News From Mandi: This has been the week where Mandi discovers Aleksandr Voinov. I read his entire Dark Soul series, which I blogged about yesterday. And then I started his free read (on his website – you can download and transfer to your kindle) – his epic, long, amazing Special Forces. There are 3 parts, and I’m 80% through part one. I believe he said all three parts together is about the length of 15 full sized novels. So yeah – I’ve been reading for days and still on part one. I’m obsessed and blown away. Dan and Vadim have me completely addicted. I plan to blog about it at some point – not sure after part one or after I finish it all. It’s very dark and a little rough to read at times. As I said, it’s a free read, and not the best edited at some points – also he goes back and forth with the pov’s that will make you dizzy. But, after awhile I didn’t care. I just had to know what happens with these two. Highly rec it if you like very rough, dark, violent, angsty books.

I read Kissin’ Tell by Lorelei James. Not sure if I will review this one. I liked the hero and as usual Lorelei James writes fun, steamy sex scenes. But the heroine in this one was just too much for me. She was such a hussy! All she wanted was to get Tell in bed and all he wanted to do was show her he can be a gentleman. But she would get all pissy if he tried to slow things down and that got on my nerves. I didn’t like her much. Would give it a C grade.

I DNF’d Finding Gaia by Kimberly Chapman. I’ve been trying a lot of self published books this year, and this one, while it has an interesting premise and the first two chapters are pretty good, it got really slow and boring fast. After the heroine is rescued, nothing happens for pages and pages. I lost interest.

I loved and adored Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews. For those who love the Kate Daniels series, this is a must read. Andrea and Raphael are fabulous together. Ilona Andrews are one of the best storytellers out there.

One self pub that did work for me this week is Inertia by Amelia Gormley. It’s a m/m contemporary about a handyman who is a little shy, and hasn’t been in a relationship for ten years and an accountant coming out of a mentally abusive relationship. I thought it was really cute and sweet. Ends abruptly, but it looks like there will be a second book about them. I’ll post a review soon.

Finally, I read Indelibly Intimate by  Regina Cole. Hello tattoo artist with a shaved head. That pretty much guarantees I’ll read the book. LOL. I had some issues with the heroine in this book, but it’s a pretty sexy read. I would like to try more from this author. Review to come soon.

News from Helyce: I’ve been focusing on getting ahead of my review books because we have a family camping trip coming up.  While I always imagine I’ll have hours and hours to read while hanging out at the lake, for whatever reason that never seems to happen.  This year, though, I’m determined to get some power reading done while getting a bit of a tan!  This week I read Stygian’s Honor by Lora Leigh.  I’m a huge fan of Ms. Leigh’s Breed series and while recent offerings have been ‘meh’ this one was a bit better. The current story arc advances a bit with answers to one big secret, but for the most part we are still left hanging and wanting. Review up for that soon.

Next up I read Cherished, an anthology with two stories by Maya Banks and Lauren Dane. The first, Exiled by Maya Banks, had me going "ick" quite a bit and I had a constant deja vu going as it weirdly reminded me of Banks’ book Colter’s Woman. The second book, Sway by Lauren Dane, was so much better and though the hero, Levi, got on my nerves I enjoyed this story and I look forward to Dane’s new series. In between I snuck in Alexsandr Voinov’s Dark Soul, Vol. 1,2 and 3. Mandi has been tweeting about these and emailing, so I had to jump in and I’m so glad I did.  They are really ‘cracktastic’! Dark and edgy, some of the scenes push me way out of my comfort zone, but me likey!!!! Saving volumes 4 & 5 for camping. 

Currently, I am reading One Night Rodeo by Lorelei James.  This is book 4 in her Blacktop Cowboy series focusing on a group of cowboys and cowgirls who run in the rodeo circuit.  I’ve had a thing for Kyle since book one and watching him and Celia bicker and banter, well, I knew they would heat up the pages once they finally gave in to their passion. I’m happy to say I was not wrong.  This installment has really focused on the romance between the two and I’m loving it. Still waiting for that big conflict to hit, but I’m hoping this couple’s fighting days are over!  I’m nearly done with Heavy Issues by Elle Aycart. I’m enjoying this book a lot.  The heroine, Christy, has struggled with her weight all her life.  After yoyo dieting for years, she finally finds a support group and loses 70 pounds.  Still curvy, but in a really sexy way, she’s caught the eye of hunky Cole Bowan, and while she gives in to their sexual attraction, Christy is still working through a ton of self confidence issues where her body is concerned. Cole doesn’t see anything but hot sexy woman and he intends to get Christy to see herself that way too. Next up I have Brody by Emma Lang and White Hot by Nina Bruhns. As soccer is back in full swing for my kids, I’m looking forward to getting back into my reading routine during practices and games!  Have a great weekend

News From May: This week I started things with Wilder by Christina Dodd, and while I was adoring the classic Beauty and the Beast tale to start, midway the book completely changes becoming a totally different pace and tone – I disliked that. Review to come here soon.

Another book in my hands for review that I was really excited about was  A Lady Never Lies by Julianna Gray. I finally put it down as DNF. I had a super hard time getting interested in the characters there was just some undefinable x factor in the writing that had me forcing myself to turn the pages. So I skipped/skimmed and discovered a personal deal breaker and called it off.

For the rest of the week, I focused on just for fun reading. First up, I cleared my Tuesday for Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews did NOT disappoint, though I’m trying to come to grips with the series being nearly over. (just 2 more books to come – and another not until 2013? *sob*) I adored Andrea – way more than I thought I would, and I just had such an incredible time in this world and found both new favorites and got to see many of my past faves as well. Can’t recommend the series enough A!!!!

Once I recovered, I dove into Moonglow by Kristen Callihan. If you’re not reading this new series DO check it out! I loved the darkness, the story, and overall flow of this book even more than I loved the first. They do stand alone well too – which is super nice. A!!!

Now I’m reading Blade Song by JC Daniels because after reading the author’s piece here at smexy and calling upon my personal UF expert (aka Tori) I determined I needed to read this book. I’m infatuated – totally loving it and shushing other soccer moms who want to speak to me at practice because dang it! I’m reading here!