This week at Smexy….

A review – Widow’s Web by Jennifer Estep (uf)
B+ review – Heavy Issues by Elle Aycart (erotic contemporary)
B+ review – Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux (m/m suspense)
B review – Mark and Tony by LB Gregg (m/m contemporary)
B review – Sweet Deception by Heather Snow (historical)
B review – The Asylum Interviews – Bronx by Jocelynn Drake (uf)
B- review – Trust in Me by Skye Warren (dark erotica)
C review – A Girl Like You by Maria Geraci (chick lit)
D review – The Last Victim by Karen Robards (paranormal suspense)

Guest author Abigail Roux
Guest author Heather Snow

May discusses why – It’s Good to be Cheap
Smexy’s Top Ten

News From Mandi: I got a lot of reading in because I spent hours and hours at airports last weekend. So here we go. First of all, Playing for Keeps by RL Matthewson made me laugh and laugh. And laugh. I found this to be the funniest book with a sweet romance. I definitely want to go on and try Perfection by this author. But I rec this one if you want something light and funny. (Also, only $.99 at Amazon). Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl, not a favorite of mine. Heroine is very prickly and defensive (I think she had a good reason to be) but I never understood why she would be attracted to the cowboy Cole, and vice versa. They didn’t have chemistry in my opinion. Review coming soon.

Not Proper Enough by Carolyn Jewel is a fabulous read. Really sensual, and very romantic. Full review coming soon but I highly rec this one. Another historical that absolutely blew me away – A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare. Heroine has a birthmark on her face and doesn’t feel worthy of love. Hero is in love with heroine but doesn’t feel worthy himself. Adorable, very sensual, amazing book. May will be reviewing for Smexy late next week.

In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker continues her fun black ops books. I think I liked this one better than book one, although I do still wish it was a little dirtier and not so cheesy. But it is a fun type of cheesy I enjoy. I’m excited for this series. Review to come closer to release date. I read Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh and was a little disappointed. It felt slow and a little boring. I wanted to go more indepth with the hero. Maybe the type of hero he is – very somber – isn’t for me. I’ll post a review closer to release date.

I read the m/m/f By Surprise by Alyssa Turner. This one is ok, although I feel we never fully dive into emotions or repercussions of adding a woman to an established gay relationship. We just skim the surface of everything. Full review to come.

Finally I read Rough Play by Keri Ford. I like her voice, although this one seemed to be all sex and not a lot of meat to the story. Probably my least favorite of hers. Review to come.

I’m currently reading my first Shannon McKenna book, One Wrong Move and the asshole hero that is very likable is totally working for me. I’ve decided to glom her McCloud series, starting with Behind Closed Doors ($2.99 on Kindle so good place to start!) Her books feels over the top with massive alpha heroes. Yes. Come to Smexy.

News From Tori: I think I have finally recovered from the Authors After Dark Convention. I had so much fun seeing old friends and meeting new ones, but New Orleans is definitely a place to visit- not live. Getting back into the reading mode has been a little hard so this week was a slow reading week. Jaci Burton’s Playing To Win continues with her muy sexy Play By Play series with the luscious Cole Riley. I swear, I’d buy these books JUST for the covers. *drool* A humorous, very hot romantic contemporary that takes a honest look at sport stars, the media, and misconceptions. I was very lucky to get an arc of Suzanne Johnson’s River Road at the AAD con. River Road, the second in Johnson’s Sentinels Of New Orleans series, surprised me. I wasn’t impressed with the first in the series, but this one was a delightful mixture of humor, action, and massive character development. If the rest of the series continues in this fashion, then Ms. Johnson has a new fan.

Megan Hart’s Deeper was an interesting set up in that she adds a paranormal element that for me, worked. It has the requisite dark side to it but I liked that Hart didn’t force an unrealistic HEA because of the paranormal element. Jennifer Armentrout’s Onyx, second in her YA-Lux series, was everything I imagined and more. ZOMG. I’ve never been a huge alien fan but I admit that Armentrout has hit all my buttons with this YA. I am eagerly awaiting the third in the series, Opal, which is set to release in Dec. Squeeeee. She has also written a few novella’s from MC’s Daemon’s POV which are a much read for anyone who loves this series.

I did have two DNFs-Tallulah Darling’s Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls and K.D. McEntire’s Reaper. Darling’s book needed more depth and substance. Reading was like watching an epi of MTVs Real World. Reaper was good but this is one of those series with extensive world and character building. You REALLY need to read the first one in order to continue with the second one. I was so confused by the halfway point. This is on me though as I did not check to see if it was a stand alone or not.

I am currently reading Meljean Brook’s Riveted and Rachel Haimowitz and Cat Grant’s Power Play: The Awakening. I also hope to get to Clay Griffith’s The Kingmakers.

News From May: #1: Everyone needs to go pre-order Anna Campbell’s book Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed. NOW!!

I read the book this week [review to come] and OMFG. It does touch on the Beauty and the Beast trope (a personal fave) – but it is so much more than that. Heartbreaking and beautiful and emotional and just… damn. WOW. I had to put my kindle in the freezer to cool it back down due to the book’s HEAT – but the real treat was how well the author really made that work. She really made each bedroom scene develop the relationship and the characters. What a read. Highly recommend.

Ok, now we can move on. But hmm, I can hardly recall what else I read this week prior to that book! Oh yes, I recall.  Blackstone’s Bride by Kate Moore (just ok) , Soldier’s Last Stand by Cindy Dees (strong dislike), and Lord’s Fall by Thea Harrison (partially disappointing). Reviews to come on all of those books here at Smexy.

I also read Kelly Gay’s The Better Part of Darkness and OOOOH. I’m excited to keep reading that dark gritty UF series. I know Tori recommends it.

Off to soak up summer’s last days poolside and read even more.

News From Helyce: As I suspected, my 5 day camping trip last week, while absolutely wonderful, did not provide the hours of reading that I imagined.  I did have some very nice uninterrupted reading time, but it was so hot at the lake and I refused to take my Kindle out on the water; so there were hours where I didn’t even touch it.  So this is what I did manage to read: I read Dark Soul, Volume 4 & 5 by Alexsandr Voinov and I was in heaven.  I loved these stories and the characters in them.  Broken, tortured, and so emotionally deep, I just wanted it to go on and on. This is a story that will stick with you, long after you’ve finished.  While I had some mixed feelings about the direction of Volume 5, they were not enough to lessen my deep love of this story.  So, so good.  I also finished up One Night Rodeo by Lorelei James which posted on August 10. I really enjoyed this one.  Great focus on the couple with lots of time for them to fall in love.  Loved.  I also read and had a review post this week for Heavy Issues by Elle Aycart.   I’m fast becoming a fan of Ms. Aycart.  I loved the subject matter in this book.  The character growth and love story were great.   Brody by Emma Lang was a wonderful surprise. I’m not much for historicals, but this story set in 1836 is not written like your normal historical.  In fact it has a contemporary feel.  I loved the H/H here!  Olivia, our heroine, is a kick.  Strong and intelligent, she proves over and over that she’s no wilting flower.  Great dynamic between the couple.
I very much enjoyed reading Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux.  This installment of Zach & Ty will have you falling in love with them all over again!  I love this series!  I can’t say that enough.  I also read The Angel by Tiffany Reisz.  There are some OMG moments in this book and the cliffhanger at the end will have you begging for the next book. I am completely and utterly hooked by this story.  And Wesley is mine, all mine.

I am currently reading White Hot by Nina Bruhns.  While full of suspense, I’m afraid it’s not keeping my attention.  I can’t really put my finger on what is bothering me. I feel very disconnected for some reason.  After that, I’ll be reading Temptation’s Edge by Eve Berlin this weekend.  I hope it’s good!