Weekly Wrap-Up

This week at Smexy……

C+ review – Rev it Up by Julie Ann Walker (rom suspense)
C+ review – Power Exchange by AJ Rose (m/m suspense)
C review – Better Than Chocolate by Shelia Roberts (contemp)
C review – Hear Me by Skye Warren (dark erotica)
C review – Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair (holiday contemp)
C review – Angel’s Ink by Jocelynn Drake (UF)
C- review – Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath (historical)

I Interrupt Your Day
We discuss Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Smexy’s Top Ten

News from Mandi: Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe turned out to be a book NOT for me. I wrote some thoughts on Goodreads. I had a very hard time with it, especially the ending. I moved onto Consequences by Aleatha Romig. Whoa. We discussed it at Smexy yesterday, so you can read all my thoughts there. Make sure you read my warnings about the book too.

Barefoot in the Rain by Roxanne St. Claire was just okay. I felt the romance lacked and the heroine kind of got on my nerves. The story seemed to stall halfway through. I might be done with this series.

I also read the PNR novella, The Deadly Stripper by Diane Thorne. While the beginning is interesting, I felt it lost focus as the story went on. The heroine has a nice voice, but I was confused by her actions. She sleeps with both a vampire that needs her help and an old flame, and at the end there wasn’t any real resolution. Maybe a second book will resolve things? I wrote some thoughts up on Goodreads.

I did have two books that I greatly enjoyed this week. First, Exposed to You by Beth Kery. An erotic contemporary that not only has really, really hot sex scenes but a great courtship between the hero and heroine. The heroine is starting her life over after a bout with cancer, and the hero is a famous movie star, but he is totally down to earth. I highly recommend this one – it releases in the beginning of November.

I also read Tigerland, sequel to Tigers & Devils by Sean Kennedy. Loved. Adored. Simon and Declan are two of my favorite characters and I could read Simon’s voice all day long. I’ll be posting a review this coming week.

I’m currently reading The Prince by Tiffany Reisz. One of my favorite series, I can’t wait to dive into this book today.

Tori News: I got some new glasses today. They fit better but the lens are smaller and they feel weird. I hate glasses that feel weird. We also built a new fire pit, which I’m hoping to try out if it gets cool enough.

Losing It by Cora Carmack is a cute though predictable New Adult about a 21 year old virgin college student who, in her quest to lose her virginity, mistakes her new drama professor for a student and proceeds to embarrass herself when she can’t go through with the act. From there we follow her as she tries to avoid said professor; falling hard for him at the same time. A fast read with bits of humor and a realistic look at sex and the pressures of not being sexually active in a time when sex is considered a must have in college.

Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred is a delightfully funny romantic contemporary that is a cross between Erin Brockovich and Steel Magnolias. Allred addresses the real and horrific consequences of big business and environmental hazards in a small town. Throw in a beer drinking emu, an ex stripper turned Mormon, and six women hell bent on saving the town and you have a fast and funny read that will have you never looking at big business the same way again.

Cameron Dane’s A Younger Man is a sexy sweet may-december m/m romance about an older man who comes out of the closet and the troubled younger man who brings forth all his protective and sexual instincts.

Julie Kawaga’s Lost Prince takes us back to the Iron Fey world this spin off centering around The Iron Queen’s brother-Ethan Chase. I loved visiting NeverNever again and seeing some old friends. Though I enjoyed, I did wish that the base storyline had deviated a little more from the original series. Once again, another Chase will have to fight and rescue a loved one from the Fey. Review to come.

I dnf’d Eileen Wilks Mortal Ties. This arc has gone on forever without a lot of advancement. We are still attempting to neutralize a villain who has become boring for a better lack of a word. Plus, I feel that Lily and Rule have stagnated. We are STILL waiting for the wedding.

Jennifer Ashley’s The Seduction Of Elliot McBride is a steamy sexy historical highland romp. Elliott and his bride are delightful together as they settle into marriage and try to stay ahead of the various adventures that crop up around them. Vivacious secondary characters and humor keeps the story fresh, funny, and moving at a steady pace. Mandi will be reviewing for Smexybooks.

By Private Invitation by Stephanie Julian takes you on an erotic romance filled with sensual seduction and fulfillment. My review will appear in the January Issue of RT Magazine.

Conviction by Nicole Edwards is a steamy m/m/m/f erotic between a delish alpha and the woman who both challenges and intrigues him. Though a little chatty for the first 30%, the story settles down and you find yourself hooked till the very end.

Sandy William’s The Shattered Dark was as amazing as her first book in the series, The Shadow Reader, and frankly, broke my heart a little at the end. In a good way though. Review to come.

I am currently reading Abigails Roux’s The Gravedigger’s Brawl. I hope to read Allison Pang’s A Trace of Moonlight and An Infamous Marriage by Susanna Fraser this weekend.

News From Helyce: This has not been a good reading week for me. I’ve been a quite frazzeled and a bit out of sorts as my hours at work nearly doubled this week. I’m pretty sure I forgot to do some important things, like paying bills and sadly, there was not a lot of time to read except on the train which is about 30 minutes total each day. Sad, I know.

I finished up Dirty Secret by Rhys Ford. I really enjoyed this book. We go deeper into the Korean culture and watch Cole and Jae Min as they attempt to have a relationship in a culture that is unforgiving of the gay lifestyle. It’s okay to be gay as long as you hide it. Very intense while at the same time being quite humorous. Review to come soon.

Next up, I read Clear Water by Amy Lane. I love Amy Lane. As long as she writes m/m, I’m all over it. This was a really well done story of a young man, Patrick, who struggles with ADHD. He’s made some poor choices, but he’s really trying to get his life together. First step is to tell his Dad that he is gay. When his dad responds disbelievingly and tells Patrick "it’s just a phase", he’s disappointed. It’ll take a man named Whiskey and a woman named Fly Bait to bring out the Patrick that he truly wants to be. A really beautiful love story between an unlikely couple, that uses the theme of family being more than just the one you’re born into, but the one that you make. Watching Patrick come into his own was fun. He’s such a spaz, for the most part, but Whiskey quickly figures out all Patrick’s quirks and what to do to center him. This book did not have the trademark emotional angst that I’ve come to expect in an Amy Lane novel, but it was a refreshing change and there were quite a few LOL moments! Loved!

After that, I started Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton. This is book 5 in Naughton’s Eternal Guardian series. I’m about 70% in and we’re finally getting to know Gryphon and Maelea as a possible couple. There is something unclear about why they are drawn to each other. I am a huge fan of this series and recommend it to paranormal romance fans. I do think the series should be read in order, but that is my opinion. Start with Marked. It’s free for Kindle on Amazon right now! Review to come closer to review date.

After that, I have to focus on writing some reviews and getting my review books in order. I bought like six e-books in a short period of time and they are laughing at me because they know it’ll be a while before they get read. Tomorrow I’m off to spend the day in Carmel. Really excited. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

News from May: This week ended with Lisa Plumley’s Holiday Affair which was ok, but between the insta-love and the big-mis ending I was disappointed in it and don’t recommend. Though it did give me the phrase "nookie beard" – which I willforever cherish.

Speaking of holiday reads, I also read Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts and I
would recommend only if you want a book where there are no heroes or happily
ever afters. NOT my idea of a warm and fuzzy holiday read. Review to come
for that – as well as ‘Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries
which was a sweet, though totally predictable historical holiday read. My
third (and yes, review to come) holiday read of the week was Twelfth Nights Secrets and that one was unremarkable enough that it’s not even been a week and I can’t recall much to say about it. Not a good sign.

Also coming soon for review, I read Blind Destiny by Shiloh Walker (short, dark, fairy tale inspired book that is part of a series) and Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James (disappointing to say the least).

Now I’m onto Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman and Alchemystic – here’s hoping for some great reads!