This week at Smexy…..

B+ review – The Notorious Countess Confesses (historical)
B+ review – Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter by Jessica Sims (pnr)
B+ review – Dirty Secrets by Rhys Ford (m/m contemp)
B review – Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon (m/m contemp)
B review – Scorched by Laura Griffin (romantic suspense)
B review – After the Storm by Amy Knupp (contemp)
B- review – Forbidden by Jacquelyn Frank (pnr)
B- review – ‘Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries (historical)
C+ review – The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams (uf)
C review – Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James (historical)

Guest Author Sandy Williams
Guest Author Alexandra
Stolen Blog Tour

Erotic Romance Sale (through 11/14)

Top Ten Reasons to Read Iced by Karen Marie Moning

News From Mandi: I started with a few DNF’s this week. First Devil’s Thief by Samantha Kane just wasn’t for me. I liked the first chapter, but the set-up became too silly for me. I also DNF’d Truth by Aleatha Romig. While the first book Consequences kept me on my toes and intrigued me, this book failed me in many ways. I wrote a few thoughts on Goodreads. I also DNF’d Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane. Very quirky concept and again, the first few chapters worked for me but it just became  so silly I couldn’t keep up. Just not for me.

But I rebounded! Iced by Karen Marie Moning was fabulous and I posted about it yesterday. I also loved Rescue my Heart by Jill Shalvis. This is the third book in her animal series and it was by far my favorite. Adam is very broody and sexy and I enjoyed the heroine a lot. Review coming this week.

I read Running in the Dark by Regan Summers, a paranormal that was pretty good. Some parts are slow with info dumping and I think it would have helped had I read the previous novella in the series, but overall it was pretty good. Review coming soon.

I read Lean on Me by HelenKay Dimon. This one was okay – I didn’t understand why the hero and heroine were so familiar with each other from the start just because they went to high school together ten years ago. It kind of stalled out towards the end too. Review coming soon.

Finally I read How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren, the start of a new series. The hero is badly disfigured due to an explosion – and I love a beast hero. This is only a novella, and no HEA at the end yet. I assume their romance will grow more in the second book. The world presented is interesting, yet not developed yet either. That was a little frustrating but I liked this one and I’m looking forward to the next. Review to come soon.

This weekend I’m going to read Construction Beauty Queen by Sara Daniel and All He Ever Desired by Shannon Stacey.

News From Tori: I got my Mary Calmes fix with a short freebie-Just Jory and her latest release in her Matter Of Time series-But For You. So good. But For You is the final installment of this delightfully romantic love affair of Sam and Jory. Dynamic characters and a well written storylines makes this series well worth re reading.

I finished A Needful Heart by JM Madden and was pleasantly surprised with the character development. The author does a great job of remaining true to the characters emotional make ups and the romance and plot lines blend well.

KMMs Iced was the book of the year to read and I was NOT disappointed. Dani comes through different in here. Maybe because the focus is on here as a person rather than Mac’s sidekick. Also enjoyed the dynamics between her and Ryodan. I like that while the book is dark and sensual, we aren’t made to view or deal with any romantic entanglements concerning Dani. Christian rocks, crazy arse that he is, and I enjoyed the seeing bits of Barrons, and other players from the Fever series. I’m looking forward to book two, like, NOW!

Romig’s Truth, book 2 in her Consequence series, was a bit of a let down. Consequences was so thrilling and suspenseful and I feel like Truth chickened out and take the path it was destined for.

The Spanish Billionaire’s Hired Bride by Rachel Lyndhurst was a recc’d by a fellow blogger and I was taken with the story. I mean, who doesn’t like an alpha, pita, over the top Spanish billionaire and his hired bride who nails him int he nuts when he tries to scare her? Very Harlequin-esque and a fast sexy read.

Back to you by Priscilla Glenn, is a New Adult romantic contemporary about miscommunications, friendships, and second chance love. I loved the MCs and the way the story shifted from the past to the present, enabling us to see where their original relationship went wrong. Glenn does a wonderful job of making us believe that the MCs do deserve their second chance. Though, the main reason for their parting was less traumatic than I thought it would be from the build up.

I downloaded Fifty Shades Of Mr Darcy off Net Galley and laughed myself silly. A parody based mashup based upon Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Fifty Shades Of Gray…the book is filled with kindergarten humor, vulgar humor, and outlandish puns as Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet enter a relationship of kinky fcukery involving toothbrushes, parsnips and lampshades.

Vivi Andrews’ The Ghost Exterminator is a PNR based on an uptight businessman and a kooky ghost buster. Not bad though the misunderstandings between the MCs got old after awhile and our heroine’s fear of a baby blue suit was rather silly.

I read Undeniable by Madeline Sheen because I was told it had a strong Kristian Ashley vibe. Well, it does have a motorcycle club and an arsehole hero but the similarities stop there. Duece, our hero, is a MC prez who is a jerk in the beginning, the middle, and the end. He never redeems himself. Ever. Our heroine, Kat, is a rival MC’s prez’s daughter. They meet when she’s 5 and he’s 25. The story chronicles their life and love through the years. Violent and uncensored, this is more of what I imagine being a women in the Hells Angels MC would be.

Susanne Frazier’s An Infamous Marriage was good and I enjoyed it. It had all the criteria for a second chance love historical romance. My only problem? I wanted more emotional outpouring from both MCs. They were so sensual in bed but so sensible out of it. (review to come)

A.M. Arthur’s Color Of Grace, #2 in Cost of Repairs series, is a sensual, romantic, emotionally uplifting M/M concerning two tortured heroes and the cost of forgiveness. Review to come.

This weekend, I will be reading Toxic by Jus Accardo, Cara McKenna’s 4th Curio Vinaigrette, Reversal, and Alice Clayton’s Wallbanger. Plus, thinking about doing a little Kat Martin re read. LOVE her historicals. :) I have Perfect Sin waiting on me.

News From May:  This week I read books #2-4 in Kelly Gay’s Charlie Madison series and DUDES. You need to be reading this series. Some seriously awesome UF here, I love the world building, the no-nonsense Charlie, her struggles, and how much hell this author puts any and all characters that step onto the page through. I left book 4 craving even more, but being totally satisfied with where things were at. I cross my fingers for more from this author!

Then, what could I possibly read next? What could stand up to the outstandingness and not feel lame by comparison? What could exceed expectations and blow me away? Answer: Iced by Karen Marie Moning. Holy fecking heck Batman, color me impressed. AMAZING book, and I think you could easily start here if you didn’t read the fever series. I adore Dani so much, I kept texting Mandi “I adore Dani”… and other theories and spoilers because KMM not only knocked this out of the park but also really has a lot of places she can take this story and world. Now, to sit back and wait a year or whatever for the next book!

And with my party week of reading just for fun and ignoring all obligations and deadlines, I’m back to the real world…