This week at Smexy…

A review – Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella (contemporary)
A- review – Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid (contemporary)
B+ review – Diana’s Hound by Moira Rogers (PNR)
B+ review – If He’s Tempted by Hannah Howell (historical pnr)
B+ review – The Chocolate Rose by Laura Florand (contemporary)
B+ review – Dirty Laundry by Rhys Ford (m/m contemporary)
B review – Play With Me by Alisha Rai (erotic novella)
B- review – Bad Attitude by KA Mitchell (m/m contemporary)
B- review – Hurricane Lily by Rebecca Maher (contemporary)

When Urban Fantasy Loses Tori’s Trust
Five Ways Hollywood Could Bring the Rom Com Back
Smexy’s Top Ten – April 26

News From Mandi: I ended up having a really hard time with Night Demon by Lisa Kessler. The world was okay, but the romance between the hero and heroine was pretty non-existent. They basically start off in love with no conflict or tension or anything. There is also so much page time with other characters, their story gets pushed to the side. Review is coming.

By Design by Jayne Denker started as a really strong contemporary. Actually, I loved the heroine and her relationship with her best friend. She is witty and fun and I enjoyed her. What frustrated me is that the initially very sexy hero turns into a big wuss when he can’t deal with an ex-lover (who is married – UGH!) I’m curious to read another by this author because as I said, she has a strong voice. I just didn’t like how things play out with the hero. Review is coming.

Breathing His Air by Debra Kayn is a pretty fun motorcycle club book. The hero is bossy, alpha and full of “babe.” The heroine is fun too. I wish we had dived a little more into this particular MC and its culture, but overall I liked it. Review coming soon.

I really enjoyed Against the Dark by Carolyn Crane. A new romantic suspense series full of jewel thieves, secrete organizations and a very sexy hero. Highly recommend this one – review coming soon.

Had some problems with Never Too Late by Amara Royce. The books reads slow and it was hard to stay interested in it. Both the hero and heroine are quite dry – and together..well…it makes a dry relationship. I needed something more in the book. Review coming soon.

Currently reading Game On by Tracy Solheim – NFL Quarterback hero and the heroine is the assistant to the team’s GM. 50% in and pretty good. A lot going on but I do enjoy the hero and heroine quite a bit.

News From May:  This week started badly with Crimson Debt (review to come soon) by Evangeline Anderson. Let’s just say that the heroine blasts through the TSTL heroine wall with a shotgun and never comes back.

In need of a sure thing, I picked up Amanda Carlson’s Hot Blooded and I really enjoyed it. I love this idea of the only female werewolf ever and enjoyed more of her story. My one hope is that this author doesn’t make every plot the story of how she has to go rescue a person close to her. We shall see.

This week continued in awesomesauce with the new episode of Arrow and Game of Thrones. Those are totally my solo-watch shows in this house and both were excellent. Before I get distracted by that any further, I’ll mention that Wallbanger by Alice Clayton is apparently a book I absolutely must read. Well ok then, downloaded and starting it now.

Tori’s News: I found myself on a Jennifer Crusie re read this week. Welcome To Temptation, Crazy For You, Tell Me Lies, and Getting Rid Of Bradley. All enjoyable romantic contemporaries filled with laughter, snark, a bit of conflict and some sexy times. I miss rom coms of the past. I miss the humor and character interaction that isn’t dependant on an overly emo storyline. No huge misconceptions or issues that take an entire book to resolve.

Alice’s Wonderland by Allison Dobell is a short erotic novella about a sexy toy website owner who decides to teach a playboy blogger a lesson after he insults her and her business in a series of articles. Review to come.

Nicole James’s Outlaw reads like SOA fanfic. The first half isn’t bad though the head hopping is extreme. The second half though can’t sustain and the characters disappoint. especially Cole and his disintegrating speech.

Breathing His Air by Debra Kayn is MC biker rom contemp/thriller with a young heroine and the bossy alpha biker who claims her as his own. Not a bad read. An enjoyable mystery intertwines with the romance. I liked both the hero and heroine, though the heroine’s immaturity and general dorkiness grated at times.

I ended up DNFingBlood In The Valley by J.K Hogan. Not because the book was bad or terribly written …I was just unable to connect with it not generate any enthusiasm to continue. I think if I had read the first book, I would have been more inclined to continue.

I am currently reading Generation V by M.L. Brennan-an enjoyable quirky YA.