This week at Smexy…

A- review – Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall (paranormal)
B review – Bound by Night by Larissa Ione (paranormal)
B review – Stir Me Up by Sabrina Elkins (new adult)
B review – Drawn Together by Lauren Dane (contemporary)
B review – In the Heart of the Highlander by Maggie Robinson (historical)
C+ review – What a Gentleman Desires by Kasey Michaels (historical)
C+ review – Targeted by Katie Reus (romantic suspense)
C review – On Midnight Wings by Adrian Phoenix (urban fantasy)
C- review – Run to You by Rachel Gibson (contemporary)

Interview with Maggie Robinson
A Look Inside the Burnside Series by Mary Ann Rivers
Smexy’s Top Ten

News from Mandi: I had two DNFs this week – Surrendering to the Alpha by Lia Davis didn’t work for me because I felt no chemistry between the hero and heroine and the grammar errors were too distracting. I also dnf’d Tug of War by K. Larsen because I just didn’t like the heroine – she was a little too much for me to take.

Not Another Wedding by Jennifer McKenzie is a second chance at love trope that worked pretty well for me. The hero is a bit grumpy and has parent issues. I liked him. I liked the heroine with him too. What I didn’t like was the side story where the heroine tries to break up the wedding of her best friend. It just didn’t flow for me and distracted from the romance. Review coming.

Celtic Moon by Jan DeLima is a debut paranormal romance book that has a well done werewolf world. The heroine fled years ago from the hero when she discovered he was a wolf shifter. Later she gave birth to her son, and now that he is a teenager, he is showing signs of shifting, so she has to go back to the hero for help. The hero’s ancient tribe is being hunted by the bad Guardians and a war of sorts starts. The world is cool, the hero and heroine are pretty well done and I love the way she writes the teenager. Two complaints – one – the romance could have been…more. Warmer. And two – the second half lost a bit of steam. Will def  read the second book. Review coming.

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenize is really good. I adore the Mackenzies and Jennifer Ashley gives Daniel a great heroine to contend with. She makes her money being a spiritualist, but her specialty and what attracts him to her is her penchant for mechanical inventions. Really cool – and very sexy.

Finally I read the Lovers Unmasked Anthology – a Halloween themed erotic collection of novellas. The first one by Katee Robert didn’t work for me but the other three – Cari Quinn, Samantha Beck and Tessa Bailey are all really fun and super naughty. Review coming.

I just started The Dark Light of Day by TM Frazier – I’m only 10% in but I like so far. I’ll report back.

Tori’s News: Nikolai the 4th book in Roxie Rivera’s Russian Protector series wrapped up the series nicely. A bit more intense and violent than the first three books, it entertained to the the very end. Rivera has said that will will continue the series with the Nikolai’s bodyguard’s stories and also a spin off series featuring hunky hot ex marine-Kelly Connelly.

Lash by Sam Crescent isn’t worth the hour I lost reading it. An MC biker book with a skeevy hero and a dumb as a box of rocks heroine. Unless you get off on a controlling hero who buys the heroine and a heroine who tells us she likes someone else making all the decisions for her because she gets confused easily…this isn’t for you.

I love Tijan. She’s a cracky author and her YAs are my drug of choice from her. Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest Hgh Book 2) is about a group of rich high schoolers whose lives are a mixture of Peyton Place, Heathers and Mean Girls. Lots of drama and emotional uploads had me laughing and cringing through the entire book. It’s not a pulitzer prize winner but it has a high entertainment value to it. I also read her recently released Carter Reed. Enjoyable fast paced story about an assassin and the young woman he swore to protect when her brother, murdered. When she kills someone to protect her roommate, she runs to Carter whose demands leave her wanting more. Another entertaining read.

Joanne Chambers Beguiled, book two in her Enlightenment series, is a historical M/M that just makes my heart sing. An emotional love story between a high ranking Lord who must marry and a barrister whose feelings leave him both elated and disgusted. A suspenseful storyline intertwines with the romance.

Annabel Joseph’s Fever Dream, #2 in her BDSM Ballet series is a sexually explosive and laugh out loud erotic romance about two ballet divas who initial dislike for one another transforms into a passion that singes everyone it touches. I laughed so hard in this book. The hero is a delightfully irritating pervert whose penchant for pain will have you saying ‘More please, Sir’ in no time.

The Truth About Numbnuts and Chubbs by Cat Kelly had me giggling to the end. A cute snarky erotic romance about a couple who has crushed on each other since they were teenagers. I loved their negotiations and the fabulous take charge attitude they both had.

Jenna Jamison’s Sugar is an erotic romantic contemporary featuring a retired porn star who is trying to emerge herself back into the mainstream. When she meets a sexy billionaire who decides he wants to experience all of Sugar’s exceptional skills; Sugar finds herself falling for a man who seems to be falling for a porn star. An enjoyable story. Loved the first half but felt the second half rushed and lacked some substance. Reviewing for Heroes and Heartbreakers.

The Christmas He Loved Her, #2 book in Juliana Stone’s Baby Boys of Crystal Lake series, will break your heart. Seriously. This is the most somber book I’ve read in a while. A romance centering around a dysfunctional family all struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one while hiding their pain from each other. Review to come at Smexybooks.

K.L Bromberg’s Fueled KILLED me. Absolutely killed me. Book 2 in her Driven Trilogy. Rylee and Colt are back but find that while sex is easy. It’s the emotional ties that may prove to be their undoing. Some humor elevates the storyline but prepare for a lot of angst and anger as these two damaged lovers struggle to find a place for them to co exist. Review to come.

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobien is a powerful coming of age story about a young man who makes the wrong choice and pays for it in blood and pain. The story chronicles his journey as he attempts to take back his life. Review to come.

The Wicked Deeds Of Daniel MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley submerged me back into the delightfully fun and humourous MacKenzie family. Daniel Mackenzie finds the woman of his dreams…he just has to convince her of that. Sexy, sweet, heartfelt-a swoon worthy historical romance. I adore this family.

Another delightful historical romance that had me laughing and swooning was Song For Sophia by Moriah Densley. Intrigue, suspense, romance, and humor all swirl around a damaged couple whose journey to love left me glued to my e reader. Review to come

This weekend I’m reading The Vampire With The Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks, The Dark Light Of Day by T.M. Frazier, and Red Hill by Jamie McGuire.

News from May –  This week was an unsuccessful reading week. First I read, or rather started and was so bored I couldn’t continue Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait by Grace Burrowes. I don’t know exactly why- the writing was just putting me to sleep every time I tried to read.

The Mountain’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic proved to be a huge train wreck/bag of crazy. I will need to think about that one before I write my review. It is beyond words.

Speaking of crazy, I had to read the new Robyn Peterman the instant available. Well, Size Matters was not at hilarious and charming like her first book. Instead it was a hot mess of crazy and characters who all talk the same.

You’ll see reviews of these books coming here at Smexy. Now I’m back into some Christmas Smexiness. Also: puppies. As my weekend reads will be A Puppy for Christmas and Seaside Christmas