I'm thrilled that Wolf at the Door, book 1 of the Salvation Pack series, is one of the Books of the Week over at Author Classifieds.
Teaser:
Her fingers were shaking as she dug out the keys and jammed them into the ignition. It took her two tries before they finally slid home.
Something heavy hit the car. Gwen cried out and her gaze flew to the front windshield. Jacque was perched in front of her like some giant hood ornament. He was crouched low with one hand resting on the hood. “Unlock the door, Gwen.”
Like that was going to happen. She turned the key and the engine sprang to life.
THE ROGUE NOT TAKEN by Sarah MacLean is my first Weekend Book Club pick for 2016. I discovered this author through her Rules of Scoundrels series. The Rogue Not Taken is the first book in her new Scandal & Scoundrel series. If you love Regency Romance, you have to try this author.
BLURB:
Lady Sophie’s Society Splash
When Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond in front of all society, she becomes the target of very public aristocratic scorn. Her only choice is to flee London, vowing to start a new life far from the aristocracy. Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn’t saving her from ruin . . . it’s filled with it.
Rogue’s Reign of Ravishment!
Kingscote, “King,” the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, resulting in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he’s more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring.
War? Or More?
He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive . . .
This week I read GARDEN OF LIES by Amanda Quick. As always, there is strong heroine, witty dialogue and a mystery at the heart of the story, which brings the hero and heroine together. Always original and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed Amanda Quick's latest book.
BLURB:
The Kern Secretarial Agency provides reliable professional services to its wealthy clientele, and Anne Clifton was one of the finest women in Ursula Kern’s employ. But Miss Clifton has met an untimely end—and Ursula is convinced it was not due to natural causes.
Archaeologist and adventurer Slater Roxton thinks Mrs. Kern is off her head to meddle in such dangerous business. Nevertheless, he seems sensible enough to Ursula, though she does find herself unnerved by his self-possession and unreadable green-gold eyes…
If this mysterious widowed beauty insists on stirring the pot, Slater intends to remain close by as they venture into the dark side of polite society. Together they must reveal the identity of a killer—and to achieve their goal they may need to reveal their deepest secrets to each other as well…
I love Shelly Laurenston's Pride series. If you love paranormal/shapeshifter stories with a bite and plenty of sass, you have to read her books.
This week, I read THE UNLEASHING, the first book in Shelly Laurenston's Call of Crows series. Think Vikings meet shapeshifters. This is Nordic mythology mixed with imagination and set in the modern world. It's a sometimes dark story mixed with the author's trademark sass and humor to balance it out. And of course there is plenty of steam between Kera and Vig.
I really enjoyed this book and am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.
BLURB:
Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn't for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.
In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig "Vig" Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life--but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.
But Vig can't give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera's discipline, Vig's loyalty... and the Crows' sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.
ROCK HARD by Nalini Singh is my pick for the Weekend Book Club. This is part of her Rock Kiss series. This contemporary romance is witty and smart and sexy. Gabriel and Charlotte's relationship is complex and real. Touching and funny. If you love a good contemporary romance you should really give this book a look.
BLURB:
Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.
And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.
Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.
If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.
My pick for the Weekend Book Club this week is OBSESSION IN DEATH by J.D. Robb. This is the 40th Eve Dallas novel and they just keep getting better and better. I'm seriously addicted to this series. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and start from book one. You won't be disappointed.
BLURB:
Eve Dallas has solved a lot of high-profile murders for the NYPSD and gotten a lot of media. She—and her billionaire husband—are getting accustomed to being objects of attention, of gossip, of speculation.
But now Eve has become the object of one person’s obsession. Someone who finds her extraordinary, and thinks about her every hour of every day. Who believes the two of them have a special relationship. Who would kill for her—again and again…
With a murderer reading meanings into her every move, handling this case will be a delicate—and dangerous—psychological dance. And Eve knows that underneath the worship and admiration, a terrible threat lies in wait. Because the beautiful lieutenant is not at all grateful for these bloody offerings from her “true and loyal friend.” And in time, idols always fall…
The Weekend Book Club selection is THE TEMPTING OF THOMAS CARRICK by Stephanie Laurens. It's no secret that I love anything by Stephanie Laurens. She always delivers a wonderful story with a fascinating mystery and characters you can fall in love with.
BLURB:
Thomas Carrick is a gentleman driven to control all aspects of his life. As the wealthy owner of Carrick Enterprises, located in bustling Glasgow, he is one of that city’s most eligible bachelors and fully intends to select an appropriate wife from the many young ladies paraded before him. He wants to take that necessary next step along his self-determined path, yet no young lady captures his eye, much less his attention...not in the way Lucilla Cynster had, and still did, even though she lives miles away.
For over two years, Thomas has avoided his clan’s estate because it borders Lucilla’s home, but disturbing reports from his clansmen force him to return to the countryside—only to discover that his uncle, the laird, is ailing, a clan family is desperately ill, and the clan-healer is unconscious and dying. Duty to the clan leaves Thomas no choice but to seek help from the last woman he wants to face.
Strong-willed and passionate, Lucilla has been waiting—increasingly impatiently—for Thomas to return and claim his rightful place by her side. She knows he is hers—her fated lover, husband, protector, and mate. He is the only man for her, just as she is his one true love. And, at last, he’s back. Even though his returning wasn’t on her account, Lucilla is willing to seize whatever chance Fate hands her.
Thomas can never forget Lucilla, much less the connection that seethes between them, but to marry her would mean embracing a life he's adamant he does not want.
Lucilla sees that Thomas has yet to accept the inevitability of their union and, despite all, he can refuse her and walk away. But how can he ignore a bond such as theirs—one so much stronger than reason? Despite several unnerving attacks mounted against them, despite the uncertainty racking his clan, Lucilla remains as determined as only a Cynster can be to fight for the future she knows can be theirs—and while she cannot command him, she has powerful enticements she’s willing to wield in the cause of tempting Thomas Carrick.
The Weekend Book Club selection this week is CURSED BY FIRE by Jacquelyn Frank. This is the first book in a new fantasy romance series by Frank. She's created a fascinating world with a cursed hero and a heroine who is fighting for her life.
If you like fantasy romance you'll enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
BLURB:
For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.
Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.
SINFUL REWARDS 8: A BILLIONAIRES AND BIKERS NOVELLA is my Weekend Book Club selection this week. I'm not a big fan of first person or serials, and this is both, but I absolutely LOVE this series. Cynthia Sax gives a satisfying story with each novella, but it pushes us deeper into the heart and mind of Bee Carter.
I'm team Hawke all the way! I recommend reading this series from the beginning. It's well worth it.
Bee Carter is no longer torn between her handsome billionaire and her tattooed bad-boy biker. After enjoying mind-melting, world-tilting sex and experiencing the pleasure of waking in her man's arms, she has finally made her choice.
Or has she?
A violent early morning confrontation pits biker against billionaire and results in a shocking proposal: the discarded man is willing to overlook Bee's wild night with his rival in order to win her love. He will sacrifice his pride, his heart, and everything he holds dear to have her.
Bee is unmoved by the offer … until the man she's chosen encourages her to accept.
Now Bee is yet again faced with an impossible decision: Does she pursue the man she craves, who has rejected her love, or does she settle for the man who will do anything for her?
I've been reading Julia Quinn for years, ever since the day I picked up the first book in her Bridgerton series. I love the family dramas and unlikely heroines in her stories. A Julia Quinn book is an indulgence (much like dark chocolate) and one I gave to myself this past week with the release of THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY. This is part of her Smythe-Smith quartet.
If you enjoy historical romance you MUST read Julia Quinn.
Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second—or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.
Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.
Jayne Ann Krentz is an autobuy for me, so it's not surprising that my first weekend book club for 2015 features her latest book TRUST NO ONE.
This has everything you'd expect from one of her books--action, mystery, witty dialogue, and a hero and heroine you can fall in love with.
BLURB:
It’s no coincidence when Grace Elland finds a vodka bottle next to the lifeless body of her boss, motivational speaker Sprague Witherspoon. The bottle is a terrifying—and deliberate—reminder of the horrors of her past.
Grace retreats to her hometown to regroup and tries to put everything she’s learned about positive thinking into practice—a process that is seriously challenged on the world’s worst blind date.
Awkward doesn’t begin to describe her evening with venture-capitalist Julius Arkwright. She has nothing in common with a man who lives to make money, but the intense former Marine does have some skills that Grace can use—and he’s the perfect man to help her when it becomes clear she is being stalked.
As Witherspoon’s financial empire continues to crumble around them, taking a deadly toll, Julius will help Grace step into her past to uncover a devious plan to destroy not only Grace, but everyone around her…
This week, I read BLOOD MAGICK by Nora Roberts. It's the final book in her The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy. Like the first two books in the series, it offers magic and spine-tingling shivers. The O'Dwyer cousins are working to destroy the evil that has haunted their family for a very long time. Add star-crossed lovers, pulled apart by a curse not of their making, yet forced to work together to help defeat it, and you have an amazing finish to this wonderful series.
I'm a huge fan of Nora Roberts, especially when she delves into the paranormal realm. If you enjoy this series, you might want to check out her Three Sisters Island trilogy as well as her Donovan Legacy series.
Book Three of The Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy
Blood Magick
County Mayo is rich in the traditions of Ireland, legends that Branna O’Dwyer fully embraces in her life and in her work as the proprietor of The Dark Witch shop, which carries soaps, lotions, and candles for tourists, made with Branna’s special touch.
Branna’s strength and selflessness hold together a close circle of friends and family—along with their horses and hawks and her beloved hound. But there’s a single missing link in the chain of her life: love…
She had it once—for a moment—with Finbar Burke, but a shared future is forbidden by history and blood. Which is why Fin has spent his life traveling the world to fill the abyss left in him by Branna, focusing on work rather than passion.
Branna and Fin’s relationship offers them both comfort and torment. And though they succumb to the heat between them, there can be no promises for tomorrow. A storm of shadows threatens everything that their circle holds dear. It will be Fin’s power, loyalty, and heart that will make all the difference in an age-old battle between the bonds that hold their friends together and the evil that has haunted their families for centuries.
Don’t miss the first two books in the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy: Dark Witch and Shadow Spell.
DARKNESS is book 12 in Laurann Dohner's New Species series and, thankfully, the author seems like she's only getting started. If you love paranormal romance with plenty of heat you need to check out this series.
What are you reading this week?
BLURB:
Book 12 in the New Species series. It is advisable to read the books in order to get the most enjoyment from the series.
Kat’s boss wants dirt on the NSO. She is sent to Homeland undercover but everything goes wrong as soon as she enters the front gates. She is arrested by a big, powerful, sexy New Species but she is not frightened. He turns her on and things heat up fast between them. Now, she just hopes he doesn’t break her heart.
Darkness admires Kat’s courage but he cannot trust anything she says. He hasn’t been with a female for years because he knows he is too damaged. He is not mate material, despite his desire to possess her in every way. Darkness fears losing control—the one thing that defines his life. He doesn’t think he can tear down the protective walls he’s built, even for her.
Inside Scoop: Kat never realized how much fun handcuffs and dominant males could be until she discovered her kinky side through Darkness’ need for control.
I've said it before but I'll say it again--Cynthia Sax is the queen of the erotic romance serial.
SINFUL REWARDS 3, A Billionaires and Bikers Novella, is the latest installment in the series. Can we say HOT! I highly recommend reading the first two in the series. I can't wait for the 4th installment to see what happens next.
Are you team Nicholas or team Hawke? I won't lie, I'm team Hawke all the way. :)
BLURB:
Bee Carter's carefully constructed world is tumbling down around her designer knockoff heels. Pleasing others isn't working for this small-town fashionista. Bee decides to throw caution to the Chicago wind for one night and release her inner bad girl, accepting a sexy challenge from an unknown texter, exploring the backseat of a limousine with gorgeous billionaire Nicolas, and entering a rough, tough biker bar with the mysterious Hawke.
Two hot men, one wicked night. When this good girl goes wild, who will make her erotic dreams come true—the enigmatic billionaire or the tattooed bad boy?
This week I read ROCK ADDICTION, the first book in the new Rock Kiss series by Nalini Singh. I'm already a huge fan of her Guild Hunter books and I have recently been sucked into her Psy/Changling series as well.
I have just one thing to say about this book...WOW! Rock Addiction is smokin' hot, but beneath the steam and sex is a love story that will move even the hardest heart. If you love contemporary romance with plenty of heat, then you have to try this one.
BLURB:
A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk…
Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.
A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…
Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…
NO LIMITS by Lori Foster is the first novel in her Ultimate series. If you love tough men who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty to work for what they want and to protect those they care about than this is a book for you. Lori Foster once again delves into the world of MMA fighters. I can't wait for the next book!
BLURB:
A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he's never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.
Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He's also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she's older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.
Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather's legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette's scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he'll break all the rules to do it….
What are you reading this week?
This week I read THE HOT ZONE by Jayne Castle. This is part of her futuristic series where dust bunnies and alien ruins abound. I love the way this author brings together two wounded misfits and helps them find love with one another, all while solving a mystery. I'm a huge Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick fan so I highly recommend this book.
Blurb:
The world of Harmony has its wonders, one of them being Rainshadow Island.
Just beneath its surface, a maze of catacombs hides a dangerous secret…
Halloween—with its tricks and treats—is a dust bunny’s dream come true. Just ask Lyle, Sedona Snow’s faithful sidekick. But for Sedona, it’s a nightmare. Though her new job managing a small hotel and tavern on Rainshadow is helping her move on from her tragic past, a bizarre disaster down in the catacombs has brought a pack of rowdy ghost hunters to her inn.
And now, Sedona’s ex has arrived on the island, claiming he wants to get back together, just as a newcomer appears to have a strong interest in her. Cyrus Jones is the new Guild boss in town. He has his own agenda when it comes to Sedona, but even the best-laid plans are no match for the passion that springs up on Rainshadow…
What are you reading this week?
This week I downloaded THE GOVERNESS AFFAIR (The prequel of The Brothers Sinister series). I'd never read any books by Courtney Milan but this novella was free and looked interesting.
I read it and promptly went out and bought THE DUCHESS WAR,
A KISS FOR MIDWINTER,
THE HEIRESS EFFECT,
THE COUNTESS CONSPIRACY AND THE SUFFRAGETTE SCANDAL.
I've read all but The Suffragette Scandal, and I'm planning on reading that book this weekend. If you are looking for a new historical writer, you should check out Courtney Milan. After all, The Governess Affair is free. What have you got to lose?
THE GOVERNESS AFFAIR
The start of a critically acclaimed historical romance series by New York Times bestselling author Courtney Milan...
Hugo Marshall earned the nickname "the Wolf of Clermont" for his ruthless ambition--a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner's son to the right hand man of a duke. When he's ordered to get rid of a pestering governess by fair means or foul, it's just another day at work.
But after everything Miss Serena Barton has been through at the hands of his employer, she is determined to make him pay. She won't let anyone stop her--not even the man that all of London fears. They might call Hugo Marshall the Wolf of Clermont, but even wolves can be brought to heel...
The books in the Brothers Sinister series:
½. The Governess Affair (prequel novella)
1. The Duchess War
1½. A Kiss for Midwinter (a companion novella to The Duchess War)
2. The Heiress Effect
3. The Countess Conspiracy
4. The Suffragette Scandal
4½. Talk Sweetly to Me
SINFUL REWARDS 1 is the first book in Cynthia Sax's new erotic serial with one book releasing per month until the full story of the love triangle between Belinda, Nicholas and Hawke unfolds.
Now, I'm not usually a big fan of serials or stories written in the first person, but I absolutely loved this book and am hooked on this author. Cynthia Sax is the queen of the erotic serial series.
BLURB:
Belinda "Bee" Carter is a good girl; at least, that's what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.
Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.
But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she's willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.
Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?
If you haven't already checked out The Seen Trilogy HE WATCHES ME,
HE TOUCHES ME, and HE CLAIMS ME you really should. The pages practicallyl sizzle as you read them.
In the meantime, I'll be impatiently waiting for the next installment of the Sinful Rewards serial next month!
I've read quite a few wonderful books lately. I thought I'd share three very different ones, all of them great reads depending on the genre you enjoy.
Up first is HELL FOR LEATHER by Julie Ann Walker, which is part of her Black Knight Inc. series. If you love romantic suspense and lots of motorcycles and leather, you'll love this book and the entire series.
Only a crisis could persuade Delilah Fairchild to abandon her beloved biker bar, let alone ask Black Knights Inc. operator Bryan "Mac" McMillan for help. But her uncle has vanished into thin air, and sexy, surly Mac has the connections to help her find him. What the big, blue-eyed Texan has against her is a mystery... but when the bullets start to fly, Mac becomes her only hope of survival, and her only chance of finding her uncle alive.
UNSTOPPABLE PASSION
Mac knows a thing or two about beautiful women- mainly that they can't be trusted. Throw in a ticking clock, a deadly homegrown terrorist, and some missing nuclear weapons, and a man just might find himself on the wrong end of the gun. But facing down danger with Delilah is one passion-filled thrill ride...
If historical romance is more of your speed, then you have to check out THE MASTERFUL MR. MONTAGUE by Stephanie Laurens. This is a Casebook of Barnaby Adair novel. If you've read this authors books then you're familiar with who Barnaby Adair is. If you haven't read them you can still enjoy this novel.
Montague has devoted his life to managing the wealth of London’s elite, but at a huge cost: a family of his own. Then the enticing Miss Violet Matcham seeks his help, and in the puzzle she presents him, he finds an intriguing new challenge professionally . . . and personally.
Violet, devoted lady-companion to the aging Lady Halstead, turns to Montague to reassure her ladyship that her affairs are in order. But the famous Montague is not at all what she’d expected—this man is compelling, decisive, supportive, and strong—everything Violet needs in a champion, a position to which Montague rapidly lays claim.
But then Lady Halstead is murdered and Violet and Montague, aided by Barnaby Adair, Inspector Stokes, Penelope, and Griselda, race to expose a cunning and cold-blooded killer who stalks closer and closer. Will Montague and Violet learn the shocking truth too late to seize their chance at enduring love?
And last, but certainly not least is ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED by Cynthia Eden. If paranormal romance is what you love then check out this second book in the Phoenix Fire series.
Blood--And Lust
Ryder Duncan keeps his secrets. With a twisted scientist starving him in a 10 x 12 cell, it's not easy to conceal the abilities that set him apart from other vampires, or his plans for escape. But survival--and revenge--are worth waiting for. Until the so-called doctor tempts his appetites with something special: a woman, with a soft Southern accent and a scent like flowers. Sabine.
Sabine Acadia didn't volunteer to be dinner. She was kidnapped and tossed into the cage of a monster. A monster with fierce green eyes, a body that speaks of ruthless power--but a touch gentle as a caress. Ryder knows things about her, secrets Sabine needs to learn fast. Because while they might soon escape this prison, she's fighting an urge to set all her desires free. . .
What are you reading?
