BLOOD-C 01 by Ranmaru Kotone

Blood-C 01 by Ranmaru Kotone
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

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Unfortunately there are a lot of panes that say nothing. I'm not even sure who Saya is as a person within the first 50 pages or so.

Her whole relationship at school feels like filler for the story.

I don't know what I was missing, but I'm very disappointed as I loved the cartoon and even the live action film.

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WITCHBLAD/RED SONJA by Doug Wagner, Cezar Razek

Witchblade/Red Sonja Tp by Doug Wagner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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I loved it. Red Sonja bears the Witchblad for a while in order to avenge the death of her father and the virgin sacrifice, which brings Ragniel to this plane. In present day, Sara, the current wearer of The Witch Blade, must try to figure out how Ragniel was defeated before in order to save her daughter and avenge threat on the life of her partner.

With the Witch Blade using Sonja's Sacred Blade of Vengance, Sara is able to defeat Ragniel.

The drawing is stunning, it easy to read and flows smoothly.

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PARADISE HOPS by Liz Crowe

Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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I rarely give anything 5 stars. It has to been incredibly amazing. The only reason I didn't give this project 4 stars is because of the very strange coma/dream sequence. That just didn't work for me. Otherwise, I really liked it.

It started out slow and was interesting how it prologues to the middle of the story, with the first chapter starting a year earlier than the prologue.

It's not hard to figure out what happened to Lori, with her skittishness. But when she tells the story its difficult to read.

Garrett and Eli are so different, but are both dynamic and very male, you can understand why Lori is attracted and sexually drawn to both. Garrett is gentle and caring, with the white knight he is just oozing off of him. But Eli is all brute man and sex. You just want him to bash you over the head and take you to his cave to have his way with you. Where Garrett is ordered and straight laced, Eli is artistic and temperamental.

The fact that Lori is coming out of her shell at the same time these two men come into her life, causes her dilemma's. She's finally feeling more like herself, but Garrett treats her likes she's a piece of fine china, which should be put on a shelf only to be taken down and used reverently. Where as Eli wants to throw her against the wall and have his way with her.

***Spoiler Alert***

When Garrett dies and Lori has to mourn him while pregnant, with what she believe is his child, I shed a few tears feeling her dispare.

I liked this story a lot. it was very different from the other books of this genre, where you have a woman who was tough and strong until her security and since self are taken from her, albeit temporarily, but it lasts a few years. Once she begins to come out of her shell, these two dynamic men come into her life. Both loving her in their own way. One who almost smothers her with it and the other who puts up a shield of tough indifference in order to not be hurt.

She runs out on both of them to find her individuality again, only to have one of them die. The guilt of loving two men and not giving the one a chance before it was too late causes her to lash out a the one who's left. But the two men had become friends and were willing to let her decide who she wanted when she was supposed to have returned, so the one who is living, stays because he loves her and is willing to fight for her. Even if it means he has to fight against her.

And there were a couple good sex scenes.

But, like I said... The whole dream sequence was a little wonky for me and cost the story a full star.

Good way to have the story come full circle.

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RECIPE FOR SATISFACTION by Gina Gordon

Recipe for Satisfaction by Gina Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Sterling is the responsible adult child of two free living gambling addicted hippies, who use her to take care of them and her twin siblings. With the encouragement of her college friend Penn, Sterling decides to throw caution to the wind and have at least one night of fun without responsibility. That's the night she meets Jack Vaughn, bad boy younger brother of the Madewood boys. He is one of four foster brothers raised by a wealthy widow and who are now all successful chef and restauranteurs. But something has changed in Jack's life since his mother's death. He doesn't want to be known as the bad boy partier he's known by the press and Sterling gives him that opportunity.

While reading this book, you are angry that Sterlings parents are so selfish and make her feel selfish for not giving them everything they want. I know these types of people who turn everything around on you. When they want something, "family is supposed to help family." And when you are the only responsible one in that family, like Sterling, then you are the only one who is always giving.

Jack is the typical baby of the family and is always looked at as the black sheep, the one who doesn't tow the line. Because he broke from what the other brothers were doing to form his own businesses. Sterling is the only person to see beyond being the baby brother, the partier and even the guy with money to who he really is and his potential.

And... the sex is kinda hot. Not as intense as some books, but good enough and often enough.

I liked this book and would definitely recommend this author. This is the second book I've read from Gina Gordon.

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A TASTE OF TROUBLE by Gina Gordon

A Taste of Trouble by Gina Gordon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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I thought it was cute. Jake and Liv had angst, dilemma and connection. I knew from the beginning that Liv's mentor was her saboteur. I think I would have liked it more if Nancy had been the cause of the fire.

We didn't get enough of the friends or a response to what happened with Jake by Austin, which could have been funny. But this was a cute and fast read.

I identified with Liv and not wanting to get too close because of a father's past. I only wish I had found my Jake.


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FALLING FOR HER FIANCE by Cindi Madsen

Falling For Her Fiance by Cindi Madsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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That was so adorably cute. Dani and Wes were best friends since collage who form a plan to get what they both want out of a situation by faking being engaged. Wes will get his family off his back about moving on after his engagement ended and Dani will get what she wants by being part of a couple and thereby getting the promotion she wanted and deserved.

The problem is that while faking being in love, they actually fall in love. But they are both so scared of losing the friendship that they don't say anything to each other and fear the other one of them doesn't feel the same.

I get it. I can understand that completely. They didn't want to lose what they had by making the mistake of making thins awkward. But the problem with that is that they both wasted time wondering and second guessing themselves.

There wasn't a lot to the story and its short, but what there was of it was sweet. You felt their anxiety and confusion with their situation and why they wouldn't automatically talk to each other about it.

I liked it.

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LUCK OF THE DRAW by Kelley Vitollo

Luck of the Draw by Kelley Vitollo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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I really thought this was so cute. I loved Rowan and Breck's story. They both had issues that made them not trust. I got why Rowan wouldn't tell him right away. I mean it was enough of a shock for her let alone telling the guy she had a one night stand with and who showed up the day she found out, out of the blue. She didn't even know his real name.

I thought Rowan's relationship with her friends, Jace, Betsy, Sidney and Kade was sweet and her familial relationship with Shakes was heartbreaking when he dies. I was so crushed for her.

I got that Breck was upset she didn't tell him about the baby and he'd been there for six weeks. He was so sweet to her and trying to be respectful at the same time figuring out his own feeling. They both needed to be honest with each other. He slightly over reacted and didn't hear what she was saying about him holding back as well.

I'm actually surprised Kade didn't go after him to kick his butt. I would recommend for a cute fast read. Maybe a summer read, while on vacation. I read it easily in one day.

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TEMPTING ACQUISITIONS by Addison Fox

Tempting Acquisitions by Addison Fox
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I'm sorry to say there wasn't much to this story. I found myself at the end, still questioning Nathan's motivations in buying the McBride Media empire. Yes, he's a corporate rader. But that still doesn't explain the motivation when the author makes it seem like there's something behind it. When even his best friend and number two at his company asks him why he's bothering with it.

At the beginning there seemed to be some sort of revenge in play. But when you discover he's never met the McBrides, not any member of the family, then you realize, no revenge happening.

There are two instances where you think Nathan may change his mind. First when Kiera tells him about her father and how he went from being a family man with a good head for business to almost destroying the entire empire and having affiars. You think he could understand the drive by the sisters to rebuild their lives and business to reflect not only what was past but what they could do as well. Also when Nathan tells Kiera about how his mother loved the magazine that put the media empire back in profits and how she would pour over it, you think that this good memory may change his mind. Then his father comes in and pushes his buttons, buttons I'm still unclear of, he changes goes at it full blown. It seems like his father wants him to take over McBride Media, but again... I don't know why.

Nathan's brother Booth comes into the mix, having some sort of relationship with Camryn, but again, never quite sure what the relationship is. Especially when Booth seems to want the women to keep their business. It's just all kind of muddled for me.

I believe their love and Nathan's subsequent marriage proposal happened a little quickly, but I get it under the contraints of the limited pages of the book. I just thought it was fast. Maybe if they had known or met each other in the past. He didn't realize she was of the same McBrides. I don't know, just something that gave them more than a weekend in Vegas and a day at the zoo before declaring love and marriage.

Just not enough there for me. I didn't hate it because it was short and quick, but I would't recommend it.



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WALLBANGER by Alice Clayton

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been waffling between three and four stars since I read the book. I've settled on four just because it made me laugh so hard. To the point that I was crying and my stomach hurt.

I will go over the reasons that I was almost going to give it a three and then why I gave it a four.

I felt like some of the characters were dropped. I didn't get a real sense of his friends and his relationship with James, even though he explained it. There was not conversation between the two where you could understand what Jame really meant to Simon. No trying to figure out his feelings for Caroline, etc. Simon's friends Neil and Ryan also seemed to be there just to facilitate the potential relationship with Caroline.

The end of the story seemed to go on a little too long. I get that she wanted to show how good their sex was after Caroline finds the O, but it went on a little too long. I think I would have preferred to know how their friends reacted to them as a couple, which I think she tried to show with the dinner party. Instead it seemed like it was more about how Caroline felt being a couple with her friends around and also as couples.

Caroline has more patience than I. I would have been over to Simon's door on the first night flipping out about and asking if that was going to be a pattern. If not the first night, then at least the second.

Caroline and relationship with Mimi and Sophia was better executed, and cutely with the texts. They had Sunday brunches, where they discussed the things that happened through the week. It was cute how the did the roundtable of what was going on with them.

While Caroline and Simon are establishing their truce, I found their interactions hysterical. I would laugh so hard I would just double over and couldn't stop. Their argument at Jillian (her boss) and James' house was hysterical, when they first discover each other. I love that he called her Pink Nightie Girl, but I think i would have loved it more if we, as the reader, knew what he had told his friends. That part was kinda glossed over. I mean, everyone's eyes seemed to get big and they were surprised that she was Pink Nightie Girls. I wanted to know why it was such a big thing. What did he say about her that would have caused them all to know about her?

I think my favorite time with Simon and Caroline was when they were watching The Exorcist. That was priceless. Her with the afghan over her head and watching the movie through the holes while sitting in his lap... Priceless. My stomach hurts just thinking about it, I laughed so hard.

Really funny moments, really sexy moments of them dancing around each other, and really sweet time in Spain, until the O doesn't happen. We all knew she was putting too much pressure on herself. I think they should have had a true moment to discuss it. But I like that Simon wasn't so insecure that he took it as a grade his performance and he let her get some distance before coming home (early I might add, which was sweet) in order to discuss it with her and tell her he loved her no matter what. Just sweet.

So, I gave the book 4 stars even though there were some minor things I didn't like, but it made me laugh really hard and that was work the extra star.

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VANILLA ON TOP by C J Ellisson

Vanilla on Top by C.J. Ellisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Strangely enough, I really liked this book. No minor character disappeared or storyline given some merit. I get Heather. She's got issues of abandonment in her past and negates her worth. I get this woman. We are similar in a lot of ways. A moment of change gives her the opportunity to be who she really is and wants to be with a strange, yet sexy man, Tony.

I believe there's more than just her fake dominance that captivates him, but he doesn't know what it is yet. He's over had a woman who's been herself without wanting something from him and he connects with her on that level. And the sex is hot and different. Either way, everything about the other person allows them to both live out their fantasies as well as be their authentic selves. I don't mean to be so esoteric, but that's what happens.

I do have a criticism. The first couple sex scenes are well detailed, but to much, but then once you get further into the story they are glossed over. I've found with these types of books, generally they become so graphic they are boring. But in this case it's a start with no finish.

I like the are of both Tony and Heather and feel that the issues they both have are realistic and not so dramatic to seem unreal. We as women have a tendency to go over scenarios in our head so we can somehow prepare, as Heather did for her first date with Tony at her home. I found that so real yet so cute. She executed it well.

I also identified with Heather having her friend Carla, who is alway considered the pretty, sexy one who turns the head of men to be a little jealous when Heather gets the attention of the most eligible man in Manhattan. I think there could have been an ex who came into the picture when they were out or something which could have given Heather her revelation she was jealous also and in love withTony. But I guess the scene at the bar when Tony view Heather dancing with the guy is enough.

Both friends being jealous of our man tow characters could have been a little much, but I think it was well handled. Although I get Carla, probably because I'm a woman and have been in Heather's shoes of a sort. But for Marcus to be all pissy was a bit much. He was like a female friend losing the her guy friend that she thought she would end up with.

I also felt Heather dilemma about fighting the merger and would it would do to their relationship, since she couldn't tell him. The relationship was so new and young, and actually neither of them had told the other they were in love so you can see why she wouldn't say anything. Because as Tony puts it, was two weeks too soon to know if you were in love with someone?

I like how Heather changed to be more in charge and how Tony let her be the woman she was supposed to be and saw in her, at times, what she couldn't see herself.

Although the dropping of the phone was cheesy. But it wouldn't be a romance novel without a little cheese.



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GOING UNDER (Bound by Magick, #3) by Lauren Dane

Going Under by Lauren Dane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I think because I haven't read the first two books, I missed some of what brought the nuances to this piece, but I still liked it. I liked Molly's dilemma of having one foot in the human world and one foot in the supernatural.

I even understood Gage's point of view, that if he couldn't protect someone, why get close enough to love them and potentially lose them. The only problem with that was that he was connect to Molly almost immediately and nothing was going to keep that from happening. I think there could have been more angst with regards to Molly's relationship with Tosh, making Gage a little more crazy. I also think Rose could have come back sooner. And although Molly was very mature and didn't go into crazy jealously, there could have been a little more of "is this a relationship, where is this going, is it going anywhere, or does he even care," as part of her story. She was just so sure of him all the time, I wasn't sure what there was to read about their relationship.

The idea of inequality is age old and I liked how the author weaved the failings of history into what was happening in the story's present. I liked the idea that she finally conceded that they were going to have to stand up for themselves and tell the humans, we are stronger that we've let you believe. Turning the other cheek is no longer and option. Come at me and will will hurt you back. I think they should have said it sooner, but I respect to author for having the characters really try to work it out amicably, even though it was one sided for the most part.

I've said this before and I will say it again, I don't like it when characters are part of a story and just dropped. This happened with Molly's mother and foster mother. They were a major part of the story, then all of a sudden they were no where to seen of or heard from again. She didn't even call them when she was hurt. No one rushed to her side, they just ceased to exist in the story.

I think I would have given this book 3 stars if it had just not lost some of the characters and maybe given a tiny bit of backstory so that it could stand alone a little better.


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BLOOM by Kate Belle

Bloom by Kate Belle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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This one was much better than the first book in the series. I'm not sure if it's because I knew what to expect, or that it was just that much better. But, I though it was cute. At first I was pretty happy I'd never gotten married and had kids if a relationship could end up like Emma and Gary's.

I like how Ramon taught her to love her body enough to get back into shape along with know what she wants from a lover.

Again, I liked it more than the first. I just find it hard to get invested when the main characters you are reading about are so casual about each other.


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BREAKING THE RULES (Random Romance #1) Kate Belle

Breaking the Rules by Kate Belle
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

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I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was okay either. It was a little boring to me. I'm not sure I like the idea that Ramon goes from woman to woman, which doesn't require me to be invested in the story of his non-relationship with Grace. I knew their relationship would end and I didn't feel like there was any connection other than the sex.

No reason to want to now what was going to happen, because you knew from the beginning that there was really nothing there.

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S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline

S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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I have to say that I actually liked it. Strangely enough, it got better as it went along. I'm used to books getting worse. By the end, I was really enjoying it. I would say, it needs some editing. There are some grammatical and structural issues here and there, but they are minor.

I think I like the idea of the S.E.C.R.E.T group of women guiding Cassie, who's been kicked around a bit and lost hope and doesn't know her value. The "Steps" she goes through hel her gain confidence and get stronger by the experiences they provide her. I like the idea that Cassie's gradual confidence showing up in all aspects of her life.

Although I wish she had picked a different guy in the end to avoid the hurt, which I knew was coming, I understand why she did and the fact that she had to use her newfound confidence to move through it into her future.

I would recommend for a friend to read this just for the confidence boost anyone could get from learning some of the lesson's Cassie had to learn, just from reading what she went through.

I'm actually looking forward to the next book.

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