TRUTH by Sherri Shayes

Truth by Sherri Hayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been impatiently waiting for this book to become available since reading NEED, and it didn't disappoint. Yes, I'd given SLAVE and need lower ratings, but I think that was because I was upset with Stephan for not getting Brianna aka Anna professional help. I still feel that way. And ultimately at the end of this book he's found himself in the position of losing her because of it.

At the end of NEED, Brianna's father has appeared at the door when she opened it thinking it was someone she knew, either Stephan, Cal or Tom, the doorman. But as this book opens, her father is there and she's instantly afraid. She goes completely into panic mode and tries running from him, but he won't let her get to another room or get to a phone, knocking both the house phone and the cellular from her hand. Stephan walks in as Brianna is huddled in the corner and begins fighting with her father, Sheriff John Reeves. Stephan get's the upper hand, ties him up and begins questioning him about how Brianna came to be with Ian Pierce. John claims he didn't know who Ian was and that he'd been looking for her. But his argument of not filing a missing persons report rings hollow. Stephan believes he didn't exactly know where Brianna was, but he knew something wasn't right and that by John not filing a missing persons report with the police that this was strange behavior for a supposedly loving father. Stephan tells John, she's an adult now. He can't take her unless she wants to go and Brianna tells John she wants to stay with Stephan. Stephan tells John to never come back to their home, but knows thats unlikely.

John tries to call Brianna, telling her that what happened was a mistake and an accident, which sends her into a catatonic state, which only Stephan seems to know how to get her out of.

Stephan spends time having Brianna write in her journal, he tries to take her out in public situations, using techniques he's read up on to help her relax in situations that terrify her. Although she's relaxing a bit more, she's still easily spooked. But she's no dummy either. Samantha, Jimmy's wife is trying to extricate something about her relationship with Stephan from her at a dinner at his Aunt and Uncles house, but is quickly shut down by the Aunt. Telling her that is she continues to make Brianna uncomfortable she will be asked to leave. I'm not sure what Samantha knows or thinks she know and this is really the only part of the book that was left open and confusing for me. What are Samantha's motives here and what does she think she knows?

I liked Cal Ross's girlfriend, Jade, who meets Brianna when they come over for dinner. Stephan has asked them over because he wants them to meet in a casual and safe setting before the concert at the club Cal has invited them to for Brianna's birthday, so Brianna will be comfortable with Jade. While in their home, Brianna forgets that they have company and calls Stephan 'Sir', which angers Cal. She also sits in his lap in their chair as Stephan strokes her hair, which is one of the few things that calms her down. But Jade seems to understand that Stephan being a Dominant doesn't mean that he's beating Brianna or terrorizing her against her will. She also can see objectively that Brianna likes being with Stephan and is comfortable in their home.

Though Stephan and Brianna's sexual relationship begins to become more involved, he wants to try some other things with her, making her his submissive. Brianna is curious, but still concerned that she doesn't want to do some of the things he would like. She's also spooked by small things here and there. She's conflicted between wanting to make Stephan happy and not sure what certain things he may want to do entail. Stephan asks Logan if he and Lily can do a scene in front of Brianna. It sends her into a full on panic. Brianna has PTSD like flashbacks which can happen from the most innocuous of situations. Which is why she needs to be in THERAPY! Not with Stephan controlling her world alone. I'm not saying that what he's doing is wrong, but it should be done under the strick supervision and care of a medical professional.

Now his Uncle Richard, makes me a little crazy. He should find out a little more about the lifestyle before passing the judgement he seems to have on Stephan and if he feels that Brianna isn't being cared for properly, he should report what's happening. His medical oath should override his desire to protect Stephan, if he truly feels Brianna isn't being taken care of. But instead he just creates drama whenever Stephan is in his presence.

Stephan is able to get a restraining order against Brianna's father and when the flowers arrive for her birthday, which only she can sign for, I don't know why they don't know that something was amis. I actually thought that her father could have hired one of those cult recovery people, forgetting that he doesn't have any money. But I also want to know why he wants her back so badly. I just don't get that. He didn't care enough to file a report the entire 10 months she was a slave to a sadistic man. Now that he knows she's safe and sound and living with a millionaire philanthropist, he needs her back? What's that all about?

I also want to know why Cal needs Brianna away from Stephan so badly. When the lawyer suggests that it would be better for Brianna not to live with Stephan, which I've been saying since the first book, as it just looks so bad for him, Cal steps up and recommends she moves in with him. She agrees because of how she reacted during the scene with Logan and Lily and has been thinking she could never be what he needs.

The book ends with Stephan broken hearted that she's left him. He could barely stand for her to be away when she was shopping with Lily. At least he knew she would be back home. How he's going to deal with her not even being in the city is beyond me.

I can't wait to read what happens next and since the next book isn't listed anywhere I have no idea when that will be. Stop leaving the cliffhanger that leave me wanting more. I can't take it :-)!

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ENSLAVED by Shoshanna Evers

Enslaved by Shoshanna Evers
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

I don't know. I guess I can say I felt like the entire story was glossed over. No real substance was there in order to get the story told in so many pages. I still don't understand why the evolution of Gregory and Andrew's relationship was such a big part of the book.

Trevor falling for Elisabeth was too easy. He seemed to be in love with her from afar and being a billionaire, I'm sure he could find someone who would be willing to play much easier than basically buying her from Gregory. I think having her interact with Roman and Marc so that they would get to know her and then have Roman fall for her after suggesting that he train her, would be much better to me. Marc was barely part of the story, let alone Julian and Adele. I dont' understand what Julian's role was in the house other than to dress Elisabeth and since Adele said, held been known to take care of her. I have no idea why he was on staff and easily reachable by the blue phone.

Roman, for a confirmed Sadist/Bachelor, I have no idea why he fell for Elisabeth so easily.

Anyway, all that to say that the book wasn't something I wouldn't recommend.

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EDGE OF DAWN by Lara Adrian

Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I really wanted to give it three stars. I really did, but there were so many holes in this book. Kellan was the best friend of love of Mira. Mira thought Kellan died in a building explosion eight years ago during and operation for the Order. The Order being a race of Ancients (Vampires) from another planet, who had been on earth for thousands of years, who are called Breeds. Mira is a part of Breedmates raised by the Breeds. She is a warrior and only female captain of the Order. Mira was raised by her adoptive parents who were the Breed Nikolai and his Breedmate, Renata. Mira has a tendency to color outside the lines, which gets her into trouble and basically demoted from Captain. She's punished by being sent on a babysitting mission of a reclusive scientist Ackmeyer, who is nephew to the head of the GNC. Mira gets to his home in the middle of his kidnapping.

Mira has an ability that when someone looks into her eyes will see their future, which isn't always good. It seems that during their first intimate time, Kellan looked into Mira's eyes, which also cause her sight to degenerate, and saw a short moment of his future being called a traitor and murderer among many other things and sentenced to death. He didn't want to put his friends through this torture so the's spent the last eight years away from them and trying to keep them from feeling the pain of his death by the counsel.

Ackmeyer is kidnapped by the rebel Bowman's team. Mira is hurt during the kidnapping as is taken to base headquarters only to find out that Bowman is really Kellan, and the head of a rag tag team of rebels, who really are out to even the playing field of what's happening between the human population and the Breeds. Kellan had received intel that Ackmeyer had created a UV application for bullets that would kill Breeds. But Ackmeyer was unaware of this. Kellan realized it had been stolen and that Ackmeyer was truthful that he didn't what that this had happened and didn't what this be to used as a weapon.

While Kellan and Mira were connecting again, while fighting their feelings, Vince, one of Kellan's crew kidnaps Ackmeyer and decides to ransom him for his knowledge and Tech. Unfortunately this boneheaded move gets them both killed and Kellan is even more sought after since Mira hasn't still turned up. Nathan, their best friend and lethal weapon in his own right, goes on a mission to get Mira back not knowing she's with her love, Kellan.

Nathan ends up talking to Rune, who is a Breed cage fighter at a goth bar, who is secretly seeing the Carys Chase, basically a Breed Princess. He knows they know something, but Rune promised Mira he wouldn't tell anyone about seeing her and Carys backs up Chase's account. But not before Carys friend, Jordana, kisses Nathan trying to keep him from the forbidden couple. You can clearly see that this will be a future love story, but while it's happening its a useless moment in the book.

Ultimately we find out that Crowe is an Atlantean immortal bent on destroying what he calls he half breed Breeds. It turns out the Breedmates are descendants of the Atlanteans as they all have the same star and crescent moon mark which allows them to be Breedmates This isn't completely clear, and I'm not sure if it's because I haven't read all of the previous books in this series, but I'm missing a lot that would connect this for me.

The idea that Kellan would would see his future, not try to change it and spend eight years he could have been with the love of his life and try to change the future, is ridiculous to me. Why waste all that time? Why not try to fight it head on? Didn't he thing being part of a reble group would lead to his demise and therefore Mira's vision coming true? It just made no sense to me.

Also, Kellan fed off Candice Brady. Did the woman need to have the mark in order to actually bond with the Breeds? It wasn't clear to me and maybe, again, it was because I hadn't read a previous book.

Also, I'm still unclear as to if Ackmeyer is dead. Why wouldn't they want to use him for future possibilities?

There were several things that were thrown in and with no real resolution. The thing with Nathan and Jordana. Total set up for a future book, but meant nothing to me in this book. Useless other than the set up. Also, when they are at the gala, why does it take Lucan, Darion and Nathan so long to get upstairs when Kellan was able to basically flash upstairs in seconds. This is supposed to be a Breed thing, not just a Kellan thing. There were so many wholes, I can't even go through them all.

Also, for a group of fighters that the Order is supposed to be, there was surprisingly very little fighting until the very end, which was minimal and anti-climactic.

I liked the idea, but it just didn't work for me.


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AWAKENING THE WARRIORS by S.E. Gilchirst

Awakening The Warriors by S.E. Gilshrist
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I didn't hate it, but it wasn't good at all. There were run on sentences, no structure in paragraphs, and a jumping around of the story. The only thing that was even close to being interesting were the two sex scenes in the book, but that was't enough to recommend it. There really wasn't a story. Yes, it is a novella, but just not good I'm sorry to say.

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PURE & SINFUL by Killian McRae

Pure & Sinful by Killian McRae
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I didn't really like it. This is the story of Riona, a Pure Soul witch, and her demon fighting team, Demi-God Dee and Father Marcello "Marc" Angeletti. It seems Riona had a relationship with a fallen demon named Jerry, who spends most of the book trying to warn her of Lucifer's machinations. Jerry has fallen in love with Riona, and knows that Lucifer is planning on using her growing love for Father Marc, and his for her against them.

The book spends most of the time having Riona and Marc learn that their specific moral compasses and relationship in the group would damn them both to hell of they gave into their growing love for each other and consummated the relationship. There is also a new neighbor by the name of Lucy, who is tempting Riona. Every time they are close to getting intimate, something pulls one of the other away. Which doesn't make any sense to me. Lucy aka Lucifer gets pulled away from having sex with Riona, because he gets a call letting him know the Jerry has broken away to the human world in an attempt to warn Riona. But since he's with her, I don't know why he's allow himself to be pulled away. The best way to attached to Riona, emotionally that is, is to have sex with her. Then why leave to basically reprimand Jerry? Makes no sense.

Also, when Marc dies after the back and forth of, I can't let you, but I can't let you sacrifice yourself between Marc and Riona, he's dead and we realize that Jerry is actually the first fallen Keystone, Gaius Gallicus, who is brought back in Marc's body.

This story was all over the place. Who is Riona's father? What is this dagger all about? Why is Gaisu permitted to come back? What about love winning out and why did Marc decide to damn his soul by sleeping with Riona, when he was told what would happen to both of them, if they did? I just didn't get it. I though the story was slow and where it could have been interesting, that story was basically dropped. The premise was interesting, but just didn't work in execution.

I'm sorry I just didn't get it.

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WILD CHILD by Shelley Munro

Wild Child by Shelley Munro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Cute short novella. Zoe is a 22 year old college drop out. She institutes a plan to drop in on her stepbrother, eight years her senior, in order to seduce him and find out if the feelings she has for him are reciprocated.

Matt has moved from New Zealand to Australia to get away from the feelings he's had for Zoe since the day she turned 19 and kissed him after opening the birthday gift he got her. Now she's in his bed and their parents want her to stay with him to keep an eye on her.

Matt's resolve to stay away from Zoe, quickly fades and they immediately begin a sexual relationship. But Matt's ex-girlfriend, Marissa, who doesn't realize she's an ex, calls to invite him and his sister to a party. Zoe believing that Matt doesn't care for her as much as she does for him, since he won't set Marissa straight, spends the night dancing with every available man who asks.

Matt, not liking any of it, blurts out to Marissa that he and Zoe are lovers. Marissa endeavors to spred the rumors that the brother and sister are sleeping together, mindful of the fact that they aren't related. It's her form of revenge. She even brings friends to the restaurant where Zoe works and brings up the relationship while ordering. Matt's boss, has given him an ultimatum. The author never says exactly what it is, but you and infer that it's to either break up with Zoe or lose his job. I don't know how that's legal, but Matt makes the decision to ask Zoe to marry him while they are are taking a shower together.

At the same time, their parents show up. Matt informs his mother and Step-Father that he was in the bathroom with the woman he's going to marry. When Zoe, exits the bathroom, their mother is confused and upset, but their father seems resigned to it and alludes to the fact that he always suspected there was something between the two.

I would have liked it if the story was longer and more involved, but I have to say there's something to say about the story just getting to the point. I wanted to punch Marissa in the face. She used games to try to keep Matt dangling, but since they didn't work her venom came out.

Like I said, cute.

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THE FETISH BOX, Part Three by Nicole Camden

The Fetish Box, Part Three: What Remains by Nicole Camden
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I should have known, but I was hoping it would possibly get better, but it didn't. I'd read the first two section, of what is really a full book broken up in three parts, a few months ago when they became available on NetGalley and didn't really like them. But this, and being the end of the book, was the worst.

Part 2 is the start of a mystery where someone is after Mary and/or the Fetish Box and they don't know why. Although, Max and John seem to think and know its probably Mrs. Bond's husband, a police detective, whom Mrs. Bond left due to her increasing interest in the BDSM life. Part 3 starts with Mary escaping someone who has broken in and is tearing her house up. She's angry with Max for not being there when she woke, because he was off having sex with some randome woman. But she gets over that quite quickly. Enough to have sex with him the next morning, I guess... since time tends to mean nothing in this book. And the sex with Max only warrants a line mention. John seems to know she's had sex with Max, but never says anything to either of them. I understand that John is supposed to be holding himself back from really feeling anything for Mary, but he had previously told Max to back off, so you would think he would say something... But... Nothing.

Then John and Mary proceed to have non-stop sex from the kitchen, to the bedroom, to the shower, to the office, to the bedroom. Mary mentions once that she's sore, but that doesn't stop anyone. Even half asleep they continue to have sex.

Finally at the Party for Mrs. Bond, the reveal is that her husband is the person who's after Mary because her mother turned Mrs. Bond onto the life. But, again this is dumb. We knew it was this guy. And with Mary being caught off guard without anyone at her back because she was alone before, why would she be alone again? It boggles my mind.

Of course, Mr. Bond is quickly apprehended. I think the whole debacle lasted about three pages, if that. Then everything is fine. Lillehammer, Mary's friend and who was in Part 1 reemerges for the last two pages of the book. Characters who work in Mary's shop, disappeared and had nothing to say from Part 2 to Part 3.

It just needs a lot of work and shouldn't have been released likes this. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because I don't like saying I hate a book, it was short and the sex between Mary and John, when it was described, was kina hot. Otherwise, it was just awful. more like 1.5 stars.

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THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL by Portia Da Costa

The Accidental Call Girl by Portia Da Costa
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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I didn't really get this story. Other that the intimate moments, there wasn't much of a story to me. Lizzie is at a hotel for a party and takes a moment to herself at the bar when she meets a enigmatic and beautiful older man, John Smith, who immediately propositions her. She realizes he thinks she's a callgirl. One of her roommates, Brent, has been spent some time as an escort, therefore, she knows some of the intricacies and goes along with it. She likes John immediately and likes the games he plays.

She allows him to contact her while he's in town conducting business over the next several days where they engage in increasingly more sexually adventurous behavior. From bondage to having sex in a deserted, yet public wooded area. John becomes a attached to Lizzie, who he knows as Bettie, a play on her name (Elizabeth) and her resemblance in look and style to Bettie Page. He likes her willingness to try everything, but becomes suspicious of her realistic yet slightly nieve reactions to his ministrations and has her investigated, where he realizes she's not a call girl at all.

Lizzie really wants to tell John that she's not a call girl and as she gets to know him she becomes more enamored by him. But she discusses her roommates, Brent and Shelley, a lot and John suspects that she is really in love with Brent. Though he tries to keep his distance, he really can't stop thinking about her and becoming enchanted by her.

Lizzie finally tells John she's not a call girl and that she will give him his money back. John tells her about his life and his family and the expectations of them and why he's estranged. She tries to encourage him to connect with them again. While at a BDSM club during a weekend trip with John, Lizzie gets a call of Brent's attempted suicide.

While Brent tries to get himself together, he gets John to come back where he and Lizzie tell each other their true feelings.

Again, it was kind of a slow read. And only the intimate stuff was interesting to read.

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OWN THE WIND by Kristen Ashely

Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say? Kristen Ashley has done it again. I was so drawn into these characters that I couldn't put it down. I had read the first 32 pages of the book from a download on her website. When I got the book, I had to read it again. So much happens in the prologue, you just had to read it again to get the full experience of the book.

Today, while at lunch with a friend, who is fellow Kristen Ashley devote, I read the prologue to her, and she squealed ready to read the full book when it becomes available. As she's said to me before while reading the Rock Chick and Dream Man series, "I want to move to Denver and become friends with these characters. They must exist." If only they did.

I fell in love almost immediately with Shy and felt his pain when a lesson he tried to teach Tabby, went too far and cost him years of being around her and almost losing her to another man. The few times he sees her over the 3-4 years of their separation are palpable. Especially when he watches her with her guy on the steps of the DCPA. That moment, he knew he'd screwed up. And to discover months later she was engaged, you could read between the lines and know his heart was being ripped out.

But when they finally get together, which I loved about this book, and is most of the book, they have so many obstacles to get over. From her family of Chaos MC, to her father and even Tyra, her stepmother, to Landon, Shy's brother. I love how Shy has her back even against his brother, whom he loved and was the only blood left that he had he was close to. I love how he had her back when his brothers in Chaos were close to voting him out because of his relationship with Tabby. I love how he made sure her mother didn't give her any grief. He was just the best guy. Once he realized he had a chance with her and didn't want to mess it up, he went full out proving to her that he was the right guy for her.

I loved how Tabby took the time to listen to what Shy had to say to her, even though it was harsh and broke her heart. It allowed her to find love with Jason, though that was short lived. He allowed her to grieve and be her friend and she let him back into her life. I love how she gave her entire family what for when they railed at her and froze her out for being with Shy and not telling them about it. I love how when the chips were down she had his back in every case. She even stood by him when they ran into his ex and he realized that he'd crushed her like he had been crushed when Tabby was with Jason.

Every character had a place in the story, no one was dropped, every emotional string was strung. I almost hated for it to end.

Although, I think it could be a standalone for the beginning of the series, I would highly recommend reading the Dream Man series at least Mystery Man and Motorcycle man first, in order to get the full experience and know who all the players really are.

I want this to be a tv show so I can watch their lives every week.

Loved loved loved, Shy and Tabby. Looking forward to Laine and Hop!

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DARK WOLF by Kate Douglas

Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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Lily is a Chanku, a member of a shapeshifting race descended from an alien race which came to earth a melina ago. Sebastian is a wizard who has recently connected with a father he didn't know was alive until just before his mother's death. Aldo, his father has been fighting to strip the rights of the Chanku and wields dark magic. Sebastian has tried to connect with his father, but feels that he made a mistake finding him and that he's not a good person.

When Lily and Sebastian meet at a gala honoring her parents philanthropy, there is an immediate connection. There have been several rapes and killings, which seem to be done by a shifter. Lily's pack has been trying to find out who's doing it or if they are being set up, but something in her connection with Sebastian, makes her think he has something to do with it. Although she feels he's a good man and wouldn't harm anyone, there is darkness connected to his spirit.

Sebastian doesn't think he's has any connection to the dead women, but when he starts losing himself and time, not even he is sure. When he's with Lily for the first time, he tries to attack her, but doesn't remember the incident and only comes out if it when they are in danger of being attacked by two other wolves.

Sebastian makes the connection to his father, although he fights it at first. Lily believes that Sebastian is a Chanku, as does her father and they give him the herbs, which will determine the truth over time.

My biggest problem with this book is how things start, yet seem to go no where. Why do we need to know that Sebastian see's auras when that special ability really means nothing to the story except that he can't see his fathers. He also is able to mindspeak and read the thoughts of other except for his father. That could have been enough to know that his father was different, doing something evil, or just blocking his true nature from his father.

Lily seemed to feel that Sebastian and not her life-long friend and sometime sex partner, Alex, was her true mate and comparable alpha. But I don't know why that is. He never really exhibited any alpha behavior with her except for when his father was controlling his behavior. He cried in Alex's arms and deferred to his father most of the time. Yes, he didn't back down with her father, Anton, but he never really gave Sebastian any reason too. Anton seemed to fell Sebastian's nature right away, therefore he never challenged him.

I also felt there was too written about the world around them. The trees and the mountains and the way things felt under their feet. I needed the story to move and have things happen that would build upon themselves. Even Sebastian finding out about his mother was anti-climactic. She must have known she was Chanku, so why didn't she take the herbs to live longer. She died for no reason.

For this to be an erotica, some of the sex was glossed over and just didn't do much. There were a couple of good scenes, but the rest was just there.

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MORE THAN THIS by Shannyn Schroeder

More Than This by Shannyn Schroeder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Quinn is a straight laced English teacher who decides to take her first summer vacation (deciding not to teach summer school) to break out of her routine. Her sister Indy and best friend Kate talk her into spending the summer breaking out of her shell and taking chances by making up a list of things she will have to do out of her comfort zone. At the same time Quinn's casual flirtation with bar owner, Ryan, start to change. He's drawn to her and even asks her out a few times. Ryan reminds Quinn of her philandering bar tender ex-husband, so she blows him off.

Quinn thinks Ryan couldn't possibly be interested in her for more than a good time and move on. Ryan doesn't even know he wants more form Quinn. Mostly because his Irish Catholic family and his two bars keep him really busy. But the more time he spends with Quinn, the more he wants to be around her. He decides to help her with her list with the idea that he can be her summer romance, which is one of the items to complete on her list.

Although Ryan and Quinn become sexually involved, Quinn's inability to take chances, even to the point of deviating from her list, which is supposed to teacher her to spread her wings, keeps her from realizing Ryan is exactly what she's been looking for. She's so focused on the list and her decision to have a baby on her own, she doesn't see that Ryan could be the beginning of the family she's always wanted.

There are a couple of really cute and funny moments. I realized right away that Ryan's friend Griffen and Quinn's sister Indy would end up being a story of their own, whether in this book or in a future book. And it looks like it will be the next book by this author.

Negatives: I almost gave it only two stars because I did have a problem with how uneventful completing the the list items were. I think the author missed an opportunity to make each completion funnier and more meaningful to Ryan and Quinn's budding relationship. The idea that she's being passed over for a promotion and the job she really wants because she good with the harder cases is terrible and I've been there, but that story seemed to be dropped to easily to me. The mention of Ryan's sister Maggie being rapped doen't happen until much later in the story and seems to come out of left field. I felt like the author brought up the date rape happening in the bars to connect this to his feelings about what happened to Maggie. Yet, we only have a moment of time with Maggie at one family dinner, which Quinn attends. I felt certain they would connect group of guys doing the date rape to Quinn's ex-student, who didn't seem to know how to leave her alone. Again, this storyline was dropped into nothingness. Also, the ex-husband kinda disappeared. I was certain he would get in the way again somehow.

Positives: I gave it three stars because I loved Quinn and Ryan. Maybe I haven't met him yet, but wouldn't it be nice to have a guy want you so badly that he wouldn't give up even when you couldn't get out of your own way. I liked Indy and her pushing her sister to be more open to life and holding her up when she didn't know what to do next. I liked even though Colin was probably still a screw-up, he was there for his brother when he was about to let Quinn go.

I know it seems like there are more negatives than positives. But it was a quick read. Sweet story and I would definitely read the sequel.

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JUST BREATHE by Janette Paul

Just Breathe by Janette Paul
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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This isn't the typical romance novel, but I liked it. The things that I felt that where wrong was only that it seem to delve too long into the boring aspects of Dee's life. The boxes she bought while traveling, counting the money for the couch, shopping for the couch, etc. It would be different if it led somewhere but it didn't. I kept waiting for the roommate Pam to steal the money she kept in the books. I gave Ethan credit, because if someone who was thirty-one years old told me they kept their savings in a coffee table book, I would think they had lost their mind. I got confused a little by the many characters that were thrown at us in this book. I don't think anyone other than Dee and Ethan had fully formed characters. Even his sister Lucy, who was the catalyst to them meeting wasn't complete.

But saying all that, I didn't like it and found the two main characters charming. I loved how quirky Dee was. I had several crack-up moments. When she got caught on the door while working as a waitress at the event where Ethan was trying to introduce her to the Insurance client for the job and she smashes the tray of deserts onto her own face. I am still laughing when I think of when Ethan was trying to show what the worst that could happen if they capsized when he was trying to get her to go sailing with him.

Something slid past her leg - something slimy and slow. There it was again - slimy and slow and very fish-like. She snapped her legs back, keeping them high, hoping whatever was prowling about was dumb enough not to look up.

'This is nice.' Ethan's voice was so close she could feel his breath on her ear. 'But it might be easier if we both try to pull the boat up.'

'Huh?' De turned, saw his face just inches from her, which was a lot further away than the rest of her body. In recoiling from the slimy thing, she wrapped herself around him like a koala baby - legs around his wait, arms around his neck, everything else pressed hard up against him. A wave of heat washed over her - embarrassment with a touch of lust - and as the thought formed that she really made a very nice fit, she shoved away, surprised the water wasn't boiling from the blush in her face. 'Something was swimming around my legs and I, um, got nervous, and, ah....

I cried when her friend Emily died and Ethan took her to the funeral and stuck by her through her dispare.

I also understood how hard it was for her to take a risk after the things she'd had to endure in her past. But what she didn't realize was that her life living from moment was a risk in itself. It's hard not to prepare for what may or could happen next. And I understand the fear in failing to the point that she was afraid to take a risk on new things and new business.

I loved how once Ethan knew she was interested in him, he stuck with her and tried to make it work and get her to understand that he wasn't her past. He was sweet and ready for a real relationship after many years of staged or superficial relationships.

Reading this book made me wonder why I stopped doing yoga. I loved it and loved the restorative aspects of it. I put my yoga mat next to my bed this morning just like Dee. Nothing like rolling out of bed and right into a pose.

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THE PLEASURE ROJECT by JAX, Jenna McCormiick and Cassie Ryan

The Pleasure Project by Jax
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

The first story, THE SCIENCE OF PLEASURE, was difficult to get through. It tried to be high angst, but it didn't quite work for me. Dr. Jenesis DeBruehl was so focused on a delivery system to fight cancer, that she didn't realize that the crazy scientist running her lab was using her system to genetically alter human beings. Seven years later, she's been hired by one of the Alfa's who was a result of the unsanctioned (yet actually sanctioned by the government) testing to try to either help them calm their lust and/or determine a way that the Morphates can be killed as they are currently immortal. She falls for Morphate Kincade Gregory and becomes his mate before and after the crazy scientist kidnaps her and injects he with the same gene as Kincade.

The story just seemed to be a little to predictable for me.

I liked PROJECT SEDUCTION, probably because I'm a woman of a certain age, and I would like to think that I could find someone as attentive and loving as Evie found in Jace. He loved who she was over what she looked like, even though he thought she was sexy. He didn't care she wasn't rail thin or plucked and primped within and inch of her life. She was a strong independent woman with curves and that turned him on. I liked that.

A PIRATE'S PLEASURE was the best of the three. The loves scenes where hot, but the rest of the story took too long to get going. I get that the author wanted to show that the pleasure prob had a prominent part in the story, but the to start with that was kinda strange. I found the probe funny later, but the beginning was kinda dim.

anyway, thought this was okay, but not great. was a quick read.

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THE BOOBY TRAP by Anne Browning Walker

The Booby Trap by Anne Browning Walker
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

Bambi is a PhD student at Harvard in Women's Study's. Bambi meets Trip at the sports bar where she works, during his friends bachelor party. He takes out his frustrations from work on her and she decides to be extra nice to him. Once he sobers up, he decides that she would be perfect to play his girlfriend for the next nine moths for a PR stunt that his father's company wants him to be part of. He makes the assumption that because her name is Bambi, which he doesn't believe at first, and she works at The Booby Trap, she is a dumb bimbo.

Bambi needs money to go to conference in London, where she will meen some of the luminaries in her chosen profession and be able to discuss her dissertation with them. Since Trip, offered money in exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend, Bambi takes him up on it, with the added benefit of teaching him a lesson for have presumptions about her based on the way she looks and where she works.

At first Bambi plays into the stereotype, with moment of her real personality coming out, which leads a couple of people, women in particular to pick on her her real self. The PR woman who is handling the public dating events she and Trip go on as well as his best friends new wife. They also believe that Trip needs to be taken down a peg and go along with her plan not to tell him.

Once Trip finds out who Bambi really is, he's upset, but his feelings for her soon allow him to like who she really is. He also realizes that the little slips she had, were what he noticed about her and caused him to continue his interest in her. They agree to not lie to each other and try a real relationship to see where it goes. While out on a pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day, they run into Bambi's mother, who tells Trip that when Bambi was a teen she found Bambi in bed with her husband. She blamed Bambi instead of her husband. Bambi is not only embarrassed by her mother, but appalled that Trip believes what her mother says and runs out.

Trip discovers he's in love with Bambi when he blurts it out to his ex, Connie, after she kisses him and it's caught by the paparazzi who has been following he and Bambi. He confides his feelings as well as the photos with Elizabeth, the PR rep, and asks her to try to get the photos back before Bambi finds out.

Unfortunately after Bambi has discovered her feelings for Trip, she views the photos on an entertainment show and goes to Trip. She understands his reaction to her mother and accepts his apology for his stunned reaction, but she can't accept his lie of omission from telling her about the photos and his run in's with Connie.

Both Bambi's surrogate father figure and boss Joe as well as fellow waitress Lainie, conspire to get she and Trip back together. Trip tells her all his truths about things he's ever lied about with the biggest one that he loves her. He goes with her to London for the conference, where she's been asked to fill in for a presenter who can't make it.

The concept was cute. I like the idea that someone with a terrible name is a PhD student and she's perceived as dumb, when she's really smart. I like how she tries to teach Trip a lesson and that only a few really smart women are able to detect right away that she's not what she seems, while playing the bimbo.

Although his parents treat her badly at first, you kind of understand why, since she's playing the bubblegum chewing bimbo when they do. But once they find out who she really is, they like the idea and give her a chance.

Sweet story, with not a lot of umph to it, but it works enough for a quick read. I read it in one sitting since there wasn't a lot to it. Like my rating implies, it was okay.

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KEEPING SECRETS IN SEATTLE by Brooke Moss

Keeping Secrets in Seattle by Brooke Moss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

I thought this was a really sweet story. Violet 'Vi' has been in love with her best friend Gabe since they met when they were in kindergarten. When they were sixteen, they tried dating, but something happend that cabe between them. Ten years later Violet is ready to tell Gabe she's always been in love with him when he announces at his family's Christmas Dinner that he's engaged to mean girl Alicia. Alicia doesn't like Vi because of her relationship with Gabe and his family. She's one way in front of Gabe and his family and another in front of her.

After a period of time wallowing in her own misery, Vi decides that its time to move on and while out with her friends and roommates Kim and Betsy (who are a couple), she meets Landon. Landon is a lot like Vi. He has his own style and lots of tattoos. He's a sweet guy who immediately falls for Vi and she wants to fall for him. Every time she thinks she's getting close to Landon, Gabe calls or texts her. They even have a few moments where there seems to be more between them, but Gabe inevitably is too busy to listen or someone, namely his fiance Alicia, interrupts.

Vi decides to tell Gabe what happened when they were sixteen when they broke up. He seems to think she slept with his other bet friend, Cameron, while he was upstairs at a house party. What he doesn't know is that his friend assaulted Vi. Her mother told her to not say anything and she didn't. She's been carrying it around for ten years and thinks that if Gabe knew it would keep him from marrying Alicia and be with her.

As Vi tries to be part of the wedding and serve in the capacity as the best man Gabe asked her to be, she finds out more from Alicia's friends that she's not who she says she is.

When Vi tries to tell Gabe about Cameron and Vi, he's doesn't want to hear it. He's more angry that Vi looked into Alicia then what she found out. That's when Vi decides she will marry Landon. But once in Vegas, she can't go through with the quickie wedding and they break up. But before she left for Vegas, she send Gabe her journals she's been keeping since she was raped. Upon her return, Gabe confronts her and can't believe that everyone he thought he could trust had lied to him, from Alicia and Cameron, to Vi herself. She can't believe he lumps her in with the others and is furious.

When Gabe asks for time to think out his life and his feelings, Vi decides its time for her to give up and move away so she won't risk running into him. But before she can do that, Gabe sends her an email telling her how much he loves her, has always loved her and will always love her. That even though she's moving, he will never give up on her. Vi decides to stay and fight for her life with Gabe.

This was a cute story. I liked Betsy and Kim, they were a funny. Alicia was awful and Landon was almost too sweet. I hate to say it, but we want our guys a little less wimpy.

Vi's mother gave her daughter terrible advice when she'd been assaulted and should have tried to talk things through before nine years had passed. I love that they were an unconventional couple. Gabe was of mixed race raised by successful and loving parents. Vi was a Caucasian, raised by a beauty queen mother, with an absentee father and several step-fathers through her life. Vi work ventage clothing and had tattoos up her arms and back and she was a full figured girl, where Gabe was very fit.

I liked how the author had journal entries form when Vi was attacked at the beginning of each chapter. That told some of the backstory without having an entire chapter dedicated to it and instead, parceled it out so you could grow to understand what had happened to Vi. Not the best book, but I like what it stood for. Love can concur all.

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SLOW BURN by Anne Marsh

Slow Burn by Anne Marsh
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

I want to say that I like it and it's better than just okay. I feel I may be being a little hard since I read two really great and funny books back to back before reading this book and I don't know if I'm being fair in my rating if I give it a little better than I am actually feeling.

Faye is recently divorced from LA firefighter Mike, who spent more time at the firehouse than home with his wife. When she finds him in bed with a female member of his team, she had enough. Now she's ready to have a new adventure, cleaning out her 401K to buy her dream Corvette and taking it on the road for a new job as a freelance photojournalist for a magazine.

She winds up in a small town called Strong, where the Donovan Brothers have formed thier fire jump company. She's there to take pictures of the firefighters and the old firehouse they are restoring, when she comes upon a firefighter fighting a brush fire, who may actually be an arsonist.

Evan Donovan is one of three adopted boys, who know have returned to their home town and their adopted mother to build their fire jumping buisness. Evan is a big man of few words. Faye's ex-husband, Mike, calls his old Marine budy, Evan, asking him to keep an eye on his wife on the day their divorce has become fianl.

Faye is three sheets to the wind the moment she first see's Evan and doesn't remember that he walked right up to her and called her by name. But they are immeidiately attracted to earch others and between fire jumps and the local arsonist, they act on their supercharged attraction to each other.

Evan is sweet and Faye is obviously attracted to him both because he's physically hot, but because he's a nice guy. He promises her and Adventure for two weeks in exchange for sticking around and not writing a story about the arsonist until they can figure out who he is.

One of the things I don't like about this book is how Evan and his brothers discuss early on that Mike told him to keep and eye on his ex-wife, but he doesn't tell her. She discovers thier connection while looking at photos from his mother's photo album.

Then Faye's boss tells her he needs her photos and story sooner than the two weeks she promised Evan and she doesn't immediately tell him about her deadline. She waits until she's mad at him about Mike before she says anything.

I get that the author is trying to show relationship drama, but this was just dumb to me. Speak up sooner rather than later and you won't have all the drama. How hard can it be?

Other than that, the book is short and not a bad story. It's just the characters do some stupid things. Also, a quite a few of the surrounding characters aren't really flushed out either.

Supposedly, there's something going on between Ma's bartender, Mimi, and third Donovan brother, Rio. But we barely see or hear about her.

Also, Faye's sister calls her at the beginning of the book to check on her, but never checks again in the several days that she's there. That's strange to me. She seems concerned about how Faye is taking the divorce on that day. I would think she would call again, or at the very least call and Faye would have her sister to discuss with Evan which would lead into her family.

Like I said, this book suffers because the last two I read were spectacular and I didn't feel even half of that here.

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WOLF WITH BENEFITS by Shelly Laurenston

Wolf with Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

Not as good as book #5, BEAST BEHAVING BADLY, but still funny and good.

My favorite couple, Bo and Blayne, were present.

Antonella 'Toni' Jean-Louis Parker is the eldest of 11 children born to jackel shifter parents Jackie, world renowned violinist and Paul, average guy. All of Toni's siblings are geniuses, but she's not. Her talent is being able to wrangle them and schedule their lives, which she doesn't realize is a talent until, while in New York with a few of her siblings, she stops a fight between Bo Novikov and Reece Lee Reed. Two of of the Hockey players for the Carnivores. She so effortlessly handles them she's offered a six figure job, apartment and driver from her family-friend-turned-cousin Ric Van Holt.

Toni meets wolf sifter Ricky Lee Reed, who is the middle brother of the Reed Brothers and works in private security with them. Ricky is immediately attracted to Toni. He loves her wild curly hair. While trying to get to know her, he meets her strange and eccentric family, who have decided to move across the street from the Smith Pack. Jesse's adopted son, Johnny, is a violin prodigy and Jackie is determined to find a way to work with him.

While endearing themselves to the Smith Pack, Bo Novikov and the Reeds, it is discovered that one of them is in danger. Government types are after 7-year-old genius Freddy, who has a penitent for stealing and burying things of people he likes. He's stolen one of Miki's, fellow scientist, books and sociopath sister Delilah wants to sell it to the highest bidder in order to make money and extricate herself from her family. She doesn't care who it hurts.

Okay... Siblings:

Kyle - 11 year old genius artis/sculpter. Works with marble mostly. Is so cocky and funny, it's not even funny. Toni believes he's the one who needs to be reigned in and handled the most. Says exactly what's on his mind and has particular talent in reducing many men to tears due to showing them how inferior they are. Kyle feels he's so superior to everyone to the point of being downright rude. Only Toni seems to be able to control him.

Oriana - 15 year old ballet prodigy. She doesn't worry about friends or boyfriends. Her singular goal is all she things about and that is being a world premier ballerina. She argues with Kyle and Troy the most.

Cherise - 20 year old agoraphobic, who is a world renowned cellist. She meek and mild, but determined to help with her siblings so her sister Toni can begin to have her own life.

Cooper 'The Coop' - 22 year old world renowned pianist. He makes the classical piano seem cool. He's young and attractive and like a rock star god. He comes home and puts his tour on hold to help Toni get a life. He realizes everything she's done when he can't handle any of the children.

Troy - 9 year old math genius. He is also a bit of a narcissist like Kyle and Oriana. They don't care what the other needs to do to practice or focus on their craft, as long as it doesn't interfere with what they want to do.

Freddy - 7 year old science genus. Loves it when his idles Irene Van Holt and her friend Mikki reduce his professors to tears by showing how much smarter they are than the professor. Freddy is the only one of the younger geniuses who has a heart and soul. He loves his sister Toni and wants her to be happy. He also is gullible and believes everything Delilah tells him until it's too late.

Dennis - 5 year old prodigy painter. could replicate anything to the point of it looking like a photo.

Twins Zoe & Zia - 3 year old toddlers who picked up languages and could speak with authentic accents to the point that people would ask where they were adopted from.

Delilah - 18 year old artist. Delilah wasn't just an artist, she was smart in science and math as well. She is also a sociopath. She has no emotional connection to anything or anyone. She will put her own family in danger in order to get enough money to be away from them and do anything she wants. She just has no intention of working for it. She will lie, cheat and steal to get what she wants. Toni sees this in her and keeps her under control to an extent, but the other family members give her a wide berth.

Olivia 'Livy' Kowalski, Honey Badger shifter and Toni's best friend. She's also a genius photographer, honorary member of the family and basically the 11th sibling that Toni takes care of. Livy has a bad habit of squatting in other people's homes instead of owning or renting a place to live. It's more exciting to her. Toni hires her as the Hockey teams staff photographer and gets her the same postion with other teams in order to give her some semblance of normalcy and steadiness.

When Livy stays with the Jean-Louis Parker family, she likes to think she's still squatting. Though they give her keys to wherever their staying, she still sneaks into the house through a window and sleeps under beds and sneaks around. They love her and get her and don't mind her eccentricities.

Livy knows what Delilah is and will do whatever she has to to back up Tony and the Jean-Louis Parker family, even if that means killing Delilah. When Delilah thinks she's gotten away with threatening Oriana, Livy makes it clear she won't stand for it and will kill her if it comes to that, and makes sure she knows that Toni won't mind if it comes to that.

One thing I don't understand about the story is why Livy and Toni are so mean to Blayne. Since she's one of my favorite characters, their dismissal of her to the point of Toni calling her any other name but her real name, bothers me. Toni seems so caring and sweet and this is one of her only mean traits and there's no real explanation for it.

I love everything that comes out of Kyle's mouth. He's thoroughly hysterical when talking to what he consider's the 'common man.' When Troy throws that out when Ricky is trying to explain to them that they need to let their sister get her own life, I fell out laughing when he says "The common man has spoken."

I love how light and breezy Ricky is. He lets nothing get to him, not even his conniving ex-girlfriend. He's more focused on Toni and doesn't care what she's up to.

Two of my favorite visuals from the book is with Livy takes out the Lion shifter Hockey player and then when she took down Laura Jean, Ricky's ex-girlfriend. Brilliant.

I love how cold Irene is. She's like, let the family get over Delilah for a couple years then take her out. I agree. She can't be left to out there and potentially take advantage of one of the kids again.

I also wonder if Vic Barinov and Livy will be a couple in the next book. Their connection at the end makes me think that.

Some of the things that were problematic for me is that there were so many characters and story lines going on. Yes they interwove ended up being connected, but with few breaks in the structure of the book, you could easily get lost as to what was happening and where you were in the story. Example was when Cella goes into the church to talk to John the all of a sudden they are at the farmhouse where Freddy is being kept. What does the guy at the church have to do with anything? And does he have something to do with Whithal, who they've been looking for and what happened to that part of the storyline? It just seemed to end with no resolution. Although it was very funny, just not as funny as book #5 as I started before. These are the only reasons I havent' given it a bigger rating, but I would still recommend and I'm sure I will buy the other books in oder to read the rest of the story and characters.

I almost wish these books were paranormal and/or were able to be adapted into a television show. Thats what I do for a living and I just can't see this happening but I could be wrong. I would definitely watch something like this on tv.

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BEAST BEHAVING BADLY by Shelly Laurenston

Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

Now I gave this book five stars and I rarely ever give out a five star review. I did because Blayne was a hoot. I laughed so hard at times I couldn't see straight or breath. I loved Bo as well. The first time he saw her, he gave her a look that sent her running away. Ten years later that same look is just as frightening, but in a different way. I am a true believer of things happening for a reason and Bo thinks several times that it was for the best that she ran away the first time. He was 19 and would have been so addicted to her, he would have never focused on his hockey career. Now that he's more established, he can cut his concentration a bit more.

I loved all of Bo's lists and schedule. Getting involved with Blayne means all of that is out of the window. I also loved Blayne using her personality and amping it up a bit in order to drive DeeAnn crazy. I love how Bo was a 'Bear' in a China shop when he wanted something. He was direct in every aspect of his life, to hilarious conclusions. I loved how Blayne turned all the Bears in Ursus County into her biggest fans, since they are supposed to hate wolfdogs.

One of my favorite parts of the book was when Niles Van Holtz goes to speak with Blayne's father after she'd been kidnapped, gotten away, but hurt, and is now in Ursus County and wouldn't leave:

"Look, why don't I make this easy for you and me?"

"Blayne likes to feel we have a rough-and-tumble acrimonious relationship, and I let her. Because in a bizarre, Blayne-like way, it makes her feel more normal when, in all fact, my girl's weird. I know she's weird. Her friends know she's weird. And we all accept it because she's weird, but she's also amazing. And I want my weird but amazing girl safe. So this is what you're going to do. You're going to track down the f**ckers who grabbed her and you're going to do what the Group does best, which is wipe their full-human assess from the planet. You're going to do this in a timely manner and then, when its safe, I'll go with you and bring my girl back. And, even after staying with those goddamn bears in Ursus County--who, by the way hate wolves and are terrified of wolfdogs--my girl better be as annoyingly perky and helpful as she was when she was grabbed, or I'll raise Van Holtz territory to the ground from here to the West Coast, leaving nothing but craters the size of the Atlantic Ocean when I'm done."

Or when Ezra comes to Ursus County to get Blayne and walks up on Bo naked butting Blayne's books on her as she's about to go for a run. Her father sees that she's been marked and tells her that her kids will be freaks.

She marches to the door and yelled "And our children will not be freaks!"

"Except their mother already is," her father yelled back.

When Bo's mane starts to grow when he's upset that Blayne is hugging one of her male friends.

"Oh,no," her father said, next to him with a level of sarcasm even Bo was finding hard to take. "Your kids won't be freaks at all." "I love your daughter, sir," Bo said low for Mr. Thorpe's benefit only. "But don't think for a second I won't snap your neck like a twig if you get on my my nerves." The wolf looked up at him, brows raised, and Bo added, "No, really." Laughing, the wolf walked away from him.

I loved the interactions with all the character and when Blayne was hyper and a bit wacky causing havoc to Bo's well structured world. She wants to be friends with everyone even if they don't want to be friends with her. She's willing to force the issue.

But also, the fighting scenes were well written. I love that Ezra had Blayne trained like she was in the Core by different people, so she would always be able to take care of herself. The only people who know this are her father and her best friend Gwen, until the night of the attempted kidnapping. Bo is so anxious to try to get to her, that he's shocked and thrown from the vehicle when he views what Blayne can do with a knife and how fast and precise she moves.

They hide it from the Bears of Ursus as well as others because her type is considered unpredictable at the best of times. She has always been afraid what people woud do if they knew she was well trained. But Lock and Ric as well as DeeAnn, who thinks she's as annoying as a teacup poodle, are thrown when they view her in action. Blayne's father knows she can take care of herself, so his responses to her perceived danger very muted.

The only thing I didn't like about the book, which I can only assume is because I hadn't read the first 4 in the series, was some of the characters came and disappeared quickly. But I obviously didn't take anything off of this for that because I loved it so much. I also have Wolf With Benefits, which I can't wait to read as well.




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BLOOD FLOWS DEEP IN THE EMPIRE by N. Isabelle Blanco

Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

More like 3.5 stars. Could be 4. I've been wavering.

Dyletri is the God of Fertility, who has promised Fate he would sacrifice a human woman in the future to bring back the woman he loves named Dimithinia. The problem is, once he meets the human, Ismini, he realizes he didn't know what love was. Ismini has been having dreams about Dyletri her entire life. Nylicia, Watcher of Destinies, has been entering her dreams all Ismini's life and has prepared her for the coming sacrifice.

But when Ismini starts exhibiting signs of Mating, she's rushed to the God of Medicine to help her. She tries to hide her symptoms from Dyletri, because she doesn't want him to feel guilty for not returning her feelings, loving Dimithina and having to sacrifice her to save millions of other lives. The only problem is, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other when they are in the same room.

After Dyletri Mates with Ismini, he knows that if she is sacrificed, he will die too and that he doesn't want to let her go. The only problem with that is he passed out after they mated, and with guilt over it Ismini leaves only to be captured by Enteax and Lisrn, who want to make sure the sacrifice happens. They grab Evesse for good measure and throw her into the vortex for sacrifice as well.

Is and Eve are saved by Dyletri and Zen after Dimithinia berates Dyletri for being so stupid to let her go.

One of the best Characters is Cyake, God of Divination and Prophecy. He's hysterical. He's always trying to make the other guys jealous to the point of realizing they are pushing away the women they are meant to be with. The author eludes to the idea that Cyake is the unrequited love of Nylicia, who has been feeling the pain of not mating with him for millennia.

I don't normally like books with Gods and names of characters that are so hard to pronounce and keep in your heard each time you read them, but I liked this one. I think that the human names could have been a bit easier. I also don't like it when the author switches back and forth between the given name and the nickname. Pick one and stick with it, and especially when they are difficult names. But I digress.

I felt Ismini's pain of not being the one for Dyletri, at least that's what she thought. I loved that fact that she was so selfless and giving. She knew what her lack of sacrifice would mean to the world. She didn't want to die, but she knew it was necessary. I loved how each God who met their women, would fight it, but only because it went against their nature. Like Soleria and Ianthen, God of the Hunt, who was known to be a womanizer. To have him destined for one woman alone, you know he's going to fight that. Especially when said woman can sense a womanizer from miles away and calls him on it.

I would say the only reason I didn't give this book a full 4 stars is because the author didn't really tell me how or why Fate let Ismini come back, as well as the mention of many other Gods and Goddesses who seemed to be too much for me to keep in my head in this story. Especially since we never meet them. They are just mentioned. I know Nylicia said she was going to have to plead for Ismini and Evesse to be restored, but there was no real explanation of why it was okay for Ismini to come back and what that meant to the prophecy and how that would effect the world. Yes Nylicia said that Is and Eve were needed in the upcoming war, but for me it was a little too vague.

I have to say I lived the description of the fight with the CeFtut. That visual in my head was cool. It was like a cross between Wanted and Bleach. That's my Anime Geek coming out.

There was a sneak peak at the next book and I have to say, I'm definitely looking forward to reading it. I can't believe it won't be out until 2014.



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PLATINUM by Jeffe Kennedy

Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

I would say more like 3 1/2 stars. Althea runs a safe little gallery in the historic part of town. She follows the rules and doesn't rock the boat, even when others cause the problems. Like her assistant Cheri not coming into work when she doesn't feel like it, or her boyfriend, Brandon, using work as an excuse not to spend time with her. Their relationship is boring and blandly boring.

When Steel walks into her Gallery, Althea knows right away that his art isn't the type of art for her gallery. It wouldn't fit in with they type of art she believes she should show or the neighborhood. But when he offers her ten thousand dollars for the use of her basement for a commissioned piece he's working on, the money is too good to pass up. See, her gallery is failing. Like everything else in her life, it's safe and not turning a profit.

Steel is fascinated by Althea right away. He can tell she's different because of the color of her hair. She tells him she's albino. He tells Althea that he's interested in her and wants to show her a different side to herself, but she has to give up the boring boyfriend. Once she does, her education begins. Starting with sex, how she dresses and even her own artistic endeavors. Although she's first content to leave their relationship behind closed doors in the basement, Althea soon realizes that Steel is just the type of man she's been looking for, not only in her personal life, but also i her professional world.

The only reason it's not four is because the story was short, ending a little anticlimactic for me, and I wanted more. But it was good. I liked that Steel pulled Althea out of her shell. Taught her what she was missing not only in her life, but in her art.

I was a little angry that she didn't take him seriously emotionally as a potential partner, until almost then end. She kinda hurt his feelings a bit. Only realizing later that he was opening her up to the person she really wanted to be. I also would have liked for Cheri, the assistant who never really showed for work but secretly wanted Steel, to have more of an issue with Althea dating him. I think this could have made the story a bit longer with a bit more drama happening.

I liked that Althea's mother instantly liked Steel and didn't seem to care that he was with her daughter and, with Steel there, Althea was able to stand up to her father.

It was good, but could have been better.


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