Review: The Dragon Master by Allyson James

Now where can I get a dragon of my own? Especially one that turns into a mouth-watering specimen of masculine beauty? Ah well, I guess I’ll just have to settle for Allyson James’ dragon men and her latest book “The Dragon Master.”

Review: Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast

“Goddess of the Sea” is my first foray into P.C. Cast’s ‘Goddess Summoning’ series about normal women transformed by their willingness to believe in the spark of the Feminine Devine that makes all women magical! But the series is not about witchcraft and crones and spells and such, rather it celebrates the female viewpoint and the joys to be found in the care of tending of beauty in whatever form it’s found, whether it’s nature, art, or humanity.

Review: Where There’s Fire by Maureen McKade

Another tortured hero served up for our delectation! “Where There’s Fire” is my first contemporary romantic suspense by Maureen McKade. I didn’t realize that I had recently read one of her historical romance novels until I was typing this review and my fingers remembered the name. Then, of course, I had to check out why and bingo! Now, I find myself comparing her writing styles and realizing that there are many similarities. Not so strange, I guess, but still. A serial arsonist turned murderer, a twisted pimp, a drug-addicted ‘ho, and in the middle of it all one female cop and one mysterious man.

Review: Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom

Shoes that bill and coo, and Monty Python’s rabid bunny slippers come to life! “Hex Appeal” by Linda Wisdom is a laugh out loud paranormal romance. With zany secondary characters and a Starbucks addicted witch in love with a smoldering, sexy vampire, this series has something for everyone. In “50 Ways to Hex Your Lover”, Jazz and Nick reunited to finally defeat a returned enemy. Now in “Hex Appeal” they’ll need to trust each other more than ever before to best whatever force is trying to either break them up or kill them.

Review: Broken Pieces by Carla Cassidy

I have shivers running up and down my spine. I just finished “Broken Pieces” by Carla Cassidy and I really hope none of my stairs creak tonight or I’ll likely have a heart attack screaming my head off. If you like books that scare you and have you looking over your shoulder, this one will fit the bill.

Review: Mistaken Mistress by Tessa Radley

After a grueling day of reading and reviewing, I was happy to pick up “Mistaken Mistress,” a Silhouette Desire category romance by Tessa Radley. This story is part of her ‘Saxon Brides’ trilogy about a family of winemakers in New Zealand. This first book sets the stage and introduces the family.

Review: Marriage, Manhattan Style by Barbara Dunlop

“Marriage, Manhattan Style” is Barbara Dunlop’s latest Silhouette Desire release and the fourth book in the miniseries ‘Park Avenue Scandals’. Each story limns the tale of a resident of 721 Park Avenue in Manhattan. Other authors participating in this sexy contemporary series are: Maureen Child, Laura Wright, Jennifer Lewis, Emilie Rose and Anna DePaolo.

Review: Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle

Goddesses, dragons, werewolves, prophecies, magic…this series has all those things that make my heart go pitty-pat. “Dark Highland Fire” is the second book in Kendra Leigh Castle’s exciting tale of an alternate world where the balance has gone horribly wrong, and its connection to Earth. I read and loved her first book, “Call of the Highland Moon” which introduced a world just like ours where paranormal creatures run amok. Although it’s not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this story, I’m glad I did. This second book continues and expands Castle’s vision of both worlds which are exciting places I really enjoy visiting.

Review: Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

Can you believe it? Me, Mrs. doesn’t really read ‘sports’ romances, and I’ve read two in the last week! And enjoyed both! This is surely cause for celebration. My most recent is “Line of Scrimmage” by Marie Force. It’s about football, did you guess? It’s also about the debutante and the quarterback. But don’t hate them for that because their life hasn’t been a bed of roses.

Review: Hungry for More by Diana Holquist

I opened “Hungry For More” looking for a change in tenor from my recent reading. Diana Holquist certainly provided that with a story about food and love…or food as love. Each chapter is headed with a food quote from the hero of the book comparing life’s lessons with food. Since I was hungry for something unusual, I dug right in.

Review: Stand By Your Hitman by Leslie Langtry

How can you pass up a book with the title of “Stand By Your Hitman”? This is the first novel I’ve read by Leslie Langtry and it is very funny! The story is definitely a romance…and the heroine is an assassin. Is there a feminine form of assassin? Assassinette? Assassiness? I couldn’t find one in the OED (Oxford English Dictionary), but maybe we can all just vote? Anyway, Langtry manages to play off just about every stereotype there is regarding assassins and does a darn good job too. Who knew assassins could be loveable heroes and heroines?

Review: Hot Property by Susan Johnson

Susan Johnson is another big name in erotica publishing. Her novels run the gamut from historical to contemporary, but are always very, very hot. Once you read her stories, you realize that sex is at the heart of her novels; true erotica. Her latest, “Hot Property,” is an exciting modern story filled with tons of scorching hot sex, dry humor, and action.

Review: Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Okay, time for some ‘True Confessions’. Is there any woman alive who hasn’t dreamed of landing the absolute sexiest Hollywood star? Fess up! We’ve all dreamed it. It may have been when we were younger, but we’ve still all dreamed of Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Robert Redford, etc. But really, could we make it past their egos? Their unreal lives? The paparazzi? In “Just the Sexiest Man Alive,” Julie James spins a tale of that dream come true. He’s smoking hot, he’s been voted the sexiest man alive three times running and he seriously needs an attitude adjustment.

Review: Ace is Wild by Penny McCall

Combining humor, suspense, and romance is a delicate balancing act most authors don’t even try.  I’m always on the lookout, though, for those authors who make that effort and I’m absolutely thrilled when I find one who does the job well.  I read “All Jacked Up” by Penny McCall and enjoyed it so I picked up her next book “Tag, You’re It.” It has been almost a year since then and now “Ace is Wild” is finally out and it’s just as good as the other two novels.

Review: Taking the Heat by Kathryn Shay

This is a very difficult review to write. “Taking the Heat” by Kathryn Shay was a heart-wrenching read. Shay has written a very gritty and powerful book about the difficulties people face every day when they are involved in relationships with our heroes: public officials, law enforcement, military, and firefighters. I almost hesitate to call it a romance, though it certainly does tell the story of two people coming together. But this is a view of the harsher side of the story, more realistic if you like. If you’re looking for hearts and flowers and a light read, this is definitely not the book for you.