I love a romance with a dash of paranormal thrown in, so this novel was right up my alley. The plot was complex and well developed, the writing brilliant, and the characters deep and enticing.

Sorcha Logan is looking for peace.

Recently returned to her hometown on Scotland’s craggy coast, Sorcha wants to tame the spirits that made her flee. When she finds a corpse in the surf, however, she can’t suppress the memory of discovering her father’s body. Nor can she suppress the ghosts that haunt her—or the town’s conviction that she’s dangerous, and a witch.

Ben Foley is looking for a killer.

An American DEA agent, Ben is in town to investigate the suspicious death of his partner. He’s sure that Sorcha knows more than she’s letting on—but the more time he spends with the sexy suspect, the less he can fight their illicit attraction. And the less certain he is she’s involved with a drug cartel. But can Ben protect Sorcha from being set up? Or worse—killed?

Sorcha, our heroine, was branded a witch as a child after finding her father dead at her feet with no memory of how his drowned body got there. Fifteen tortured years later, she returns to her home town to face new terrors and a decade old mystery. Her character is smart and determined without any silly girl hang-ups you get with some female characters. Yes, she had her heart broken in the past but it doesn’t stop her from discovering more about the sexy new guy in town Ben. Sorcha has spunk and a backbone of steel and can kick butt like the best of them. I absolutely loved her character.

Ben is an undercover DEA agent set to break a complicated case after his cover is blown open on a mission is Columbia. His partner is killed and revenge grips Ben by the throat and takes him to Scotland. The tiny seaside town just might be where the brains behind an international drug smuggling ring resides. Ben is also a strong, stubborn, and determined person with deep scares and a dramatic past. Still, he grows closer and closer to Sorcha. I like that he didn’t have that bad boy cop vibe but rather an intelligent go-getter that makes you want to take him home to your mother. The romance between them is logical, the common threads that link Ben and Sorcha together create a realistic romance that leaps off the pages.

The plot was intricate and very well developed. I greatly enjoyed the many twists and turns that made this book so much more than a simple suspense or paranormal romance. There is murder, break-ins, fraud, and a host of other crimes to keep the reader interested. This is all interwoven with some psychic elements and maybe a touch of Scottish witchcraft. The villain is truly evil, the good guys very deserving of their triumph.

The love scenes are gentle and loving, a bit more tame than I initially expected but that is not a bad thing. I would give it 7 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, a very good read. The story is immensely satisfying and I highly recommend it. I give this book a 8.5 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!

I have to admit that I generally don’t read anthologies unless I really like one or more of the authors who are among the contributing writers. I am a big fan of Megan Hart and I have read the novella that is the original novel for the Lauren Dane’s contribution so I opted to pick this anthology up. I can’t say that it thrilled me nor left me disappointed but it was a nice holiday read all the same. Rather than giving the reader of this review an in-depth overview of each story – way too long to read on a blog – I have included a link to the book information so that the reader can get a better idea of what each story is actually about. Click on the image for the book information.

The first story, Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey, was simply delicious. I really liked the story line of the boy-next-door-who-has-turned-totally-hot romance. Makes me wish one of the guys I knew in high school secretly crushed on me and is now totally sexy and really successful. Sigh… not going to happen. I liked both Chloe and Scott’s characters and the dynamic that the author creates between them. The love scenes are steamy and totally keep the reader interested. This was my favorite story in the anthology by far.

Next comes All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton, an author I have never even heard of before. So I was a little excited for my first experience with her writing. I very much enjoyed her writing style and the way she really gets the reader into her short story. Riley and Ethan just about lit up my pages with the emotion they both had bottled up inside. This was another story that had an appealing plot line with a great ending that gave me butterflies.

Bring on my old time favorite, Megan Hart, with her contribution Unwrapped. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. The story had little substance – the female lead insecure about the changes to come in her marriage. I found myself a little bored. Don’t get me wrong, the intimate moments are hot and very appealing but there was nothing else to the story in general. It was still well written and I did like the characters but I wanted more of a story line and more excitement between the characters.

Finally we have Believe by Lauren Dane. I didn’t particularly like the original story for Rori and Jude but I had hoped that this one would be better. Unfortunately, I still found the s/m aspect not to my taste and the power struggle between the characters too much for me. I want romance with a bit of heat not power trips and unnecessary domination outside the bedroom. I never liked Jude as a hero and I still don’t. Other readers may like the dynamic between him and Rori so I would not skip this story but it definitely did not work for me. It also didn’t turn me off of Lauren Dane, I would still read more from her just not another story about Jude and Rori.

The love scenes in each story range slightly in heat but overall are Hot Hot Hot! I would give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, a good anthology that defiantly turns up the heat for the holidays. Each author brings their own style and flair to the stories and I would definitely read another anthology featuring these authors. I give this book a 7.5 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!

I am having a hard time deciding whether I truly liked this book. There were many aspects that I liked and many that I didn’t. I also found myself reading this book in one sitting. But I didn’t read it all at once because it was so good that I couldn’t put it down but rather because I was waiting for something to happen that never materialized. So, I shall dissect my impression and see if other readers agree with my overall review.

The story begins with Margo, a popular radio DJ who thinks that her life is perfect and she has it all. Suddenly her perfect life begins to fall apart and some major soul searching is needed for her to get back on track. This includes a road trip with her oh so hot, oh so promiscuous best friend Chris. As they travel cross country to her mother’s 11th wedding ceremony, Margo must face some interesting facts – a bath tub and banging headboard notwithstanding.

The plot moves at an ok pace but I wanted more from Margo and Chris earlier in the book. There was no sexual tension building between them so no real anticipation for the reader. When they do finally get together it was a little anti-climactic for that reason. There were a few other plot items that I didn’t much care for especially the score of women that Chris kisses and sleeps with throughout the book. He has this “kiss test”, his compatibility test to see if he has found Miss Right. Unfortunately he kisses everything that moves! But, in the end, you learn why he has this test and it is a sweet, poignant moment.

The characters are vibrant and interesting. Margo is somewhat easy to relate to and I liked her laid back attitude. Her views on marriage create an interesting internal conflict for her. It was an intriguing to watch the strong, dominant girl who thinks she doesn’t need anyone fall flat on her face – literally and figuratively – over our hero. Chris could have been a bit less of a womanizer and I would have liked him so much more. It was not until the very end of the book that I found myself caring whether or not he ended up with Margo. I didn’t really like his character at all, even if he did seem to have all the traits that I tend to like in a male lead. He is outgoing and charming, strong but gentle. I would have loved him if there wasn’t some illusive thing that just didn’t work for me with him.

The writing is good and the author draws you into the story well but, with the exception of the last few pages, I found the book a bit boring. I think I read it so fast because I really wanted more action; some new plot items that would have made me go WOW. That didn’t come until page 225!

The love scene was brief with a little bit of heat at just the right moment. I would give it a 6 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, looking back at all I have written, the book was a good read even with some of the plot and character issues. I closed the book with a smile on my face which means the author did her job. For a contemporary romance fan, I would say give this book a try. I give this book a 7 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!

This book was a huge surprise for me. I am not usually a sci-fi fan but I wanted to give this one a try. The outline sounded promising with a little action/adventure tied in with a steamy romance. What I got was a ton of action and a super sexy romance that kept me turning pages.

Kirillian Harmony Knox was one of the most successful bounty hunters in the galaxy—until a brain-eater named Prime became her only failure and escaped, landing her in jail. Now free, she’ll stop at nothing to catch him and stop his murderous rampage.

Unfortunately for Harmony, fellow hunter Bart Tanner has the only available transport. Arrogant and ruthless, Tanner is known for killing most of his bounties. Harmony can’t stand him—yet she can’t deny the deep sexual desire sparking between them.

Once enslaved as a cage fighter by a cruel Kirillian, Tanner harbors a deep hatred for the alien race—though he’s drawn to Harmony’s luscious sensuality, and they soon indulge in erotic encounters.

When Prime puts out a hit on Harmony, things intensify, and Tanner realizes their lust has turned into something deeper—but if he and Harmony aren’t careful, more than just their lives will be at stake…

I love it when there is tension between the two main characters. Michelle and Lindsey have created a lot more than tension, these people can’t stand each other yet they can’t fight their attraction. Tanner is a big, strapping bounty hunter who blows all his hard-earned cash on booze and whores. He is as tough as they come and the last thing he wants in his life is a woman even tougher than he is.

Harmony is an ass-kicking bounty hunter with a ton of attitude. She likes Tanner just a slight bit less than a blast from an ion gun. They are thrown together and the sparks fly instantly; in and out of bed. I enjoyed the fact that they didn’t deny their physical attraction to each other and that made the love scenes hot and passionate. Actually, I was impressed by how heart-felt the raw sexual encounters between Tanner and Harmony were written. It definitely added to the book.

I enjoyed the characterization and the colourful descriptions of alien creatures and alien worlds. Michelle and Lindsey should have spent more time, however, on framing the plot than building the futuristic world. The plot was not as deep or heavily involved but simple and a pleasure to read overall.

As I mentioned, the love scenes were hot but not extremely graphic or full of strong language. I would give it a 9 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, I would totally read something written by this team again and I would recommend this great read to any sci-fi fan. I give this book an 8 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!

I was not expecting a strong story of love and bravery when I set to read this short novella. I expected a bit of kink, maybe some over dramatic fighting but not the beautiful story I found myself reading. It wasn’t the best book I have ever read but I greatly enjoyed it.

Sexy bad boy shapeshifter Michael O’Dare grew up on the streets. When government soldiers finally captured and imprisoned him, he became a lab rat and a collared slave, never again allowed to be human. His escape allowed him to return to human form and head for freedom in the Western Territories.

Robert Hamilton-Scott had lived by the code “You’re careful, or you’re caught” for too long to take chances now. The one risk he takes in his carefully controlled life is offering temporary shelter to shifters on the run like Michael.

Robert knows it’s definitely not safe to want the sexy renegade he’s giving sanctuary to—passion is dangerous for a shapeshifter. As the soldiers close in he must choose between the careful life he’s built or life on the run with the man who has captured his heart.

Michael and Robert are both shape shifters caught in a world where acceptance might be the majority in the populous but where the government seeks control and dominance over creatures of their kind. Michael, battered and broken, arrives on Robert’s door step badly in need of help. But the help he needs is not to heal his body but his mind and heart.

As the story progresses, the two form a bond that allows them to grow as lovers as well as shifters. The cover copy that describes this novella is slightly misleading as it doesn’t even touch on the complexity of the plot or the true theme of the book.

The story line might encompass only 75 pages but the tale is deep and moving. The unique plot of human and shifters who battle the government for freedom adds a dimension to a love story that started out a little fast for me. But you come to recognize how badly Robert and Michael need each other and suddenly the quick tumble into love is not so bad after all.

The love scenes are m/m and definitely intimate and heated. I would give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, the writing is good, the plot solid, the characters appealing… a good read in general. I give this book an 8 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!

Well, I guess technology really is not perfect. Several weeks ago I casually started browsing through my own blog to see if I had missed any complete reviews when trying to load up so many at once. That was when I noticed that there were no new reviews posted – according to wordpress – since Sept 2010!

Frantically I checked my records and found more than 20 reviews and magically disappeared from my blog roll. So have patience, my romance loving friends, as I am trying to get a good portion of them back up as well as adding some new ones that I had never gotten around to uploading.

I have a bunch of new favorites from Carina Press and Harlequin as well as some new gems from Avon and Red Sage. Stay tuned over the coming weeks for a ton of new postings.

Looking for a old review but don’t see it here? I may have opted to take it down… but please email me if you would like to read it through again. You can also check out The Season for Romance blog and website for a listing of new releases, reviews, contests, and more!

It took me a few minutes to get into this story for several reasons. The tech language and the futuristic phrasing the author uses took a bit of adjustment for my brain. As a matter of fact, I found that took away from the story for me, only slightly, but overall I did enjoy reading this sexy little novella.

Inarrii agent Alinna Gaerrii was tasked with observing the Starforce base on Earth. Crash landing her observation pod was not part of her mission briefing. Neither was making m’ittar—mind contact—with Major David Brown, the human who found her amongst the wreckage.

David thinks she’s a psychologist sent to evaluate his Special Forces team, and Alinna goes along with his misconception, seizing the opportunity to observe humans up close. But their contact has unexpected side effects, and Alinna soon invades David’s dreams. Through their intimate mental connection she allows him to express his forbidden physical desires.

Alinna delights in the sensory exploration and grows excited by the prospect of a treaty with the humans and a potential life mate in David. But an attack from an unknown ship sends the base into chaos, and Alinna may be forced to reveal her lie, erasing all hope of a successful treaty, and driving David away forever…

Alinna is on a mission to judge the true nature of the human race when her spy craft crashes and she is mistaken for a human psychtech. Her character is interesting and engaging so I greatly enjoyed her perspective during parts of the story. Her sensitivity is an immediate attraction for David Brown, the human officer in charge of the base she is taken to.

David is the typical strong hero but he also possesses a deep level of sensitivity that really adds to his appeal as a characters.

The plot is not too complex, really how could it be with only 120 pages. But I thought the concept of the main plot theme was unique and intriguing. The “mental” love scenes were very hot and totally made the book.

The regular love scenes were also intense and even a little kinky. I would give it a 9.5 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

Overall, it was a nice quick read for someone who doesn’t need/want a complex plot or deeply involved character development. I would recommend it to any sci-fi romantic fan. I give this book a 7 out of 10 overall.

– My reviews canalso be found on The Season for Romance. Check out the website, blog, and forum for great reviews, covers, announcements and more!