AAR

[AmyG]

[Blackjack1]

Unraveled, Courtney Milan (B) - The novel was good and made a satisfactory conclusion to the Turner series, though it's not nearly as good as her recent short story. At first I thought I was in the midst of a DIK read, but about midway through the book a number of underdeveloped situations and contradictions between Smite and Miranda left me feeling puzzled. The two transition from strangers to trusted lovers very quickly without convincing explanation, and the resolution of Smite's intimacy problems is rushed and unrealistic. The time spent together as an actual couple seems more focused on their sexual relationship rather than their emotional one. The resolution of the personal problems between them is handled via the mystery they are trying to solve rather than through the hard work of their own personal negotiations and compromises and so I felt a bit disappointed by how quickly the book concludes and fairly unfulfilled by a viable romance. Still, the novel is enjoyable and I intend to begin reading Milan's new series this summer, based more on the strength of "The Governess Affair" than the Turner series.

[jaime]

Just finished The Devil You Know by Liz Carlyle which I enjoyed even though it was the last book in a series and I was very confused about most of the characters. There was a lot of chemistry between the hero and the heroine, and the hero was very interesting. Carlyle did an excellent job with the psychological issues of Bentley and the reasons why he was the way he was.

Reading now Sarah's Child by Linda Howard and I am having a tough time with it. The heroine is the kind of passive drip that I have no patience with, and as for the hero - what a self-pitying douchebag/alphahole.

Also reading, Envy by Sandra Brown, recommended by posters here. Seems a typical Sandra Brown page-turner so far and I like it. And Naked In Death by J.D. Robb which I was surprised to discover is a mystery with an sci-fi element. I am only one chapter in with that one, too soon to tell whether I will like it.

[pwm in mi]

Gateway to Heaven by Beth Kery
I picked this up free at amazon one day. The author is fairly well known for erotic fiction, but I had never read her. I was a little leery, as the hero is a rock star and I thought it might be kind of cheesy, but the price was right. Boy am I glad I gave it a try. This story was a wonderful surprise!
Christian has returned to his home town of Chicago to give a benefit concert for the Catholic church he grew up attending. He meets Megan and is immediately smitten with her understated beauty. Turns out they live in the same building, and Christian, who initially assumed Megan is married with a child, vowed not to pursue her, as he never pursues married women. He soon finds out that Megan is single and the little girl in her care is her niece. Happily Chris plans his pursuit of Megan. Unfortunately,Megan, a sculptor, had a traumatic event in her childhood that shapes how she and everyone in her life views her. This results in her older sister, mother, and even her priest being highly protective of her in relation to men. As a result, she has little experience with men, but feels drawn to Chris and the way he awakens her dormant sexuality. This aspect of the story was very well written, as one experiences Megan's sensual discovery as well as the internal conflicts that result.
In terms of characters, I really liked Megan. While everyone treats her like a victim, she repeatedly behaves with bravery and poise. Christian was a complete surprise. though he is the lead singer for a rock band, he is portrayed as an artist at a crossroad, looking to find new way to express himself. He is also refreshingly mature, respectful, and sensitive.

If you are looking for a really good, well priced, contemporary, give this a try. I think it is now $2.99 at amazon.


This book is not erotic fiction, but more around the hot/warm sensuality rating.

[Kayne]

I've been on a Kristin Ashley glom and have read 7 of her books: Knight, Motorcycle Man, Play It Safe, Wild Man, Sweat Dreams, Law Man and Mystery Man. My favorites were Knight and Mystery Man. Not sure which of her books to try next. Thanks to the folks here who recommended her. I might try Lady Luck next so I'm ready for Chase and the librarian's book. I'm also looking forward to Creed, next in the Unfinshed Hero Series (same series as Knight) and Wood's story from Dream Man.

[Tee]

[Tee]

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews is definitely on my favorite authors list and has been for a long time. I believe Spring Fever is the first DNF I've had by her. It may be where I'm at right now and my mood, but this story did not appeal to me at all. The characters didn't pull me in and it wasn't long before I abandoned it totally. If there are others out there who had a totally different experience, I'd be interested in hearing it. It could be I didn't give it a fair chance.

[Elizabeth Rolls]

[csmiley]

Elizabeth Boyle Along Came A DukeDNF

Carla Kelly A Marriage Of Mercy A

I cannot understand how RT gave the Boyle 4 1/2 stars and Carla Kelly's 3!

[Tee]

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

What a terrific read; it's humorous and a little bit different from your standard tale. I absolutely loved it. This is the book description as it appears on Amazon:

Maybe it was those extra five pounds I’d gained. Maybe it was because I was about to turn the same age my mother was when I lost her. Maybe it was because after almost twenty years of marriage my husband and I seemed to be running out of things to say to each other. But when the anonymous online study called “Marriage in the 21st Century” showed up in my inbox, I had no idea how profoundly it would change my life. It wasn’t long before I was assigned both a pseudonym (Wife 22) and a caseworker (Researcher 101). And, just like that, I found myself answering questions.

7. Sometimes I tell him he’s snoring when he’s not snoring so he’ll sleep in the guest room and I can have the bed all to myself.
61. Chet Baker on the tape player. He was cutting peppers for the salad. I looked at those hands and thought, I am going to have this man’s children.
67. To not want what you don’t have. What you can’t have. What you shouldn’t have.
32. That if we weren’t careful, it was possible to forget one another.

Before the study, my life was an endless blur of school lunches and doctor’s appointments, family dinners, budgets, and trying to discern the fastest-moving line at the grocery store. I was Alice Buckle: spouse of William and mother to Zoe and Peter, drama teacher and Facebook chatter, downloader of memories and Googler of solutions.

But these days, I’m also Wife 22. And somehow, my anonymous correspondence with Researcher 101 has taken an unexpectedly personal turn. Soon, I’ll have to make a decision—one that will affect my family, my marriage, my whole life. But at the moment, I’m too busy answering questions. As it turns out, confession can be a very powerful aphrodisiac.

[HEAreader]

[HEAreader]

[CG]

[Tee]

[Ash]