Review: Sweet Stuff by Donna Kauffman

Sweet Stuff
Book 2 in the Cupcake Club series
Author: Donna Kauffman
Publisher: Brava
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780758266361
Release date: 1/31/12
Author's website: Link

Riley Brown never imagined she would find her bliss on Georgia’s quiet Sugarberry Island after years of Chicago’s city life. With a new career and fantastic new friends, she’s got it all—except for eligible men. But a gig staging a renovated beach house delivers a delicious treat—six feet of blue-eyed, gorgeous writer as delectable and Southern as pecan pie. Quinn Brannigan has come to Sugarberry to finish his latest novel in peace, and suddenly Riley has a taste for the bad boy author that no amount of mocha latte buttercream or lemon mousse will satisfy…

Riley’s friends are rooting for her to give in to her cravings and spice up her life, but it’s Quinn who needs to learn that life’s menu just might include love, in all its decadent, irresistible flavors…

This story isn’t just about sweets and romance, but friendships that are built to last. Could it get any sweeter?

Riley Brown left her life in Chicago because it had been destroyed. Now that she has moved away from the people and the town she is ready to start all over in Sugarberry. This town happens to be on the quite side and Riley is finally getting another chance at happiness. With a new career and great new friends what could wrong?

Quinn has returned to Sugarberry to get some peace and quiet in order to make some big decisions about his career. The only problem is that he has a novel to complete and he doesn’t have the time for Riley who just so happens to bring some feelings in him that he has only written about.

They find it very hard to deny the attraction between them both, but the first thing they both must do is find out how to move on from their past so that just maybe they can move on to the future. With the help of some friends they will figure out what needs to be done and what a wonderful life it could really be.

This is only the second book in the series but I can tell this is going to be a promising one. Kauffman touches on trust, desire, friendships, and a promising new love that just needs a little tlc to grow into something amazing. The emotions behind the characters were a big part of the story that kept me intrigued and wanting to find out more. It was a very enjoyable read and I just fell in love with the characters. Every single character made this story more than enjoyable but also delightful.

I can’t wait until book 3 comes out. I am excited to see who will be next to fall in love in the town of Sugarberry. This book was refreshing and a very sweet treat. It made me want to travel there to be swept away.

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Bound By Darkness by Alexandria Ivy

Bound By Darkness
Book 8 in the Guardians of Eternity series
Author: Alexandria Ivy
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781420111361
Author's website: Link

The Sylvermyst have a reputation as sinister cousins to the fey, and none are more mysterious than Ariyal and his tribe. To save his people from banishment, he sold himself to the evil Morgana. Finally free, he faces a new challenge: Jaelyn, an elite vampire warrior sent to capture him. By rights, he should kill her on sight. Yet he cannot bring himself to hurt her—or to resist her. . .

Jaelyn is stunningly beautiful, utterly lethal—and always alone. Until Ariyal. From their first encounter, she knows that what's between them is more dangerous than simple lust. And as they unite to thwart a terrifying prophecy that will mean the end of his clan and of the world they know, she will risk everything to fulfill her destiny by his side. . .

Although this wasn’t one of my favorite books in this series, it still had its moments where I was glad I didn’t let this one pass me by.

In the latest installment of Guardians of Eternity series, the romance between Jaelyn and Ariyal was very interesting. It was off to a great start but then the romance between these two characters began to be drawn out a little too much. Jaelyn is a female vampire hunter who is sent to drag the dark elf Ariyal to finally face the Oracles. But what Jaelyn discovers the he might have got a bad rap things start to get interesting for the pair.

This story had two stories going on at the same time that end up working perfectly together. I just wished the tension between the two main characters was more drawn out. I also felt that the other relationship in the book was a bit rushed and could have been a little better, but overall it was a good storyline.

I loved that Ivy brings back some of the male characters from the previous books who I just adored. I am actually looking forward to the next story in this series to see where it is headed. Although I didn’t enjoy this story as must as the others, this is one series I will have to continue due to the love of the characters for sure.

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Claimed by Rebecca Zanetti

Claimed
Book 2 in the Dark Protectors series
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher: Brava
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780758259257
Release date: 11/1/11
Author's website:  Link

A Daring Rescue

Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she's also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who's been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires' mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of "lovesick". . .

A Deadly Decision

As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it's taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he'll stop at nothing to protect her—even if it means turning his back on his own kind.

Dage is not only the king of the vampires but ruler of the Realm. By having envisioned his mate time and time again, when he finally comes face to face with her, his dreams don't compare to what she is truly like and he will do anything to claim her as his own.

Emma has been dreaming of this vampire since she was 12 years old, but she has also seen the outcome of what will happen to the king when he falls for her and that is something she doesn't want to risk. This actually becomes a very difficult task considering she wants him as much as he wants her. Emma is leading the research of trying to find a cure for a virus that just so happens to attack mates. Will she be able to get the job done?

This series is different and I just so happen to love different so this series is a win/win for me. The men in the story are sexy and so alpha that they will have you falling hard and fast. The story sucks you in from page one and just keeps on going. Not only is there action and heat but the sexual energy will capture you from page to page.

I can not wait for the next book in the series. All these brothers from the royal family aren't just sexy but each has a story that is begging to be told. Who would have thought I could get back into the world of paranormal when I was gone so long. This series is one you should check out if you already haven't.

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Adam by Jacquelyn Frank

Adam
Book 6 in The Nightwalker series
Author: Jacquelyn Frank
Publisher: Zebra
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781420109863
Release date: November 1, 2011
Author's website:  Jacquelyn Frank

Haunted by magic, beset by evil, the Nightwalkers face their darkest hour yet. And when they unthinkable happens, only one legendary male has the power, the will, to save them: Adam....

FOR 400 YEARS HE WAS LOST TO HER, BUT HE IS HERS TONIGHT...

From their first tantalizing touch, Jasmine knows he is different. What other lover could unlock her tight control, flood Vampire senses jaded by a lifetime of decadent self indulgence? Centuries ago, when he disappeared without a trace, she had given up hope of ever fulfilling the promise of incomparable passion. But here he is, against the very laws of nature, ready to bring down their most vicious enemy, ready to bring her blood to the boiling point.... If she will only let him.

Ever since I picked up Jacob I was caught up in this outstanding world, so when I had the chance to review it of course I took it. The Nightwalker books is one of the first paranormals I read and I have yet to look back.

Now this wasn't my favorite book in the series but it did actually come pretty close. Adam is the oldest brother to Jacob and Kane. A long time ago, Adam disappeared from not only his home but from his job as Enforcer. Jacob searched for him but found no trace of him. Finally Adam mysteriously shows up centuries later and Jacob isn't the only one surprised to see him.

I will tell you that I just loved the fact that Jacob's daughter has a special talent and it plays a key role in everything that happens. Well maybe I like it so much because well let's face it I am a sucker for Jacob. *dreamy sigh*

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the time jumping within the first half of the book. I was starting to get confused in what time everything was in fact going on. But eventually everything does come together  and begins to make sense. Ruth returns and the way the story plays out and the way it finally wraps up was just perfect.

If you are a fan of the Nightwalker series you will not be disappointed in this book. You get the chance to see previous characters play major roles in this fantastic story. I know it was time for this series to end and Frank did it so wonderfully that it will be remembered fondly by the fans of this series.

Happy Reading!

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy

Slow Ride
Book 5 in the Fast Track series
Author: Erin McCarthy
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780425243961
Release date: 10/4/2011
Author's website: Erin McCarthy

As a tribute to her late journalist father, Tuesday Jones is planning a career benefit, auctioning off racing memorabilia and meet-and-greets with drivers. Ex-racing star Diesel Lange has had his own brush with death, and is determined not to waste another minute of his life- especially when he meets Tuesday. He wants nothing more than to shift their romance into high gear, but he knows she’s still grieving. Can Diesel do the one thing he could never do on the track and take it slow?

I have read Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series and have loved all the books up until now that is. Not that this was a bad book but it was missing something special to help move it along.

Tuesday Jones first meets the retired NASCAR driver Daniel "Diesel" Lang at her fathers funeral. A few days later she ends up spitting cake into his hand at her best friends wedding. How is that for a meet and greet?!? Tuesday ends up drinking too much at the wedding just to make it through it, so lots of champagne is in order.

Diesel was in a horrible crash that left with a crushed knee. The accident left him not being able to drive anymore and was forced into retirement. Now a days he resorts to living a pretty quiet life which he has began to enjoy.

Tuesday and Diesel are very much attracted to each other from the moment at the wedding and decide to start up a relationship. As the book goes on they have tons of sex but even the sex scenes seem drawn out but are hot. The whole book is really about Tuesday and her drinking problem which she does to get over her fathers death. She ends up embarrassing herself on more than one occasion.

Tuesday has her moments where I actually liked her because she was so sarcastic and funny but that want enough to make me want to be a fan of hers. Diesel on the other hand was the man and I very much felt a connection with him. I enjoyed him through out the entire book. I just wished the story had a little more plot and conflict to help me push through the story better. This would have made more interesting for sure.

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

Succubus Revealed

Author: Richelle Mead
Book 6 in the Georgina Kincaid series
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780758232014
Release date: September 1, 2011
Author's website:  Richelle Mead

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations. . .to Las Vegas.

The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it—no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won't include the one man she's risking everything for. . .

The end has come for Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series. I have been waiting for this book for almost over a year and I can't even begin to tell you the emotions I was going through reading this book. It actually took me a few days due to the simple fact I didn't want it to end but then again I did have some issues with the outcome.

The story starts out with Georgina working in a mall as Santa's elf. This is obviously not her dream job, but since she had to leave her previous job at the bookstore because of the whole lovers triangle with Seth and Maddie she is trying to make the best of it to be with her man. While they are making their relationship work, Georgina has been issued a transfer to the City of Sin, Las Vegas. The time comes where she wants to check it out to see if she could be happy there, but when she arrives things just seem way to perfect. She wants Seth to join her out there but Seth has family obligations that he just cant walk away from. Are these two destined to be together or apart? By the end of the book you will have your answer.

The beginning started out really slow for me but Pam told me to keep going that it would be worth it. So onward I marched and before I new it the book started to pick up speed and got to some very interesting and exciting parts that I wanted to savor. I am a huge Seth fan so I was extremely happy on learning more about him and what was in store.

Now towards the end I was very disappointed in the lack of details she left off with some of the main characters that I have grown to love over the series. For one was Roman. I mean how I had to guess what happened and not have answers was so not cool. Another was Carter and what he was going to do now that things with Georgina were pretty much wrapped up. Overall it was a good read and it will continue to be one of my favorite series. I just hope since she has done a spin off with her other series that this will get one as well because even though the series is over there were a lot of questions left unanswered. I hope everyone can enjoy the journey of Georgina Kincaid as much as I did. Happy Reading!!

Reviewed by Danielle:

Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Retribution
Book 21 in the Dark Hunter series

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9780312546595
Release date: August 2, 2011
Author's website: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster… 

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all. 

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

Jessup “Sundown” Brady was not only the most feared bandit in his time, but he vowed to stop for good the day he fell in love. Then when it happened he lost his life to someone he called a friend. Sundown wanted revenge so he called on Artemis and sold his soul to finally get his revenge. Since he did this it made him a Dark Hunter. Now Sundown is out to protect humans from other kind.

Abigail Yager has been preparing her whole her life to confront the killer who murdered her parents, Jessup Brady. She has killed Dark Hunters before and that is only because her adoptive family has lied to her since day one. She had no idea what the dark hunters really did and now she is about to learn the whole truth. But the question is, will she be able to accept the truth?

Okay so now on the good stuff. I wasn’t a big fan of Sundown since he didn’t start off as a major character, but I knew he had a story that would be told. After that I wanted to know what his story was to make him sell his soul to be a part of the Dark Hunters. You get the inside story of every detail that happened to make him the man is. His sense of humor is actually comical. I also loved his laid back attitude. He was so controlled at times. He really was entertaining to read about.

I had my moments about Abigail. One minute she is after him to take his head and the next she is jumping his bones. I mean she started to feel for him in just a few days. I needed more tension. I did like how she was ready to take responsibility for killing the Dark Hunters.

Sherillyn Kenyon brings into the mix new characters and plenty of the old characters who we have grown to love. I for sure had a squee moment over Talon who makes an appearance. Normally some of the books in the Dark Hunter series is based on Greek Mythology, but in this one you get a look at some Native American storyline. But honestly, is truly alluring and refreshing.

I am really looking forward to where this series is headed. I mean Dark Hunters plus other supernatural beings is a win, win for me. Although I like the break without Greek Mythology I honestly can’t wait to revisit it . Plus at the end of the book you will get a surprise from Ash and Tori (so not telling) but if you are a Dark Hunter fan this is a book for you. I am so looking forward to what is to come in this series. Happy Reading!!

Reviewed by Danielle: