Review: Fangs for Nothing by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

Title: Fangs for Nothing
Series: The Fangover, #2
Author: Erin McCarthy, Kathy Love
Published: July 2, 2013
Pages: 305
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley Trade)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “You make me want to be less of an idiot. More respectable. That’s no small feat.”

summary from Goodreads
When one of their own ties the knot with a dominatrix (no pun intended), The Impalers—a vampire rock band—are ready to party down. But trouble awaits them once again when they wake up…

Attending their bandmate Saxon’s wedding seemed simple enough for Johnny Malone and Drake Hanover. But after waking up in a dominatrix’s dungeon, they realize their cash and cell phones have been stolen—along with the bride’s wedding dress and the groom. And then there’s the matter of the two women in the room…

Loose cannon Johnny is handcuffed to Lizette, an uptight paper pusher. She wants to help save Johnny from the horrible fate in store for him at the hands of the Vampire Alliance, but he won’t sign the paperwork. Then there’s Josie, the waifish caterer from the reception, who rescues Drake from a sex swing. Josie may be cute and make a great cupcake, but Drake knows she might also be the thief. Or it could have been that gang of drag queens all dressed as Cher…

Regardless, Johnny and Lizette need to get out of these handcuffs. Drake and Josie need to find their missing belongings. And Saxon needs to be located before the Vampire Alliance comes down on them hard.

Review: Vicious Moon by Lee Roland

Title: Vicious Moon: A Novel of the Earth Witches
Series: Earth Witches, #3
Author: Lee Roland
Published: July 2, 2013
Pages: 320
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Of course I’m supportive. I haven’t tried to kill you yet.”

summary from Goodreads
Ex-soldier and earth witch Nyx Ianira is working as a PI in San Francisco when she sees the last thing she ever wants to see: the Sisters of Justice—the mysterious earth witch police force. A Triad of Sisters usually means an execution mission, but the Sisters’ only goal is to capture and escort Nyx across the country.

Nyx is badly needed back in Twitch Crossing, Georgia, the place she ran away from ten years ago to escape the stiff rules and duties of being a true witch. She wanted a life of her own. Now she’s being dragged back to her swampy hometown because another life is in danger: Her little sister is missing, and Nyx is the only one who can track her down in Duivel, Missouri.

But the key to finding her may lie with dark and tempting Etienne—a sinister criminal with a fearsome reputation, a ruthless attitude, and a total immunity to magic...

Ellie's Month in Review: June 2013

Holy guacamole where did June go??? Since I’m out west in Colorado and the whole state is on fire and I can’t go outside and play, I have been doing a ton of reading this month. Lets get down to the good, the okay and the bad.

The Good:
Down London Road by Samantha Young was one of the best books I read this month along with Jaci Burton’s One Sweet Ride. If you are not reading with of these series you need to rectify this ASAP. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

The Okay:
Down to You, The Bad Boys #1, by M. Leighton. It wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t my favorite book by far. Still on the fence about reading the second book in the series.

The Bad:
Fangs For Nothing by Erin McCarthy. I just couldn’t get into this book and it really bothered me that it was two couples stories rolled into one book and told by all four points of view. Super confusing and super annoying.

I am off of school this summer so I have been catching up on some fun reading and I have fallen in love with On Dublin Street by Samantha Young, Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde and the Chaos series and Dream Man series (which I devoured in less than a week) by Kristen Ashley. I have some great books lined up for July and August that I can’t wait to dive into like MacRieve by Kresley Cole and Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews.
Happy reading everyone!

Review: Werewolf in Alaska by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Title: Werewolf in Alaska: A Wild About You Novel
Series: Wild About You, #5
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Published: July 2, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “You don’t have to be anything more than you already are to be everything I’ve always wanted.”

summary from Goodreads
He’s a lone wolf—for now.

In Polecat, Alaska, Rachel Miller and Jake Hunter have a mutual admiration for each other—from across a lake. There’s nothing Rachel likes more than spying on the very fit wilderness guide when he skinny-dips each night. And Jake has always been curious about his reclusive artist neighbor. He even bought Rachel’s first wood carving: a wolf who looks suspiciously like him...

Jake is a werewolf, but not just any werewolf. He’s the founder of WARM (Werewolves Against Random Mating). And that means a human like Rachel is off-limits, no matter how attractive he finds her.

But when Rachel is threatened by a bear, and Jake shifts to save her, their lives collide with an intense passion, one that could change everything they’ve ever felt about themselves—and each other...

Review: Down to You by M. Leighton

Title: Down to You (A BAD BOYS NOVEL)
Series: The Bad Boys, #1
Author: M. Leighton
Published: July 1, 2013 (reissue)
Pages: 304
Genre: New Adult
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Shhh, just let me love you, okay? Don’t think. Just feel.”

summary from Goodreads
One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle.

When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.

Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.

However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.

Review: One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

Title: One Sweet Ride
Series: Play by Play, #6
Author: Jaci Burton
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Penguin Group)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Can you die from a really great orgasm?”

summary from Goodreads
Gray Preston was born into money, but he’s built his racing empire on hard work and muscle. And now that Gray has millions of fans, his senator father sends one of his aides, Evelyn Hill, to elicit Gray’s help in garnering votes for the upcoming national election. Gray wants nothing to do with his estranged father’s campaign, but Evelyn can be pretty persuasive. She’s willing to learn about racing, and maybe even get a little dirty.

Evelyn’s number-one goal is politics, which makes working with Gray difficult, because his only passion is fast cars. As she and Gray spend time together, he teaches her about the sport he loves, and she learns a lot about the man behind the wheel. The more she learns, the more she wants him. But any desire that threatens to derail the carefully laid plans for her future is a dangerous one.

With the passion Gray and Evelyn share running hotter than either imagined, one of them is going to have to compromise, or else run the risk of losing more than their hearts.

Review: You're the One by Robin Kaye

Title: You're the One
Series: Bad Boys of Red Hook, #2
Author: Robin Kaye
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Nice? Fine? Sugar, them’s fightin’ words. You don’t tell a man who licked chocolate frosting and whipped cream off your hot little body that it was fine and nice.”

summary from Goodreads
Logan Blaise expected to be taking a quick break from his successful vineyard in Napa to visit his hometown of Brooklyn. But what he finds is a complete mess: His father is sicker than he'd imagined, and Logan is responsible for keeping the family restaurant running smoothly. When the chef quits, he's forced to hire the first person who applies for the job Skye Maxwell, a beautiful enigma with great skills and gaps in her résumé.

Skye is determined to make it on her own, without trading on her famous family name. Working in the community of Red Hook offers the perfect opportunity to stay out of the limelight while pursuing her dreams. At first glance, charismatic Logan seems exactly like all the shallow men she knew back home. But as she notices his small-town roots and strong family ties, the Brooklyn bad boy and his restaurant start to feel exactly like where she really belongs...

Review: Wicked Memories by Nina Bangs

Title: Wicked Memories (CASTLE OF DARK DREAMS)
Series: Castle of Dark Dreams, #7
Author: Nina Bangs
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley Trade)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “So what you mean is that if you told me what you are, I might refuse to go into the night with you?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, that’s comforting.”

summary from Goodreads
Thorn Mackenzie was a young Viking when he met Sparkle Stardust long ago. She used him and then abandoned him. Over a thousand years later, he has finally found a way to repay her. Employing his power of persuasion, he assembles a team that can create the ultimate fantasies and illusions. The group will work together in Nirvana, the amazing amusement park Thorn has built—right across the street from Sparkle’s Castle of Dark Dreams. To fight back before Thorn bleeds her business dry, Sparkle must hire a spy.

Kay Stanley needs extra money, so she reluctantly agrees to do some sneaking and peeking for Sparkle. But as she gets closer to Thorn, she discovers they have a lot more in common than just a need to crush the competition and a willingness to fight dirty. As sexual tension between them mounts, she finds it harder to see the gorgeous Viking as her enemy. But with an evil force working to destroy their city, they may not survive long enough for her to help him overcome his…Wicked Memories.

Review: Billion Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

Title: Billion Dollar Cowboy (Cowboys and Brides)
Series: Cowboys and Brides, #1
Author: Carolyn Brown
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Sourcebooks Casablanca)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Remember, this is supposed to be make-believe.”

summary from Goodreads
A Billionaire Can Buy Anything...

Colton Nelson was twenty-eight years old when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. Now he's desperate to keep the gold diggers away. It shouldn't be too hard to find a pretty girl and hire her to pretend to be his one-and-only.

Or Can He?

Laura Baker's got mixed feelings about this--she's on the ranch to work, not to be arm candy. On the other hand, being stuck for a while in the boondocks with a gorgeous cowboy isn't half-bad.

What neither Colton nor Laura expects are the intensely hard lessons they have to learn about the real cost of love...

Review: Barefoot in the Sun by Roxanne St. Claire

Title: Barefoot in the Sun (Barefoot Bay)
Series: Barefoot Bay, #3
Author: Roxanne St. Claire
Published: April 30, 2013
Pages: 432
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Forever)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I’m nervous because it’s you. And you matter.”

summary from Goodreads
When running is all you've ever known . . .

Caught between fight and flight, Zoe Tamarin has always picked flight. Since she was rescued from a nightmare childhood by her great-aunt Pasha, they've been on the move, never staying in one place long enough to risk exposing their precarious past. But now that they've reached the sun-baked shores of Barefoot Bay, Zoe may have to stay and fight--for her aunt's life . . . and for a love she ran from years before.

Sometimes the bravest act of all is to stand still.

Oliver Bradbury came to Florida to start over, as both a doctor and a father to his eight-year-old son. He never expected life to hand him a second chance with the woman he lost years ago--but one look at Zoe Tamarin and he knows he'll do whatever it takes to prove that this time, he can be the man she needs. But when demands of family and friendship threaten to shatter their rekindled passion, Oliver must heal Zoe's lifelong wounds with more than hot kisses . . . but will that be enough to keep her from flying off with his heart?

Review: Down London Road by Samantha Young

Title: Down London Road
Series: On Dublin Street, #2
Author: Samantha Young
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 375
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Source: Publisher (NAL)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “But what does it say about humans as a species if we go around killing things just because we fear them?”

summary from Goodreads
Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control....

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets …even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.

Review: Games People Play by Shelby Reed

Title: Games People Play
Author: Shelby Reed
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley Heat)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “It’s just a game.”

summary from Goodreads
What she’s wanted…

Sydney Warren is a successful painter of erotic landscapes—just the artful fantasies of a woman whose own life has been stripped of passion. Though she has stayed loyal to her boyfriend, Max, he’s unable to ignite the sparks they once shared, leaving Sydney wanting. Then comes the stranger, a work of art himself, and everything changes.

is what she’s getting…

With chestnut hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and the perfect body, Colm Hennessy is every woman’s fantasy. He too is aroused, and more intrigued by the beautiful artist than he expected to be—because it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. For there’s something about Colm that Sydney doesn’t know...

in the ultimate game of control.

Colm is only pretending to be a model. He’s been hired by Max to seduce her—a twisted scheme to test her fidelity. But Max never imagined that Colm would feel something real. As Sydney and Colm’s intimacy grows, as passions neither expected are unleashed, the stakes in a cruel game are raised—and desire isn’t the only thing set to spiral out of control.

Review: Unforgiven by Anne Calhoun

Title: Unforgiven
Author: Anne Calhoun
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “That’s why he looks at you like you’re the one who got away.”
“Sleeping with a woman only makes her more complex, not less”

summary from Goodreads
For as long as he could remember, he wanted her…

Raised by a single mother, Adam Collins resolved to take no chances with a girl’s future—or his own. That’s why, as hard as it was, he resisted everything he felt for Marissa Brooks. Then one night a reckless challenge left a fellow student dead and changed both their lives forever. As penance, Adam took the boy’s place in the Marines, where he could disappear into discipline and duty, and left Marissa behind to struggle with her dreams.

Twelve years later, Adam is back in Walkers Ford to serve as the best man in his friend’s wedding. The years haven’t diminished the electric connection he has with Marissa. But Adam’s mistake continues to haunt him, and Marissa is stumbling under the weight of her family’s legacy. Together they wrestle with demons and dreams, but if there’s any hope for a future together Adam has to not only find a way to forgive himself, but also ask others for forgiveness—especially from the woman whose heart he broke.

Review: True to the Law by Jo Goodman

Title: True to the Law
Author: Jo Goodman
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I want to breath the same air you do.”

summary from Goodreads
He was on the hunt for a runaway beauty

“Find her” is the only instruction that private detective Cobb Bridger receives from Richard Mackey. The scion of a wealthy Chicago family, Mackey is desperate to know the whereabouts of the woman who disappeared from his employ, taking with her something of great value. Intrigued as much by what Mackey won’t say about the missing item as he is by Mackey’s description of the missing woman, Cobb accepts the assignment.

And the one true lie that could destroy them both

Bitter Springs, Wyoming, has a new schoolteacher who may or may not be exactly what she seems. Upon making the acquaintance of Miss Tru Morrow, Cobb begins to question the guilt of this golden-haired lady—and the protective feelings she stirs in him. His investigation hinges on understanding where the truth lies. Can he believe in Tru? Or is she just another treacherous woman out to swindle this hardened detective’s heart?

Ellie's Month In Review: May 2013

Hello again! I hope everyone is enjoying the start of their summer so far and getting to do some fun reading in the sun. I read a lot of books in May and found myself in a little bit of a funk. It just felt that the majority of the books I’m reading are missing something and not holding my attention. The ones that are holding my attention are pretty great so on to the good, bad and the okay for May.

The Good: All are worth reading and so good
Sun, Sand, Sex by Linda Lael Miller, Shelly Laurenston and Jennifer Apodaca -Best book I read all month
Haven Creek by Rochelle Alers
Barefoot in the Sun by Roxanne St. Claire
You’re the One, Bad Boys of Red Hook #2, By Robin Kaye
Unforgiven by Anne Calhoun
It Had to Be You, Lucky Harbor #7, by Jill Shalvis
Gone with the Wolf, Seattle Wolf Pack #1, by Kristin Miller

The Okay:
True to the Law by Jo Goodman
Wicked Memories, Castle of Dark Dreams #7, by Nina Bangs

The Bad: I couldn’t get into any of these books and I struggled to finish them.
Blush by Lauren Jameson
Games People Play by Shelby Reed
Fever, Breathless Trilogy #2, by Maya Banks
Smart and Sexy, Sky High Air #1, by Jill Shalvis (worst and only DNF book)

I hope everyone has a great start to summer and happy reading!

Review: Blush by Lauren Jameson

Title: Blush
Series: In Vino Veritas, #1
Author: Lauren Jameson
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (NAL Trade)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Who the hell carries nipple clamps in their jeans?”

summary from Goodreads
Madeline Stone is determined to heal from her tragic past, one difficult step at a time…and she doesn’t need any distractions. Then she meets a mysterious and captivating stranger—and over a glass of outrageously expensive wine, her world turns upside down. Try as she might to banish the wealthy business mogul from her thoughts, Madeline can’t fight Alex’s staggering appeal or his enticing offer of intimate discovery.

Alex doesn’t date—at least, not in the traditional sense. Still, he wants Madeline …and his sexual intensity provides her with a much-needed escape. They embark on a tumultuous erotic affair, one that takes them to the pinnacle of obsession and desire. But underneath each explosive encounter lie dangerous secrets waiting to consume them both.…

Review: Fever by Maya Banks

Title: Fever (THE BREATHLESS TRILOGY)
Series: Breathless, #2
Author: Maya Banks
Published: April 2, 2013
Pages: 416
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Most of all, I want you to know without a doubt that I’ve got your back. And your front. And your sides. I’ve got all of you and I’m not letting you go.”


summary from Goodreads
Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.

When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.

Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.

Review: It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis

Title: It Had to Be You
Series: Lucky Harbor, #7
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: May 28, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: You look at me like I’m the best thing you’ve seen all day. You make me feel...I don’t know. Pretty. Sexy. And important to you. You make me feel, Luke.”

summary from Goodreads
Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern....

After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

Review: Sun, Sand, Sex by Linda Lael Miller, Jennifer Apodaca, Shelly Laurenston

Title: Sun, Sand, Sex
Series: The Long Island Coven, #1
Authors: Linda Lael Miller, Jennifer Apodaca, Shelly Laureston
Published: April 30, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Kensington)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “And how would I call you, Nick? Look you up under one-night stands in the phone book?”

summary from Goodreads
What's better than a long, lazy day at the shore? Think beach-blanket bingo with a sizzling hottie (or three). So sit back, relax, and don't worry about tan lines, because in this scorching collection, swimsuits are definitely optional...

LINDA LAEL MILLER
One Last Weekend
College sweethearts Teague and Joanna Darby, once passionately in love, are on the brink of divorce. When a ferry strike leaves them stranded together at their beloved beach cottage, it could be the most awkward weekend ever. Or the perfect chance to fall for each other all over again-one steamy encounter at a time...

JENNIFER APODACA
You Give Love a Good Name
Lexie Rollins is a wedding planner on the lam. All she did was defend herself (with a staple gun) against a sleazy groom-who knew the Assault and Battery charges would stick? Now Lexie's "vacation" at an exclusive resort has put her at the top of gorgeous bounty hunter Nick Vardolous's list. And Nick always gets his woman-every which way imaginable...

SHELLY LAURENSTON
My Kind of Town (The Long Island Coven #1)
Deputy Kyle Treharne of seaside Smithville, North Carolina, hates Yankees-even exotically beautiful ones like Emma Lucchesi. The sexy New Yorker's got trouble written all over her, and she knows more than she's telling about the increasingly strange goings-on in his town. But if the lady's got a few tricks up her sleeve, so does the lawman. And it's high time for every wicked thing to be deliciously revealed...

Review: Time Thief by Katie MacAlister

Title: Time Thief
Series: Time Thief, #1
Author: Katie MacAlister
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Unhand me, you deranged, if lovely, female!”

summary from Goodreads
Outcast due to their ability to manipulate time, shunned by the mortal and immortal worlds alike, a Traveller’s life is anything but easy.

Peter Faa is a member of the Watch tracking down a murderer, and unfortunately, all clues seem to point toward his own estranged family of Travellers. Any of his cousins could be guilty, but which one? They’re all experts in the art of stealing time...

After surviving a lightning strike, Kiya Mortenson is determined to get just one thing in her life right. And if that means taking a job as nanny to five pugs on a campsite in the Oregon wilderness, then so be it. It doesn’t hurt that the job comes with some spectacular male eye candy, including her new boss’s gorgeous grandson. If only she didn’t keep having this strange sense of deja vu...

When Peter discovers his own family is stealing time from Kiya, all bets are off. While she may drive him crazy at times, it’s clear that it’s not just lightning that’s creating some serious sparks between them. And he’s not going to let secrets, lies, or a devious murderer keep Kiya from where she belongs: at his side.