Snow Angels by Sabrina York

Snow Angels
By: Sabrina York
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company
Published: December 1, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Dana
Date: April 5, 2015

 

The last thing Wade Masters wants on his month-long getaway to his sister’s wilderness cabin is company. A wounded warrior, Wade is looking for complete isolation to deal with the tragedy of his life and his screaming guilt.

But company he gets, in the form of Lyssa Salk, a spunky, diminutive massage therapist. Who says she can talk to dead people.

Trapped together in the snowbound cabin, Wade and Lyssa have little else to do but help each other heal, spiritually, physically and sexually.

Wade is coming off a long recuperation period, and after agreeing to be Mr. December for his friends' Wounded Vets calendar campaign, Wade just needs a little privacy. Especially from the stalkery-ish women who have been showing up in the most unexpected of places (like naked in his bed) all for a piece of him. So escaping to his sister Val's remote country cabin with his war wounded dog, seems like a good idea. Until she shows up with...that.

Lyssa is escaping her past, and her best friend Val has generously shared the use of her "empty" remote country cabin until Lyssa can get back on her feet again. Except when she arrives at the cabin with her furry cat in tow, she's horrified to see that the cabin isn't as empty as she had hoped.

Wade wasn't expecting anyone, but when Lyssa walked in, his body parts that had been "dead' for a year, suddenly spring back to life. However, he thinks that she is just another stalker after him because he was a Calendar man, so he's less than chivalrous. When Lyssa explains that her car is stuck in a snow ditch, and that she walked a mile to the house, Wade relents and lets her stay the night. When the truth comes out that Val has set them up, Wade is less wary of Lyssa, but he can't shake the ghost of his dead girlfriend, and the fact that Lyssa talks to herself, still makes Wade keep his distance.

Wade is still in extreme pain from almost being blown in two, and when Lyssa offers to massage away the pain, he asks her if she is a Physical Therapist. Her non-committal answer, and her magic hands has him believing he was right. Until Lyssa finally confesses that she is a Healer, and that she is a medium, of sorts.

This is where the book got a little too Sixth Sense for me. I am not a fan of characters who can "heal" the sick with their magic touch, or speak to the dead. But, I overlooked it because of the chemistry that Wade and Lyssa had. Both had baggage that they were dealing with (more than just the clothes they brought with them) and together they are able to deal with it, not to mention consume mass amounts of bacon together.

I enjoyed this book, and I loved that it took the pair a while before they jumped in the sack together. The author did a great job of shedding background light on the characters, as well as having them try and be friends before they became lovers.

I'm a huge fan of Sabrina York, and I've read other works of hers where the character jump each other before getting to know each other, and I liked that she changed it up a bit in this story.

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STEELE: Into Your Heart by Rie Warren

STEELE: Into Your Heart (Carolina Bad Boys #3)
By: Rie Warren
Publisher: Rie Warren
Published: April 2, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: April 4, 2015

 

Brodie Steele is a badass MC dude. Ashe Kingston is a sexy police officer with an attitude. Their bad blood runs deep. But after they hook up at a wild biker week, can they keep their pact? What happens at Bike Week stays at Bike Week. Yeah, right.

Riding out the rough years following a family tragedy, Brodie is still trying to put his life back together when he finds something he never expected with Ashe. She annoys the ever lovin’ hell out of him, and turns him on so much he can’t see straight. He keeps coming back for more.

Ashe isn’t just a hard-nosed police officer. And she wants no part of Brodie outside of their no-strings-attached fling. There’s no way he’s settling-down material but he’s hard to resist with his inked sleeves and rebellious ways, not to mention piercings in places that make Ashe melt. Brodie Steele is dangerous, delicious, and suddenly determined to have her.

If there’s anything more risky than laying his heart on the line for this sexy woman, it’s Ashe’s job. It puts her life in danger in a way he can’t possibly protect her from. Can their hot bond win out over the bad blood of years past? Or will Ashe be taken from Brodie before she lets him into her heart?

This book got 5 stars from me, only because there is no option for more than that. Let’s just call it 5 plus. I eagerly and not too patiently awaited the release of this book so when I was offered a copy to review before the release date, I jumped at the chance. About two paragraphs in and I knew Rie Warren had done it again! This book is part of a series and although it can be read as a stand alone, with compelling characters, believable plots and steaming hot sex, you would have to be crazy not to devour every single one. Rie Warren weaves a story around you so that before you realize it, you are sucked in and it is as if you are living it with them. The characters become part of your family and you feel everything they feel.

Brodie sees Officer Ashe Kingston dancing in a bar during Bike Week and is beyond shocked to find the sexy dancer is the same woman who destroyed his family. Still, he is drawn to her. He really doesn’t want to be. They agree that with their history, it would be a mistake to get involved. That doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time during Bike Week before they go back to their separate lives.

Brodie Steele is the ultimate bad boy. He is VP of a motorcycle club, is a total badass, has women tripping over themselves to sleep with him (thanks in part to a couple of strategically placed piercings) and he would do anything to protect the people he loves. He is a good brother and has a great relationship with his sister Cat and his brother Boomer. He is sexy, strong and he has a huge heart. There are several times when he shows his softer side and it’s enough to melt your heart. I can’t imagine anyone who reads this book not falling in love with Brodie.

I love the fact that Rie Warren never abandons her characters. Each book builds on the one before it so that her characters lives are progressing as the new characters are introduced. Her plots are not left unfinished and her readers are not left wondering “whatever happened to…?”. Josh and Leelee, Cat and Nick, and Nick’s grandmother all have their places in this book without overshadowing the main story of Ashe and Brodie. Up until Brodie came along, Nick was my favorite “Carolina Bad Boy”, so I was glad to get an update on his life with Cat.

I have to admit, I read this book really slowly because I never wanted it to end. I savored every word and when I was done, immediately started it again. I am a huge fan of Rie Warren and this series. I don’t know how she does it but everything she writes is simply amazing. Every time I think it can’t get any better, she tops her best and blows my mind. I can’t wait to read Boomer’s story.

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Storms in a Shot Glass by Zee Monodee

Storms in a Shot Glass (Destiny’s Child #2)
By: Zee Monodee
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company
Published: October 21, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: March 21, 2015

 

A little bump is about to make a lot of ripples...

The quiet, orderly life of personal assistant Jane Smithers takes a ninety-degree turn the day she finds out she accidentally got pregnant from a one-night stand. This is one complication she doesn't need, especially when one knows her world is peopled by lunatic Russian models, an immature boss posing as a CEO, and a mother who would make shark-infested waters look like a midsummer country pond.

The world of corporate lawyer and billionaire tycoon Michael Rinaldi is ruled by cold, hard logic, and straight-on facts. Until the day he meets Jane, and suddenly he has no idea why this insignificant-looking woman has the knack of plunging him head-first into the churning waters of tempestuous emotion and hot-headed impulse.

The last thing either needs is to get tangled in a tabloid frenzy.

Throw in a baby neither thought they wanted and add a dash of very gossipy scandal, and suddenly Jane and Michael realize that the world as they've known it so far will never be the same again.

But will they be able to live with this reality?

Jane Smithers is pregnant. She had a drunken, one night stand on New Years Eve with her engaged neighbor that she barely remembers. Being that her life is always neat and orderly, finding out she is pregnant completely knocks her off balance. She has enough people in her life pulling her in all directions, including her needy and seemingly incompetent boss and her pushy, demanding mother who seems to be more concerned with keeping up appearances than her daughter’s happiness. A baby is the last thing she needs at this point in her life. And being a single parent will bring a whole different set of problems.

When Jane meets Michael Rinaldi, she doesn’t want to like him. He’s a bossy, alpha male who only adds to her headaches by announcing he is the father of the baby to her family and friends. He’s also the estranged son of her current boss and his claiming of the baby causes problems for Jane personally and professionally. When a nosy reporter employs some underhanded methods to dig up dirt on the couple and publishes it in a gossip magazine, both their lives get turned upside down. Jane wants to protect Michael from the gossip and protect his reputation. Michael doesn’t care about any of that, only wanting to be there for Jane and her baby but making her realize that is the real challenge.

This is a true romance in every sense of the word. Jane and Michael both have poor role models when it comes to love and romance. Her mother has numerous marriages behind her and is portrayed as shallow and vain. She cares only about herself and can make any situation about her. Michael’s resentment towards his father stems from the man’s abandonment of his wife and young son. Despite all that, they find each other and have strong feelings that cannot be denied. Their desire to protect each other and their unwillingness to admit their love for each other almost rip them apart but their love is obvious in everything they do.

This is a very well written and entertaining story. It's unlike any book I’ve read before. I thought the story was original and I loved that the characters had depth and were believable. For Jane, her emotions were chaotic, without making her appear out of control. When dealing with her mother she would be sad one minute and angry the next. With Michael, he would be arguing with his father and then become caring and attentive in the next instant when Jane needed him.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more from her. This is a very enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.

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It’s Complicated by Joyce M. Holmes

It’s Complicated
By: Joyce M. Holmes
Publisher: Sweet Cravings Publishing
Published: April 28, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Sensual
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: March 21, 2015

 

Having grown up with no one but herself to count on, Maggie Lapage carefully guards her feelings. Professionally, she goes above and beyond to give others the support she wishes she'd had as a child. When she develops a forbidden attraction to a client, she does what she thinks is necessary, to save his family and to protect her own heart.

Tom O’Shay finds his life caught in a nightmare when he risks losing custody of his daughter. It goes against his character to seek help, but he doesn’t have a choice. That doesn’t mean he has to like it. Everything changes when he falls hard for his daughter’s counselor and he suddenly has two fights on his hands. One for his daughter and another for the woman he loves.

He wants a real relationship, she's afraid to love. It’s complicated, but is it impossible?

Maggie Lapage is a youth counselor working at an outreach program assisting children and families in need. Tom O’Shay is a struggling artist who is not only struggling to make a living but also having a difficult time with his young daughter, Hailey. His ex-wife recently died, leaving custody of the child to her wealthy parents, Sebastian and Agnes Devetrie, in a final act of spite against him. His former in-laws, besides being filthy rich, are not his biggest fans and are doing everything they can to turn his daughter against him. He quickly gets a court order granting him temporary custody and on the advice of his lawyer, seeks a therapist to help Hailey deal with her feelings and all the changes she is being subjected to. Hailey is angry and confused about everything that is happening. She is acting out against her father and his heart is breaking for the pain his daughter is in. He just wants to help her through this difficult time and prove to her that he loves her more than anything, no matter what her grandmother tells her.

Maggie, although young, has a great deal of experience dealing with troubled kids and seems like the perfect solution. She is caring and kind while at the same time she is straightforward, direct and sometimes painfully honest. She begins working with Tom and his daughter and quickly becomes an advocate for keeping them together. However, while helping them, her own life seems to be taking some rocky turns. To make matters worse, personally, she wants to see Tom on a personal basis, but as a client, he is off limits. She can lose her job and everything she’s worked for if she pursues him.

Maggie is a great character. She is the perfect mix of a strong woman with a vulnerable side. She isn’t afraid to take what she wants or needs. The fact that she is passionate about helping people makes her likeable. When she speaks to the gallery owner about Tom’s paintings much to his annoyance and tells Tom what she has done on his behalf, he gets angry and they argue. She is unapologetic because she firmly believes what she was doing was for his own good. That was one of the best scenes in the book in my opinion. She is feisty and opinionated and stubborn but she truly has a heart of gold. She is very real. She also doesn't learn a lesson from Tom’s anger with her and continues to meddle in other aspects of his life.

I found this book very well-written and I loved the story. The characters were believable and true to life. I even found myself rooting for Nora, Maggie’s mom, and having a grudging respect for Sebastian Devetrie.

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Elite Metal by A. Alexander, S. DeWylde, J. Kacey, H. Long, R. Rivera, R. Royce, S. York

Elite Metal
By: Anna Alexander, Saranna DeWylde, Jennifer Kacey, Heather Long, Roxie Rivera, Rebecca Royce, Sabrina York
Publisher: Never Settle Publishing
Published: February 10, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Anthology, Erotic Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Toni
Date: March 2, 2015

 

Eight novels from some New York Times, USA Today and award winning bestselling authors! Eight individual novels that create one giant book! One story leading into the next into the next! This is like no other boxed set you've ever seen before!!!!!!!!

For decades the US Marines funded a top-secret unit known as Elite Recon. A deadly group of men and women sent to infiltrate dozens of countries completely undetected. Mission objectives so extreme casualties were not only probable, but expected.

The current batch of operatives had returned from hundreds of assignments unscathed…until one mission went horribly wrong. Several men lost their lives and the group disbanded. The remaining leathernecks were scattered in the wind with new identities. They were told to blend in. Be normal. Or face being forever silenced just like their fallen brothers.

Now, two years later, each living member of the group is kidnapped and given a chance to make things right. But this time they’re no longer under the thumb of Uncle Sam. A mysterious private backer who knows about their past has brought them back together. No longer are they forced to turn a blind eye to the lost and forsaken.

Duty is their salvation.

A new life. A new future…Elite Metal.

Bound by Steele - Jennifer Kacey and Anna Alexander - To save his Marine brothers and sister he must accept the past isn’t dead and buried. Reuniting survivors means he is forced to first forgive…the enemy.

Chrome's Salvation - Jennifer Kacey - A former leader of Elite Recon, reduced to nothing more than an apathetic existence. Until his girl’s life hangs in the balance…now nothing will stand in the way of him coming back to life.

Adamantium's Roar - Anna Alexander - Adamantium left Beth to what he thought was a better life, only to find she had been living in hell. Now he’ll do anything, break any vow, to claim her as his for all time.

Pure Copper - Heather Long - Copper will do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means seducing and betraying the one man who really sees her.

Sterling's Seduction - Sabrina York - When a snoopy reporter threatens the Elite Metal, Sterling will do whatever it takes to kill her story about the team. Even if it means he has to tie her to his bed.

Platinum's Choice - Rebecca Royce - Platinum left the life he had with Rose in New York to rejoin his team and silence the nightmares from Operation Phoenix. But when Rose is forced to go on the run with Platinum’s hidden son, he will have no choice but to return to his old life and reclaim what he has ached for every day since. Red Wolf’s sniper wants to nudge Plat’s underbelly and they’re going to find out quickly how deadly he can be.

Mercury's Poison - Saranna DeWylde - A scarred, mad genius more monster than man must protect the beauty he's become obsessed with from a beast more terrible than himself.

Forged in Silver - Roxie Rivera - Rebel. Nomad. Troublemaker.

This is one intense book. You are catapulted into the action from the start and it never lets up. Throw in some sexy marines, compelling stories and some kick ass action and you have one wonderful boxset.

This boxset is amazing. The stories flow from one to the other and read like a well-tuned novel. The authors played so very well together and I couldn’t be more pleased. I can’t even give individual reviews, because I would just be repeating myself over and over.

These warriors were family. One bad mission separated them and then one secret organization brings them back together. The concept is fresh, the names are genius and the stories are great fun.

We start with the heartbreaking tale of what happened to separate the team. The events are so heartbreaking and tragic. What happens to them is devastating and then continues with the cruel dismantling of the group. As the team is slowly brought back together, we see how much pain and sorrow they are fighting through.

This is a brilliant boxset that isn’t just some common stories grouped together. It is well thought out and kept me reading until the very end. I could continue the gush-fest, but I won’t. It would get old quickly and I’m not going to waste your time, when you should just go to your favorite bookseller and get Elite Metal. It is the best deal out there! 

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Choice Matters by Jamie Salisbury

Choice Matters (Southern Heat 1)
By: Jamie Salisbury
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Published: August 17, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: March 3, 2015

 

Apolo Choice, master of all that surrounds him. A billionaire at an age when most men are still in college. He has never failed; failure is not in his vocabulary.

Enter Caitlyn White, beautiful, sophisticated and educated. Drawn to the dark and roguish man, she finds her self control teetering on the edge as she enters Apolo Choice's world...a world full of contradictions, mystery and passion.

Finding himself falling deeply in love, Apolo realizes he must come clean with her. He must reveal a secret his family has kept hidden. A past situation his own brother would rather Apolo not share with anyone.

Caitlyn sees his "secret" as a way to boost her man's rising political star. If Apolo Choice can rise like a phoenix, then anyone can. Together they take on not only politicians, but family as well.

Apolo Choice is a self made billionaire running his own company, Choice Enterprises. He’s interviewing for the position of Executive Vice President, which is basically his second in command, running the office when he is away on other business. Caitlyn is interviewing for the position, although having been with the company for four years, she’s sure she is not the right person for the job. To her surprise, she gets the job and quickly finds out that Mr. Choice wants her in more than a professional capacity. They begin a relationship and as they get to know each other, they share their pasts as all new couples do. They learn each other’s family dynamics and Apolo shares a shocking secret with Caitlyn that no one outside his immediate family knows.

I had problems with the plausibility of parts of the story. It didn't seem believable that a shrewd businessman, as Apolo Choice is supposed to be, would promote an unqualified person to such a lofty position. Also, once she was promoted, it seemed that Caitlyn didn’t actually do any real work. It also seemed that the secret he shared with her was glossed over. It is such an integral part of the story as it is the reason behind his complicated relationship with his brother, Anthony. Yet, when it is revealed it is done in an almost innocuous manner.

There were also parts of the story that seemed like they were going to lead somewhere and then didn’t. For example, there were several times Don Turner was mentioned. It seemed as though he was going to become a problem for the couple but after being mentioned a couple of times, he was not heard from again. The same can be said of the ex-girlfriend of Apolo’s who shows up at a couple of important events, even getting into a verbal altercation with Caitlyn at one point. 

I really wanted to like this book. It held my interest enough that I never considered not finishing it. That being said, I kept waiting for something exciting or dramatic to happen but it never did. I found the story a bit flat and the ending left me with more questions than answers.

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