Review: With This Kiss by Bella Riley

WITH THIS KISS by Bella Riley
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (March 1,2012)

Fireworks. That's what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fiance never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she's vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly... Coming home and falling for his little brother's girl wasn't Sean Murphy's plan. Rebecca's sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home--something he's never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can't give his heart to a woman he can't trust. Or can he? As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love . . .

Find Bella: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's

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Other Books in Series:

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REVIEW:

Everyone has secrets. For Rebecca, her secret is someone else’s secret but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Rebecca Campbell hasn’t been having a great couple of weeks. First, her wedding to Stu Murphy was called off two weeks before it was suppose to take place and then Stu just ups and leaves leaving Rebecca to run the Inn. The whole town is trying to figure out what she did to make him leave, when really the secret lies with Stu. Now, on the eve of her wedding, Stu’s brother Sean shows up and sparks fly.

Sean arrives back home just in time for his brothers wedding but it seems he missed the memo that it was canceled. Then matters get worse when he realizes that the women he was checking out was Stu’s fiancé and the woman who ran him off.

Sean can’t deny the sparks between him and Rebecca but he’s reluctant to get involved, and not just because she was his brothers fiancé. He has a secret of his own that keeps him at a distance. He knows Rebecca deserves more and he can’t offer it. Sean has been hurt by the one person who he trusted, and now his trust is basically nonexistent.

It’s unusual that I love the heroine, I don’t know why but usually she annoys me but not Rebecca. She doesn’t have the best track record with men, Stu included, and finds herself falling back into old habits of falling for unavailable men with Sean. She knows she’s going to get hurt but she can’t resist. I have a lot of respect for her. What she does to try and help Sean knowing full well that it will most likely ruin
everything for her makes me want a friend like that.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Sometimes loving someone enough means breaking a promise that will only hurt them if it’s kept.” She steeled herself to reopen her eyes, to hold his gaze, to keep the tears back. “You’re more important that any promise I could ever give you.”

OVERALL:
I was blown away reading With This Kiss. My stomach was in knots and I couldn’t read it fast enough. It was a story that was full of romance and just a hint of mystery. I immediately fell in love with the character and didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read more from Bella Riley and go back to Emerald Lake.



***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Darkness Bound by Stella Cameron

DARKNESS BOUND by Stella Cameron
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Paranormal
LENGTH: 326 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (February 28,2012)

WHEN NIGHT FALLS
After her husband's tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can't shake the feeling that she's being watched . . . especially at night. Soon, she's experiencing visions she can't explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.

PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM
As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man's heart beats beneath his predator's body. And Leigh-the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn't yet understand-may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn't the only one who recognizes Leigh's true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods-and the hunt has begun . . .

Find Stella: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook

Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository

I loved it.

REVIEW:

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started reading Darkness Bound but what I got wasn’t it… in a good way. I’m going to admit that it through me for a loop but it was a loop that I was happy to be in.

Leigh Kelly is moving on after the death of her husband. She quits her job and moves to Chimney Rock, a place that holds special memories for her. She gets a job as the business manger of Gabriel’s bar/restaurant thinking it will be something to get her mind off the past. Niles Latimer, alpha werehound, has other plans for Leigh. He’s determined to have her as a mate and save his pack.

Now, Chimney Rock is a small town that has a lot of secrets and isn’t very safe. Women are disappearing for days then coming back missing their memory. Not to mention a turf war between the werehounds and the werewolves. I have to give Leigh credit because I would be out of there after the second night and all the

strange things that start happening around her. Good thing Niles is around… and his dog Blue (who I love and if you read you’ll know why).

There are a lot of paranormal creatures in Chimney Rock. Not only do you have the werehounds fighting their enemies the werewolves but also there are vampires involved and some Fae who have yet to pick a side. It can get confusing but the way Stella Cameron introduces them makes it’s very easy to keep track of.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“What would you do if I threw you over my shoulder and carried you off. . . to do all kinds of things to you?”
He settled his hands at her waist, dropped to one knee, and smoothed all the way to her calves. Touching her, even through her clothes, made him tremble. “I am going to do all kinds of things to you,” he said. “Make you scream for me to make you come, again and again. That’ll be before and after I strip you naked— slowly—and lick every inch of you, then suck every inch of you.”

OVERALL:

There is a lot going on so be prepared when you start to read it. And if you do start reading then be prepared to get sucked in to this crazy world. Darkness Bound has a more Urban Fantasy feel then just a normal paranormal romance and I look forward to seeing how this world unravels. Seth, Niles right hand guy, is probably my favorite character and he’s book is next which I’m excited about. Plus I want to see what the deal is with Gabriel. There is something mysterious there.

***review copy from Netgalley***

Review: A Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane

A Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane
FORMAT: e-book
GENRE: Erotic Historical
LENGTH: 100 pages
PUBLISHER: Ellora’s Cave

When charm and persuasion fail...only seduction remains...

On the night of her betrothal, Lydia Trent receives just a taste of what ecstasy will be at the hands of her fiancé…and then he leaves her wanting. After waiting six years, and tired of being neglected by her exceedingly reluctant husband-to-be, Lydia decides to break it off.

When Marcus, Lord Russell, receives Lydia’s letter requesting a release from their contract, he is stunned by her audacity. Confident he’ll have her eating out of his hand with his usual wit and charm, he’s determined to repair the damage. However, the headstrong woman she’s blossomed into is equally determined to thwart his every effort to win her back.

Marcus discovers, in spite of her conviction to end the union, Lydia is more responsive to his touch than he ever imagined. He just needs to get her alone to unleash the promised passion he sees within his wanton virgin. Marcus will use any tool in his arsenal to exploit her weakness—his kisses, his hands, his mouth…her own body. In short, he’ll just have to ruin her!

Where To Find Author Name: Author Site | Facebook
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras:Read an Excerpt

I Liked it!

Review:

After experiencing just a touch of pleasure on the night of her betrothal Lydia Trent wanted nothing more than to marry Lord Marcus Russell. But she was forced to wait… for six years. Tired of waiting for a man she assumes don’t want her she informs her absentee fiancé that she would like to break their agreement.

Marcus is shocked that Lydia would want to end their betrothal. Sure he has put off their marriage but not because he didn’t like Lydia… just idea of getting married. So now he must find a way to keep Lydia and of course the easiest way, at least in his mind, is to seduce her. He remembers how much passion she had on the night of their betrothal so he thinks this will be easy. That is until he realizes that his young, innocent fiancé has become a smart, stubborn, strong willed woman and someone he needs by his side.

Lydia isn't going to give in that easily to Marcus. She can't deny that her attraction to him is still there but she refuses to be ignored. She spent the last six years waiting for him, learning to be the perfect diplomats' wife for Marcus but she wants more. She wants a marriage based on trust, respect and love.

Marcus wasn't expecting to fall for Lydia, he just thought he would seduce her to stay with him then go on his way. But when he discovers that Lydia is the perfect partner he can't let her get away. So he pulls out all the stops to keeping Lydia... in a carriage.

Favorite quote:

Part of her—a small but defiant part, the part that still remembered her girlhood fantasies—desperately wanted to trust him, but the stronger part remembered how he had thoughtlessly cast her aside. “We can’t always have what we want, Marcus. You must accustom yourself to disappointment.”

As I have. The unspoken words hung between them.

Marcus’ mouth twitched. “But there you are wrong, my love. I always get what I want.”

Overall:
Can you say HOT? Marcus certainly doesn’t hold back and neither does Lydia. Prepare for hot sexy times in the garden, in the carriage and of course the bedroom.

My only complaint is that I wish it was longer. I would’ve loved to see these two really go at it and fight for their relationship. But then again I’m greedy. Though if it was longer I think it would have been AMAZING! A Breach of Promise was a short, SEXY read. If you want something spicy but not in the whips and chains way then this is it. It’s erotic and sexy.

eARC Review: Scrumptious by Amanda Usen

Scrumptious by Amanda Usen
FORMAT: ARC from Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 320 pages
PUBLISHER: Sourcebook Casablanca (January 1, 2012)

TALL DARK AND DELICIOUS

Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?

Where To Find Amanda Usen: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository

I loved it

Review:

Joe Rafferty new mantra is “No more sluts.” His mom’s dying wish was that he settles down and finds love. On his way across the country to a new job in California he meets Marlene Bennet. Marly is the female version of Joe. She’s shies away from any kind of commitment but isn’t opposed to finding a hot man to warm her bed if she wants. And with Joe coming through town he’s just her man. That is until all everything goes to hell and Joe finds himself staying for longer then he anticipated and Marly finds herself frustrated in more ways then one.

“She failed to seduce the man who slept with everyone. And she quoted Top Gun in the attempt. She wasn’t sure which was worse.”

I found myself laughing out loud at Marly. She is who she is and doesn’t apologize for it. She also quotes Top Gun and you can’t help but love her. Plus she is loyal and protective of her friends. When Joe shows up to help she pushes his buttons to show him who’s in charge. But Joe pushes her right back.

Watching these two try and find themselves while learning to love was almost painful… in a good way. They both had horrible examples of love growing up and watching them fight what was happening just broke my heart. Of course, they are also trying to find the person who is sabotaging the restaurant and ends in a ridiculous high stakes poker game. Seriously, the last couple of chapters are just ridiculous.

Favorite Quote:

“Man’s best friend is dog, but woman’s best friend is vibrator. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t ask you to stay.” Joe moved toward her. He took the vibrator out of her hand and sent it sailing into the bedroom where it landed on the bed with a solid thump. She was mesmerized by the heat in his eyes.

“I’ve got a better idea,” Joe said.

Ok... I have another favorite quote because I can't pass up a Top Gun reference.

He looked disappointed. “Does that mean you won’t be quoting any more Top Gun for me?”

“I’ll peel the potatoes if you promise not to mention that again.”

He shook his head. “No way. I have some particular favorites from that movie. In fact, if we don’t get a move on, we won’t be ready for dinner. You could say, ‘We have a need, a need for—’”

“Stop it!” She laughed in spite of herself. He was an arrogant prick, but at least he had a sense of humor.

Overall:
I’m going to let you in on a secret: I love debut novels. What I love even better is a great debut novel. Scrumptious was a fun read and I read it one day. There aren’t many books that will do that to me but I was so caught up in the fun of the story that I didn’t want to put it down. Plus, they quote Top Gun. Is this the next great American novel? No, but if you are looking for something fun to read with Sexy Times that will curl your toes then this is it.

Also, I would have a snack handy. All the talk of food sure gets a girl hungry.


**Review copy from Netgalley**