Title: More Than Friends
Author: Evangeline Anderson
Purchase This Book: Ellora’s Cave | Kindle Edition
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book Blurb:
Zach and Emily have been best friends since high school but Zach wants much more. Emily is the girl of his dreams and, unfortunately, taken. Zach knows her jerk of a fiancé isnt good enough for sweet, perfect Emily, but what can he do? The answer comes in the form of a frantic phone call late one night Emily is in trouble.

When Emily agreed to go to the Rustler’s Roundup charity auction for her eccentric employer, she never dreamed that she would be the goods auctioned off. Now, standing half naked on stage and being bid on by complete strangers, she’s about to get a lot more charity than she planned on. Luckily for her, Zach rides to the rescue just in time. But in order to free her from the Roundup, he has to do a lot more than bid on her – spanking and sex are on the menu as well.

Will the hot sexual encounter destroy their relationship? Or will they finally become more than friends?

My Thoughts:
This was an enjoyable enough erotic tale if you suspend disbelief quite a bit. Okay, a lot. I couldn’t really see Zach as an alpha male, as Emily kept insisting that he was. I think her idea of an alpha was a bit skewed. Yes, Zach acts a bit bossy in the sack, but it’s always with a big push from Emily. Otherwise, Zach’s character just screams beta at me. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. The situation Zach and Emily find themselves in is too-obviously contrived and I didn’t see either character’s reactions to it as realistic, especially Emily’s. I didn’t buy her sudden willingness to participate in the proceedings at the club just because it was with Zach and she had a closet curiosity for BDSM. This is another offering from Anderson with BDSM-Lite and the Fuck or Die scenario, two themes this author seems quite fond of. I’ve read better from this author, but so have I read worse. I did like Emily and Zach together and their transition from friends to lovers.

Title: Treasured
Author: Crystal Jordan
Purchase This Book: Samhain | Kindle Edition
Genre: Erotic Time-Travel Romance
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Book Blurb:
A love for which even time stands still. Graduate student Rebecca Small is so obsessed with the past-especially the Golden Age of Piracy-she doesn’t mind her unglamorous job preparing museum displays. This display is about her favorite subject, James Morrow, a famous pirate who mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

Becca touches the pirate’s antique sword, and finds herself on a ship in the middle of a sword fight, saving the sexy captain from being stabbed in the back-literally. Once the smoke clears, the man who claims he’s her husband is more than eager to reward her for her timely assistance.

James Morrow knows very little about the woman he was forced to marry five years ago, but the woman who saved him doesn’t fit the portrait he’s painted of her in his mind. She’s strong, brave, and submits to his every dark desire. She seems the perfect woman for a pirate, but he makes his living among the dishonest and disreputable-trust isn’t a commodity he trades in.

My Thoughts:
This was a well-written, but mediocre read, this time featuring time-travel and BDSM, though it’s not as BDSM-Lite as the story reviewed above. I didn’t feel particularly attached to either character or their love story, but the idea of it was interesting. I thought the Big Reveal of how and why the heroine time-traveled was silly as was the hero’s easy acceptance of it at the end.

Sophie’s Secret
Author: Tara Taylor Quinn
ISBN-10: 0373715501
ISBN-13: 9780373715503
Publisher/Imprint: Harlequin SuperRomance (March 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Genre: Contemporary Category Romance
Source: PaperbackSwap.com

BOOK BLURB:
Sophie Curtis lives a big secret. She’s been having an affair with Duane Koch. Their days – and nights – together are their own oasis away from the world. It’s unconventional but, given the difference in their ages and her troubled past, it works for them.

Then Duane is asked to step into the political ring – an opportunity he’s been waiting for. Too bad about the timing, though. Because Sophie’s just found out she’s pregnant, and an instant family – with her – could ruin his chances. The right thing would be for her to bow out of his life. But when he surprises her with a proposal, will she have the strength to walk away from the man she loves?

MY THOUGHTS:
This was a well-written read, but I found that I wasn’t as invested in the characters and their situation as much as I could have been. I don’t think this was due to any particular flaws in the story, maybe it was more that I just didn’t care for the emphasis put on reputation and politics, nor for the fact that there were a lot of issues for the couple to work through all at once, much of it having to do with Sophie’s past and Duane’s present. It felt as if there were just too many ingredients in the pot. The political figure in the spotlight because of his relationship with a younger woman with a past just isn’t my usual go-to in a romance. If some of the issues the couple dealt with in the book had been more interesting to me personally, I probably would have rated this much higher. I’d recommend this to someone looking for a category romance that features an older man/younger woman dynamic and the relationship-in-crisis trope.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Big Bad Wolf
Series: The Others #8
Author: Christine Warren
ISBN-10: 031294795X
ISBN-13: 9780312947958
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (Sept. 2009)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Source: PaperbackSwap.com

BOOK BLURB:
Missy Roper’s fantasies have revolved around Graham Winters since the moment they met. But the imposing leader of the Silverback werewolf clan always seemed oblivious to Missy’s existence. At least he was, until Missy collides with him at a party and then abruptly runs away – arousing Graham’s interest…and wild desires. Lupine law decrees that every Alpha must have a mate, and all Graham’s instincts tell him that the sensual, beguiling Missy is his. Trouble is, Missy is human – every delectable inch of her. Convincing his clan that she’s his destined mate, and keeping her safe from his enemies, will be the biggest challenge Graham has ever faced. And now that he is determined to have her – as his lover and as his mate – Missy’s world is changing in ways she never imagined.

MY THOUGHTS:
Missy, a kindergarten teacher with self-esteem issues, has been set up on a “fantasy fix” by her best friends. Apparently, her friends think that shy and quiet Missy needs to “fix” her humdrum life by getting laid. Instead of going home with her intended date, however, Missy ends up with Graham, a womanizing werewolf and the alpha of his pack. What follows makes for a mostly fun, but problematic read.

I had to overlook a few things in order to enjoy the story more. I liked both Missy and Graham, but I felt I was being hit over the head one too many times by Missy’s self-image problem. Even after spending the weekend having marathon sex with Graham, she can’t bring herself to believe that he is truly interested in her, not even as a sex partner, much less anything more. Another thing that seemed odd, was Graham’s sudden and intense link to Missy through her scent. The two met weeks before and spent some time together due to a wedding they both participated in. Wouldn’t Graham have smelled her then?

The biggest issue I had was with the mate hunt that takes place toward the end. I don’t find anything remotely sexy about rape, or the threat of rape, no matter that those participating in the hunt were in wolf form at the time and fully aware of the risks involved. I’m glad that nothing like that happened to Missy, but it had to have happened to someone during that hunt and that put quite a damper on my happiness at Graham and Missy’s happy ending.

I did enjoy the book to an extent and will probably pick up another title by this author. There were quite a few funny scenes that I enjoyed reading aloud to my husband for a laugh. I also found it interesting that Missy herself addressed some of the plot issues I haven’t mentioned here. In a way, that helped me as a reader to deal with them because I felt that the author had at least acknowledged their existence and had attempted to explain them, even if the explanation didn’t quite work for me. I’d recommend this to established fans of the genre, but I think it might not be the best thing to recommend to a first-time reader.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

TITLE: Seduced Into A Paper Marriage (The Hudsons of Beverly Hills #6)
AUTHOR: Maureen Child
ISBN: 9780373769469
PUBLISHER/IMPRINT: Harlequin/Silhouette Desire
LENGTH: Novel, 192 pages
GENRE: Contemporary Category Romance

BOOK BLURB:
No one ever denied Devlin Hudson. The COO of Hudson Pictures could have any woman he wanted, but what he wanted was a woman who made no demands. He’d thought Valerie Shelton was that woman.

But his prim, proper wife had walked out on their matrimonial merger, and now Devlin was pulling out all the stops to get her back. He vowed to win over winsome Val the old-fashioned way…in bed. Then he discovered his “shy” young bride had a passionate side—and a romantic agenda that would rock his world….

MY THOUGHTS:
This was an okay, but average, read. It had it’s moments – some sexy, some sweet, but nothing that really stood out for me. I really didn’t buy Dev’s reasons for keeping himself apart from Val. I would have liked a little more backstory for how these two got together. Maybe I’ve been reading too many Presents lately, but I was expecting this one to be much more angst-ridden, given the relationship-in-crisis theme. There’s a little, but most of it is with Dev’s family, not so much with Dev and Val. I liked that Val stood up for herself and decided to fight for her marriage this time ’round, but thought she gave up too easily when she asked for a divorce near the end. Dev’s change of heart afterward felt too sudden and his “love speech” to Val felt rather out of character.

You might enjoy this one if you’re looking for something light to occupy you during a short downtime.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

TITLE: The Billionaire’s Blackmailed Bride
AUTHOR: Jacqueline Baird
ISBN: 9781426817861
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.

READ THIS BOOK

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

BOOK BLURB:
Marriage in haste, revenge at leisure! Anton Diaz is hell-bent on revenge; he’ll seduce and marry the innocent daughter of his enemy. To exact his plan will be no hardship, as Emily Fairfax is as beautiful as she is virginal. It’s only after that Emily realizes Anton is blackmailing her. Yet she can’t stop her body betraying her as they spend their days parted in anger and their nights locked in passion….

REVIEW:
Anton Diaz is very much an HP alpha male – he’s arrogant, rich, and bossy as hell. He’s also a little on the clueless side when it comes to his own (or anyone else’s) emotions and motivations. Emily is a pretty strong heroine, if only because she’s too darn stubborn to let go of her own hurt feelings to make some sort of compromise with her husband when things go sour. Of course, hubby doesn’t offer a compromise either, as such – just sort of pushes their differences aside and decides to go on as if nothing is wrong. But even that seems more positive than Emily’s constant focus on their troubles. Maybe I’m in a minority here, but I just think things could have resolved themselves much easier and sooner had she not been so bent on keeping the angst going.

Anton marries Emily with revenge in mind – revenge against a wrong her father allegedly did his family years before Emily was even born. After they marry, Anton decides that, while he doesn’t love his wife, that he does like her enough not to go on with his scheming. However, he lets the cat out of the bag during an argument and from then on Emily gives him the cold shoulder. He does make some nasty threats to her during this argument, but nothing he does or says for the rest of the book really reinforces any of those threats. He makes no move to take over her family’s company, nor does he tell her family about the secret he knows about her father. The two of them continue to angst and argue and have lots and lots of sex every chance they get. Meanwhile, Anton notices that his wife is emotionally absent from him – unlike how sweet and loving she was before his revenge scheme came up – so he just sort of goes along with it, trying to make the most of what they do have. Emily accuses him of cheating at almost every turn, but then she turns around and encourages him to cheat because she has this idea that if she can just catch him cheating then she can divorce him and take all his money. I don’t think either character acts terribly well at times. I suppose I felt more forgiving of Anton’s behavior than Emily’s because Anton seemed more willing to let bygones be bygones – even if he didn’t say it in so many words.

There were a number of things that were a tad aggravating about the book, namely the mega angst factor and Emily’s own ideas of revenge. I agree that she’d been terribly wronged, but I thought her holding onto her hurt for such a long time was the main cause of strife later in her marriage. I liked that we got a lot of the story from Anton’s POV – so many of these “bent on revenge” reads only tell the story from the heroine’s viewpoint, so you get a very biased idea of things, which always makes the confession of love at the end that much less believable. When that bit of the story does come around, though, Anton feels real remorse for his actions and apologizes without it sounding too much like a HEA maneuver.

I’d recommend this to anyone who likes an emotionally angsty read told from both the main characters’ POV’s

TITLE: Soul Bonds (Common Powers #1)
AUTHOR: Lynn Lorenz
ISBN: 978-1-59632-709-2
PUBLISHER: Loose Id, LLC
LENGTH: Novel

READ THIS BOOK

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

BOOK BLURB:
Mitchell Collins is the king of denial. Five years after the death of his lover, Steve, he finds himself in a gay bar, wondering why he’s even there. He has a rule he won’t break: Don’t take anyone home.

Sammi’s trying to survive on the streets of Houston. It’s not easy for someone with no money, no identity, and no friends.

When Mitch meets Sammi, all thoughts of “safe” go flying out the window. He takes him home for the best sex of his life, not knowing that Sammi’s a sex slave on the run from a man who’ll do anything to get him back.

But Sammi and Mitch are soul bonds, And nothing, not even Donovan himself, is going to keep them apart.

REVIEW:
Mitch is a nice guy who doesn’t take chances, doesn’t break the rules he’s set for himself, and never does anything to risk his safe, quiet, life. Until he meets Sammi in a gay bar and takes him home. His connection to Sammi is instant and intense and Mitch finds himself breaking every rule he’s ever made and then some.

Sammi turns Mitch’s ordered life upside down, but Mitch wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite getting into trouble at work over something related to Sammi (I’m not telling!), Mitch doesn’t make excuses. He accepts responsibility for his actions no matter how uncomfortable things are for him. Mitch learns to take risks and that doing the right thing doesn’t always mean being safe.

Sammi is running from Donovan, the powerful man who keeps him as a sex slave. He goes into the bar in order to find a pick-up who’ll take him off the streets for the night. When he realizes he can hear Mitch’s thoughts and sense his emotions, Sammi knows the two of them are meant to be together. The two of them form what Sammi calls a “soul bond”, a paranormal connection that I found delightful, if a little vague.

Sammi has been abused by nearly everyone in his young life. It’s hard to believe that he could survive all that he’s been through and still be such a sweet, lovable character. Sammi grows throughout the story; he realizes that he can better himself, that he can change, learn, and be free in ways he’s never hoped for before.

I would have rated this story much higher than 3 out of 5 if not for a few issues that brought my overall enjoyment down a notch or two. Some of the plot elements and character reactions didn’t feel very credible to me, namely the police interaction and Mitch’s initial reactions after a near run-in with Donovan’s goons. There was also a clinic scene where Sammi answers a questionnaire that takes up a full two pages. It does give a more in depth look at Sammi’s past, but I would rather have learned about it through exposition.

I’d recommend this to anyone who likes sexy paranormal stories with memorable characters. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.