The Better to Bite

The Better to Bite by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

October 2012

Pages: 358

Paranormal Haven, South Carolina

Anna Lambert is a sixteen year old girl and she and her father just moved to the town of Haven.  Anna knows that the woods by her house aren’t safe to enter.  She has seen the wolves that are there.  Anna has the ability that to some is a curse to others a gift that allows her to find anything or anyone that is lost.

Now people are disappearing and Anna’s sheriff father needs her to use ability to help him hunt a killer, though the killer isn’t exactly human.  Anna is being pulled into the secrets of the town.    Anna is also finding herself drawn to two different boys that are very mysterious.  Anna is going to have to decide if she can trust either or both of the boys.  Because with the danger closing in around Anna she is going to have to decide if one of the boys could be her savior and the other one could very well be very bad. 

This is a YA story that is sure to please readers of all ages.  The story is sure to pull the reader into the mystery that is the town of Haven and all the secrets that seem to be hiding in the small town.  Where every one seems to know everyone else there are a lot of secrets in the town that keep the reader eagerly turning the pages just to find out who is who and just what everyone is hiding.  This is a fast paced story that moves along very well with the story’s plot that is sure to keep the reader guessing just who might be behind the killings in the town.  The author puts enough twist and turns in this one that just when the reader thinks they may have the answer more is thrown in to keep the reader guessing. 

I give this one 5 red roses

Charmed and Dangerous

Charmed and Dangerous by Toni McGee Causey

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

May 2007

ISBN: 978-0-312-35549-5

Pages: 333

Contemporary Lake Charles, Louisiana

Bobbie Faye was looking forward to the Lake Charles Contraband Days Festival not waking up to a flooded trailer, a kidnapped brother or criminals after her mother tiara.  Now she is going to commit a bank robbery and a carjacking just to retrieve her family heirloom.  The bank robbery might have been unintentional but the carjacking was definitely intentional. 

Now Bobbie Faye has a hard body extremely sexy Trevor on her hands when she took his truck hostage.  At least Bobbie Faye can deal with angry bears, driving a speed boat and handling a gun.  What she is having problems with handling is a state police detective that also happens to be a pissed off ex-boyfriend.  Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse they do.  Now if she could just get her ex out of her way.

Bobbie Faye takes the reader on an adventure they will not soon forget.  This story is sure to have readers laughing out loud at the high jinx that Bobbie Faye gets up too.  Just as the reader thinks Bobbie Faye can’t get into any more trouble Bobbie Faye proves them wrong.  This is one book that will have the reader staying up late into the night just so that they don’t miss any of the action or humor.  It is also one that will have the reader hating to finish and will have the reader contemplating mayhem of their own when it ends. 

I give this one 5 red roses  

A Favorite Re-Read

Angel by Johanna Lindsay

Publisher: Avon

December 1992

ISBN: 978-0-380-075628-5

Pages: 403

1881 Texas, St. Louis & Wyoming

Cassie Stuart only had the very best intention when she tried to stop a twenty-five year old feud.  Instead of stopping it she managed to pour fuel on it and got both sides angry at her.  Now both sides are telling her to get out of Texas or her father’s ranch will be going up in flames.  What she needs now is a peacemaker not the widow-maker she has ended up with.

Angel is a hired gun that would just as soon leave Cassie to her dilemma but his stubborn sense of duty just won’t let him leave her in the mess she is currently involved in.  Angel may be unwanted by Cassie and he might want to leave but first he is determined to see if Cassie’s kiss is as sweet as he thinks it will be.  Angel is also determined to change Cassie’s mind about wanting him for more than his gun, no matter what it takes.

Cassie and Angel are going to have to find a way to deal with each other if they are going to have to any chance of dealing with the mess Cassie has stirred up with the neighbors.  That might be a lot easier said than done though.  Only time will tell if they are going to be able to fix everything.

This is a sweet story will a lot of humor that will have the reader hoping everything will work out for Cassie and Angel.  This story is sure to take the reader on a very interesting and funny ride as the characters work on the problems between them.  This is one story that can be read over and over and will be enjoyed each and every time. 

I give this one 5 red roses 

Hidden Agendas

Hidden Agendas by Lora Leigh

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

July 2007

ISBN: 978-0-312-93993-9

Pages: 332

Emily Stanton has loved Kell Kreiger since they were kids and her father rescued him from the streets.  Now Emily is ready to do something about the attraction she feels for Kell but she is going to have to convince him that not only is he good enough for her but he is exactly what she needs.  Emily is being threatened by a drug lord, Diego Fuentes, that Kell had already rescued her from Diego’s compound.  Now the drug lord had decided that he isn’t done with Emily just yet.   

Kell Kreiger is a Navy SEAL that is tough as nails and the best at search, rescue and taking no prisoners.  Kell is haunted by his past that he tries to escape by using dark intimacies as a distraction.  The one bright spot in his life is Emily.  What Kell doesn’t expect is to go deep undercover in order to protect the one thing that means the most to him, Emily.  Kell will do whatever he has to do to keep Emily safe from the drug lord that is after her. 

Kell will have to use all of his skills to keep Emily safe from Diego.  And he will have to bare his heart and soul if he wants to keep them both alive because the drug lord has changed the rules and Emily and Kell will have to figure out the news rules quickly if they have any hope of surviving this latest threat.

This is another great story in a series that is full of action and suspense.  As Kell and Emily try to find out who the traitor is in the story the reader is taken on one very wild ride that is sure to keep the reader engrossed until the very end.  You can’t go wrong with hot sexy SEALs and this one has those in spades.  This is one book that will have the reader eagerly reaching for the next one in this series.  The characters are complex and will have the reader emotionally involved before the end of the first chapter. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Angel Betrayed

Angel Betrayed by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Brava

July 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7582-6761-0

Pages: 310

Contemporary, Paranormal

Seline O’Shaw has a problem and she really is in need of some protection.  With the hounds of hell after her she will take the protection from anywhere she can get it.  Sammael owes her a favor and it doesn’t hurt that he very powerful and smoking hot.  Seline can deal with lusting after an angel especially when that is nothing compared to what coming after her.

Sammael “Sam” was once an Angel of Death.  He lost his wings when he got tired of staying on the sidelines watching when evil went after the innocents.  Now he takes care of the bad guys himself.  Sam doesn’t have any problems dealing with the bad guys but when he has to deal with one bad girl that is when his life starts to get complicated. 

Sam and Seline are going to have to deal with the trouble that is after Seline if they are going to have a hope of being able to take care of the attraction that is suddenly between them.  Dealing with the passion between them and the trouble that is after them is making life difficult but it is also making life very interesting all of a sudden.  Once the trouble after Seline is taken care of Sam and Seline are going to have to decide if what they have between them is enough to last a life time or if it is just a temporary attraction.

This story takes Fallen Angels to a whole new very hot level that will have reader begging for more.  While this can be read as a stand alone book it is much more enjoyable if it is read with the first book in the series, Angel of Darkness.  This story takes several elements of paranormal stories and mixes them in such a way that the reader will be doing whatever necessary to keep reading this one until the very last page.  Fallen Angels have never looked so hot before.

I give this one 5 red roses 

Melissa and the Impossible Frenchie

Melissa and the Impossible Frenchie by Averil Ireland

Publisher: Leap of Faith Publishing

2012

ISBN: 978-1-6199-358-3

Pages: 507

Regency England & France

Melissa Davenport is a young Englishwoman whose first meeting with Frenchman Andre Devante was anything but typical.  Melissa isn’t sure what to make of Andre at first though her first impression is that he is impossibly arrogant. 

Andre Devante doesn’t have time for Melissa or any woman for that matter.  He must return to France to rescue loved ones.  Though he has no intention of getting involved with Melissa he is quickly finding out what his head wishes and what his heart wishes are two completely different matters.  It doesn’t help that Melissa is troublesome, stubborn and beautiful.  When Andre is forced to take Melissa with him on his latest dangerous mission he is determine to punish Melissa but he is quickly finding out that when it comes to Melissa his intentions never go the way he plans.

Melissa is falling in love with Andre though there are several obstacles to them having a future together.  Andre is impossible at times and is enough to drive Melissa to tears but she is determined that no matter what she will not give into such weakness.  Now if she can just find a way to get past Andre’s arrogance they just might be able to find happiness together.  Andre is going to have to find a way to tame Melissa if he is going to have any peace in his life.

For readers that enjoy books set in the Regency period this is one to read.  As a debut story this will have readers hoping for more from this author.  The story quickly draws the reader in and takes them on a wonderful ride full of twist and turns.  The reader will wonder what will happen next and if Andre and Melissa will be able to find their happily ever after.  Once the reader picks up this one they will find it hard to put down until the very last page. 

I give this one 4 red roses

Dangerous Games

Dangerous Games by Lora Leigh

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

February 2007

ISBN: 978-2-312-93992-2

Pages: 352

Morganna Chavez is doing work with the DEA secretly to find the source of a thriving date-rape drug which is quickly leading her team to a shadowy faction that is proving just how deadly they truly are.  Morganna is determined to do her job despite having to deal with Clint McIntyre while not letting anyone, including Clint, know exactly what she is doing.

Clint “Iceman” McIntyre is a Navy SEAL that is taking some much needed R&R.  What he doesn’t expect is to find himself neck deep in trouble because Morganna is his best friend’s little sister.  She is also the only woman with any power over him.  He thought when they took out an infamous drug cartel that was difficult but that is proving to be nothing compared to dealing with Morganna and his determination to keep her safe.

The passion between Morganna and Clint is proving to be as dangerous as the mission they are now on together.  Clint will do whatever it takes to keep Morganna alive.  He is also quickly finding that he also wants Morganna in his arms and life and he is determined to keep her there and never let her go. 

This story takes off from the very first page and the action doesn’t stop until the very last page.  With all the twists and turns this one takes it will have the reader wondering when they got on the roller coaster ride and when it is going to stop.  This is the first book in a series that will be sure to hook the reader on this series.  The characters are well written and have all the fallacies that most people have which makes the character realistic and will get the reader emotionally invested in this one.  This is one romantic suspense story that readers that love the genre definitely do not want to miss. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

The Shadow Wranglers: Caleb

The Shadow Wranglers: Caleb by Sarah McCarty

Publisher: Heat

October 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-23057-2

Pages: 392

Allie is attracted to sexy rancher Caleb Johnson.  She thought that attraction was mutual but isn’t sure she is right when he does nothing about that attraction.  Just as she is about to give up in defeat she is attacked by a wolf only to be saved by another one.  There is something about the wolf that saves her that makes her think of Caleb.

Caleb Johnson is a vampire that lives with his three brothers and the McClaren werewolf pack.  While Caleb and his brothers are okay with be rogue he never wanted to bring Allie into his dangerous world.  He secretly desires her but he also wants her safe.  That all changes when his enemies make the mistake of targeting Allie.  Now Caleb will have to bring Allie into his world so that he can protect her and keep her safe. 

Caleb is going to have to tell Allie his secrets if he wants to have any chance of keeping Allie safe.  The question become does Allie have what it takes to survive in his world as a human which makes her vulnerable in his world.  Allie is fast finding out about a world that she never knew existed and she is going to have to learn fast if she is going to have any chance at living through the threat against her and just maybe the future she always hoped was possible with Caleb. 

This story is the perfect blend of cowboys and the paranormal world.  When vampires and cowboys are mixed together the reader gets a story that is so hot it is sure to curl their toes.  This one also throws in some very hot werewolves to make for a story that the reader will not want to put down for any reason.  The world building is different and makes for a great read.  This is the first book in a series about vampire cowboys that is sure to please.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Nauti Boy

Nauti Boy by Lora Leigh

Publisher: Heat

March 2007

re-released November 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-21413-8

Pages: 294

Kelly Benton has been trying to capture Rowdy Mackay’s attention even when she was too young for his attention.  She has dreamed of Rowdy for years though after she is attacked by a stalker she is not sure if she has what it takes to be able to handle any man’s touch.  After her brutal attack she has been left with the fear that all her dreams are gone. 

Rowdy Mackay has spent the past eight years putting distance between him and Kelly.  Being in the Marines helped him stay away from a too young Kelly.  Now Kelly is old enough to engage in the type of fantasies and games he has indulged in over the years and that have earned him and his two cousins a reputation in three counties. 

Rowdy is determined to show Kelly that they can still have a future.  Rowdy will also make sure that the stranger that is making threats against Kelly will never get the chance to get near her as he will do whatever it takes to protect Kelly from any and all threats.  Rowdy will also help Kelly get rid of the demons she has been left with after her attack and show just powerful the hunger between them really is. 

This is one erotic romance that heats up the pages it is written on.  The story is sure to keep the reader up late into the night reading so that they find out who the bad guy is and just how it ends.  This is an intense story that has some great action scenes that is sure to keep the reader engrossed in the storyline.  The reader will have to read this one in front of the a/c with the heat that is generated in the story.

I give this one 5 red roses