Relentless

Relentless by Lauren Dane

Publisher: Heat

May 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-22760-2

Pages: 339

Futuristic

Abbie Haws has been battling a system that has seen fifteen Families ruling the Federation Universes since the time the first settlers came through the portals from Earth.  This is the perfect time to get rid of the old way of ruling and introducing a new order that would give voice to those that are unranked.  Now Abbie has been granted an audience with Roman Lyons so she has a chance to make a difference. 

Roman Lyons is the head of House Lyons.  As everyone knows the Known Universe revolves around Ravena which in turns revolves around Roman.  He was raised to lead from the very beginning.  Now he must meet with a rabble-rouser which he dreads until the moment when he sets eyes on Abbie.  Now the attraction between them has caught them both off guard. 

Both Roman and Abbie have headstrong personalities and it makes for some very hot trysts between them in private as they also learn that they both can learn a lot from each other.  They come from different ways of life and teaching each other about how the other one lives is making the attraction between them even stronger than it was in the beginning.  But can this lead to anything more than a secret tryst between them or will they find a common ground that they can build a relationship on?

While this is technically the second book in the series it can be read as a stand alone book.  The world building started in the first book, Undercover, and continues in this one and gives the reader a wider view of this new world in this series.  The reader will get emotionally invested in the hero and heroine in this book and will hate to reach the last page of this one.  The plot is well written and the story flows very well.  The story also has enough spice to make it one very hot story.  This one is well worth taking the time to read. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Sweet Surrender

Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks

Publisher: Heat

March 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-21943-0

Pages: 344

Contemporary, Texas

Faith Malone looks soft on the outside but she is one woman that knows exactly what she wants and that is a man who will take exactly what he wants without asking because she is more than willing to give him everything.

Gray Montgomery is a cop from Dallas that is determined to catch the man that killed his partner.  Now Gray has found a link between Faith and that man.  Gray is finding that getting close to Faith won’t be a hardship and she seems to be everything he wants in a woman but is she real or is she playing games.  Can she really be a woman that would let a man call the shots in the relationship?

What Faith sees in Gray is the strong, dominate man that she is searching for though he seems more interested in keeping her at arm’s length.  Faith is determined to show Gray exactly what she is looking for and that she is very serious about what she is willing to do for the right man. Gray has made catching his partner’s killer his priority even though the more he learns about Faith the harder it is to keep his focus on what he needs to do.  When Faith is threatened Gray realizes that there are some things more important to him than he first thought and he will do whatever he has to so that Faith is kept safe. 

This is a start of great series that will have the reader eagerly reaching for the next book in this series.  The story with its twists and turns will have readers eagerly turning the pages just to see what will happen next.  The main characters are engaging and the secondary characters add a great deal to the story.  This one will also have readers reaching for an ice cold drink to bring their temperature down after reading this one.

I give this one 5 red roses 

Undercover

Undercover by Lauren Dane

Publisher: Heat

December 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-22464-9

Pages: 336

Futuristic

Sera Ayers is a lieutenant in the Federation military and is used to giving orders.  Now she is on new team and has to take orders from the one man that she has never forgotten and can no longer stand. 

Ash Walker is assembling a covert team now that the Imperialists are gaining ground.  Ten years ago Sera submitted to Ash in the bedroom but then he was forced into a political marriage and Sera refused to be his mistress.  Now Ash is no longer married and is determined to have Sera on his team and in his bed. 

Brandt Pela is the third member of the team.  Their plan involves Sera posing as his lover while they are undercover but that ignites a passion between the whole team.  The passion just might prove to be more dangerous than the mission they are on.

Sera, Ash and Brandt are going to have to find their way through the relationship they now have and still keep alert while they are on their mission because if they don’t it could very well cost lives and not just their own.

This is a very hot story that will have readers reaching for ice water as they read this one.  The characters have a depth that makes the story interesting and engrossing.  The action makes for an exciting read that will have the reader hating to put this one down for any reason.  The world building is fascinating and realistic and comes to life as the reader gets farther into the story.  The plot is interesting and keeps the story moving along very well.  For readers that like hot erotic romances and/or futuristic stories this is one to read and the reader will not be disappointed with this one. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Be With Me

Be With Me by Maya Banks

Publisher: Heat

November 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-22404-5

Pages: 376

Contemporary, Texas

Regina “Reggie” Fallon is now a police officer that is dedicated to her job.  She loved her friendship with Hutch, Cam and Sawyer when she was a girl and felt loved and protected for the first time ever in her life but when the four of them had one night of passion it sent Reggie running the other way.  Now there has been an attempt on her life and the guys are determined to protect her and this time they are not going to let her run away. 

Hutch Bishop, Cam Douglas and Sawyer Pritchard may have been juvenile delinquents when they were kids they are not the same anymore. When they were kids they were wild and reckless but they also had Reggie, a lonely wealthy girl in their lives that formed a friendship with them that no one expected.  Now that they are grown they are determined that they are going to have more with Reggie and they are going to keep her safe no matter what it takes.

While Reggie, Hutch, Cam and Sawyer work their way through this new relationship between them they are also dealing with a killer that seems determined to finish what they started by getting rid of Reggie.  The guys are determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.  But will the four of them be able to build a relationship together and have a lasting relationship or will the killer get to Reggie before any of them have a chance at a future together.

This is another great book by this author.  The dynamics between the characters make this a great story to read and the action keeps the storyline moving along at a great pace.  The suspect list will have the reader guessing as to who is behind the attempt on Reggie’s life and will keep the reader guessing until it is finally revealed.  This is a romantic suspense story not to miss.  Reading how the characters work through the relationship they want with each other will get the reader emotionally invested in this one that will have them hating to see it end.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses