Breeding the Princess by Maggie Chatterley

Breeding the Princess by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (April 2012)

27 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

An imaginative short story with a sweet ending. I loved the characters! The idea for this story could have been used for a much longer, full-length story, but I felt the story was nicely encapsulated as it is, without feeling rushed. Nice quick read.

Breeding Jenna by Maggie Chatterley

Breeding Jenna by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (April 2012)

35 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

With misguided intent, James sets out to get Jenna pregnant so she will marry him and he can get the ranch, but finds once he gets started his intentions have changed. This is a sweet tale and an enjoyable short read!

Katie and the Caveman by Maggie Chatterley

Katie and the Caveman by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (March 2012)

22 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

A quick, thought-provoking read about relations with Neanderthals versus Cavemen. I liked the Caveman and enjoyed Katie’s open-mindedness about the whole thing. Very Nice!

Colters’ Daughter by Maya Banks

Colters’ Daughter by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Book 3

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (February 2011)

172 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.24)

Book Rating: 2 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I almost couldn’t finish this book. I wasn’t too wild about the rough sex in the previous books in this series, as they all the while claimed the men were so gentle and caring (only outside the bedroom apparently). In terms of rough sex, this book makes the others in this series look downright tame. I understand that some people might want/desire/like violent/painful sex, but to imply that a relationship that includes such behavior is gentle, caring or loving is beyond my understanding and just seemed unbelievably manipulative. I didn’t like Max throughout most of the book and even though I liked Callie in the previous book, I had a really hard time identifying or sympathizing with her. The only things I liked about this book was seeing the rest of the Colter family and the ending. The ending was great! I loved the ending, but it was the only point in the story when I actually liked the hero, Max. If you like Dominate/Submissive stories you may like this, but I had a hard time buying Callie as a submissive, it seemed too out of character.

Colters’ Lady by Maya Banks

Colters’ Lady by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Book 2

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (June 2010)

227 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.24)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

As another generation of Colter brothers find their woman and do their best to help resurrect her from her painful past, this time around the brothers didn’t go in expecting to share. Though similar to the first book, I felt like these men (Seth, Michael and Dillon) each had separate relationships with the same woman (Lily), while their fathers’ seemed to work more as a unit, only occasionally separating off. Once again most of the sex scenes were a bit too rough for my taste. Aside from that, I loved all the characters and look forward to reading Callie’s story in Colters’ Daughter.

Callie’s Meadow by Maya Banks

Callie’s Meadow by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Second Extended Epilogue to Colters’ Woman

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (April 2010)

99 pages, eBook (only available in the reissue of Colters’ Woman)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Sensuality: White Heart

This is a second extended epilogue to the first book in the Colters' Legacy Series, Colters' Woman, and is only available in the reissue of that book. Though I don't think it would be of much interest as a stand-alone story, for those who have read Colters' Woman and Colters' Wife, it is a nice little update on the characters you have come to love and a way to have a brief visit back into their world. Very nice.

Colters’ Wife by Maya Banks

Colters’ Wife by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Extended Epilogue to Colters’ Woman

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (April 2010)

39 pages, eBook (available for free on the Kindle Store)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

A sweet little continuation of the characters and story in Colters’ Woman, this story centers around the birth of their first child. A quick read and nice story.

Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks

Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Book 1

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (April 2010)

280 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.24)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I loved this story of three brothers waiting for fate to bring them the one woman they intended to share as a wife for the rest of their lives. Holly, though a bit of a damsel in distress in the beginning, grows into her own strength throughout this story. I adored all three Colter brothers (Adam, Ethan and Ryan), each with their own individual personalities, all loving and compassionate in their own way. I found some of the sex scenes to be a bit rough for my taste, especially concerning Holly’s background, but I enjoyed the story all the same and look forward to continuing with this series. The extended epilogue, Callie’s Meadow, is included at the end of this book, but be forewarned it is intended to be read after the extended epilogue, Colters’ Wife, which is sold separately (though currently available for free on the Amazon Kindle Store).

Double Chance Claim by Elle Saint James

Double Chance Claim by Elle Saint James

Badlands Series, Book 3

Publisher: Siren Publishing (January 2010)

112 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.09)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Set in Campbell’s Valley, South Dakota, like the first two books in this series, this book includes some minor characters from the first two books and follows the Chance brothers, Wyatt and Wade. Thrown together by fate with newly widowed Maggie, the brothers quickly include her in their future plans. Though the plot in this story wasn’t as good as the previous ones in this series, I loved the characters enough to overlook it. Now that I’m to Book 3 in this series, I have to admit I’m finding the cheesy dialogue amusingly endearing. The storyline is a bit contrived at times, but then again, I’m not one that enjoys endless obstacles thrown into a story just for the sake of drawing it out a bit longer. I enjoyed the honest simplicity of all three stories in this series and anticipate reading them again and again.

Two Wanted Men by Elle Saint James

Two Wanted Men by Elle Saint James

Badlands Series, Book 2

Publisher: Siren Publishing (September 2009)

98 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.19)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

In this second installment of the Badlands Series, we take up the story of Miranda, the mail order bride from the first book who jumped off the train before meeting her intended husbands. As in the first book, some of the dialogue was a little cheesy, but I enjoyed the story and loved the characters. Luke and Reese were perfect! I always enjoy brief updates on previous characters, and the end of this book included a little glimpse of the characters from the first book, Mail Order Bride for Two. I’m looking forward to reading the third book in this series, Double Chance Claim.

Mail Order Bride for Two by Elle Saint James

Mail Order Bride for Two by Elle Saint James

Badlands Series, Book 1

Publisher: Siren Publishing (June 2009)

80 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.69)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Mail order bride, Clarissa, is running from her past and seeking a fresh start in the west. Logan and Derek, long-time friends and business partners, are seeking to share a mail order bride wife. I loved this plot and all three main characters were almost immediately endearing. Both men clearly cared about Clarissa and deeply wanted to give her a good life with the both of them. There were a few parts where the dialogue was a little cheesy and I noticed a few spelling/editing errors, but not too bad. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Romancing Olive by Holly Bush

Romancing Olive by Holly Bush

Publisher: BookBaby (November 2011)

205 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Pink Heart

I love how this author takes unlikely heroines and shows that they are desirable to their hero, regardless of others perceptions or the negative self-perceptions of the heroine herself. Olive is a middle-aged librarian spinster who has been hiding from life and living through books, until her brother’s death forces  her to face reality as she sets out to take in his kids. Jacob is a widower neighbor who has taken in Olive’s niece and nephew in the meantime. He is a strong, honorable man used to hardship and living for his kids. It is a beautiful story. I loved getting to know all the little children and seeing their individual connection with Jacob and Olive and each other. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Train Station Bride by Holly Bush

Train Station Bride by Holly Bush

Publisher: BookBaby (March 2012)

220 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Pink Heart

Very few books have gotten me to care so deeply about the characters and their story that their pain literally brought me to sobs, but this story did just that. I loved Jake and Julia from the beginning and found them to be engaging and easy to relate to. This story pulls you in relentlessly all the way through to the very end. I loved this story! I look forward to reading Romancing Olive and hope to see more titles by this author in the future!

The Prize by Julie Garwood

The Prize by Julie Garwood

Publisher: Dutton Adult (July 2011)

420 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I loved this story and I especially loved the hero, Royce. He was wonderfully warm from the very beginning and had strength, character and ingenuity. Nicholaa, a woman of strength and character herself, was also an easy character to like and I felt she complimented Royce well. I liked that everything between Royce and Nicholaa was laid out in the open almost immediately, leaving almost no possibility of misunderstandings or secrets between them. I would have preferred that the situation with Nicholaa’s brother, Thurston, had been resolved before the end, but I was pleased with the ending nonetheless. Highly recommended!

Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood

Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood

Publisher: Pocket Star (October 2011)

324 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 2 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I really wanted to like this book. I have read quite a few other books by this author and loved all of them, and assumed I would love this one as well. The story started out fine, with the usual conflict and difficultly between the two main characters, Geoffrey and Elizabeth, all the secondary characters were wonderful and Elizabeth was shown to have a few close pets (a hawk, two wolfhounds)-a story element which I particularly like. However, the fighting between the two main characters lasted the entire book and never really got any better due to an unbelievable amount of stupidity on both of their parts, until the ending which I felt came out of nowhere and they were all of the sudden living happily ever after, and the fighting stopped for no apparent reason. I didn’t dislike the main characters, but found myself feeling vastly impatient with both of them, hoping that one or both of them would stop acting like such a child. I also found their “bedroom truce” completely unbelievable considering the intensity and vindictive nature of their daytime battles. I was disappointed that the animals played no significant part in the story, except for a few glimpses at the very beginning, they were all but forgotten by the end of the story leaving me to wonder why they were included at all. I read fiction to escape from the real world. These characters were a bit too real for my taste (having entirely too many faults and an excess of stupidity), and though some of the plot points and the ending were unbelievable to me, I believe the relationship and romance between the two main characters in this story where about as true to life as you get, even for the time period. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you may enjoy this book, but I was looking for something different.

Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood

Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood

Publisher: Pocket Star (August 2010)

404 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

This is my favorite book by this author! Duncan is a bit dark and brooding and has a lovely, almost paranormal invincibility about him that I loved. I thought Madelyne’s innocent naïveté complimented him beautifully. I also enjoyed the subplot involving Madelyne’s special connection with a couple specific animals (a horse and a wolf). I will say I wish there had been a definitive statement at the end of the book sealing the fate of Duncan’s sister, Adela, but perhaps it was purposely left open and with much of that relationship hidden and/or unexplored as fodder for a possible sequel. No matter, I still loved the ending, and were sequels being considered would have liked to read Edmund and Gilard’s stories as well as Adela’s, had this been made into a series. Excellent book!

Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

Shadow Music by Julie Garwood

Highlands’ Lairds Series, Book 3

Publisher: Ballantine Books (December 2007)

449 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

There were so many bad reviews about this book, that I almost didn’t read it, having enjoyed the first two books in this series so much I didn’t want to ruin it. I am so glad I did read it, and I loved it as much as the first two books. I am honestly confused about everyone’s displeasure. Some thought the story took too long to get going, but I didn’t notice undue delay and felt the extra background information was needed for the story. Others felt Brodick’s character was unrecognizable, and though I admit he had softened a bit from the first two books, I felt it was already happening at the end of the second book and largely due to being married. One of the things I really liked about this book was Gabrielle’s guard and their interaction with Colm and his men. There is something enjoyable about the banter between a group of men that are close to each other, particularly when they are all protecting the same woman. I enjoyed the same thing in the second book with Brodick’s guard. I enjoyed Colm and Gabrielle, and felt they were likable, engaging main characters. I also enjoyed the explanations and references to the title, Shadow Music. I highly recommend this book and series!

Ransom by Julie Garwood

Ransom by Julie Garwood

Highlands’ Lairds Series, Book 2

Publisher: Atria Books (August 2010)

580 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Brodick is by far my favorite character of all the romance books that I have read, and after having read the first book in this series I was so glad to see his story was told in this book. He makes up his mind almost from the beginning, without any wishy-washy hedging or any attempt to maintain a cold, distance. He knows his mind and he knows his heart and no amount of fear could override that. Gillian needs some persuasion and coercion to come around to his way of thinking, and Brodick is more than happy to accommodate her.There is also a secondary romance in this book between Ramsey and Bridgid. The last book in this series is Shadow Music and includes Brodick and mention  of other characters from the first two books. Highly recommended series!

The Secret by Julie Garwood

The Secret by Julie Garwood

Highlands’ Lairds Series, Book 1

Publisher: Dutton Adult (July 2011)

404 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Iain is sent to retrieve Judith from England for his sister-in-law who is determined to have her dear friend at her side for the birth of her first child.  Being forced to undertake a long journey with someone, almost always leads to feelings developing . . . at least in romance novels. I enjoyed all the characters in this story, the secondary characters included. This story, for me, exemplifies the Highlander Romance genre, with a few scenes thrown in for comedic relief.The next book in this series is Ransom and tells Brodick’s story, one of my favorite secondary characters from this book. Highly recommended series!