Cowboy's Strict Commands by Arthur Mitchell and Nicole Snow

Cowboy's Strict Commands by Arthur Mitchell and Nicole Snow

Publisher: Red Ice Press (November 2013)

78 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Ashley was a young woman who had fallen on bad times and her reputation as the town whore, however ill-deserved it was, didn't help matters, but little did she know that an indecent proposal from Gabe might change all that. Gabe was a strong, powerful character that not only repaired her reputation but her self-image and, in the process, gave her hope for a fresh start. I felt he was a good blend of protective alpha male and a dominant source of guidance toward self-growth. Ashley slowly came into her own, gradually becoming comfortable in her own skin once again, and she was an easy character to like, who definitely deserved her HEA in the end.

Gangster Moll by Powerone

Gangster Moll by Powerone

Publisher: Sizzler Editions (November 2013)

193 pages, eBook (provided by Author for review)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Mickey and Charlie are setting out in the roaring twenties to perform a string of bank robberies across the state of Oklahoma . . . but with a little twist, taking the banker's wife captive in her own home and using her for their pleasure before robbing the bank the next morning with the banker's grudging assistance. I liked the idea of this story, and found it interesting to follow the planning and progress of their crime spree, but there were too many long, drawn out torture scenes in it for my taste. Seemed every time you turned around, someone else was facing unpleasantness in graphic detail, but at least they were equal opportunity, both men and women suffered at the hands of these gangsters. This includes some boss/employee and cop/civilian abuse of authority scenes. Very well-written and I felt this story did a good job of making you feel like you were there in the gangster life. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Don’t Let Go by Skye Warren

Don’t Let Go by Skye Warren

Dark Erotica Series, Book 4

Publisher: Skye Warren (November 2013)

189 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

As a rookie FBI agent, Samantha gets her big break when she is assigned as a partner to Ian, the experienced agent working a big case, but questions about why she was chosen for such an assignment linger even as she bravely presses forward, determined to do her best to help catch the criminal mastermind, that many would call a monster. Great story about the different sides that exist to a person's personality and the dark, deprived places desire can take you. Samantha and Ian were both such interesting characters with endless layers continuously being revealed along the way, and even though the man she wanted wasn't exactly gentle, the way their wants and needs complimented each other was, in its own twisted way, something truly beautiful. Great end to the series!

Colters’ Gift by Maya Banks

Colters’ Gift by Maya Banks

Colters’ Legacy Series, Book 5

Publisher: Berkley (November 2013)

369 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.60)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Lauren escaped a nightmare and has hidden away in the small Colorado town with the Colters surrounding her, as she tries to forget and put the past behind her, but when Noah and Liam show up on her doorstep and dredge everything up again she has no choice but to pull her head from the sand and meet her past head on with the two men at her side. Definitely my favorite of the series! Lauren and the two men went into their relationship with minimal resistance and mainly it was the danger of Lauren's past that they had to contend with along the way. I loved the way the Colters welcomed Noah and Liam into the fold almost immediately and the way the entire family worked together throughout the whole story. This edition also includes an epilogue novella, Colters' Legacy, that draws the series as a whole to a conclusion. It's sad to see the Colters go, but it was nice to have it all wrapped up so nicely with everyone settled and happy. Great ending!

Jagged by Kristen Ashley

Jagged by Kristen Ashley

Colorado Mountain Series, Book 5

Publisher: Forever (November 2013)

345 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.63)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Zara had found the love of her life, the only problem was that Graham "Ham" Reece was not the type of man to settle down . . . and she needed that, so when he left, she tried to move on but just couldn't manage to do it . . . then she suddenly finds him back in her life again, but she's not sure she wants him back because she knows she can't survive losing him again. This was a story about a middle-aged couple with a long messy history, lots of baggage on both sides and some really ugly verbal fighting between them when things were bad. But once things got good, they were really good and I loved both Zara and Reece, they had such good chemistry together.  As with any book in this series, or any book involving characters carrying this much baggage, the beginning is rough and really sad, but if you can get past that, the ending is great! The next book in this series is Kaleidoscope, about Deck and Emme, due out February 2014. 

How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine

How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine

The Sutherlands Series, Book 3

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 2013)

317 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $5.79)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Looking to prevent another Fraser plot against his family before it begins, Gahan Sutherland sets out to find out what trouble the Frasers are getting into, only to find the half-sister, Moira, set to marry in an effort seal an alliance that looks highly suspect, but Gahan isn’t sure to what extent Moira is involved in these plans. Lots of intrigue from all sides, with poor Moira caught in the middle, this story is definitely not lacking for action and easily kept my interest. Moira had a quiet strength that I loved and I liked that Gahan was so determined in his pursuit of what he wanted, even willing to stand up to his family and anyone else who stood in his way. I look forward to reading Saer and Nareen’s story in the next book in this series, The Highlander’s Bride Trouble, due out June 2014.

That Pearly Drop by Jianne Carlo

That Pearly Drop by Jianne Carlo

Murphy's Laws of Time Travel, Book 1

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing (November 2013)

244 pages, eBook (provided by the Author for review)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After embarking on vacation in present day with her two friends, the last place Emma expected to awake was in 1763 faced with the body of a dead girl, then, for lack of any better option, she uses the dead girl's coach ticket to go to Wye Castle intending to impersonate her until she can figure out something better. Emma slowly realizes she's entered a world where all the fairytales and mythologies seem to be true, but her logical thinking slows her understanding of all that is happening around her, making her the perfect, entertaining guide through a story that was made more believable by the heroine's skepticism. I loved Ian and all that was involved in his wolf-shifter ways. The Murphy's Time-Travel Laws prefacing each chapter were hilarious, especially coupled with Emma's fumbling to explain her "colonial idioms" and I loved her nicknames for people. I hope to see more of the C-men and I suspect we will see more of Emma's friends from the future (present?). Great read and I look forward to reading the next installment!

Nessa's Two Shifters by Marla Monroe

Nessa's Two Shifters by Marla Monroe

Wolf's Pass Shifters, Book 1

Publisher: Siren Publishing (August 2013)

118 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.59)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

The Shoewaters are equivalent to wolf shifter royalty in their territory and the next generation is beginning to step into their power as their parents retire and turn over the reins to their eight sons (Levi & Aaron, Joseph & Jessup, Lee & Evan, Kindle & Galen) and Jessup is the first of the brothers to find his mate. Positive that she is also mate to his twin brother, Joseph, he hopes that with his help she will be able to bring the prodigal son home and back to life. Nessa with her painful past may be just the thing that Joseph needs to breakout of his own painful past. Great shifter story, with two men following the inescapable pull to claim their mate and try to ease her way into a life completely unknown to her. I loved all the little nuances of the shifters and their mate. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but it definitely left things open for sequels to follow. I look forward to reading the other brothers' stories and hope to see them out soon!

Her Wolf, Her Savior by Elixa Everett

Her Wolf, Her Savior by Elixa Everett

Her Alpha Wolf Series, Book 2

Publisher: Soft & Hard Erotic Publishing (September 2013)

87 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Picking up where the previous story left off, Ian and Adrianna are faced with performing the ritual claiming before the pack for their mate bond to be formally recognized, but no one could have predicted the consequences of allowing the ritual to be completed and the problems that would arise because of it. I thought the ideas behind this story were great, the cougar/wolf feud and the mystery surrounding Adrianna's origins, but I felt it was a little heavy on the sex and the sex scenes seems to be kind of clumsily interspersed with the plot-driven action. Wished it could have flowed a bit more easily from one to the other, and I'd have liked Adrianna to be a little less petulant on occasion, but I liked the story enough that I kept wanting to know what would happen next. Whether it has to do with the mate bond or if it is just Ian, I love his selfless devotion to Adrianna, willing to take on his own pack and anything else that dares to threaten her . . . can't ask for more than that in a good hero. I hope to see a part 3 to this story, seeing as there seemed to be plenty of material left to be explored with this story.

Her Wolf, Her Protector by Elixa Everett

Her Wolf, Her Protector by Elixa Everett

Her Alpha Wolf Series, Book 1

Publisher: Soft & Hard Erotic Publishing (September 2013)

53 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Ever since she was a little girl, Adrianna has shared a bond with the wolf that saved her from a cougar attack, so much so, that she goes to visit him in the woods every day, rain or snow, sharing her secrets with him as she grows up. Great little novella about a wolf imprinting on a girl and waiting around as her protector until she is old enough to be claimed. The connection between Adrianna and Ian was so intense that not even the strangeness of the situation could dull it or keep them apart. The next book in this series is Her Wolf, Her Savior.

My Notorious Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

My Notorious Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Highland Adventure Series, Book 5

Publisher: Vonda Sinclair (October 2013)

238 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Despite her rejection of his previous proposals, Torrin is determined to have Jessie for his bride, no matter how long it takes him to talk her around to his way of thinking, but Jessie's past and a brief unpleasant memory of Torrin from long ago make her stubborn and a challenging lass to woo. I loved Torrin and how driven he was in his pursuit of Jessie, not letting anything discourage him for long. Jessie's unwillingness to bend got a bit frustrating, but her reasoning was understandable given her history, and I liked Torrin's strategy for overcoming her hesitancy. The next book in this series is My Rebel Highlander, about Rebbie, due out 2014.