Bitter Kind of Love by Nicole Snow

Bitter Kind of Love by Nicole Snow

Prairie Devils MC, Book 5

Publisher: Ice Lips Press (November 2014)

237 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After going along on a weapons run gone wrong with her father, Alice lost her memory and was held captive by a ruthless MC, so when Stinger came in and rescued her, all she could think about was getting away from all the MCs, but it didn’t turn out quite as she imagined and Stinger was starting to look like the knight-in-shining-armor she’d left behind—little did she know he had no intention letting her stay gone. Alice is essentially an innocent wrapped up in all this by her father’s choice of employment, but she has a little sharpness to her a times and unbelievable strength of mind, and I found her very easy to relate to. Alice’s lack of sexual experience mixed with Stinger’s wealth of knowledge in that area was an interesting contrast, and though the sex scenes got a little long and numerous for me, there was definitely a strong connection between the characters, and that I liked. Roller next? Great series!

The Chieftain’s Feud by Frances Housden

The Chieftain’s Feud by Frances Housden

The Chieftain Series, Book 3

Publisher: Escape Publishing (November 2014)

73 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $1.93)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Pink Heart

Jamie had a reputation with the ladies, but that all ended when he met Eve, and despite the betrayal of his first love, he hoped things with Eve would be different, but they were barely hand-fasted when her father discovered them and took Eve away. With no word from Eve, Jamie feared he was betrayed once again by love, until he and his friends found Eve’s near frozen body in the snow, as if she had been trying to reach him. This is a sweet story built around misunderstandings of past and present, and with the guilt that plagued Jamie over his failure to act in the past, it was great to see him find something that meant enough to him to make him stand his ground. Great holiday-themed story. I hope Rob’s story is next! Great series!

Cost of Repairs by A. M. Arthur

Cost of Repairs by A. M. Arthur

Cost of Repairs Series, Book 1

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (June 2012)

246 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.24)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After his lover is murdered, Sam moves across the country in the hopes of making a fresh start, and the new beat he is assigned to includes a little diner with a fry cook that he’s immediately drawn to, but Rey seems to have as many secrets and demons as he does. Great story of two men beaten down by life that find strength in each other to help them move on. The first part of the book is told from Sam’s point-of-view, as the new cop in town, then we switch to Rey’s point-of-view, with the last few chapters being a mixture of the two, and I really liked the way it was organized. Sam for the most part was laid-back and easy-going, definitely the calming influence in the relationship, but I liked that he a few dramatic outbursts to make him interesting. Both characters had a lot going on and a lot of complexity. The next book in this series is Color of Grace, about Rey’s ex, Schuyler (Sky).

Chieftain by Command by Frances Housden

Chieftain by Command by Frances Housden

The Chieftain Series, Book 2

Publisher: Escape Publishing (September 2014)

212 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $3.53)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Neither Gavyn nor Kathryn are very pleased by the King’s decree that they wed, but after some prideful posturing and a two-year absence in which Gavyn goes abroad to seek fortune with his mercenaries, both seem resigned to make the best of things, though they have a rough start of it even then, a lunatic on the loose not helping things. This is a romance story with a bit of murder mystery woven in the background. Gavyn and Kathryn both had quite a temper, leading to many frays where they both said things in haste that they later regretted, and I did wish they wouldn’t hurt each other so deeply, so often, but it was very true to character. There were so many great secondary characters in this and their stories were just as touching as the main characters. I can’t wait for Rob’s story, and I look forward to reading Jamie’s story in the next book in this series, The Chieftain’s Feud!

The Chieftain’s Curse by Frances Housden

The Chieftain’s Curse by Frances Housden

The Chieftain Series, Book 1

Publisher: Escape Publishing (February 2013)

253 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Fourteen-year-old Morag, in scouring a battlefield for her beloved brother finds instead one of the enemy still alive, sixteen-year-old Euan, whom she nurses back to health in secret in a cave. Naive decisions made while in the flush of youth had long and dire repercussions for both Morag and Euan, but they are drawn together once again as if fate was allowing them a second chance, but would they be brave enough to take it? There are such old deep wounds on both sides of this story, Morag’s resentment of Euan’s desertion all those years ago and the curse that Euan believes has taken all his wives and sons since, that it was understandable that misunderstandings abounded between them, but I did wish it could have been otherwise. This more than most other historical romances I’ve read, really captured the harsh realities of a medieval life and displayed it’s effect on a romance of the time, with all the ugliness and beauty it might have contained, without trying to sanitize it overly much. Moving story, and I look forward to reading Gavyn’s story in the next book in this series, Chieftain by Command.

Captured by a Laird by Margaret Mallory

Captured by a Laird by Margaret Mallory

The Douglas Legacy, Book 1

Publisher: Margaret Mallory (September 2014)

344 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Alison is relieved to finally be a widow after suffering for years with a marriage that had been a daily nightmare starting when she was wed at the age of 13, so she is dismayed when David takes the castle and she finds herself forced into another marriage. Both of these characters had so little first-hand experience with healthy relationships between men and women, that their problems with communication and misunderstanding each other’s feelings and motivations became really frustrating. Had they been more open with each other, they could have helped each other with the trials they were facing, but instead it just made everything harder. I really liked both characters. Alison still seemed really naive, despite all she’d been through, but she had a good heart. David was a complex and rich character, and though he was stoic and reluctant to talk about things, his feelings came through loud and clear through his actions from the beginning and I couldn’t help but love him. Great story and I look forward to reading about the other Douglas sisters. Sybil is up next in Claimed by a Highlander. Hope to see it out soon!

The Sheriff and the Madame by Powerone

The Sheriff and the Madame by Powerone

Publisher: Sizzler Editions (September 2014)

167 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Due to their anti-slavery beliefs, John, his wife Amanda, and their daughter Phebe, have become outcasts in their small southern town, and as the Civil War draws closer to their town they fear it would be dangerous to remain, so they set out for California, hoping to find a new farm out West to make their home. After John’s death, Amanda finds herself taken advantage of by a sinister brothel Madame, while Phebe is exploring the wonders of city life with her saloon/brothel owner suitor. This story includes: glove fetishes, voyeurism, drugged participants, F/F, and other multiple partner scenarios. A coarse, raunchy story with a Happily Ever After at the end, what could be better than that?

Her Highlander’s Promise by B. J. Scott

Her Highlander’s Promise by B. J. Scott

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (October 2014)

160 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Pink Heart

On the day of her father’s burial, ten-year-old Laurel met thirteen-year-old Blair, and taken with her by love at first sight, promised to return when they were both of age and wed her, giving her a promise ring to remember him by. Laurel has a difficult life with her evil guardians and Blair returns to her not a moment too soon. I couldn’t decide if Laurel was too naive or if she was just too trusting, but she seemed easily fooled by her nemesis for a goodly portion of the story, but she was a very likeable, noble person and I liked her throughout. Blair was everything you could wish for in a knight in shinning armor. The ending hinged on a great many miraculous events and discoveries, that may have been more than a tad unrealistic, but I found it enjoyable. Great story. Dare I hope it will be followed by any sequels to tell the stories of Blair’s three older brothers (James, Ian and Keenan), Katie from the inn or her Uncle Lachlan’s story?

Wildsmith by J. J. Sachs

Wildsmith by J. J. Sachs

Wildsmith Series, Book 1

Publisher: J. J. Sachs (October 2014)

155 pages, eBook (provided by Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Lucy is sexually unfulfilled with her first boyfriend, Kieran, so when a new college lecturer catches her eye the mutual attraction between them forces her to give more serious consideration to breaking up with her boyfriend. This story starts out with a heavy dose of sex scenes and sexual fantasies, but eventually heads into topics with a bit more substance, and I was impressed with the emotional depth the characters had by the end. Lucy could be immature and petulant, and at times self-centered, and I didn’t particularly like her, but Wildsmith was a man of many layers, and their combination softened Lucy a bit, making her more palatable. Poor Kieran, I really felt for him, so I hope he doesn’t just get left in the dust with this situation. This is part one of a series, so you are left hanging at the end here.  The characters really draw you in, and I can’t wait to read part two! Great story!

Highlander’s Redemption by Emma Prince

Highlander’s Redemption by Emma Prince

The Sinclair Brothers Trilogy, Book 2

Publisher: Emma Prince (November 2014)

291 pages, eBook (provided by Author for review)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Garrick is focused on his part as a prized archer in the Scottish Resistance, so a little side trip into the borderlands for cognizance requiring more schmoozing than fighting ability isn’t exactly something he’s looking forward to, feeling his talents would be put to better use elsewhere, but he does his duty, and though he usually works alone, accepts that Burke will accompany him. Jossalyn is under her abusive brother’s thumb, and wishes to practice her healing abilities more openly. I thought Jossalyn was a very strong character. She bided her time, trying not to make waves when it wouldn’t help her cause, but she pushed ahead defying her brother in her own way. Sometimes it is both smarter and stronger to suffer quietly, waiting for the right moment to strike, and I really admired her for that. Garrick was so focused on all the roadblocks to their relationship for so long that he got a little frustrating at times, but his ready acceptance of Jossalyn and her dreams was a beautiful thing. Great book and I look forward to reading both Burke’s and Daniel’s stories!

Love Scars: Bad Boy’s Bride by Nicole Snow

Love Scars: Bad Boy’s Bride by Nicole Snow

Publisher: Ice Lips Press (October 2014)

156 pages, eBook
(borrowed from the Kindle Owner’s Lending Library)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Anna’s father’s business affairs have gone awry and she’s become part of the plan to stabilize things, but she’s given virtually no information about anything and dropped off at a ramshackle house by her father’s men, only to be picked up by a man named David, who claims to be her husband and has the documentation to prove it. It appears she’s been used as a bargaining chip, so the only thing left to do is choose a side, her father or David? David is a mob boss, bad boy—coarse, forceful, and driven—determined to have Anna for his own, and failure is not a concept he is familiar with. His determination and confidence in achieving his goal of having Anna as his own was bewitching. He could be harsh and savage, and he wasn’t particularly compassionate, especially in the beginning, but despite his rough facade, I always felt his heart was in the right place. The dialogue got a little cheesy at times, but it was a good short read.