Pulled Long for Best Taste

Men, coffee and sex... oh my!

In Pulled Long, D’Abo writes a beautiful tale of two people falling in love and walking that uneasy path of a new relationship. With a straight-forward story and easy-to-like but complex characters, Pulled Long is a touching love story featuring Ian, the brother of the past two heroines.

I couldn’t wait to read Ian’s story after meeting him and “Blue Eyes” in the first two books of this series. There were fun glimpses into their story that captured readers and had us holding on to witness their HEA. And just as I expected, this third book is easily the best. But also note this book ventured into the m/m forum, making it unique from the other books in D’Abo’s Long Shot series.

For months, Ian has fantasized about a customer he knows only as "Blue Eyes." But when he learns “Blue Eyes” is in the middle of a divorce, Ian fears being the rebound experiment of a straight guy. With a ton of baggage, guilt over past mistakes and a near-certainty that everyone he loves ends up hurt, Ian shies away from him and it seems as if the man is only meant to be a memory. Until one evening – one lustful encounter - and now Ian can’t stay away from Jeff. After Ian invites him into the café he owns in the wee hours of the night, they indulge in a little exhibitionist play (hot scene alert – I think I blushed!).

Now knowing their chemistry is off the charts, the men go on their first date. Dinner turns into an erotic encounter at Mavericks, the sex club Ian’s sisters both belong to.  Another hot scene for the reader as Ian realizes Jeff satisfies his every desire – all through a fun game of truth or dare. Jeff is clear he's interested in more than just sex but Ian continues to push him away. While Ian is open with his homosexuality, he’s scared Jeff is only playing at being gay and someday Ian will simply be tossed aside for a woman. (Again.)

D’Abo does an excellent job of taking the reader along for Ian’s journey of self-acceptance as he deals with his fears and comes to trust in himself and Jeff. And I would be remiss not to mention just how absolutely fabulous Jeff is. He is the ultimate romance hero – it melted my heart how he never gave up on Ian. He simply wouldn’t go away even if it meant only keeping tabs on Ian through his sisters. That dedication was just what Ian needed.

Though heavy on the sex scenes (no complaints here!), this book is also bursting with an emotional story of two men falling in love – and one man overcoming his insecurities to free himself to accept that love. D'Abo wrote this story with such depth that I felt as if I had known her characters forever. Her simple storytelling of a complex character within the parameters of a short story is genius. And to leave readers with a feeling of happiness is always a plus. Can’t wait to read more of her books…

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. With an Espresso on the side.

This book was given to us through NetGalley. Many thanks.

A Shot of Indulgence

Mmm… coffee and a hot fireman… who could ask for more? Oh yeah… and I should also mention the steamy bdsm scenes. This just couldn’t get any better except it did. The plot in A Shot in the Dark, the second book in D’Abo’s Long Shots series, is inspired enough to give the book substance.

Paige, the eldest Long sibling, has buried herself in her work ever since her previous Dom became abusive. Set up as strong yet vulnerable, Paige is an amazingly well-developed character for such a short read. And although she had the strength to walk away from her abusive relationship, it left her questioning her own lifestyle choices.

This all changes when Carter walks into the coffee shop late one night. Paige can’t help but notice that he’s a Dom. With all her insecurities jumping to take notice, she pushes him away. But Carter is intrigued by Paige and pursues her. Trusting her instincts and comforted knowing they share common friends, she agrees to a date. After one night of indulgence, Carter can’t stay away from her – cute texts fly back and forth – as they develop a connection. Carter is portrayed as a confident Dom yet, at times, he’s also just your average guy. He’s charming, funny and a big flirt. Adding the light-hearted interplay between Paige and Carter injects sweetness into the story to warm a reader’s heart.

The romance moves quickly but without a sense of urgency. When they overcome the obstacle of Paige’s ex returning to reclaim her, it serves to exemplify Paige’s strength and engage Carter in a protector role. The conflict plays out and adds depth to the developing relationship as they work to trust each other. While neither character professes never-ending love, there’s a sense of an HEA. It was enough for me.

A connoisseur of the bdsm genre, I have to mention that so many authors trying to pull off bdsm in their stories lately have just fallen flat. But D’Abo gives readers an emotionally charged bdsm romance. Carter has the ability to read Paige and know exactly what she needs, just how far to push and when it’s time to pull back. Plus some of the inventive situations D’Abo creates are smoking – good thing there’s a fireman nearby. So glad I took a chance on this book. I plan to read the other two in this series as soon as I get the chance.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

This book was provided by NetGalley. Many thanks.

We made it over the final #HumpDay of 2011!

Congrats and felicitations to all for enduring another year of highs and lows (isn't that the definition of life?). For all who are ready for 2011 to end - you're almost there....big breath in and relax! For all those who are ending on a high note - good for you! Hope you enjoy this mini-break during your day, take time to reflect on the things you will and won't miss about this year. I, for one, am not a big resolution maker at the New Year - it's kind of unrealistic for me and invariably I end up disappointing myself. Instead I make vows and use them like mantras - I will be positive (even when I want to smack the crap out of people), I will not be afraid of change (and some big ones are coming), I will read to my heart's content and not feel guilty! That last one is a solid done deal! To celebrate my vows, I share with you some delish eye candy - last taste of the year. Mmmmmm, quite spectacular!

Oh and Happy New Year to you all!!!!

Paty Jager, Bridled Heart, Wild Rose Press, January 2011

Paty Jager takes on the hefty task of telling the tale of a broken ER nurse and the bareback rider who heals her heart. BRIDLED HEART sings to the romantic soul like a country ballad: a little sad, a little hopeful and always, always about love.

Gina Montgomery's abusive past haunts her, forcing her to close off from personal relationships of any kind. Working as a traveler nurse, Gina spends little time in any one place and her passions lie in her piano music and her dream to build a camp for abused children. Holt Reynolds fights his own demons, beleaguered by guilt over his sister's suicide. When not competing in rodeos, Holt pours his emotions into his art and it is his soulful renderings that capture the eye of the introverted fundraiser volunteer. Her music reminds him of his sister's. Together they have a chance to heal one another's personal pain if they can only make that leap of faith.

This romance manages to be both sweet and sexy but not in an obvious way. Holt's courtship of the wary Gina speaks of his genuine affection for her. What starts as fascination and infatuation grows into heated romance. Like the gentle breaking of a skittish mare, Holt manages to convince Gina his intentions are honest and true and watching the pair fall in love is quite touching. The growth and development of the secondary characters adds to the storyline as much as the small mystery of who is stalking Gina and why.

A highly enjoyable read, BRIDLED HEART takes the reader on a true journey through the healing process of victims of abuse. With a clever storyline, solid characters and well-written dialogue, Paty Jager's love story will leave the reader sighing and wishing for more.


I give this sweet send off a tasty four chocolate dipped strawberries with a glass of champagne to toast the New Year - welcome 2012! Get reading.....

This review was originially written for The Romance Reviews

Someone Special for Christmas - TC Blue

The NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Someone Special by TC BLUE

Blurb:Gracen loves Christmas. It's his favorite time of the year. So much so that he works as a mall photographer for the season, taking pictures of children with Santa. There's something about seeing all those happy families that he finds satisfying, which may be slightly odd since he's so very alone, himself.
Working three jobs is never fun, but when Jesse takes a part time position as a greeter elf at Santa's Workshop in the mall, he meets Gracen and realizes that maybe job number three isn't that bad, after all. The handsome photographer appeals to him, even with all Jesse's family issues.
Two lonely men, one Santa's Workshop, elf costumes, curl-toed shoes and a camera. They aren't exactly a recipe for finding that someone special… except maybe they are.

Stopwhat you are doing and take a moment and read this book. Itis by far the most beautiful Christmas story. No hot sex scenes, but that justmakes it better. You know that I love a smoking scene. In this case we all knowwhat they are doing and Gracen and Jesse are so sweet that I think it wouldruin the book if it was too graphic. This is the first TC Blue book that I haveread so I can’t compare it to others. I don’t know if all of her books are likethis or not but as you read this book you actually visualize the story right infront of you. I love the simplicity of a Christmas story, one that reminds youof the meaning of family, whether by blood or choice. Everyone wants to be“someone special” even if just to one person. I love it so much that I think itshould be a Christmas movie. The Blurb is below and it gives you a greatoverview of the book.

I give ‘Someone Special” 5 chocolate dipped strawberries!!!! READ IT - you won’t be sorry.

BLOG TOUR: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Farsighted, Emlyn Chand, Blue Crown Press, October 2011


Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand is the first in a series of books about teenagers with various types of psychic gifts. The protagonist, Alex Kosmitoras, ironically has the gift of sight – psychic visions which come to the blind teen. Not to be pitied, this novel describes the quiet strength of character as Alex experiences the world through his other senses as the blind do. Who doesn’t hate high school? Certainly, Alex has every reason to, but he adapts and thrives most independently, receiving guidance from a mysterious psychic who opens shop next to his mother’s florist business after he begins having terrifying mental pictures of death and destruction. Rather than cower in fear that he’s gone mad, Alex learns he has the ability to foretell impending disasters that he may or may not be able to prevent.

Chock full of the usual cast of characters including both teenagers and adults, this is no tired YA paranormal knock off. Creating a world that is both real and surreal, Chand works her magic into generating a fascinating, compelling story that was, for this reader, a true page turner! It was good to see a less than perfect hero and the first person voice lends both credence and power to the piece. The characters and their relationships are believable though the storyline is fantastical. Chand also does a great job of building suspense and mixing those flashes of the future with Alex's everyday life – a feat both challenging and impressive.

I am known for my frustration with world building and Farsighted had it’s bumps for me in the beginning but took off and I was spellbound. The runes that start each chapter with the remark that "You are about to embark on a journey along with the characters in this novel. At the beginning of each chapter, you'll find a rune and a corresponding prophecy. Put your powers of divination to the test by trying to predict what each chapter holds based on the hints provided. Or you may choose to ignore the runic prophecies altogether and dive right into the story. Either way, happy travels." struck me as a bit kitch but do actually make sense contextually.

I am a huge fan of YA Paranormal Romance – that being said, there is no real romance in Farsighted – a friendship with promises and the hint that more will come (I do so hate cliffhangers, they are so….cliffhangery!) I do hope that Chand builds off of the foundation she began in Farsighted and that Simmi and Alex have a chance to become more romantically involved.

RATING: All in all, Farsighted gets 4 out of 5 Chocolate dipped Strawberries with a “flash” of brilliance for a bright and shiny future for this captivating author!

CONTEST ALERT!!
This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair review. To get your free copy of this book, SIMPLY MAKE A COMMENT below. One WINNER will be randomly selected and contacted by the author.

Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS....and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even this really hot guy who I am hoping has something shiny and pretty in his bag for me!!!! Guilty Indulgence Book Club sends all it's readers warmest holiday wishes and tidings for Christmas joy. Please feel free to register and comment, Santa promises to add your wishes to his list for holiday books and swag!

Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman, Jove Books, October 2011

This is the 8^th book in Janet Chapmans Highlander series and the first Chapman book I have read so I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed this more if I had read the previous books. It was a quick and easy read, however, I couldn’t get fully invested in the characters. The heroine, Jessie, is drawn to move to a small town in Maine 4 years after a brutal attack has left her scarred both physically and mentally. Her first night in town she meets the hero, Ian, whose clan owns the local ski resort.

There are hints that Ian has magic but we don’t know what that is until almost the end of the story which I’m still not sure what his “specialty” is other than to heal Jessie. After several encounters where Ian rescues Jessie, and they share some hot and steamy kisses, she decides to sleep with Ian. I felt like the heroine just woke up one morning and decided to “go for it” with Ian. This is a big step for her since she doesn’t feel like anyone could find her attractive because of her scars but I missed the romance leading up to this. I think my favorite character in the book is Roger (his character made me LOL a few times), who is Ians ancestor, and helped bring Jessie and Ian together.

After meeting the clan, I would probably read another book in this series, but overall this is not one of my fav's.

I give this book 2 ½ Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Mistress Christmas by Lorelei James

DAY TWELVE - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!


Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Hope everyone has a great holiday. Tis the season to spend time wit your family and friends. Don't waste it!


Mistress Christmas by Lorelei James

In a rare moment of recklessness, mild-mannered accountant Holly North lets her best friend guilt her into filling in as Mistress Christmas at Sugar Plums, a Christmas-themed strip club. Fearing she’ll be recognized—or worse, considered a fraud—she dons a velvet mask along with the Mrs. Claus-meets-dominatrix costume. She’s shocked at how deliciously wicked anonymity feels.Detective Nick West is determined to discover how his friend was supposedly robbed after a lap dance at Sugar Plums. His visions of revenge vanish faster than a flying sleigh upon his first peek at Mistress Christmas—a leggy brunette with smoky eyes and a lush mouth begging for hours beneath the mistletoe.Their attraction flares hotter than a fireplace on a cold winter evening, and Nick is only too happy to oblige when Holly blurts out her one Christmas wish...

I'm gonna have to be honest. I needed a Christmas title and just pulled this one off my Kindle that Jenn always keeps stocked for me. I'm so glad i chose this one! I loved it AND there's more! It's part of Lorelei's West series. YEAH! I was concerned how everything took off really fast but it turned out to be a great read. Let me tell you, Ivy better hold onto a friend like Holly. Because not just any friend would fill in as a stripper for you at your club (Jenn! Tyra! Sid! Tina! Don't even go there!). Nick cracked me up without even trying. I loved how he played his actions with Holly at the club as "investigating". Yeah right! In the end I'm glad they found each other.

I give this book 4 chocolate dipped strawberries and some peppermint schnapps.


Merry Christmas!
PEACE

Because Of You, I Promise

DAY ELEVEN - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

I've got two military romances to share with you today. Yesterday marked 17 years since my brother passed away after serving in Desert Storm. And I suppose in an attempt to understand him - that dark military side that always seemed so elusive - I've been searching out particularly realistic military suspense/ romance. Both of the reviews I share with you today met that criteria. I enjoyed them both. If you have any interest in this type of story, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Because of You by Jessica Scott

Grab a box of tissues. Because of You is an incredibly emotional story inclusive of the struggles military men and women undergo. Portrayed in such a realistic way by an author who truly understands the military, I found myself tearing up a few times (and those who know me know I am not the crying type).  Because of You squeezed my heart, held me trapped with its angst-filled and compelling characters so full of life. The portrayal of life in the military – their families, the risks, and dedication – was overwhelming, so much so that the story resonated with me for days.

Shane Garrison is an infantry platoon sergeant (it’s a crazy dangerous job!) with all the attributes any alpha hero needs *sigh* - tall, dark and handsome, strong, honorable, and big-hearted, all wrapped up with a sense of responsibility. Undergoing a difficult loss in the beginning of the book, Shane is eager to deploy with his unit again despite knowing this assignment will be more difficult. We meet up with Shane months later when he’s sent home after being critically wounded in Iraq. When he regains consciousness, he learns his nurse is Jen St. James. Jen and Shane had shared a single (but memorable) kiss the night before his deployment four months ago and he’s not been able to stop thinking of her anymore than she can stop thinking about him.

Jen commits herself to helping Shane which is no easy feat. But having fought her own personal battle with breast cancer, she understands the fears – she herself still carrying her own scars. Shane struggles with accepting himself as anything other than a soldier. It’s gut-wrenching to see such a strong man so lost. His whole life revolves around his military career. His sense of responsibility to his men had me both frustrated and awed. I wanted him to care more for himself but saw so much of my own brother (who was a soldier) in this type of unfettered commitment.

The love between Shane and Jen develops in a realistic manner - their connection forged through his recovery. Despite the heaviness of their circumstance, Scott infused humor into a few scenes so that I found myself laughing aloud at times. But mostly I was bolstered by the strength of how two scarred, albeit strong, people conquer their vulnerabilities and open their hearts to love.

Scott used vivid imagery, original characterization and engaging narrative to allow readers a peak into military life. Through the use of well-developed secondary characters, readers see the not-so-glamorous side of a military wife - the constant worry and struggles, loneliness and selflessness. I am looking forward to the other books in this series that will explore the lives of these secondary characters.

Because of You is an exceptionally emotional read told in an authentic voice that left me exhausted but relieved – changed by what I read. I recommend this book to everyone.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.


The Promise by Tory Richards

The trouble with a promise is all in the follow-through. And this is exactly what the main characters in The Promise learn in this sweet love story. Shannon is facing her first holiday season after her husband was killed in Iraq. With no other living relatives, she travels to Vermont where his family will gather. She’s received with open arms by every member of this large family. Not usually the crying type, I’ll admit to a few tearful moments in the beginning of this book. The characters are realistic and the family dynamic is so genuine that it’s near impossible not to love them – even her brother-in-law Ryan who is not so easy to like at first.

Returning home for the first time in years, Ryan is injured and all too aware of the promise he’d made his brother - to care for Shannon and their daughter, Alivia - as he held him during his final moments, a secret he’s kept from Shannon. Ryan is reluctant to keep the promise because he’s always been in love with Shannon which only serves to stir his guilt. He can't accept the fact that his brother's death gave him everything he wanted so he keeps her at arms’ length with his sharp tongue. A realistic dilemma adds credibility to the story and secures the storyline.

Despite Ryan’s abrasiveness – and due in part to a few moments of tenderness (especially with Alivia) - their attraction to each other is undeniable. Though Shannon knew she must move on since she’d promised this to her husband, she isn't completely comfortable with the attraction to her deceased husband's brother. Yet she’s brave enough to take a leap of faith, persuaded by the least likely person – her mother-in-law. It was a sweet moment when they had this conversation. Scenes flipped from sad to steamy as this emotionally gripping story played out.

There were a few editing errors that threw me – timing issues that were off and the use of wrong character names – but not enough to deter the flow of the story. It was highly emotional – a truly beautiful love story in a not-so-likely match. A good read.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.

Yuletide Greetings....and Humpday wishes!

DAY TEN - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Congrats on surviving the holiday season thus far! For those of you who have endured family gatherings, work gatherings, crowded malls, dozens upon dozens of cookies and present-wrapping related injuries (don't ask) - this one's for you! I have a delish, quick and sassy read for you to enjoy - just because you're busy, doesn't mean you don't deserve a sexy, spanky holiday read in between the madness of daily life. Check out this one from Resplendence Publishing:

Yuletide Greetings, a Taboo Wishes Story, Brynn Paulin, Resplendence Publishing, Dec. 2010

Zach Colvin never believed in Santa Claus, so filling in as Santa at the mall for one of his friends is not making his holiday bright. He’s supposed to be on vacation, not working. When his brother promises to send him a package full of holiday cheer, he never expected it to be a near-naked woman.

Kate Morgan has made a mistake. After many emails, she’s meeting a man for a near-anonymous hook up, but she's stunned to find a different man opening the front door—a man with a determined grin, mesmerizing eyes, and a naughty penchant for spanking.

For a novella length story, this addition to the Taboo Wishes line packs quite a wallop! Zach Colvin, prep school principal, gets conned into playing mall Santa by a friend. He's cranky because he can't really express his Dom side due to his career path and his loneliness is killing his ho-ho-holiday mood. Sporting his sexy Santa suit, he opens the door to a tantalizingly wrapped present - curvy Kate Morgan, a woman who has enchanted him for some time. Even better, she appears to be the sub he's been searching for all his life. Holiday miracles do exist.

Kate Morgan lives alone, works alone and wants a quick hook up which she arranges online. The mystery man upon whose doorstep she lands is most definitely not the one she'd planned. Zach is everything she ever dared to fantasize about and more. Their connection sizzles on the page and left this reader fanning herself while turning the page for more, more, more!

While the sex is sexy and definitely on the D/s side, this story is more than just sex. Ms. Paulin has the gift to craft characters that are multi-dimensional and the story has several unexpected twists. Though it weighs heavily on erotic elements, ultimately this is a romance and the HEA reminds this reader of a Christmas cactus - a little prickly, complicated plant with the most beautiful, brilliant, delicate flowers - one of nature's most unique surprises. Enjoy the read - it's worth it!

I give Yuletide Greetings five chocolate dipped strawberries and a very naughty candy cane!

Move Me by Emma Holly

DAY NINE - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!
Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)



Belle's eccentric Uncle Lucky left her his spooky house in the tiny village of Kingaken. Twenty years ago, her little brother disappeared here, never to be heard from again. Returning to the place for the first time in so long resurrects more ghosts than she cares to face. When it also summons a sexy faerie, with an agenda of his own, Belle had best pray her luck is better than her sibling’s.

Going home is never easy, but if you are Belle Hobart returning to the home that your nine year old brother disappeared from 20 years ago is heart wrenching. When Belle's Uncle Lucky passes away he leaves all his worldly possessions to her, so she finds herself back in her childhood hometown of Kingaken and in need of a handyman. When John Feeney, the handyman, shows up suddenly things are looking a little brighter for Belle.

Dubhghall is a faiery on the run and hiding out in the mundane world is the safest place for him. When he lands in Uncle Lucky's work shed it seems that his fairy luck might just be working for him. All he has to do is seduce Belle into offering him anything he wants in the world and then he can go home again. What he didn't plan on was falling in love.

This was a great short story that gives you a little mystery, a dramatic homecoming and some seriously melt the snow hot sex. It's a fun read set in her "Hidden" world and has some interesting build a story around me secondary characters. The chemistry between Belle and Dubhghall is sexy and entertaining. I enjoyed their banter and liked that Belle was a woman who wasn't afraid to ask for what she wanted. If you are looking for a little something to warm up the cold winter nights then Move Me is the perfect addition to your library.


I give Move Me 4 chocolate dipped strawberries.

A Holiday Treasury - Christine Feehan

DAY EIGHT - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Christine Feehan’s A Holiday Treasury is a heart-warming joy. If you're like me, when I purchase an anthology that includes one of the books in a series, I tend to just read that story and then move onto another book in that series without reading the other stories included in the anthology. Which is what happened in this case. The second story in this book is part of Feehan’s Drake Sister series. Since she has a new book coming out this month in the Drake Spin Off series, Sisters of the Heart, it reminded me that I never read the other two stories that were included in the anthology. Since the Drake series has been out for a while I’m going to focus on the other two stories in this blog. If you haven’t read the Drake Sister Series it is a really great series and the story, A Twilight Before Christmas, included in this book is no exception…definitely one of my favorites. However, I would read the first Drake story first and then this one to get the full benefit. I guarantee you will be hooked from that point on and will want to read the rest of the series. So onto the other two stories, which are both stand-alone stories….

After the Music is the story of Dillon Wentworth and Jessica Fitzpatrick. They first met when Jessica was a teenager and her mom was asked to work for Dillon is his fabulous island house to help with the house and his children. Dillon was a musician in a famous band and needed the help due to his bands traveling and his wife’s lack of interest in the kids. Although not that much older then Jessica himself he was definitely an adult and she wasn’t so the relationship never went past a great friendship and mutual respect. Although, they both wished she were older and things were different. The story begins years later when Jessica is now older. Dillon has suffered from a terrible accident in which his wife was killed and most of his body was burned preventing him from continuing his career and raising his children. The children were placed in Jessica’s mom’s care and then with Jessica herself after her mom was killed in a tragic accident. After strange “accidents” continue around Jessica she decides it is time to face Dillon, force him to get to know his children and finally deal with the ramifications of what their lives have become. Dillon has locked himself any from the world and Jessica sets out to the island in the hopes of forcing the man she had a crush on all those years ago to come out of his shell, get to know his children and hopefully make their Christmas special as only a father’s presence can. As only Feehan can perfect, the sexual tension in this story in intense and the characters are so rich that you can’t put the book down after just a few pages. Dillon’s character is tragic and you find yourself so drawn to him that it is impossible to not cheer and cry all that the same time as Jessica manages to break down his walls and help him rediscover love, Christmas magic and the magic of being a father.

Rocky Mountain Miracle is the story of brothers Cole and Jase Steele and Maia Armstrong. Cole has just been given custody of Jase after their father was murdered. Cole is much older then Jase and from a different mother. After having run away from their very abusive, sadistic father years before he was unaware that he even had a half-brother or that had father had remarried. Although, not cruel like his father he was never taught how to love and has no idea how to mend the damage his father has done to yet another son. He has spent his life working undercover trying to stay off his dad’s radar and doesn’t know how to open up to anyone that is until Maia enters his life. Maia immediately captivates Cole. And as luck would have it she is the local interim vet, he has an injured horse and there is a blizzard on the way. After getting snowed in at his ranch the three are forced to work through past hurts and mend broken hearts. Maia provides the calming influence that Cole needs to learn how to be a big brother/male role model to Jase. Her gentle nature gradually works it’s way into his heart and he becomes willing to do anything including celebrating Christmas, something his dad would have beaten him for, to win her.

Both of these stories remind me of the feeling you get from watching the Dickens Christmas story. They both start off with a tragic group of characters and situation but the happily ever after is so heart warming that you finish wanting to jump for joy out how it all worked out. Both of these tales remind us that the world can be a very hard place but with love and Christmas cheer we can all make a difference in someone’s life. After all isn’t that what Christmas is really about – love, caring and giving of our selves. I hope these stories inspire you as they have inspired me to take an extra name off the angel tree or call on your elderly neighbor and let them know you care. Merry Christmas!

I give these four chocolate dipped strawberries.

All She Wants for Christmas is Her Dom - Stacey Kennedy

DAY SEVEN - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Hot, hot, hot! You can count on Stacey Kennedy to give you a story that sizzles. Though short, All She Wants for Christmas is Her Dom is an intensely passionate read. Another in the long line of “One Night Stands”, the story of Taryn and Blake ratchets up the heat with just a pinch of sweetness added in for the romantics-at-heart. This night is a special request – bringing back together lost lovers broken up years ago and miserable ever since – but just because Taryn asks for it doesn’t mean she knows what she’s going to get.

Since Blake and Taryn are no strangers to one another, the chemistry between them starts at a slow boil from the very beginning even though there’s a bit of a mystery there. So intense, I had shivers at times (good ones). Blindfolded, Taryn is unaware of the surprise her Dom has in store for her. There is no slow decent as readers are tossed right in to a BDSM scene involving some rope, a flogger, cane, and mini vibe. Fast-paced, the story grabs readers’ attention from the beginning. Be prepared to read straight through.

Indulgently sexy, Kennedy’s erotic short story captured my attention and left me anticipating every move with baited breath. Absolutely hot.

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries... Yum!

Mina Carter's "Secret Santa"

DAY SIX - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Secret Santa, Mina Carter, Summerhouse Publishing, December 2011

The Christmas Season is always manic in A&E, but it’s nothing senior nurse Jo Micheals isn’t used to. Recently escaped from an abusive relationship with a violent ex, she’s looking forwards to actually enjoying Christmas.

What she doesn’t expect is a pair of expensive earrings in the department ‘secret santa’ or for a kiss under the mistletoe with her sexy but grumpy boss to set off a sequence of events that nearly ends in her loosing her life. And her heart…

I love secret santa drawings - the angst of finding the right gift, the anticipation of finding out who drew you and if they figured you out as well as they thought. The gifts are never fancy but usually sweet or funny or downright bizarre but always in the spirit of the season, from the heart and appreciated. However, that being said, I have never gotten sparkly things from hot docs in my hospital so I have to really appreciate the fantasy this story provides.

Secret Santa opens with Jo Michaels, an ER nurse, receiving a pair of sparkly earrings from her secret santa. Shy, introverted, with a history of a very abusive marriage in her past, Jo competently does her job and handles even the scroogiest of doctors. Dr. Drew Carson has thrown himself into his work in emergency medicine since his divorce. Nurse Jo not only catches his eye but knocks his socks off when she appears in his office sporting a sprig of miseltoe and the sad excuse that she didn't have time to shop for his secret santa gift. Their kiss spawns a date which lasts all night thanks to a snowstorm. But does the light of the new day bring regret or something more sinister?

I am always pleasantly surprised when short stories manage to create a world and characters that feel like those in a much longer tale. This new twist on two people who were previously spurned in love, taking that leap of faith and finding love again makes an excellent holiday treat. Ms. Carter captures both the spirit of the season and that dream of hopeless romantics with her tale of faith renewed and the promise of new beginnings. Even in it's brevity, this Christmas novella has all the action, romance and barn-warmed lovin' any reader could possibly want on a cold winters night!

I give it 4 chocolate dipped strawberries and I'd like that sparkly ring the doctor hinted at.....Mmmmmmm!

Look What Santa Brought - Annmarie McKenna

DAY FIVE - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)


Yeah it's Friday! Ready to get my holiday on! Got a party tonight with my fellow bloggers. Always entertaining:) Looking forward to spending Saturday finishing up my shopping, wrapping and baking. My son has volunteered to help but we'll see how long that last. It's hard to believe a new exciting year is almost here. Time to finish my to be read list and start the 2012 one. I stumbled across this read on my Kindle (thanks Jenn!). Makes me wanna believe in Santa again.

Look What Santa Brought by Annmarie McKenna
Scott Wyatt knows what he wants for Christmas and it comes in a beautiful-voiced, make-his-heart-race, more than tempting package. If only he could see her.Tara Patrick needs a man to make her ex see the light. But when her best friend’s gorgeous brother offers himself for the job, she has to say no. How could she possibly use the blind man who makes her heart flutter and not get hurt in the process?Staring at the business opportunity of a lifetime, Tara finds herself living as close to Scott as one can without sharing a bed. Tara’s ex isn’t happy and he sets out to prove he won’t lose her. But when darkness falls, which man has the advantage, because Scott isn’t willing to let Tara go either.

I have to say was pleasantly surprised by this book. Usually short stories are short on detail or too detailed that big stuff gets the short end of the stick but this one was excellent. Scott being blind wasn't what surprised me about this story. It was the fact that his sister and her two "husbands" and their children live with him. One big happy family. It was a super fun twist that I enjoyed. I also respect Scott for not being afraid of taking on Tara and her "baggage" (Eric). If you love someone you take the good with the bad.

I give this story 4 chocolate dipped strawberries and a latte. Happy holidays!
PEACE

Bound for the Holidays - Mackenzie McKade

DAY FOUR - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

With everything being so busy this time of year, I gravitate towards the short stories that I can pick up and put down between baking, decorating and wrapping. So here's one of the little tidbits I enjoyed this week...

A little bit more sex than story, Bound for the Holidays by Mackenzie McKade is a hot read. Quick and flirty, this book is as difficult to pass up as Angie’s invitation to spend the night with her boss. Mentions of family ground both main characters but really it’s a simple story of the beginning of their relationship. By the end, I wish I could’ve known more but as it is, I enjoyed Angie and Ryan’s story.

Already resigned to spending Christmas alone, Angie cannot believe it when she finds herself in the arms of her new boss at the office party. Their attraction is hot and his promises of things to come set her on fire. And then when she finds herself with not just one, but two gorgeous men - a powerful executive and one sexy cowboy – her holiday wishes are fulfilled.

Ryan has never considered not sharing his women with his best friend Wade so it was only natural to introduce him to Angie. But when she stirs feelings inside him, Ryan realizes that one decadent night of ménage was enough and now he wants her all to himself. Finding that time and understanding that they were on the same wavelength only reinforces his feelings.

To Ryan’s surprise, what starts out as hot sex turns into something deeper. I just wish the story of Angie and Ryan could’ve happened without the ménage with Wade. It just didn’t seem necessary and it felt like a dark spot on their beginning. Regardless, I liked the characters and found myself looking for the second book in the series to see if Wade gets his HEA.

RATING: 4 Chocolate-dipped Strawberries

He Came Upon A Midnight Clear....oh and Happy Humpday too!

DAY THREE - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

My read for the week is one by a favorite author, Cat Johnson. Normally she has her readers twisted around her little cowboy lovin' finger, however, she has some really excellent contemporaries and military genre type tales as well. This particular holiday contemporary is one of those stories that nabs your heart and makes it it's own. I take the time every year to read this special Christmas tale because, quite frankly, it thaws my wayward cynical heart a little bit and reminds me not only of the beauty and promise of the holiday season but the hope that springs eternal when a person is willing to open their heart to the possibility of love. I found it as a free read I think one year on ARE (All Romance eBooks for those of you new to ebook formats - this is a majorly awesome site to do one stop shopping for ebooks produced by numerous smaller epub houses and some great deals can be found, along with some new authors!)

HE CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, Cat Johnson, Phaze Books, 2006
A lonely writer, a snow storm and a sexy man with amnesia...all the makings for one hot Christmas Eve! Can Ginny find the inspiration she needs to get her career, and love life, out of the cold?

Sometimes the holidays just get to be too much - too much baggage, too much hype, too much happy around you. Ginny is a struggling writer who decides to bypass the "too much" and takes a position as a caretaker of a remote cabin in the hopes that the peace and quiet will inspire her muse. Her friends and family have exciting plans for gatherings and trips to NYC. Now, if only she could get past her writer's block, oh and the relationships block, and the life's goals block....generating lists meant to inspire, she drifts asleep only to awaken at a sound in the night. Heading out into the dark, snowy night, she finds a barely conscious man with total amnesia. Decisions, decisions - or maybe a sign. Ginny brings the man in and saves his life. Yes, it does involve rewarming the old fashioned way....with blankets and body heat. And what happens next is nothing short of a Christmas miracle!

Like It's A Wonderful Life, the glimpse of passion, of human connection seems to unlock the blocks that Ginny has. While her mystery man may have disappeared with the dawning of the light of Christmas morning, the inspiration he leaves her with changes her outlook - she writes, she reconnects with her family for the holiday, she rediscovers herself. But dreams aren't the same as reality....or are they? Leave it to Ginny to find out the truth!

Like a batch of warm Christmas cookies, this sweet holiday treat is worth it's small weight in gold. I give it five chocolate covered strawberries, by a warm fire with a mysterious stranger and wait for my own Christmas miracle!

Christmasing With You - William Neale

DAY TWO - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenter's will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

Hello, I once again survived COOKIEPALOOZA, we got a lot of goodies baked and had a great time hanging out. I always feel more in the holiday spirit once I have baked a couple 40 dozen batches of cookies. LOL So here is another sweet treat to get you in the holiday spirit.

You have all heard me profess my love for all things written by William Neale, but the man just gets to me. The character's that he creates and the stories that he tells always touch my heart.



Christmasing With You, William Neale, MLR Press
Andrew Bastion lost his partner to a violent and senseless criminal act. Devastated and all alone, he questioned how he would ever get through his first Christmas season without the husband he so loved. But when Drew’s best
friend convinces him to “find people who need help and help them,” he finally begins to focus on something other than his own grief. And to his great surprise, he meets the one man with the ability to help heal his broken heart. Christmasing With You is a shamelessly heartwarming, upbeat holiday story that will require tissues, smiles, a box of good chocolates, and the willingness to believe that Christmas
miracles really happen.

If you can read this story and ever hear the Carpenter's sing Merry Christmas Darling without a tear in your eye, then you do not have a heart. This story will help you believe in not only surviving loss but accepting love again. Be prepared to laugh and to cry and to be inspired to want to help someone else. What a great story to get you into the holiday season. If you want a quick read that will give you the warm fuzzies, Christmasing With You is a present I suggest you give yourself. I give this fabulous Christmas story 5 Chocolate Dipped Strawberries....but don't forget the tissues because you will need those too.

A Very Vampy Christmas - Kerrelyn Sparks

DAY ONE - HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!

Happiest of Holidays from the Guilty Indulgence Book Club. We are pleased to be with you every day and hope you will all join us for our annual Happy Hunky-days - Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka free books and very yummy eye candy!). Please join us daily and all registered commenters will get a chance to win some really great books from our Stash of Goodness as we know you have all tried so very hard to be good this year!!! (Seriously, you can even be quite naughty and still get free books and swag - just register and comment!)

A Very Vampy Christmas is a laugh out loud sleigh ride. If you are the Will Ferrell “Elf” type of Christmas story fan then this is the book for you. There is very little somber or sole searching about this onebut it is a great story and stress reliever.

This book is 2.5 in the Love at Stake series, written byKerrelyn Sparks. Although it canbe read as a stand alone the depth of the emotions the characters have make abit more sense when you know their back stories from reading the previous booksin the series.

Maggie O’Brian is a charming little Irish girl who has beenin love with Don Orlando since the day he first appeared on the DVN (DigitalVampire Network) Soap opera As theVampire Turns four years ago. In answer to all her prayers she lands a job working opposite him on theshow. However, just before her jobbegins she learns that he is really not the man she thought he was but awomanizing player, or at least that is what his ex-lover and talk show host ofthe gossip show Live with the Undeadwants everyone to believe. Shequickly realizes there is more to him then the gossip queen wants to makeeveryone believe. Unfortunately, evenhe doesn’t know what all that is because he has anemia and everything about himincluding his name is a made up character to cover his lack of identity. With the help of Maggie they set off toNew Orleans, his last know residence, to discover who he is. And he is hopeful that whateverthey find will help him hold on to Maggie who he is secretly in love with.

The New Orleans characters are absolutely shocking and someof the funniest characters that I have read in some time. The story of what all Don Orlando wentthrough prior to meeting Maggie is just simply hysterical. The twists and turns keep coming as hefinally discovers his real identity, finds his family and discovers all oftheir strange quirks. The more Maggielearns about him and his past the more she can’t help to love him. And her constant support andunderstanding only endears her more to him.

I really enjoyed this story. It is a quick read and very entertaining. As far as Christmas messages go I thinkthis one is more just for the entertainment value. It has a small lean toward the value of a loving family butit isn’t a sole searching Christmas story if that is what you’re lookingfor. This is sold alone but isalso included in the Sugarplums and Scandal anthology (see more about it below). I will also be reviewing Christine Feehan’s, A Holiday Treasury, laterin the week if you were looking for a story with more of a sole searching “Dicken’s- A Christmas Carol” type Christmas miracle feel.

I give this more four chocolate dipped strawberries withsugar on top!

So as I said this can be purchased alone or as part of the Sugarplums and Scandals anthology. The anthology consists of 6 stories.

The first one All I Want for Christmas by Lori Avocato was entertaining but it is part of the Pauline Sokol series. So although it stood OK alone you did feel like you were picking up something mid series. I don't read this series but from what I could gather from the plot I thinking readers of this series would be thrilled with the outcome of this particular story. Pretty good over all.

The second story is The Lords of Misrule by Dana Cameron. This is a historical piece and I found it very hard to get into. A great deal of the story focused on the expectations of women and behavior in that time period. Given the length of the story it just seemed to bog down the story and didn't hold my interest. The characters seemed to have potential but it lacked the sense of romance that would have helped make it more interesting. Just so-so over all.

The third story is The Ghost of Christmas Passed by Mary Daheim. I have to say this one was a very difficult read for me and I eventually just started skimming the story to just get through it. The story was mainly the women of the family cooking to prepare for Christmas dinner. The point being that the conversation was to eventually reveal that a distant family member had disappeared and know one knew what happened to him. Which of course pertains to the unexpected guest that eventually shows up. The conversation that takes places is mostly small talk about cooking and is just painfully boring. The revelation of the families secret and the guest showing up are both anti-climatic and don't make the build up worth it. Over all I would skip this one....

The fourth story is Partners in Crime by Cait London. This one was pretty good and a welcome change of the previous stories. Basically Cecilia is the towns OCD organizational guru. After a string of unexplained thefts the towns Police Chief brings in his cousin to work undercover and befriend Cecilia to see if he can use her relationship with the town to uncover what is going on. Their ensuing relationship is charming and the story has nice characters and enough plot to make it fun and interesting. This one was a nice read.

The fifth story is Holly Go Lightly by Suzanne Macpherson. This one was another nice read. Nick is recently engaged but is being haunted by his ex. He struggles to believe that his sense of her presence is real but the signs keep telling him that his current path is wrong and that her ghost is trying to tell him something. He eventually chooses to follow the signs and finds his own Christmas Miracle just in time. This was a really nice sweet story about second chances.

And of course the sixth story is the Very Vampy Christmas.

Over all I would say three of the five extra stories are nice. So for me it would come down to price if I bought this or the Vampy Christmas as a stand alone. Enjoy!

Come On, Suck It Up!

I loved the first book in the Grassroots series so much that I snatched Suck It Up as soon as the publisher made it available for review. Emma Hillman has written another quick, hot and twisty read. If you loved Nate in the first book Rough It Up (which I so did), get ready for Dr. Nate Franks to find his own mate now in his own unique way.

Once his Pride’s most easy-going alpha lion, Nate has moved back into town to work as the Pride’s doctor. Now his little nurse Kellie is driving him crazy. Not even sure he likes her – in fact nearly certain he doesn’t – his good humor and charm are completely lost on her. Rumor has it Kellie transferred from another Pride because they couldn’t deal with her anymore and Nate plans to get to the bottom of it. When he catches a scent and suspects an interesting turn of events, their confrontation doesn’t end as you might expect. Kellie is struggling with her lioness while ashamed and recovering from the treatment she received from her previous Pride. And while she is likely the only woman who isn’t attracted to Nate (I love this dynamic because it was so unexpected!), she is also well aware that he could actually help her control her lioness.

The unique twists Hillman interjects in her stories create characters and plots that are far more interesting than the average shifter stories. Having a shifter struggle with her lioness is unusual and makes Kellie seem a more sympathetic character. When Nate learns the truth about her old Pride, he’s furious someone would hurt this gentle woman. Realizing his judgments of Kellie were wrong, he wants nothing more than to help her. But his idea of helping wasn’t exactly what Kellie had in mind and now the only one angrier than her about their mating is Nate’s father, the Pride’s Alpha. And then in yet another twist, there’s someone intent on owning Kellie in her own way.

Seems like a lot going on? It’s really not – Hillman weaves it all together and then sews it up in the end in a satisfying conclusion. While at first it seems the story is about Nate saving Kellie, in the end they save each other. Hillman creates scenes where readers see the strength of each character as they each rise to meet challenges. And including Nate’s family as secondary characters grounds the story and adds to the connection with the two main characters.

Suck It Up is a quick read with a fast-moving, twisty storyline. If you love shifters, you won’t want to miss this story.  The Grassroots series is sure to become a favorite - I'll be certain to watch for the next book.

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries 

This book was given to us by Resplendence Publishing. You can purchase the book using this link.

Guarded Secrets - Destiny Blaine

Tyra and I had a great conversation the other day about the differences between Young Adult, Romance and Erotica as far as the quality of the story. Our basic conclusion was that Young Adult books can not rely on intimate scenes to hold the readers attention. The story must be compelling in its own right. And as you progress from romance to erotica the tendency can be for the dialogue to become less about a compelling story and more about fluff biding time until the next steamy scene.

Guarded Secrets is the story of a team Confederation agents, led by Audra McAllister, that are sent to guard a senator after his family is threatened supposedly due to his political actions. The senator’s eldest son, Brance, was a former Confederation agent and had trained with Audra earlier in their careers. It’s a simple enough story. However, buried family secrets have more do to with the family’s safety then the senators political actions. These secrets prove to be the real source of the threat to the family.

So back to my original opening, the story has a good foundation. But it just didn’t come together well for me. The “couple” just didn’t seem like a couple. They didn’t seem to fit together but yet kept finding themselves kissing and then doing more. It was like the story had lost it’s momentum so it was time to throw in a hot scene in there to get the reader interested again. Audra is meant to be a tough agent type character. She comes across as an arrogant slut. And Brance is supposed to be a former agent tough guy but comes across as a hopeful romantic looking to settle down. Audra spends most of the story trying to drag out the family secrets and determine where the threat to the family lies. Her investigation just seems to drag in places and when it does Brance would come along and the scene would get spicy but without any real logic as to why there was a sudden shift in the dynamics between them. It felt like they were attracted to each other on a basic level and then to make the story more interesting there attraction was exaggerated just to get things moving. It didn’t feel logical but like the relationship was added to the main story just to heat things up. Overall it was a nice story. And if you are more interested in the spicy scenes then it doesn’t disappoint. If you are looking for more plot then spice then it may not be the book for you.

I give this one 3 chocolate dipped strawberries.