New Reviews!

Taking You Home by Cooper Davis receives 5 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs! See the review here. Buy the book here!

Shelter From the Storm by Samantha Sommersby receives 4 Cherries from The Long and Short of It! See the review here. Buy the book here!

Playboy Prankster by Pamela Britton receives 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio! See the review here. Buy the book here!

Need You Now by S.L. Carpenter receives 4 Cherries from The Long and Short of It! See the review here. Buy the book here!

Collateral Damage by J.L. Saint receives 4.5 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs! See the review here. Buy the book here!

Oooh, Reviews

I love bragging on my authors and “my” books, so here’s your latest dose. =)

4 stars from Sensual Reads for Forbidden: The Temptation by Samantha Sommersby

4 Wine Glasses from IRead Romance for Going Down by Shelli Stevens

A “The Keeper Shelf” rating from IRead Romance for Bear Necessities by Dana Marie Bell

5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies for Somatesthesia by Ann Somerville

A great review from Romance Reviews Today for Dante I by S.J. Willing

Review for Tabloid Star!

TITLE: Tabloid Star
AUTHOR: T.A. Chase
ISBN: 978-1-60504-662-4
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing

READ THIS BOOK

RATING:
Review by Carole
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BOOK BLURB:
As a bartender at the Lucky Seven club, Josh Bauer could take a different guy home every night … if he wanted to. Working three jobs, however, makes it hard to connect with anyone. One man, though, is too much temptation to resist. A steamy encounter in a back alley leads to an explosive night of sex in Josh’s bed ~ a bed he isn’t surprised to find empty the next morning.

What does surprise him, though, is the front page of a tabloid. Apparently his one-night stand isn’t as anonymous as he thought it was.

Ryan Kellar’s career is taking off. Advance buzz about his movie says it’s a blockbuster, and going home with the gorgeous bartender is the perfect way to celebrate. And he thought he’d gotten away clean ~ until the picture in the paper shocks him into reality. Was Josh really just playing … or playing him for a fool?

Trust isn’t big on their list right now, but as their worlds fall apart, it’s all they have. At least until they figure out who took the picture. And why.

BOOK REVIEW:
Tabloid Star is set in the same world at T.A. Chase’s High Line and Out of Bounds, although it is significantly separate, and reads like a stand-alone novel. You wouldn’t make the connection unless you recognized the names of the characters from the previous books who show up in bit parts ~ but it is fun to see those guys again!

Ryan Kellar is a closeted gay upcoming movie star. Josh is a bartender/construction worker/waiter working three jobs to help support his sister and her autistic child. Doesn’t sound like they’d have much in common, but the attraction is immediate and a hot alley-behind-the-bar encounter ensues. Unfortunately, Ryan is being stalked by paparazzi and they end up on the front page of the tabloids.

This is a classic case of “life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” The flash of the camera is a life changing experience for both. What good can come out of a disaster like this for both men?

T.A. Chase has done an unusually good job of creating colorful, well-fleshed out (pun intended), believable characters. The plot is intricate, quick-moving and sexy. It just doesn’t get much better than that. I think you will enjoy Tabloid Star.

Review for The Cowboy Plan!

Review: The Cowboy Plan by Denise Belinda McDonald

By emilyh on Sep 4, 2009

Country Western Singer Drew Hartford has seen his share of fans, until he literally bumps into Alex. Alex slightly starstruck and embarrassed runs away, can Drew catch up to her in time?

About the Book: Genre: contemporary ISBN: 978-1-60504-651-8 Page Count: 166 Price: $5.50 Reviewer: Emily Sensuality Rating: Sultry Star Rating: 5 Stars

Filed Under: August 2009 Reviews Samhain Publishing

Author’s Website: http://www.denisebelindamcdonald.com/ After a Drew Hartford concert, Alex and her friend decide to follow the tour bus.Unbeknownst to Alex, she literally bumps into Drew and leaves him all wet. Mortified once she figures out that it is Drew, Alex leaves in a hurry not realizing Drew is chasing after her. With some luck Drew finds Alex on his message board and begins instant messaging with her as Cowboy Andy. The two arrange for a meeting and the sparks begin to fly. The chemistry between Drew and Alex is instantaneous and often laugh out loud funny. You are rooting for the two to get together from the turn of the first page.Denise Belinda McDonald has written an exciting story about Drew and Alex falling in love. She blends a sizzling romance with an endearing story about the characters and how they fit into each other’s world. A must read for western fans.

Review for Bait and Switch

Bait and Switch by Ann Lory

Bait and Switch by Ann Lory
Publisher: Linden Bay Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (165 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Review by Hibiscus

Frisky Business, Book 1

Anna Jackson’s ex-boyfriend may have stolen her promotion, but she’s not mad. Not anymore. She’s getting even—by beating him at his own game. So what if she has to give up all her free time and any semblance of a personal life? With a partnership in a law firm as prestigious as Beckam, Beckam and Leland on the line, she’s willing to pay the price.

Las Vegas escort Devon McGuire is charming, sexy, and damn good at pleasing women. He’d better be, it’s what he gets paid for. Always up for a challenge, he’s looking forward to his newest job. Who wouldn’t enjoy a week as the companion of a smart, sultry, high-powered attorney—no strings attached?

Devon’s used to pushing boundaries, but there’s something about Anna that makes him want to turn up the steam. And when she learns to let go and unexpectedly opens to him, he finds himself falling right in.

Whoa, hold it. Love was never part of the plan…

They say “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas”. That is just what Anna and her friends had full intention of experiencing in this fast-paced romance that combines just a little bit of everything that Vegas is known for.

One would think that Anna Jackson is the typical professional lawyer, but Vegas has a way of changing people. Anna has just been dumped by her boyfriend, Thomas Leeland, who also stole the partnership she had been working for right from under her feet. Anna is on a mission to prove that she is the best. I love how Anna’s friends wanted to make her mission impossible and set a new plan in motion for their best friend. I could just picture Ann’s jaw dropping when she met Devon in Caesars Palace.

Devon McGuire is a very pricey male prostitute. I love how he is independent and has schedules for his clients, most of which are regulars. The way Devon attacked and then retreated when dealing with Anna was a lesson in warfare. He did just enough to hook Anna and have her agree to his plans. What I really loved about Devon was that he never treated Anna just like another client. I got the feeling that Devon was really making love with Anna throughout the story not just having sex. I could tell that Devon really cared about Anna and her feelings.

Thomas Leeland shows up again in the story and stirs up more trouble. There is also a story about Devon and his family which I found very moving. My favorite characters are Anna’s friends, Mindy, Janie, Holly and Nichole. They are friends that I would love to have on my side.

Bait and Switch is the first book in the Frisky Business Series. I hope there are many more books with these refreshing characters.

Review for Beauty Tempts the Beast

Beauty Tempts The Beast by Leslie Dicken

Beauty Tempts The Beast by Leslie Dicken
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (196 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 5 Books
Reviewed by Queen Anne’s Lace

Is the enemy of her enemy a friend…or a beast?

Lord Ashworth is scarred by a night of terror years ago that left his face in ruins and his life in shreds. He hides in Silverstone Manor, using rumors that paint him as a horrible, murdering monster to keep visitors at bay. Yet he can’t shake the feeling that the rumors might be true. He tells himself it’s better this way. If his memories ever resurface, at least he will be the only one hurt by them.

The woman on his doorstep, however, simply refuses to fear him. That’s not only an oddity, it’s a threat to his secret…and his heart.

Vivian Suttley has seen the face of evil more than once in her young life. She’s on the run from the latest, a cruel man determined to force her to marry him. Whatever the whispers about the reclusive Ashworth, surely it’s nothing compared to the bleak, violent future she leaves behind.

Ashworth saved her once before, and he’s her last hope for refuge. Yet she wonders if she’s truly safer at Silverstone—or if she has just made the biggest mistake of her life.

A horrible night of terror leaves Lord Ashworth scarred and his life in ruin. He hides in Silverstone Manor, using rumors he’s a beast to keep everyone away. But could the rumors be true? Will he ever know? Then Vivian Suttley arrives refusing to fear him, and to leave. The mysterious Lord Ashworth offers her refuge, but could she be making the biggest mistake of her life by trusting him?

Beauty Tempts The Beast is brisk, fast-paced, and completely sexy. The writing is crisp and concise with characters any reader can easily identify with. The point of view never jumps, and the scenes are well described and packed with delicious adjectives. The dark and mysterious atmosphere Ms. Dicken’s creates in Silverstone Manor pitch perfect.

Ms. Dicken is a talented story-teller. This is my first story I have read by her, but I know it will not be my last. Wonderful job for a writer who is definitely a must keep in the business. Don’t miss out on this deliciously decadent read.

Review for Beauty Tempts the Beast!

Fallen Angel Reviews

Four Angels!

Vivian Suttley needs Charles Hansard, Viscount Ashworth to marry her as soon as possible. Charles is known as The Monster because of being a recluse with a scarred face. Not many women are waiting in line to marry him. Vivian doesn’t care what Charles looks like. She saw him before his hideous scarring and knows he is simply a man who is tormented inside. Vivian wants to be the one woman to help and heal him. She also needs his protection from a man who wants her and will stop at nothing until she is his.

No woman would want to take on The Monster. Charles cannot have a lovely young miss like Vivian in his life. She is too pure and wholesome for a wretched man like himself. Even when he tries to scare Vivian with threats that turn into seduction, Vivian will not be deterred. Because Charles can’t deny his attraction to Vivian, he will allow her to stay for the time being. He knows she is hiding something, and he will figure out what it is.

As Vivian and Charles become more comfortable around each other, the woman Charles once loved comes back begging for his hand in marriage. Charles asks Vivian to pretend to be his fiancé, which she accepts. She would love nothing more for this mock engagement to become a reality. Vivian will not be frightened away from the overbearing Charles or the other side he tries to keep at bay. Time is running out because Vivian’s stalker knows where she is and will stop at nothing to have her in his arms or to kill her so no other man can have her.

Beauty Tempts the Beast has a nice gothic feel to it. This dark, sweeping romance is perfect for those readers who like suffering heroes. Charles is so distressed as he grapples with his fears and the horrors of his past that has lead him to a life of seclusion. His whole world changes when Vivian enters his life. Watching him fall for Vivian adds to the complexity of this story. Leslie Dicken really does build up the attraction between Charles and Vivian and their love scenes smolder with intensity.

The mystery and intrigue in Beauty Tempts the Beast makes this quite the page turner. There are many twists and turns you will not see coming that will keep you guessing till the very end. Leslie Dicken is indeed one author to watch, andBeauty Tempts the Beast will tempt you in many ways.

Reviewed by: Katie

Reading Binge

Yup. That’s what I’m on. It’s a heck of a lot better for my waistline than Dairy Queen, that’s for sure!

I just finished Book 2 in the House of Night series by PC and Kristen Cast. I’m really digging those. I start reading one and don’t stop until I’m done with it. And I have to say, the series aspect of it is done really well, in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. The ending of each book leaves you hanging, leaves unanswered questions so that you just HAVE to go out and get the next book. Great selling strategy and a great way to keep readers hooked into the series. It’s almost like it’s one continuous book split up into 6 other books.

Last night I started reading Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyon, and I wish I could just swallow it whole. It’s such a good book and it’s kept me 100% engaged and eager to read more, which is hard to do, being an editor and all. LOL I have a pretty short attention span if a book isn’t superb, so yeah. I can’t wait to finish it. As a matter of fact, I just paused this post to read a little more of it, since I was talking about it. No lie. =)

I’m also reading Extreme Measures by Michael Palmer, which is a medical thriller. It took me a little bit to get into it, because it was hard to follow at first, but I’m about at the half-way point and I’m liking it. It’s nice to read something different.

And then I do believe I will begin tackling my massive amounts of JD Robb and Nora Roberts books my mom just hefted off to me a few months ago. I got on Nora’s website and got a list of the chronological order of the JD Robb books, so I should be set to go. If I’m missing any, I’m sure I can buy a cheeap copy or *crossing my fingers* a digital copy somewhere on the World Wide Web. We’ll just have to wait and see. =)

What’s everybody else reading?

I just read…

An absolutely wonderful book, contracted an edited by fellow Samhain editor Angela James. I’m sure most of you have heard the buzz about Butterfly Tattoo by now, and let me tell you, it’s worth it! Deidre Knight did a phenomenal job in every aspect.

Sometimes it can be really difficult for me to “read for pleasure”, since it can be sooo hard to turn off my editor switch. I think that’s one of the reasons I had to work to get into Twilight. There are very few books that I’ve been able to read without looking at dialogue tags, looking for plot holes, finding filter words, etc. Deirde did such a wonderful job with her storytelling and Angie did such a great job with editing that for once I was able to completely forget that I’m an editor. I can’t tell you how much that means to me and how awesome that is. =)

I don’t want to get too much into the story and give anything away or ruin any little part of it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, so I won’t go much further. Just trust me and go buy it. =)

Reading for pleasure and not for work…

So, I’ve been trying to read non-romance stuff lately, since, well, reading romance is what I do for work. =P I went to the huge sale Waldenbooks was having when they went out of business a while and just roamed through and bought random stuff. lol Yeah, that’s what I do best. I also got some B&N gift certificates of Christmas and got online and bought some of the books on sale for $1.99 and $2.99. 

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult: This was a really good book and Jodi definitely knew her stuff when she was writing this one. She did a great job with knowing all the medical and legal stuff…I know I couldn’t. I must admit, I was less than pleased with the ending, but I won’t ruin it for anyone. One thing I really love was the POV usage. It was all in first person, but in each of the characters “first person”. I really enjoyed getting to know each character.

Driving With Dead People by Monica Holloway: Oh. My. God. This book was fan-freaking-tastic. Simply amazing. I can’t go on enough about how much I loved this book. I had trouble putting it down. It’s a memoir, which I don’t normally read, but I think after this one, I’ll be looking for a lot more interesting ones such as this one. The story is so sad, but Monica’s writing almost bypasses it, not really letting you concentrate on it so much. Instead of telling her story in a “woe is me” manner, she just tells it like any of us would speak about our great childhoods. One of the jacket quotes said it best: “Monica is an author who can make you cry and laugh in the same sentence.” Boy, was that the truth. This is a book that definitely needs to be on everyone’s TBR list.

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer: Okay, so I’m only just now almost done with the second book, New Moon, and my parents got me the set for Christmas. It normally doesn’t take that long for me to finish YA books. I mean, hell, I finished Harry Potter in nothing flat. But as much as I like the books, there’s some major stretches of boring. The first 1/3 of New Moon….man, I couldn’t get through it. I had to put it down and come back to it a couple of months later. And now that I’m past it, I’m loving the story. And it was like that with Twilight, too. Some major stretches of yawns. Times of “come on, let’s get to the action now.” If I were “just a reader” it might not bother me so much, but sometimes I just can’t turn the editor gene off, and reading the Twilight series is like that for me. I’m making it through though. =P

I’ve got some other ones in my TBR pile, so I’ll be sure to post those when I get done…and I’ll do better “reviews”. =P