Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James

August 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (277 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Xeranthemum

The richest bachelor in England plays matchmaker…for an heiress he wants for himself!

For beautiful, witty Lavinia Gray, there’s only one thing worse than having to ask the appalling Parth Sterling to marry her: being turned down by him.

Now the richest bachelor in England, Parth is not about to marry a woman as reckless and fashion-obsessed as Lavinia; he’s chosen a far more suitable bride.

But when he learns of Lavinia’s desperate circumstances, he offers to find her a husband. Even better, he’ll find her a prince.

As usual, there’s no problem Parth can’t fix. But the more time he spends with the beguiling Lavinia, the more he finds himself wondering…

Why does the woman who’s completely wrong feel so right in his arms?

Romance perfection can be found within the pages of Born to be Wilde. It’s rocky, silly, snarky, romantic, fun, surprising and engaging, but at all times, entertaining. I knew the relationship between Parth and Lavinia was strained because of the previous books, but to finally get to know why? Priceless and well worth the wait.

The title of the book isn’t based on the song by Steppenwolf but is actually a pointed clue about Parth’s life. The explanation and the story telling that showed me all about it tugged at my heartstrings. When I finally ‘got it’, I was overcome with a reaction I usually reserve for a cute, cuddly puppy that needs reassurance – Awwwwww!

The sparks that fly between Lavinia and Parth, their misunderstandings and assumptions that complicate any attempt at a relationship, all worked to create a dynamically difficult and emotional trial between the two, akin to running the gauntlet. Watching them fall in love in spite of all of that made for excellent reading.

The wedding between Diana and Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde is in the background throughout this novel and culminated in the HEA that I’d been waiting for since I read Too Wilde to Wed. It was wonderful to witness because both Parth and Lavinia were involved too. It was a brilliant wrap-up to add to the fun of this current novel.

The epilogue gave me happy sniffles. If I thought the book was romantic before, the author outdid herself with Lavinia’s final presentation to Parth. It was the most compassionate, convincing, tender and affectionate proof of Lavinia’s complete and pure love for Parth and it made me tear up. This book was a really good read but that scene boosted it up to a whole other level of awesomeness.

Once again, Ms. James set the hook for her next novel. The intense scene regarding Lord Jeremy earlier in the book was a shocker. He’s the epitome of a tortured hero and that was reinforced with his interaction between himself and Becky Wilde. What happened to him that was so bad that it affected him that way? And how in the world would Becky help him? What will she have to do to get through to him? It boggles the mind and creates a craving to read the next book in the series.

So far, every single book has been a winner in this series and Born to be Wilde is no exception. It’s a story too good to miss with characters I would love to know in real life. Fans of the Wilde family are in for a treat. There’s never a dull moment even when I get to meet the most adorable Queen of the Fairies and her court. Wilde antics are the best!

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The Bride Takes a Groom by Lisa Berne

August 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Bride Takes a Groom by Lisa Berne
The Penhallow Dynasty
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (354 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Katherine Brooke may be a fabulously wealthy heiress, but she’s trapped, a pawn in her parents’ ruthless game to marry her into the nobility. Then Captain Hugo Penhallow—so charming, as handsome as a Greek god—comes into her life once more, and suddenly she sees a chance to be free.

As a Penhallow, his is one of the highest names in the land, but still his family is facing ruin. So Katherine boldly proposes an exchange: his name for her money. But only if Hugo understands it’s merely a practical arrangement, and that she’s not surrendering herself entirely.

Back from eight years in America and determined to give his younger siblings a better life, Hugo agrees. He’s never fallen in love, so why not? Yet neither of them guesses that this marriage will become far, far more than they ever dreamed of . . .

The theme of this novel is hope. Never give up hope even when it seems impossible or implausible because something amazing can happen in ways you’d never expect. Certainly the hero and heroine of The Bride Takes a Groom never imagined life turning out the way it did, for either of them.

Katherine’s parents remind me of another set of parents – those from the movie Matilda. Except, I think Matilda’s real mother was actually nicer than Katherine’s, and that’s saying something. Hugo’s mother is a vast improvement, a bit unique but loving and warm. I enjoyed her character.

The biggest thing I noticed about this book was its delivery. I’ll be honest, at first the letters threw me and I felt it slowed me down. However, it wasn’t long before I understood what the author was doing – Insight. Ms. Berne was giving me insight into her characters and after a while I came to look forward to reading them. Not only were they absolutely fascinating but they served a valuable purpose in the telling of the story.

Another strong element is the romance of it all. I don’t have the words to express the delight of watching Katherine explore her sexuality and the cheeky innocent and inquisitive way she went about things. There was a sense of humor about her actions, words and choices that made reading each scene fun and entertaining. It’s by no means tame; some scenes between Katherine and Hugo were deliciously spicy, yet it contributed to their growing relationship and pushed them further along on the path of love. For some reason, Katherine liked to count. (I grinned writing that last sentence)

There is a darkness that challenged the heroine’s relationship with the hero. It was emotionally hard to read those parts but that’s because of the author’s skill. I was scared, worried and nervous after the ship scene. I felt for sure something bad was going to happen. I couldn’t read fast enough even though I had feelings of dread. The one thing a reader can be sure of is that Katherine loves Hugo. Readers will know what I mean after reading those chapters for themselves.

The wrap up is full of goodness, happiness, hope and adventure. The HEA is engaging, thorough and made me feel good on too many levels to count. In fact, an enemy even becomes a friend. I never, ever expected that. It proved to me that wonderful people are associated with the Penhallow family and forgiveness and love are powerful indeed. I am thrilled I had a chance to read this book. It’s great!

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Highland Betrayal by Alyson McLayne

July 30, 2018 By 1 Comment


Highland Betrayal by Alyson McLayne
The Sons of Gregor MacLeod
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A betrothal. A betrayal. A love threatened by treachery.
Laird Callum MacLean vowed to marry Maggie MacDonnell. But when his father’s apparent suicide makes him Laird of his clan, Callum must unmask his father’s killer before bringing Maggie into his dangerous new home.

Maggie’s home isn’t any safer. When Callum fails to return, Maggie does what any resourceful Highland lass would do. She escapes—and finds herself toe-to-toe with Callum, who’s determined to fulfill his promise. Maggie can’t bring herself to trust him with her heart again. But with a traitor still at large, they must rely on each other in every way, or their clans—and their love—will be destroyed.

When a reader cracks open this book, they’ll find a wonderful mystery filled with intrigue, danger and excitement as two feisty people are faced with betrayal in their very homes. Where can they be safe? Who can they trust? What is going on? Those are just a few of the questions that bombarded my brain as I read Highland Betrayal.

I enjoyed watching the sparks fly between Maggie and Callum. She’s brave, stubborn and clever. She’s already half in love with the hero but he let her down and she’s not going to let him forget it. He’s going to have to earn his way back into her heart. Callum had every intention of coming to claim her but a reader finds out that there are serious complications that stopped him. That doesn’t mean he was going to give her up forever – he still loves her, he just needs to make the heroine believe him. Watching the two of them overcome each their own obstacles was an adventure in itself. The action was steady and it put me on the edge of my seat many times, even the final chapter had surprises, adventure, suspense and a ‘wow!’ moment that lead right up until the happy, happy ever after. Ms. McLayne wrote a novel that kept me wide-eyed and curious for most of the story.

I enjoyed meeting most of the secondary characters and many played important roles in helping Maggie and Callum. There were some who were villains but even one of those was more like a victim too. It kind of broke my heart when I found out the truth.

Readers who enjoy seeing heroes and heroines tease and seduce each other until passion overtakes them will find many satisfying scenes to enjoy. There’s no doubt Maggie and Callum are highly attracted to each other. Their love will not be denied – delayed, but not denied.

The dialogue, interaction and actions and descriptions, and the fact that all the main personalities in the book were so fleshed out, really brought this story to life.

I had a lot of fun reading Highland Betrayal and I think it’s going to be a popular historical romance amongst readers. It’s a classic romantic story with a backdrop of danger. I give this one high marks and a solid recommendation. Don’t pass up an opportunity to read this novel; it’s great!

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Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford

July 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford
The Way to a Lord’s Heart, Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (352 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

An Earl mired in melancholy is no match for a determined woman…
Widower Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness, has given up hope of finding happiness. His wife died in childbirth five years ago, leaving him with a broken heart and a child who only reminds him of his loss.

Miss Jean Saunders is a cousin by marriage. She doted on Benjamin’s late Countess, and can’t bear it when she hears rumors that the Earl is too bereaved to care for his young son. She arrives on the scene to evaluate his fitness as a father, and if necessary, to take his son away.

Jean’s sudden eruption into the Earl’s household simultaneously infuriates and invigorates him. She may be the only person who can breathe life into his neglected home—and his aching heart…

What a sweet romance! I really liked how a grumpy lord turned into a loving man. This is a novel with heart.

First I learned how depressed Benjamin seemed to be. Yes, he had good reason, but he’d shut himself off so completely, there was no one around to give him a swift kick in the **ahem**, you know, to shake him up, wake him up and give him reasons to come back to the land of the living. Then comes Jean.

Jean was a breath of fresh, fiery and snapping air, who blew in to save the hero’s son from an emotionally distant father. She took no guff and stood her ground. There was a child to save. Now, why is she so committed to saving Geoffrey from what is perceived as a sad and neglectful situation? That is for a reader to find out. There were times I was a bit frustrated because she simply wouldn’t talk to anyone, get their advice or ask for their help. She was determined to be her own woman. Well, she is, there was no doubt in my mind. But Jean surely needed saving just as much as father and son. Considering what Jean had accomplished so far in her life, she is someone to respect. Her past comes to haunt her though and I was proud of her when she faced her greatest fear. She had a bit of incentive however and it played well with the plot conflict.

This is mostly an internal conflict stemming from the dynamics of a man grieving too long, a young child who has intelligence, cunning and a yearning for adventures as well as his father’s love, and a lady who slowly comes to the realization that being alone and in command of one’s own destiny is not without its pitfalls. Trying to navigate the tangled web of emotions is challenging which is why Lord Macklin is an important secondary character. I believe he is going to be the master conductor in this series. I get that belief from the first chapter and it was confirmed as he conspired with Lady Thorpe to give Benjamin and Jean time and opportunities for lust and nature to take its course.

Even though I categorized this novel as spicy, it’s less than that but more than sensual. There’s just enough description in the bedroom for a reader to know exactly what is going on, but there’s no drawn out, overly detailed descriptions. Frankly, it was delightful, enjoyable and just the right balance of wanting to know and knowing. The hottest and most seductive scenes were of the hero and heroine kissing. It worked for me.

I said earlier that this story had heart. It really does because not only does Benjamin fall in love with Jean, so does his son. Her influence was patient, loving, gentle and optimistic, but by the same token she had a temper so they got to see the heroine at her best and worst. She eventually blossoms into her personhood, the woman she was meant to be, wild hair and all, a far cry from the unwanted instigator from the beginning of the novel. The ultimate consideration was Geoffrey’s happiness, his growing relationship with his father and the rediscovery of them as a family unit. Their realization that love expands and heals and is something to be embraced is really quite beautiful.

I totally enjoyed reading Brave New Earl and I can tell that I’m going to be seeing more of Lord Macklin in the future. He’s not only a bit mysterious, he’s Machiavellian – but in a good way. I look forward to seeing who is next in his crosshairs. Brave New Earl is a wonderful book to pick up if you are in need of a sweet and satisfying happy ever after. All the main characters are engaging and convincingly brought to life and I finished the story with a smile on my face. What more needs be said?

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Awaken the Darkness by Dianne Duvall

July 6, 2018 By 6 Comments


Awaken the Darkness by Dianne Duvall
Immortal Guardians Book 8
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full length (247 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her.

When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that–against all reason–she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.

I’m a deliriously happy romance book reader. Ms. Duvall has brought Stanislav back to us and I know I can’t be the only fan out there cheering and jumping up and down in excitement. This is a book that HAS to go on my keeper shelf, along with all the others. This is an amazing series and it keeps getting better and better.

I remember being over the moon when I found out that Awaken the Darkness was coming out and I couldn’t wait to read it. The wait was worth it. The novel is everything I could have hoped for. I plunked myself down into my favorite reading chair and stayed there, all the way to 1 AM, until I finished the book loving every page, every minute and totally feeling the loss of sleep well worth it.

I really want to say that this book, even though it’s part of the Immortal Guardians series, is a standalone read. Why you ask? Because Stan has lost his memory and has no past to draw upon. It’s only Susan and Stan fighting to stay alive, running from those that want to kill and/or capture them while having absolutely no idea why or what they did to deserve it. They don’t know who to trust or where to go to be safe. Talk about intense suspense, action and drama!

Ms. Duvall does provide a prologue that gives enough history to understand how Stanislav ends up as Susan eventually finds him. I’d forgotten those details of the battle so it was great for me to revisit it and get emotionally involved right away.

The one thing that Stan doesn’t lose is how to pursue a woman and romance her right into his arms, his bed, or wherever he can. There’s just one little problem preventing him from getting anywhere near that point. Talk about two frustrated characters. It was devious fun. Eventually their situation is sorted out and they finally, finally get together. That was fun too.

I liked how every time the hero remembered something it caused a hiccup in their burgeoning relationship. Eventually, the truth comes out but by that time Susan is invested in loving and being with Stan, no matter what. She’s no shrinking violet.

The action scenes were gripping, well written and nail-bitingly perfect. It was only towards the end that the Immortal community comes on stage to aid Stanislav and Susan. It was extremely poignant when Susan met Ami. I won’t tell you the reason why. I liked how the revelation of those secondary heroic characters was done because it reinforced my belief this could be a standalone for new readers. It was presented from Susan’s point of view and she was totally clueless. A reader learns as she does and I liked that angle.

Awaken the Darkness is terrific, exciting, wonderful, special and is an action filled romance that fans of Ms. Duvall are going to go ga-ga over. Well, I certainly did. I’m happy-skippy on one hand but on the other I’m sulky because now I have to wait and wait for the next book. It’s supposed to be Seth’s turn! Seth! It can’t come fast enough! Dianne Duvall rocks!

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Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

July 4, 2018 By 12 Comments


Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (408 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.

When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. She’s even more astonished to find that she’s inherited Blix’s Brooklyn brownstone along with all of Blix’s unfinished “projects”: the heartbroken, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness. Marnie doesn’t believe she’s anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps.

And Blix was also right about some things Marnie must learn the hard way: love is hard to recognize, and the ones who push love away often are the ones who need it most.

Have you ever read a story where the secondary character sets the stage for everything that comes after, and their presence is so powerful and important that they color the whole book – and it’s an AWESOME thing to see? Like, profound, and emotional and special and wonderful? If not, then get ready for a unique treat because Matchmaking for Beginners is a book like no other and sure to inspire a bevy of fans and followers. I’m one.

On one hand, I want to be sad at certain parts of the story but then I think, “what would Blix say?”, and I can’t be gloomy. Blix is the secondary character that touches a reader’s heart as she strives to bring love, sparkles and happiness to others. Her strength is in how much she loves the people she meets and her acceptance of things that would destroy and depress folks in similar circumstances. She rises above that and her legacy is embodied in Marnie, a most unlikely heroine.

In the beginning the novel is told from two points of view, Blix and Marnie’s, and it’s a first person delivery for both. Eventually Marnie takes center stage because it’s her love story with all its hilarious ups and downs, mistakes and triumphs that Matchmaking for Beginners is all about. The mistakes she makes are common and completely believable. Her thought processes makes perfect sense and I could see myself coming to the same conclusions. And, we’d both be wrong. It’s an interesting learning curve.

I won’t reveal the people who touched my heart the most because I don’t want to dilute the impact. The author introduced me to so many folks while Marnie continued on her journey to her ‘big life’, and every single one helped her grow as a person, giving her insights, joy, hope and for readers, entertainment. There are a couple of characters that introduce personal drama and pitfalls that Marnie has to dodge, overcome and face the truths they reveal. All of it is an amazing reading experience.

The love of Marnie’s life isn’t a typical hero trope. I think that’s what made me love this novel so hard – it’s a special true love. It’s beautiful, magical and worthy of this author’s writing talents. I lost count as to how many times, I sniffled on the way to getting teary then bam, I’m laughing or melting into a romantic puddle.

I loved Matchmaking for Beginners. It’s not my usual type of book but I was wowed, impressed and bowled over by how Ms. Dawson’s characters’ came to life before my very eyes. They had depth, heart, quirky issues and were easy to fall in love with. I expected that this novel of over 400 pages would take me a couple of days to slog through. Instead, I read it in one day, one sitting and time flew. That’s the mark of an awesome book and a very talented writer. Kudos to Ms. Dawson for giving me an amazing reading experience.

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An Affair with a Spare by Shana Galen

June 26, 2018 By 1 Comment


An Affair with a Spare by Shana Galen
The Survivors, Book 3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (416 pages)
Heat level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

He’s turned seduction into an art form…

Rafe Beaumont, fifth son of an earl, uses his irresistible charm with the ladies to glean dangerous war secrets. Now he’s putting those skills to the ultimate test: capturing an elusive assassin by seducing his daughter. The problem? She’s entirely immune to Rafe’s flattery.

Never before has Collette Fortier met a man as attractive as Rafe. But her father’s life is at stake, and succumbing to Rafe would be disastrous. But when Rafe turns the tables on her, offering support and friendship instead of a fleeting affair, Collette finds herself tempted in ways she never could have imagined…

He’s supposed to use her, she uses him; he’s supposed to seduce her, she seduces him; he believes love is worthless and a lie until he realizes life isn’t worth living if he loses her and her love. How a practiced seducer of women, honed during a time of war to glean secrets, falls in love for the first time is an entertaining, exciting and not to miss read. Ms. Galen can claim another success with the 3rd book in The Survivors Series, An Affair with a Spare.

Collette, the heroine, is in a pickle. Whereas Rafe, the hero, does not deeply love anyone, Collette loves too much and will do what she must to set her father free, no matter what she has to do. She’s not savvy as a spy; she was protected from the harsh reality of her father’s role under Napoleon, but in this novel, she’s thrust into intrigue, danger and high-stakes without having anyone to trust. I thought her very brave.

Rafe has seen danger but only on the periphery. His fellow soldiers were hardened because of the violence and fighting they had to endure, whereas the hero saved their lives by getting the information they needed to stay safe. The one thing Rafe always wanted was to be more than just a seducer of women for their husbands’ and fathers’ war plans; he wanted to prove himself in actual fighting. Little did he know he was about to make up for lost time. Like the old saying goes, ‘be careful what you wish for.’

I liked the pace of the story, the details and the dialogue. I enjoyed watching the repartee between Rafe and his friends as well as meeting some very personable secondary characters the author introduced. I liked Rafe’s family and I think his step-mother is a very sweet lady. Even though this is the third book in the series, I strongly believe this novel would work as a standalone read because the entire focus is on Collette and Rafe. The additional characters are only mentioned in short scenes as backup and to propel the plot forward. It’s Rafe that needs to bluff his way out of trouble; it’s Collette who needs to figure out who to trust and who would wish her harm and the story focuses on them 99% of the time with both of their POV’s being represented. It all works.

I think the only character that should have had a sharper development was that of Lady Ravensgate. Since I truly believed she was evil, I wished the author could have colored her with a bit more of a malevolent personality than she was. I actually found it too tame. Yes, she served her purpose but I wanted to feel a stronger dislike for her character than I did. Does that make me twisted?

All in all, An Affair with a Spare is filled with all the elements that make a book a great read. It has a dramatic and romantic declaration of love, a grand gesture, a happy ever after I could believe in and an epilogue that sealed the deal. The sensual and sexy times between the two were well written and gave a good indication of how Rafe and Collette felt about each other and were delivered in just the right amounts. I heartily recommend this book to fans of Ms. Galen, both new and old.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan

June 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (400 pages)
Other: BDSM (Shibari), M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Billionaire playboy Ricco Ferraro knows no other life. Being a shadow rider is in his blood—but so is a haunting desperation stemming from the secrets of his dark past. His recklessness puts not only his life at risk, but also the future of his entire family. To save them all, he must find a woman who can meet his every desire with a heat all her own…

Just when Ricco has given up hope, he meets her—a mysterious woman whose shadow connects with his. She’s someone looking for a safe haven from the danger that has stalked her over the last several months. In Ricco’s embrace, she finds one. But the darkness in which they so often find sanctuary can also consume them…

I never expected to learn something from Shadow Reaper, but I sure did. I always thought Shibari was only for erotic pursuits, never as an actual art form, a discipline that requires focus and trust and respect. It added quite the unique element to this second novel in the Shadow Rider series.

This time the hero is Stefano’s brother, Ricco. Once again, the first chapter sets up the hook, showing that Ricco has secrets, ones that he even has to keep from his family. Scenes also showed me that the hero is fast losing hope of finding the woman who’ll accept who he is, while being ‘what’ he is. Females like that are rare and almost impossible to find. The one that slips in at the last minute has her own secrets and when Ricco reveals what he believes to be true about her, I was a goner. Reading Shadow Reaper became a compulsion to read and I was powerless to resist.

The plot conflict is huge. I mean it’s mind bogglingly complex, exciting, nerve-wracking, suspenseful and action packed making this novel a true page turner. How are the attacks choreographed so perfectly? Who is doing it? Why? How can they be stopped? Will anyone survive? All these thoughts chased through my brain as I watched each family member, and secondary character that I came to know, come under fire. The Ferraro family is a force of nature but they’re tested to the max in this novel.

Like I said, Shibari is used to good effect with Mariko. The sensual buildup is intense. The sexual delivery is lava-hot and incendiary. Readers who seek highly detailed seduction will find it between the pages of this book.

One of the strongest elements in this novel is the circle of life. What began in the past ends up being finished in the present but not how I imagined nor with whom. Readers are in for a wild ride if they are as clueless as I was as to the truth of the plot’s instigators. Since the suspense is intense, and I had no nails left to bite from Shadow Rider, I consumed a LOT of pretzels instead. I think it’s called ‘stress eating’. Wow, did this book pack a punch.

Seriously, the second book in the series is just as amazing and gripping as the first one and has an equally satisfying HEA. If readers are like me, they’ll want to swoon when Ricco does that thing he does to the back of Mariko’s neck. It gave me delicious shivers and I loved it! Ms. Feehan has another success on her hands and I think readers are going to adore it. Pick up your own copy of Shadow Reaper and meet Ricco after you’ve read Stefano’s story first. I’m sure glad I did! This read was awesome!

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Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan

June 21, 2018 By 1 Comment


Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (480 pages)
Other: BDSM, M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her…

Ms. Feehan is well known for her strong, alpha and commanding heroes but the bar is raised and boundaries pushed with her new Shadow Riders series. These guys are contemporary movers and shakers; they’re coarse, hard-hitting, hard playing and they have a few kinks that heroes in her other series don’t embrace. These men are as un-PC as you can get, and I loved every minute spent with them between the pages of Shadow Rider.

The hardest part of starting a new series is the world-building; presenting the environment, backdrop, characters, history and specifics unique to the people on stage, without dumping or making it seem unnatural in the telling. Ms. Feehan has no problems in this area. I learned through the POV of Stefano Ferraro what his role is, how he’s connected to his neighbors and why he has such pride in being who and what he is. I also learned that as rich, powerful and respected as he is, there is a dark side and a despondent yearning hidden deep inside that has shades of the author’s Carpathian men from the Dark series – but that’s about all that is similar. This series stands on its own.

Stefano made me cringe in the beginning because he is extremely coarse. My reference is his propensity for dropping F-bombs like hail on a flower – it’s hard hitting, and at times, obnoxious. Not all flowers get pummeled into the ground and that’s how I see Francesca. The heroine is beaten down but her determination, drive and compassion lends her a strength that is more than a match for Stefano. The meeting between the two happens in the first chapter and the hook is set.

Another difference in this series from the others is the sexuality. There are a lot of detailed scenes and some of them without a doubt fall into the erotic category, especially since there is a distinctive dom/sub relationship between them – a little tying up, commands, a few spanks – but Francesca is definitely the submissive – in bed. Outside, well, she’s sassy, feisty and has a sense of humor – when she’s not in fear for her life. There are also very descriptive scenes of oral sex, which, on the whole usually don’t bother me but I’m not of fan of the…taking it all in stuff. That’s too much for me.

The drama, suspense, violence and justice delivered, came from dealing with some very evil, twisted and effective villains. The levels of intensity varied depending on the villain on stage but the writing was well done so I had no problem believing their badness.

The skillset of the shadow riders is unique to my reading experience. How the author even conceived of this paranormal aspect is fascinating and I’m pretty sure it’s never been done before. I like it when an author discovers a new angle.

There is a ton more details and scenes, descriptions and dialogue I could share because this novel is jam-packed with great dialogue, fascinating personalities, descriptions and plot. The main focus is on the romance and it’s a definite HEA that I’m happy with.

I enjoyed the journey and there were many times I was left biting my nails because of the suspense, but through it all, it kept my interest and totally had me sucked into their world. Shadow Rider is such a novel concept; it proves that Ms. Feehan has an indomitable imagination. We fans are so lucky to be the beneficiaries of such a talent. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Tattooed Duke by Maya Rodale

June 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Tattooed Duke by Maya Rodale
The Writing Girls, Book 3
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (389 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Maya Rodale’s wonderfully witty Writing Girls series is a winner! Her third delectable love story to feature a plucky Regency heroine with a pen, The Tattooed Duke follows a scandal sheet reporter posing as a common housemaid in order to uncover whatever nasty little skeletons an adventure-seeking Duke may be hiding in his closets—only to fall in passionate love with the nobleman whose secrets she’s been exposing to the world! The Tattooed Duke is deliciously fun historical romance fiction in the vein of Laura Lee Guhrke and Suzanne Enoch, and no true romance fan will want to write it off!

A Regency Bad Boy – oh my!

After reading this book, I simply have to read the first two of the series because The Tattooed Duke was deliciously naughty. I’m sure the previous titles won’t cause the same shivery sensations as this one did when the author described Wycliff, but if the caliber of writing is the same, I’m going to be a very happy reader.

I think my heart beat overtime whenever Eliza explored the hunkiness that is the Duke of Wycliff. I don’t even have the caliber of vocabulary to adequately describe the sensual and commanding presence the hero embodied when he was on stage. His effect on the heroine was pure heat and at times they combusted from their shared passion – as forbidden as it was. The scenes that led up to those moments, the buildup and delivery, were sublime and that’s due to the solid writing talent of Ms. Rodale.

There’s adventure, close calls and narrow escapes. There are characters that flavor and color the story and contribute significant amounts of excitement, thrills, drama, suspense, laughter and even assistance in the romance between Wycliff and Eliza. The novel has it all.

Eliza is a clever minx who does what she has to in order to remain employed at a newspaper. Her personal epiphany comes from finally coming to terms with the question – what and who is she willing to sacrifice just to get a story published? How far is she willing to go? The answer was satisfying but not without peril and personal cost. Great story hook!

As for Wycliff – readers are just going to have to pick up their own copy to find out what’s in the secret room, how he came to have such impressive tattoos and if he realizes his deepest desire.

I think one of the most sensual scenes takes place while planting seeds. There are more depths to the Duke than anyone suspects. Again, it makes for page-turning reading.

I almost missed the epilogue because I thought it was promo for the next book in the series. Ha! That was exceptionally clever of the author and I enjoyed the final wrap-up. I’m wondering if the Duke’s rival will have his own story someday – a reader can hope.

Historical fans are really missing out if they’ve yet to read The Tattooed Duke. It’s going on my keeper shelf. I adored Wycliff!!!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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