The Virgin's Revenge by Dee Tenorio

Determined to get out from under the thumbs of her six overbearing brothers, Amanda Jackman moves out of the family home and sets a course that allows her to live on her own terms. She has a job she loves, a house of her own and life is good! What more can a girl ask for?

Cole Engstrom has his life all planned out, too. A place of his own, a job he loves and the occasional no-strings-attached women to warm his bed when the urge hits him. His life is on the course he has set for himself, and it’s a good one! What more can a guy ask for?

Amanda and Cole have been friends ever since Jackman brothers took him under their wings back in high school. She’s been wildly attracted to him right from the start, but their friendship is too important to risk losing it by asking him to take things to the next level. But when she overhears her brothers “talking” with Cole, laying out their plan to have Cole woo then marry her, she decides to teach them all a lesson and does a little plotting of her own!

The Virgin’s Revenge is the fourth book in the Rancho del Cielo series, and having not read anything by Dee Tenorio before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Because this is published by Samhain I thought it might possibly be a nothing-but-sex wild ride, but that’s just not the case! This story is heavy on the romance, passion and playfulness, but it isn’t until later in the book before things really heat up, making this an all around delightfully romantic, sexy story that had me grinning from ear to ear one minute, sighing deeply the next, and fanning myself yet another.

The bottom line - If you enjoy stories with lots of humor, meddling but loving and devoted friends and family, check this one out. If you need your romances to be sweet, the trials and triumphs heartwarming and inspiring, give this book a try! If you like all of those things and some sexy goodness, then stop wasting time thinking about it and just do it. Just read this book! With their quirky personalities and zest for life, the people of Rancho del Cielo are an absolute joy to spend time with.

The ecopy of this book was provided by Novel Sidekick in exchange for an honest review.

The Virgin’s Revenge by Dee Tenorio
Series - Rancho del Cielo #4
4 of 5 stars
ebook, 253 pages
Expected publication: July 3rd 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN13 9781609288662
Edition language - English

Giving it Up by Amber Lin

Blowing a guy was one thing, folding his underwear seemed so…personal.

Allie Winters lives in an emotionally dark place, coping with the secrets from her past in a way that works for her. She's only told one person the truth about what happened to her and the dangerous extremes she goes to to find peace.

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it's not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mind-blowing orgasms aren't enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her new-found power will be enough to save them all.

In this, her debut novel, Amber Lin tackled a difficult subject and took us inside the mind, heart and soul of a survivor. And make no mistake about it - despite her actions - Allie is a survivor. As a mother myself I appreciated how much Allie loved her daughter, despite the circumstances of her conception. She recognized that Bailey was an innocent in all that had happened, I only wish she could have recognized that she was an innocent, too. The glimpses we were allowed, the time we spent inside her head, made her internal conflict all the more poignant, and left me wishing I could wrap her in my arms and hold her until she could see herself for the amazing woman she truly is.

Colin Murphy - well, I'm a hero driven reader but this is a heroine driven story so when it comes to Colin Murphy... sadly, there's not much I can say about him. For all the insight we were given into Allie, Colin's personality - aside from sex - wasn't really developed as much as I would have liked. We know he's a bad guy doing bad guy things for his bad guy brother, but we don't get much more than that. Here we have Allie, this incredibly complex, troubled, tormented heroine... why on Earth was Colin drawn to her? What did he see in her? Why did he want her? And in the end, what made him accept her? Those are all questions that, even after finishing the story, I'm still asking myself. The little we did get to know of Colin had me liking him a lot, but not nearly as much as I wanted to. Just a bit more insight into his thoughts and feelings... well, I've no doubt I would have loved him.

Before closing I'll quickly mention that this is a dark, emotional, contemporary romance, and while the rape is not depicted in horrifying detail, Allie's desire for rough sex might make some readers uncomfortable.

The bottom line: Giving it Up is quite an impressive debut novel and I'm very much looking forward to reading more by this very talented author!

My sincerest thank you, Ms. Lin, for providing me with an eARC of this story.

The Virgin Huntress by Victoria Vane

The Virgin Huntress is the second book in Victoria Vane’s The Devil DeVere series and another fun, sexy romp through Georgian England!

Desperate times call for devilish measures…

Coddled and pampered, since her mother's death, Lady Vesta Chambers is beside herself when her father goes to London to prepare for her come-out and returns with a young bride of his own. With her world turned upside down, Vesta accompanies her godmother, Diana, to town, where she is smitten the moment she lays eyes on a certain captain of the Seventeenth Light Dragoons.

But when the object of her passion has eyes for another…

Captain Hewett DeVere, younger brother and heir to Viscount Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere, has returned from the American war scarred, disillusioned, and looking forward to settling down to a quiet and respectable life. But when the handsome and straight-laced captain turns his eyes toward the widowed Diana, Vesta is prepared to take devilish measures to prove she is no longer a little girl, but a woman with the passion of… a huntress.

This story begins right on the heels of the first book, A Wild Night's Bride, and is written with the same detail to period dialog, dress and social routines and rituals which is one of the things I most love about Ms. Vane's stories. I found myself laughing at some of the situations Hew was caught in, thanks to Lady Vesta's plotting, while on the other hand there were times I found myself not liking her so much because of the plotting. What can I say? I'm forever on the side of hero and Hew is one sexy man!

The bottom line: I always enjoy Victoria Vane’s tales. Her characters are funny, sexy, and sometimes too full of themselves for their own good! But one thing we can be sure of, they’re always entertaining!

My thanks to the author and Breathless Press for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At Last by Jill Shalvis

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

*********

It's always such a treat to read a book by Jill Shalvis because I know I'm guaranteed to love it! Time after time, she weaves tales that sweep me up and set me down in a place I'd love to live, with people I want to call friends, family, or the love of my life.

And sometimes when I'm reading a book, I try to imagine what it's like for the author when writing the story. Do they bite their nails, fiddle with their hair, or gaze out the window? Well, whatever it is Jill Shalvis does, it works, because book after book, story after story, without fail, she makes magic happen.

At Last is the fifth book in the incredibly popular Lucky Harbor series and just like the previous books is filled with excitement, laughter and plenty of steamy goodness. But I have to say... wow… even more than the previous books, this one is filled with poignant moments that can only happen when people we care about hurt. And trust me on this, Matt and Amy are definitely people we come to care about, and they definitely hurt. Their lives before Lucky Harbor were certainly not easy, but that tragic past, all that heartache and vulnerability made their happily ever after, once they reached it, so beautiful that I couldn't help but close the book with a smile on face and a warm, happy feeling inside.

5 magical stars!!

This book was provided by netgalley.com and Grand Central Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Lucky In Love by Jill Shalvis

In the cookies of life, friends and lovers are the chocolate chips.
We've all been there... looking for something to read. Craving a certain type of book... something special... something guaranteed to make you feel good. You know the ones - the stories you can lose yourself in. The ones that’ll pull you in right from the start, with characters who will win your heart, completely? Yeah, and when that's what you're in the mood for, nothing else will do. Well, that’s the kind of story I was looking for, and that’s exactly what Jill Shalvis delivered with Lucky in Love.

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

Lucky in Love is the fourth book in the Lucky Harbor series and another funny, romantic, steamy story. Ty Garrison is a great alpha male – sexy, troubled, strong yet vulnerable – my idea of the perfect hero. Mallory Quinn is a wonderful heroine – compassionate, independent, smart… and she too is troubled and vulnerable. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed, the way they had each other’s backs, unconditionally, regardless of the situation. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and their romance… not easily earned, but well deserved.

The bottom line: There are so many things to love about Jill Shalvis' stories, but what I’ve come to appreciate most is that, without fail, I can count on her to deliver something unique, something special. How she delivers it is the true magic of her writing, but the fact that she does so, again and again, is what keeps me coming back for more.

My sincerest thanks to netgalley.com and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this wonderful story.

I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre

Sophie Sullivan, a librarian in San Francisco, was five years old when she fell head over heels in love with Jake McCann. Twenty years later, she's convinced the notorious bad boy still sees her as the "nice" Sullivan twin. That is, when he bothers to look at her at all. But when they both get caught up in the magic of the first Sullivan wedding, she knows it's long past time to do whatever it takes to make him see her for who she truly is...the woman who will love him forever.

Jake has always been a magnet for women, especially since his Irish pubs made him extremely wealthy. But the only woman he really wants is the one he can never have. Not only is Sophie his best friend's off-limits younger sister...he can't risk letting her get close enough to discover his deeply hidden secret.

Only, when Sophie appears on his doorstep as Jake's every fantasy come to life-smart, beautiful, and shockingly sexy-he doesn't have a prayer of taking his eyes, or his hands, off her. And he can't stop craving more of her sweet smiles and sinful kisses. Because even though Jake knows loving Sophie isn't the right thing to do...how can he possibly resist?

*******

I Only Have Eyes for You is the fourth book in Bella Andre’s Sullivans series and such an awesome story! It’s my first taste of this author’s writing, but it most certainly will not be my last.

Sophie Sullivan has been in love with Jake McCann since she first laid eyes on him when she was just five years old. She knows that Jake has always seen her as the “nice” girl who’s simply too good for him and his bad boy ways, but Sophie’s decided to pull out all the stops and make him see the real her.

Jake knows that Sophie’s been crushing on him forever, but he does all he can to keep her at arms distance. It’s not that he’s not attracted to her – because he is – the real problem is that he has a humiliating secret and he’s not about to let Sophie find out what it is.

When Sophie sets in motion a plan to force Jake to see her as the woman she is, Jake doesn't know what hit him - but quits trying to resist - and that made for one of the best stories I've read in a very long time.

I can’t even begin to express how excited I am to have found a new contemporary romance author who knows how to bring characters to life in a world that I’d love to live in! Jake’s insecurity and vulnerability had me in tears, and I wanted to bring him home and love him until he could see what an amazing, worthy man he is. And Sophie’s loving, compassionate nature had me cheering for her as she fought for the happily ever after she knew they deserved.

The bottom line: If you’re looking for a very romantic, very sexy story – a friends to lovers tale – then look no further! From the first page to the last, Ms. Andre delivered a deeply heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking tale that had me laughing one moment, crying the next, and fanning myself often. I can’t wait to get back to San Francisco and spend more time with the Sullivans.

4.5/5 stars

I Only Have Eyes for You was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of Oak Press LLC in exchange for an honest review.

Goddess in the Middle by Stephanie Julian

Amity, the Goddess of Health, works as a medical aesthetist, using her remaing goddess powers to help people heal their spirits. Her profession soon brings two masculine Etruscan werewolves, Remy and Rom, into her life. The two werewolves have been searching for a woman powerful enough to handle both of them, but they've never met a woman strong enough...until they meet Amity. Toegether they must use the power generated by their love to kill a vicious demon and keep him locked away forever, or risk losing everything.

*****

Goddess in the Middle is the third book in Stephanie Julian’s Forgotten Goddesses series and one very erotic story.

Amity is an Etruscan Goddess whose powers are given to healing. Back in ancient times she was worshiped, as all Goddesses were, but now? Not so much. In these modern days, Amity works at a local hospital as a medical aesthetician, using what little remains of her powers to heal people. Her work is satisfying, but her love life is not.

Romulus and Remus are sexy Etruscan werewolves, cousins with an unbreakable bond. They’ve spent the last twenty years hunting the demon to who slaughtered their family, and now that they know who the demon’s next target is, all they have to do is wait for it to attack her and then vengeance will be theirs!

When Amity meets Remy and Rom in a club, she has no idea that they’ve been watching her, or why, but when it becomes clear to her that the two men want her, she’s all for breaking her sexual dry spell and going back to her place for some yummy ménage.

This is my first taste of Stephanie Julian’s storytelling and truly enjoyed the world she’s created. The writing flows smoothly and even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series, I was never left feeling like I had missed something. I enjoyed the characters, especially Remy and Rom, who not only have to deal with the demon that left them orphans, but their emotional demons, too.

I’m definitely going to go back and read the first two books and can’t wait to read more by this talented author.

3.5 stars

My thanks to netgalley.com and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for providing me with a copy of Goddess in the Middle in exchange for an honest review.