Twisted (LOST #2) by Cynthia Eden

Twisted is the second book in Cynthia Eden’s thrilling romantic suspense series, LOST . Like the first installment, Broken, Twisted is an exciting murder mystery with plenty of suspects who all have motives, and that kept me guessing almost to the end!

Blurb…

Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That's before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.

With her past, Emma Castille doesn't claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don't. Like the fear in a runaway's eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent's heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else's orders.

Then a madman breaks into Emma's home and leaves a twisted message: You're next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma's aching to give him everything he wants.

My thoughts…

Cynthia Eden fans have been raving about this series, and I get why! The LOST team of men and women are the kinds of heroes and heroines I love – flawed, but perfectly so. They all have a past, have all lost someone dear to them, so they understand the need to help families find their loved ones. This brings a level of emotion to the stories that has my heart aching, not only for the victims, but for those trying to save them.

Like the first book, there's an element of insta-lust to this story. It didn't bother me quite as much this time around, probably because Emma didn't have the level of baggage to carry around that Eve did. In fact, Emma is a strong heroine and she and Dean are a perfect match! I love that they found each other!

The bottom line…

If you’re a fan of edgy romantic suspense and want lots of steam in your stories, then look no further than the team atLOST. The books are fast paced, exciting, gritty, and definitely sexy!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this story. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.

Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry

Made me laugh, made me cry, made me fall in love!

I just adore the Sweet, Texas series by Candis Terry! The stories are funny, sweet, romantic, and very sexy, and while they are light, Contemporary Romance reads, they’re not shallow. The stories are filled with life’s trials and triumphs, each poignant in its own unique way. And Sweetest Mistake even had me a bit teary eyed.

Description…

Firefighter and former Marine Jackson Wilder has tough guy down to an art, but he’s learned the hard way that promises were made to be broken. Abigail Morgan was once his best friend, his first kiss, his first love, his first everything. He’d just forgotten to mention all that to her and she blew out of his life. Five years later, she’s back and he’s battling a load of mistrust for her disappearing act. But for some reason he just can’t keep his lips—or his hands—to himself.

When her stint as a trophy wife abruptly ends, Abby returns home to Sweet, Texas, and comes face-to-face with Jackson—her biggest and sexiest mistake. Time and distance did nothing to squash her love for the act-first-think-later stubborn hunk of a man, and when he suggests they renew their old just-friends vow, Abby realizes she wants more. She’d cut and run once. Could she do it again? Or could she tempt him enough to break his promise?

My thoughts…

Candis Terry really knows how to tell a story that draws me in and captures my heart, first page to the last. In Sweetest Mistake I found myself running a wide range of emotions – hurt, frustration, sorrow, anger – but the whole time I was filled with hope that these two amazing people would be able to look past the past, and stop letting the fear of “what if” ruin their future. It’s not that I didn’t understand where they were coming from, because I totally did. But sometimes you have to take a chance… just one more chance… because the payoff, as it was for Jackson and Abby, is worth the risk.

The bottom line…

If you’re a fan of small town romances with awesome heroes and heroines, an amazing supporting cast, lot’s of steam and beautiful happily ever afters, then you need to pay a visit to Sweet, Texas. You may just decide you never want to leave!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of Sweetest Mistake. No mistake about it, I loved every minute I spent reading it!

The Way Home by Cindy Gerard

Romantic, passionate, and heartwarming!

The Way Home is the second book in Cindy Gerard's One-Eyed Jacks series, but don't let the cover fool you! Yeah, this is a romantic tale filled with the kind of joy the holidays deliver, but it's also one exciting, heartbreaking, uplifting, steamy, and hope inspiring love story.

The Story

Four years ago Jess got the news every Army wife dreads - her husband has been killed in action and won't be returning home to her. She had struggled with Jeff's Special Forces 'here today, gone tomorrow' assignments, and they'd even fought about it before his last deployment, but his death left a gaping, empty place inside her, one she tried to fill - or mask - by throwing herself into work. But Tyler Brown, ex-military hero and all around sexy, alpha male, has Jess realizing that maybe it's time to stop merely existing, and time to start living again. And maybe even love again. Wedding plans are set and these two wonderful people who have both known great loss are looking forward to a future filled with the kind of love they never thought they'd find again, when word comes down that Jeff's been found alive - though not necessarily well - and a team is being sent to Afghanistan to rescue him and bring him home.

My Thoughts

This type of storyline is tough to write and even tougher to write well, but Cindy Gerard has pulled it off with flying colors! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I should have known better than to doubt Ms. Gerard's ability to tell a story that would draw me in and touch me deeply.

Tyler Brown, younger brother to Killing Time's Mike Brown, is such an amazing guy. He's not your typical action romance novel hero, but he's a hero, nonetheless. Caring, compassionate, sexy-as-sin, and patient yet determined to get what he wants - he's got what it takes to get my *swoon-worthy* stamp of approval.

Jess turned out to be every bit as amazing as Ty. She's also compassionate and caring, but I respected her for her loyalty to Jeff and her honesty with Ty and Jeff, both. She's strong and independent, but she's got an ability to love and nurture that made me admire and care about her and her happiness.

I'll admit that the happily ever afters fell into place a bit quicker and more conveniently than is realistic or likely to happen, but as I said, this is one of those special love stories, the kind that we hope for, the kind that happens through the magic of Christmas.

My sincerest thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy of this wonderful story!   

The Scottish Witch by Cathy Maxwell

This second book in Cathy Maxwell’s The Chattan Curse series – or is it a trilogy? – is more than just a romance novel, it's a wonderful love story that, once I started, I couldn't put down.

From the Cover:

Every woman has her dreams

Portia Maclean believes she is beyond love and marriage. Then one moonlit night, while attempting a daring masquerade in a desperate bid to protect her family, she finds herself swept off her feet by a powerful stranger. His very touch makes her long for much more. But what will he do once he discovers she has betrayed him?

Every man has his demons

Harry Chattan is fighting for his family-their honor and their lives. For two hundred years the Chattan men have been destroyed by love and now he's come to Scotland on the hunt for a witch who can break the legend's curse. Instead he finds himself bewitched by the tantalizing Portia. Determined to right legendary wrongs, Harry has vowed to fight the demons that torture him.

But will that battle destroy her as well?

Oh, how I loved this book! Given what we learned of Harry in Lyon’s Bride, I was pretty sure his story would be amazing, and I was right! That said, I had also worried that it would be dark – darker than I like to read – but thankfully, it wasn’t! Harry overcame most of his demons early on, and then resolved the things that were within his power to resolve, and left the rest in Fate's hands.

My favorite thing about these books is the profound message of love being the most important thing, for without it, nothing else matters. One by one this generation of Chattans are failing victim to the Chattan Curse, but refuse to give up, refuse to turn their backs on true love, no matter the cost. And. I. LOVE. That!!!!!

Up next is Margaret’s story. She’s Neal and Harry’s sister, and will not stand by while a bitter old witch destroys her family. She’s the Chattan’s last hope to break the curse, and I can’t wait to read all about how she does it in The Devil's Heart!!

The bottom line: The Scottish Witch is such a feel good story. Filled with hope, inspiration, romance and steamy goodness, it was everything I had hoped for, and more! Harry and Portia are amazing together, perfect for one another, and I love their happily ever after!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

To purchase the books in this series:

Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

 

At the stroke of midnight, the heat begins...

On a hot southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Until Midnight calls them home.

Savannah is the first one back, when a grueling case in Nashville leads the young prosecutor to seek shelter in the quiet of the once grand Wilde mansion. But when she finds letters casting doubt on her family’s dark, shameful past, she realizes that peace in Midnight is a shallow façade and sinister secrets lurk beneath the surface. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy, is now the new police chief and still has a wild hold over her. Zach can feel it, too, but he hurt Savannah once. As teenagers, they broke every rule together. Now it’s his job to keep her safe, even though he isn’t sure who her enemies are—or which ones might be his own.

*****

Midnight Secrets is the first book in Ella Grace’s Wildefire series, and opens with a tragic scene that absolutely broke my heart. Right from the start I was completely invested in the Wilde family, and desperate to know the truth of what happened that horrible night.

I really enjoy ‘second chance’ romances, especially when they’re written the way Midnight Secrets is. What I mean is that instead of just being told about the past through character reflection or dialog, we actually watch it unfold. We see the ‘murder-suicide’ as it takes place, and even though it was heartbreaking to watch, I was glad those details were given to us because it saved me a lot of anxiety throughout the rest of story. Then years later - but not yet in the present - we get an up close and personal glimpse at Savannah and Zach’s relationship, how it begins and how it ends too soon. I loved that it was written this way because, as I said, it pulled me in and I became connected to the family, invested in them and the learning the truth. And as much as I loved those parts, the present day story is just as good, just as compelling. This is such a well written mystery/romance, with wonderful characters and a storyline loaded with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing right to the very end.

Interestingly enough, I’ve been meaning to read Christy Reece’s writing ever since Pamela Clare – a truly amazing romantic suspense author – recommended her to me, but there’s always been one thing or another cropping up, and I just never got around to it. When I decided to read and review Midnight Secrets, I had no idea that Ella Grace is Christy Reece, but knowing it now, you can bet I’ll be picking up Ms. Reece’s Last Chance Rescue books, very soon.

The bottom line: Fast paced, intriguing, and sexy, romantic and fun, Midnight Secrets is an exciting story that no romantic suspense fan should miss! Savannah and Zach are fantastic together, and now I’m anxiously awaiting Samantha’s and Sabrina’s stories.

My thanks to Ballatine Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

 

Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern....

After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

*****

It Had to Be You, the latest addition to my Lucky Harbor addiction, further solidifies Jill Shalvis’ place on my list of top contemporary romance authors. Like all the books in the series, It Had to Be You is romantic, funny, and sexy, with a story that pulls you in and characters who keep you coming back for more, first page to the last.

Whenever I pick up a Lucky Harbor book I’m guaranteed to get a feel good story with people I care about. They make me smile, make me laugh, make me sigh, and sometimes even make me cry and, without a doubt, the time I spend reading is time well spent.

There are many things to love about It Had to Be You, but I think my favorite part of this story is how Luke and Ali, both people who are used to taking care of others and taking nothing for themselves, come together and give to each other exactly what they didn’t even know they were missing. I love their passion, their trials, their triumphs, but most importantly, I love their love!

The bottom line: If you haven’t yet read this series, stop whatever it is you’re doing, pick up the first book, Simply Irresistible, and find out what makes these stories so special. You don’t have to read them in order but so much of the pleasure that comes from these books is getting to know the people and places of Lucky Harbor, and then revisiting them all, time and time again. Trust me on this, you won’t be disappointed!

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review. As always, my visit to Lucky Harbor has been an absolute delight! 

All He Ever Dreamed by Shannon Stacey

Josh Kowalski is tired of holding down the fort—better known as the Northern Star Lodge—while his siblings are off living their dreams. Now that his oldest brother has returned to Whitford, Maine for good, Josh is free to chase some dreams of his own.

As the daughter of the lodge's longtime housekeeper, Katie Davis grew up alongside the Kowalski kids. Though she's always been "one of the guys", her feelings for Josh are anything but sisterly. And after a hot late-night encounter in the kitchen, it's clear Josh finally sees her as the woman she is.

Katie's been waiting years for Josh to notice her, but now that he has, she's afraid it's too late. Giving her heart to a man who can't wait to leave town is one sure way to have it broken. But Josh keeps coming up with excuses not to leave—could it be that everything he's ever wanted is closer than he could have imagined?

*****

All He Ever Dreamed is the sixth book in Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Family series and, start to finish, I couldn't put it down!

A little back story: I’ve absolutely loved every book in this series, but there’s been something about Josh that has been tugging at my heartstrings since I first set eyes on him. He’s the youngest of the Kowalski siblings and as each of the others left home to build their own lives, Josh’s life has seemed less and less in his control. Everyone’s assumed he’d run Northern Star Lodge, but they never asked if that’s what he wanted to do. He was becoming more and more frustrated and bitter, but then one day he got a lucky break – literally. He fell off a ladder and broke his leg. As his siblings come home to help with the lodge, they start to see that Josh isn't as happy to be there as they thought he was, and this is when he finally tells them how he really feels about being left behind to run the family business.

So that brings us to now...Josh’s story, and it’s every bit as emotional as I had expected, and Josh is every bit the honorable, devoted – and very sexy – man I knew he would be! There were times I wanted to smack him right upside his gorgeous head and knock some of the stubbornness out of him, and other times I wanted to bring him home and love him all better! Such a great, great man he’s turned out to be.

Katie Davis – I adore Katie. Her mom, Rosie, has been the Northern Star's housekeeper forever, so Katie grew up with the Kowalski kids. She’s been Josh’s best friend for as long as she can remember, but that friendship became something more - to her. She fell in love with him. Katie knows that in Josh’s eyes, she’s just “one of the guys” and she’s sure he’ll never see her any other way, but with a little encouragement from friends and family, she decides to pull out all the stops and make him see that she’s all woman, she’s all his, and always has been! And this made for some very funny, very romantic, and very sexy reading!

And as always, these stories wouldn't be nearly as fun as they are without revisiting the rest of the Kowalski friends, family and neighbors! It's always such a treat to catch up with them. They are caring, devoted, amazing people, people I can’t get enough of!

The bottom line: Contemporary Romance fans, Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Family series is not to be missed! These stories are sweet, sexy, emotional tales that are guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a sigh in heart!

My thanks to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. It’s been an absolute delight!

All He Ever Desired by Shannon Stacey

 

A second shot at first love…

After college, Ryan Kowalski decided to leave Whitford, Maine, rather than watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man. Now his siblings need his help to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge and he's forced to face the past sooner rather than later when he collars a vandal—and learns the boy is Lauren's son…

The last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. With a bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son, she has enough man trouble already. But her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong, even if Lauren has to escort him to Ryan's door every day to work off his crime.

With all this close contact, Ryan and Lauren can't deny the chemistry between them is as powerful as ever. But can a few searing kisses erase their past and pave the way for a second chance at true love?

*******

All He Ever Desired is the fifth book in the Kowalski Family series and another enjoyable story. I can tell you, without hesitation, that Shannon Stacey is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and this series is must read for me. The stories are sweet, passionate, humorous, and often focus on valuable lessons, reminding us of what is most important in life; Love, family and integrity.

There are so many things to love about this story! Revisiting the Kowalski clan as they come together for Paige and Mitch’s wedding made for some fun times. Watching Rose and Andy grow closer – Rose’s snarky (for Rose) comments and Andy’s obvious affection for her. Meeting Lauren’s troubled teen age son, Nick, and getting a glimpse into the man he’ll become. And most especially, Ryan and Lauren, the stars of this story.

Ironically, my favorite part of this story is also my least favorite. Like the cover blurb tells us, a lot of years have passed since Ryan made Lauren an offer she was obviously able to refuse, and both moved on with their lives, though neither ever forgot the other. Circumstances have brought them together again, so with all those years behind them and nothing to stop them, they’re finally ready to take a chance on each other and see what the future might hold.

And this is why it's my favorite part: I loved how real it felt. How we watched their struggle - Ryan's to approach Lauren again after having already been shot down once. It might have been 16 years ago, but the wound she inflicted to his pride, and his heart, is still fresh. And Lauren's struggle to take a chance and allow someone into her life again, especially a man like Ryan Kowalski who makes her feel things no one, not even her ex husband, had ever made her feel.

And this is why it's my least favorite part: It's heartwarming, at times poignant and inspirational, but by the very nature of this story, it also causes some lag in the flow and pacing. Not to the point of distraction, mind you, but for me it was there and that's the only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read.

So now I'm very much looking forward to Josh's story and finding out if he can make his own dreams come true. He's been the one person holding everything together while everyone else was off following their own dreams and now it's his time to shine. And then there's Liz's story, too. That girl's had it rough and it's time that she have a chance at love, whether she realizes she wants it or not.

The bottom line: Like all the books in this series, All He Ever Desired is a romantic, steamy, funny, feel good story. The devotion to family and community gives these books that small town feel that I adore, and the characters - their lives and loves - are what keeping me coming back for more.

My thanks to netgalley.com and Carina Press for providing me with a copy of this book for review. As always, it was a pleasure.

The Devil's Match by Victoria Vane

Once burned twice shy… but when old flames come together…passion reignites...

The Devil’s Match is the fourth and final book in Victoria Vane’s The Devil DeVere series and such a fitting end to Vic and Diana’s story. It's true what they say about "opposites attract" because never have two people been so poorly suited, and yet, so perfectly matched!

When burned once…

Arriving in London as her goddaughter's chaperone, Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley wants to avoid her erstwhile lover at all costs. Once nearly consumed by passion, four years has reduced the former inferno to bitterness and ashes.

By an old flame...

A world-weary master of seduction, Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere is bored with his chosen life of debauchery. When Diana's charge disappears, she is forced to seek help from the devil's lair, and their mutual desire reignites with undeniable ferocity.

Fire is best fought with fire…

While DeVere is hell-bent to have her back for keeps, Diana is equally determined to bring him to his knees…by acquiring some sensual secrets of her own.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this story! Vic and Diana are fabulous together, their banter, the sexual tension… loved it! And it was such a treat to spend time with Ned and Phoebe, and Hew and Vesta, while getting even deeper into the very hearts and minds of Vic and Diana.

One of the things I most love about these stories is that Victoria Vane provides just enough period detail to make her readers feel like we’re actually there, not merely reading a story, but living it. A part of it. Many authors write historical romance, but not many do it as well as this author does. And can I just mention, this book has one of the steamiest, most sensual and sexually intimate scenes I’ve read. Beautiful and very, very hot.

The bottom line: Over the course of the series I’ve come to adore Vic and Diana, though at times I wasn’t sure how that could possibly happen. Silly me, I should have never doubted Ms. Vane’s ability to weave a tale sure to draw me in and hold on tight, right to the very end. The Devil’s Match is a funny, heartwarming, passionate ‘end’ to Vic and Diana’s story, and though I was left with a smile on my face, I’m also a bit sad that their tale is complete!

4.5/5 stars

My thanks to Breathless Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

Forever and a Day is the sixth book in the Lucky Harbor series and I am at a loss for words to express how I felt about this story. In all my reviews of Jill Shalvis’ books I use the same words: sexy, passionate, beautiful, wonderful, heartwarming, feel good, magical… and all of those words apply to this story, too.

Love can happen in a heartbeat.

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

I absolutely adore this story… the entire series, in fact. But of the last three books, this is my favorite. There was something special about Grace, something I didn't notice in the earlier books, but something I deeply admired and appreciated. Her strength, her compassion... incredible. But the way she gave Josh whatever he needed, whether he realized he needed it or not? Well, that unconditional devotion made her one of my favorite heroines in the series. And Josh, a man who cared for others, selflessly, even to his own detriment. But a wonderful father, brother, lover... and so, so real. Not a commando or black ops specialist... just a normal guy. The kind of man you really could meet in the grocery store or dropping kids off at school, and I loved that about him! An everyday Hero, but just as hot and sexy as any "dangerous" hero I've read before.

The bottom line: Yep, no surprises here! Jill Shalvis has done it again. With a great story and amazing characters she made me fall in love with Lucky Harbor all over again. If there's really such a place, someone please let me know, because I'd be there in a heartbeat. Who doesn't want that kind of magic in their life?

My sincerest thank you to netgalley.com and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, it's been a pleasure.