Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts

Monday, October 14, 2013

How to Tame a Wild Fireman by Jennifer Bernard


The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel have a rebel among them, and there's only one woman who can put his flames out.

Firefighter Patrick "Psycho" Callahan earns his nickname every day. Fast, fit, and a furious worker, he thrives on the danger which helps him forget a near-tragedy that changed his life forever. But when his off-duty carousing gets out of hand, Patrick is sent back to Loveless, Nevada, where the wildfire threatening his hometown has nothing on sizzling Dr. Lara Nelson.

Lara would rather be thought of as the physician who returned to Loveless than as the misfit brought up at a hippie New Age commune. But right now she's focused on her job at hand, patching up injured firemen...until the past hits her in the hard-muscled, blue-eyed form of Patrick Callahan. Now, the embers of their decade-old attraction have ignited into a full-on inferno, as the bad-boy firefighter and the good doctor take a walk on the wild side they'll never forget.

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Romantic, Passionate, Poignant and Engaging!

How to Tame a Wild Fireman is the fourth book in Jennifer Bernard’s totally awesome The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series. All the books are fun, sexy, romantic… but there’s always a level of poignancy that brings out the “need to take him home and love him all better” in me.

The Story:

This time the man in need of my tender loving care is Patrick “Psycho” Callahan. For ten years he’s been blaming himself for an accident that almost took the life of his mildly autistic, deaf brother. As the older, more mature sibling, he's supposed to be watching after Liam, not getting him into dangerous situations, and if Patrick had been doing his job, the accident would never have happened. Or so Patrick keeps telling himself. And to further prove his fault, Patrick’s dad, ex-governor of Patrick’s home town of Loveless, Nevada, is an arrogant, blow-hard of man who tosses Patrick not just out of the family home, but out of the family, period. With nothing to lose, thinking there's no one who cares, Patrick has more than earned his “Psycho” nickname. After one stunt too many, Captain Brody gives Patrick just what he needs - a chance to burn off some steam - by sending him to Nevada to help with the out of control fires that are threatening Loveless.

Lara Nelson grew up in Loveless, best friends with Liam Callahan. As Patrick’s younger brother, and always under Patrick's watchful eye, the three of them spent a lot of time together until the accident changed everything. She doesn’t totally understand why Patrick left the family the way he did, but it is what it is, and what it isn't is her business. Ten years have past since the accident, and Lara is settled, practicing Family Medicine at a San Diego hospital. Her life is right on track, but she gets a call that the aunt who raised her has passed away and, much to Lara’s chagrin, she’s the heir to all of Aunt Tam’s worldly goods.

Having no choice, Lara returns home to settle the estate, then jumps right into the thick of things, lending her medical expertise to helping care for injured firefighters working the blazes threatening Loveless. But working this closely with Patrick, Lara finds herself in a whole different kind of “thick of things.”

My Review:

Like I said, I really love these books. They’re not just sexy, they’re truly engaging stories. The characters… their lives, their loves, their trials and their triumphs… every one of these “cursed” firemen are amazing, tormented, lovable people in need of women strong enough to put up with them. What? It’s true! These guys aren’t perfect, but they’re close enough for me! And the stories are always entertaining without being too fluffy or over-the-top dramatic!

Ms. Bernard is one talented author and, lucky for us, she puts that talent to work giving us stories we can get lost in and happily ever afters we can believe in.

My thanks to Avon Book and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, October 11, 2013

One for the Wicked by Karina Cooper



In this thrilling finale to Karina Cooper's Dark Mission series, New Seattle's witches will rise again…or fall forever.

Dr. Kayleigh Lauderdale possesses the only cure for what's killing the city's witches. Desperate to acquire it, the resistance sends their best agent, but Shawn Lowe has his own agenda, and it doesn't include saving anyone—least of all, the daughter of his sworn enemy. He has to ignore the blistering attraction he feels the instant they meet, because he can't give in until he gets what he wants. He just never counted on wanting her…

Kayleigh can't believe how out of control Shawn makes her feel. He lies to her with one breath and excites her beyond reason the next. A reckless encounter could steal her heart, while the danger hovering over the city may prove too much for either of them to handle. When the world turns upside down, it will take everything Kayleigh and Shawn have to hold on…to life, to hope, to each other.

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One for the Wicked is the fifth book in Karina Cooper’s incredible Dark Mission series. It's the perfect balance of paranormal, urban fantasy, and suspense with a hard fought, well earned, happily ever after.


I was given books 4 and 5 to review and I wish I had taken the time to go back and read from the beginning. The plot is quite complex, and this is one of those series that, to be truly understood and appreciated for the masterpiece it is, needs to be read in order. But that said, One for the Wicked is an engaging story filled with twists and turns and characters who, no matter their role, are compelling people who drive this story, start to finish. It’s edgy, exciting, intriguing, complex, romantic, passionate… it’s a truly brilliant finale to the series.

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



Thursday, February 28, 2013

Kiss Me Anthology


Sometimes anthologies are perfect for my mood, and this collection of three fun, romantic, and sexy contemporary stories were exactly what I've been looking for!

The Trouble With Sexy by Codi Gary

This was a fun, romantic, sexy story about a boss and his employee who become friends, then much more. I enjoyed this and felt the author did a great job of giving us an awesome story with wonderful characters. We get a happily ever after that didn't feel rushed, which can sometimes be an issue with novellas, but not this one! There are a couple of others characters who are just begging to have their stories told, and I hope it happens. I'm looking forward to more by Ms. Gary!

Are You Lonesome Tonight by Cheryl Harper

Julie Dillon and Luke Pearce are co-workers on their way home from a business trip when they find themselves snowed in, sharing a hotel room themed after anything and everything Elvis. It’s such a fun story! I wish Julie had been less grumbly, but in the end she came around in a very clever way, and that's what matters most! Ms. Harper writes a cute, witty and definitely steamy story!

Love, Guns, and Heart Shaped Chocolate by Jaclyn Hatcher

This story isn't at all what I was expecting, but awesome, all the same. Katie had planned to spend her Valentine’s Day alone, watching movies and drowning her sorrows in chocolate, but her best friend’s brother has other ideas! Before they know it, they’re running for their lives in this fast paced romantic suspense that’s plenty sexy, and fun! Logan and Katie are great together, and with other characters, Will and Tracy, there's the potential for more exciting reading!

Three debut authors, three thoroughly entertaining Valentine's Day stories!

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.