I'm Not Tired Yet by Marianne Richmond

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Total: 20
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Childrens
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Blurb: For every parent whose child won't settle into bed without a dozen excuses, here is an adorable bedtime story that makes us laugh with recognition from beloved, award-winning author Marianne Richmond. With her signature heartfelt illustrations and whimsical text, I'm Not Tired Yet! helps every parent ease their child off to dreamland. I'm Not Tired Yet! inspires a playful, endearing bedtime routine that leaves kids and grownups looking forward to nighttime, no matter how strong the allure of playtime.



Review: Imaginative and creative, this fun bedtime tale not only brought a smile to my face but brought laughter and giggles to my children when I read it to them.

A fresh story that tackles the dreaded bedtime woe's of the child that isn't wuite ready for bed when mom says it's time. Whimsical pictures that brough a layer of delight to the kids. Nifty hugs and kisses that made us all find the fun in the moments leading up to the lights going off.

Ms Richmond has done a wonderfl job with this terrific poetic story. I can't wait to grab her next story for my family collection.

All Systems Optimal by Angela Daniels

Story: 8
Presentation: 7
Total: 15
Publisher: New Dawning International Bookfair  
Sci-Fi Erotic
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Blurb: Tage is facing banishment from the planet he calls home, and the only two humans who call him friend. He’s not suppose to care. It’s not part of his programming. But as his departure gets closer he’s plagued with unfamiliar sensations and thoughts that can only be described as erotic. All aimed at Sean and Lolly. On his last night with them will he discover he’s capable of love, only to have to say goodbye?


Review: Ok, so I took a chance on this one.  I have to say with only going off of the cover art and title, I was pleasantly pleased.

Tage, is an Android having un-programmed emotions... and it is his ruggedly sexy best friend, Ian, and his incurable flirt girlfriend, Lolly, that those lustful emotion are reacting to.  Tomorrow, he is scheduled to be exiled on another planet.  But that is tomorrow, and this is tonight. Tonight, Tage has accepted his ability to feel emotions and is finally able to share them with the two people he realizes he loves.  Sensations flair as this tryst's passion erupts.  Now can they get what they want the most? A whole new life, together?

Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee

Story: 5.5
Presentation: 5.5
Total: 11
Publisher: Catherine Bybee
Contemporary Romance
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Blurb: Blake Harrison:

Rich, titled, and charming… And in need of a wife by Wednesday so he turns to Sam Elliot who isn’t the business man he expected. Instead, Blake is faced with Samantha Elliot, engaging and spunky with a voice men call 900 numbers to hear.

Samantha Elliot:

Owner of Alliance, her matchmaking firm, and not on the marital menu... That is until Blake offers her ten million dollars for a one-year contract. All she needs to do is keep her attraction to her husband to herself and avoid his bed. But Blake’s toe-curling kisses and charm prove too difficult to combat. Now she needs to protect her heart so she can walk away when their mercenary life together is over.

Review: I was really excited to check this book out. As soon as it arrived in my inbox I immediately saved and opened the PDF....and fell flat on my face.

As a general rule I am a fan of the marriage-of-convenience romance plot. Even though most are a lot alike, I still dig them. But this one for me just didn't measure up to the hype. Clunky sentences bogged down the flow. Editing issues ran rampant. Several scenes just seemed to be missing the B in the A to C journey.

I was scratching my head at times about the apparent massive concern of the hero about the heroine just after this temporary marriage began. Not that it would have been a bad thing if he had questioned why he was suddenly experiencing the strong feelings toward her, but he never did.

While I thought the story was cute and had great potential, I think that with stronger editing it would have really made this one shine. There were a few to many spots where things just felt awkward or a step was missing or emotions seemed forced.

It wasn't a total wash though. In the end everything works out and I was left with a good feeling even though the journey was a little bumpy. The story line was cute, but as I said, I think that with more editing it really would have been breathtaking.

The Fever and the Fury by Stephanie Draven

Story: 8
Presentation: 9
Total: 17
Publisher: Harlequin
Paranormal Romance
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Blurb: She's already killed him twice this week.

Phaedra, a fury, is bound to make Lieutenant Luke Lazaros atone for his supposed crime, but her usual method of inflicting pain doesn't work very well on a phoenix with the power to be reborn every time he dies. However, each rebirth leaves him with an overwhelming need for sex. Phaedra's new plan: to drive Luke mad with desire....

But Phaedra has never touched anyone—even herself—except to cause pain. She's an innocent when it comes to pleasure...but Luke isn't. His touch is a revelation, arousing a passion in Phaedra that is as delicious as it is terrifying. For no matter how much she wants Luke, giving herself to a man risks awakening her goddess's wrath....

Review: From the very first words I was sucked in. Finished this one in a single sitting only hours after getting it. KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!!!!

First let me tell you why I gave it an 8. While I really enjoyed the story, when I got to the end...well, it just didn't feel like the end. It was like there was another chapter or two left that I didn't ge to read.

HOWEVER, After reading the last two pages a second time I realized that this really was the end. Both characters had come to a solution that worked for them and they were willing to deal with. The journey to say the least kept my attention and left me breathless. I love love love stories like this one. Where the paranormal aspect is not vamp or were or demon or angel but fury...one that really should be utilized a bit more. A real work of art that I could totally see getting great marks and starting a series.

For Kenyon Minions like myself, the Greek throwback really made me happy but again....I WANT MORE :)

Inherited Slave by DL Shorts

Story: 9

Presentation: 9

Total: 18

Publisher: Pink Satin Press

Erotica BDSM Menage

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Blurb: Carla signed a contract to be Jim's slave for a year. Things couldn't be better...but sometimes things change.

Review: Got a few minutes? Well I suggest you jump into Carla's life at this exact moment of her year long contract to her Master, and his friend. Let the next few minutes of Carla's situation have you squirming in your seat. This little down and dirty quickie will spike your temperature.

Besides, what are friends for if not to share? ;-)

Dragon's Fall - Bondage by D L Summers

Story:  7
Presentation:  7
Total:  14
Publisher: Sinful Moments Press
Paranormal
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Blurb: Dragon's Fall is a five novella series based on the DL Summers' successful novel, Vampires of the Scarlet Order. Together these erotic, paranormal romances will create a complete story that begins in ancient Greece and culminates in 15th century Transylvania.

Bondage, the first book in the series, set in Hellenistic Athens, is the story of the slave Alexandra. Sold to Theron, a mysterious banker, she wonders about her new master who is never seen during the day. As time goes on, she notices that slaves called upon to serve Theron in his chamber in the night do not return the next morning.

When Alexandra's turn comes she learns Theron is a vampire who binds his slaves, takes his pleasure with them, then drinks their blood. She refuses to be a victim, but as she fights his embrace, Alexandra ingests some of Theron’s blood. Now a vampire herself, she becomes Theron's concubine. Yet even as she learns the ways of the vampire, Alexandra yearns for freedom

Review: This little novella gives you something to sink your teeth into from the beginning.   Tragedy. Lust. Success.   It has an interesting way introducing Alexandra and the major events of her life that have led her to being a recently turned vampire, that has just killed her Master.  Which leaves me curious as to what will happen next in this series?

A Ghost of a Chance by Minnette Meador

Story: 5
Presentation: 6
Total: 11
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Erotic Paranormal, suspense, romantic comedy
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Blurb: Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable—until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene, and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive—or with his heart intact.


Review: Imagine your life was filled with ghosts. They're everywhere. They show up when you least expect it, and they definitely show up when you don't want them to. Keenan Swanson has this problem, and this is his story.

The first third of the book took me awhile to get fully invested. It felt like the scenes jumped around too much, and there were times I was reading a flashback, going back in time to parts of Keenan's life that I wasn't even sure had relevance to the story. But about a third of the way, the plot and pace picked up, and my interest perked up.

The book is full of situations that got a giggle out of me, and the characters, especially the ghosts, were intriguing and fun. All around this was a pretty fun story, once you get past a slow beginning. I like a good paranormal story that has ghosts in it.

Scrumptious by Amanda Usen

Story: 9.5
Presentation: 10
Total: 19.5
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Contemporary Romance
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Blurb: Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?      

Review: I LOVE to cook. Love to watch cooking shows. Love reality TV that has to do with cooking. I am a food junkie. And a book junkie. So what better than when my two favorite things get paired together in a mouthwatering tale that just rocks my world :) NOTHING!!!

Amazing, funny, captivating and brilliant. There just really isn't anything else I can say about this book...did I say amazing? Well, it was. Hot from the first page, the fire never sputtered, never flickered and kept me drawn in. I was in awe to say the least.

*SNAPS* to Ms Usen, you knocked it out of the park :) I can't wait to read more from you :)

My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Total: 20
Publisher: Harper Collins
Historical Romance
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Blurb: The Inferno Club: To London Society, they’re notorious for their scandalous pursuits. In private, these warriors would risk their lives for king and country.

His brother warriors fear the Earl of Westwood has turned traitor, but Emily Harper knows this is impossible for the man she has loved since childhood . . . as impossible as a marriage between them could ever be—she, the gamekeeper’s daughter and he, a bold and adventurous nobleman.

Driven by hatred and revenge, Westwood is playing a deadly game of deception, bent on destroying the enemy’s dark conspiracy from the inside, and he’s furious when Emily plunges herself into danger for his sake. Forced into close quarters, their long-suppressed desire explodes into all-consuming passion.

Emily knows her love can save him . . . but Westwood is a man who doesn’t want to be saved.

Review: OMG! I was blown away :)

This was one of those books that from the second you open the cover (or in my case the Kindle) the vortex just sucks you in and you are unable to escape...not that you would want to. Fast paced, action packed, lusty and romantic, everything was there to make this a superb novel.

And it was :) So much so that I finished it in a single evening...then found myself wishing I had read slower so I could have enjoyed the journey longer. Without a doubt, this will be one that I read many more times before I tire of it...If I ever do :)

*SNAPS* to Gaelen Foley for being totally awesome :)

Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom

Story: 9
Presentation: 9
Toal: 18
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Paranormal
To Purchase

Blurb: A MADHOUSE IS NO PLACE FOR A CURIOUS WITCH...

After more than a century, Doctor Lili Carter, witch healer extraordinaire, has returned to San Francisco and taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, where something peculiar and wicked his happening. Patients are disappearing, and Lil wants to know why.

AND DOUBLY DANGEROUS FOR A DEMON...

Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all—a demented but seriously sexy demon named Jared. What's behind the gorgeous chameleon demon's late-night escapades?

Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other—and creating a whole new kind of magic.
Review: This is not the first of Ms Wisdom's books that I have read and I can tell you that it will not be the last. Full of action, super sexy men, some fiery demons and enough sexual tension to lite a forest on fire, these books should come with a combustible warning label :)

I never fair to be amazed at just how far the envelope can be pushed without tearing the seams, and I love it. I am a sucker for a good, hot, well written paranormal and I get that every time with this author.

As stand alone's or read back to back, I have no doubt that Ms Wisdom's take on the paranormal will thrill even the most critical paranormal lover :)