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Cake by Lauren Dane

September 13, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’d heard good things about this novella, which is part of the Cosmo Red Hot Reads line from Harlequin, launched this month so I requested a review copy via NetGalley. Cake releases on September 15 but is available for pre-order now.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) She won’t be satisfied with just one bite…

Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more.

But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I must admit that this book had a lot more story than I was expecting. This probably says something about me more than anything, but I was kind of expecting to jump straight to the sex and for there to be not much characterisation. Something about it being a “Red-Hot Read” perhaps? I’m happy to say I was wrong. There is a story and the pair don’t just jump into bed. There’s sexual tension and flirting but the reader is given a chance to get to know the characters a bit before there is any horizontal tango-ing. There are some books which jump straight to the sex and that can work fine for me – and, it is to be noted that I requested this book even with those expectations. The story is short – about 87 pages so there isn’t a lot of time for huge backstory and character development but I thought the author used the page count cleverly to introduce two characters to me and make me believe their happy ending.

I’m Over at AudioGals…

September 11, 2013 / Kaetrin

with a review of Ann Aguirre’s latest, Perdition, narrated by Kate Reading. I have found a new author with a huge backlist. *happy dance*

For all the detail, go here.

Risk & Reward by Alisha Rai

September 10, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I enjoyed the first one in this series and bought the second as soon as it was released. Warning *mild spoilers for Play With Me*

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) The greater the risk…

Older. Wiser. Hotter. Months after reuniting with the man who loved her – and left her – a decade ago, Tatiana Belikov is determined not to let their wicked games blind her to the danger of repeating history. If that means biting her tongue, so be it. After all, she does get to bite him.

Wyatt Caine never thought Tatiana would be back in his cards, but he’s not ready to question his luck. Between the sheets he knows exactly how to make her naughty fantasies come true: rough and tumble, with an extra serving of dirty. Communicating outside of the bedroom? Not always so easy.

The city’s bright lights can’t compare to their passion, burning hot enough to singe them both. But when the harsh glare of reality exposes long-inflicted wounds, Wyatt and Tatiana have to decide if they want to play it safe…or risk it all.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): At the end of Play With Me, we left Tatiana and Wyatt reunited and trying a long distance relationship. Risk & Reward picks up some six months later. They have been seeing each other regularly and are having lots of fun together but each is a bit careful around the other, preferring to avoid potential problems out of fear they will return to their old patterns of arguing, leading to a breakup neither wants.

Uncommon Pleasure by Anne Calhoun

September 8, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I enjoyed Liberating Lacey and Breath on Embers (from last year’s Red Hot Holiday anthology) and I’d heard good things about this book. I bought up an ecopy with a Kobo coupon recently. The next book in the series has just been released. It is called Uncommon Passion. I’ve heard great things about that one too, but I’m waiting for another coupon.

I’ve also put a digital book from her backlist on my wishlist – On the Edge is a novella which features Ty (hero of the first story in this anthology) and John Langley and Lucy Malone.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) From a “fresh and imaginative” (“The Romance Studio”) voice in erotic romance come the tales of two women, each daring to challenge the boundaries of the toughest of men…But in these edgy, heated encounters, the greatest thing each woman will risk is her heart.

“Over the Edge,” – after a tragic incident during Ty Hendricks’ last tour of duty, he cut off all connection with anyone he cares about–until a night with Lauren Kincaid draws him reluctantly back into the world. Lauren sees a wounded man in danger of losing everything to his inner demons, but the sensual, no-holds-barred fight for Ty’s soul could cost Lauren her heart.

“All on the Line,” – Abby Simmons fell hard for Lieutenant Sean Winthrop, but he sacrificed their relationship when he deployed to Afghanistan. Now he’s home, full of regrets and intent on winning back the woman he never forgot. Abby gives Sean her body but holds her heart aloof, until one night of pleasure forces her to choose either her U.S. Marine…or life without him, forever.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Over the Edge is the first novella in the anthology. Ty Hendricks is a roughneck working on an oil rig. He was a Marine and served in Afghanistan. His skill set is mainly around people management. He can identify where people work and fit best, when something is wrong and how to manage it, etc etc. However, he has basically shut down as a result of PTSD following his last deployment. He wants no emotions to creep in – both in his sexual liaisons and his friendships with former-Marine buddies John Langley (owner of Langley Security) and Sean Winthrop. Lauren Kincaid is a petroleum geologist who flies out to the oil rig where Ty is working. Over the course of a few days on the rig, Lauren sees enough of Ty to become intrigued and desirous. After they get back to the mainland, she propositions him and he, even knowing that there was no way it would just be an anonymous, meaningless hookup (no matter how hard he tries), accedes. Lauren sees, she thinks, the man underneath the armour of disinterest and is curious to know him. To her credit, Lauren doesn’t think she can heal Ty, but she does see that he is in need of it and it takes a lot of effort on his behalf to successfully push her away. When not working on the oil rig, Ty helps our his friend John in his security business. They had been supposed to open the business together but after events in his last deployment, Ty wanted to be separate from everyone and changed his mind. Sean, also on furlough is also helping out and they end up doing some industrial surveillance in the same business park where Lauren is based. The book was sexy and hot and I liked how sexually free Lauren was and how the story (both of them actually) was not at all slut-shamey. Both stories feature a menage even though the HEA is with just two people. In this one, Ty suggests a threesome to Lauren (with Sean) as a way of shocking her into leaving only to be surprised when Lauren not only says yes, but really gets into it.

I’m Over at AudioGals…

September 7, 2013 / Kaetrin

with a review of the third book in Jessica Sims’ Midnight Liaisons series, Must Love Fangs, narrated by Leah Mallach. I liked it but there was one thing that made me roll my eyes. Go here to see what it was.

Author Spaces, Reader Spaces & A New Review Policy

September 5, 2013 / Kaetrin

I’ve been pondering the various spaces we occupy lately and the spaces we share with others, especially as readers, bloggers and authors. I think authors and readers ~~can~~ should share spaces. Generally, it’s a good thing. After all, we share a love of books and reading. I enjoy interacting with authors online and at various blogs. I like seeing authors commenting on blogs (but not on reviews of their own books). Many authors blog and, in the last year or so, more than a few bloggers in my tweetstream have become or are in the process of becoming published authors. The spaces which were designated “reader spaces” are filled with authors – because they are readers too. And I think that’s okay. I like it. I am fortunate that I don’t follow (not for long anyway) authors who abuse readers or reviewers. The authors I interact with online know that they are not their books and liking or not liking their book is not the same as liking or not liking them as people. I know there are badly behaving authors out there – they get discussed often enough on Twitter, but, for the most part, I’m not playing in the sandbox with them.

Authors can review and blog and bloggers can become authors if they want to. I like the wild mix of interaction we have. I like seeing authors commenting on blog posts and reviews and I often enjoy posts written by authors, be they opinion pieces, news posts, random musings or book reviews. And maybe it’s small of me but I do get a kick out of being followed back by an author I like. Of sharing opinions and silly jokes and LOLcats with people I admire. And there are few things I like better than discussing romance books. Books are so precious to me that the people who write them do inspire awe. A little bit.