Entwined by Colette Gale

Entwined (Serial book 1)

by Colette Gale

Book Blurb:
When not-as-proper-as-one-would-think Victorian woman Jane Clemons convinces her father to take her on an expedition in the jungle, her only goal is to find her lover Jonathan, who disappeared three years earlier. She and her father, along with Jonathan’s trusted friend Kellan Darkdale, set off on their journey.
But shortly after their party arrives on the coast of Madagascar, Jane finds herself enthralled not only by the freedom and beauty of the lush jungle, but a reclusive wild man who seems to be fascinated by her.

ENTWINED is a novella (about 80 pages). It’s the first in a series that will follow Jane Clemons and her explicit, erotic adventures in the jungle.

First let me start off and say I hate serial books. Totally hate them. However I did bite at Entwined for two reasons. One, it was free. Second, it was a Tarzan and Jane book. I have always been so intrigued with Tarzan and Jane and I thought there certainly isn't any harm is downloading a freebie from Amazon.

I wasn't disappointed but I also wasn't thrilled either. I would bet if I read this story as a full length novel, I'd have liked it a whole bunch more. One of the reasons I despise serial books is because each book leaves off on a cliffhanger and you are forced to buy the next installment to read on. I really really reallllly hate that. It is such a turn off for me. I'd rather have spent $5 and got the entire book than a grabby grab for a continuous purchases. Oh well, I knew that going in so I shouldn't really complain. Good on the author for letting it been known in the book blurb that it is a serial book before you buy. 

The writing was really good. Great descriptions. Easy to follow and even though it was a novella, I got to know the characters pretty fast. Since it is an erotic novella, there are a few great steamy scenes. Of course you have to read further into the series to get the smoking steamy scenes. 

Couldn't go wrong for a free purchase but the carrot that was dangled in front of my face at the end did not entice me to move on to the next book. 

The Space Between by Diana Gabaldon

The Space Between (Outlander book 7.5)

By Diana Gabaldon

Book Blurb:
Joan MacKimmie is on her way to Paris to take up her vocation as a nun. Yet her decision is less a matter of faith than fear, for Joan is plagued by mysterious voices that speak of the future, and by visions that mark those about to die. The sanctuary of the nunnery promises respite from these unwanted visitations . . . or so she prays. Her chaperone is Michael Murray, a young widower who, though he still mourns the death of his wife, finds himself powerfully drawn to his charge. But when the time-traveling Comte St. Germain learns of Joan’s presence in Paris, and of her link to Claire Fraser—La Dame Blanche—Murray is drawn into a battle whose stakes are not merely the life but the very soul of the Scotswoman who, without even trying, has won his heart.

I haven't a clue what to rate The Space Between. Just because it was written by my favourite author doesn't mean the book automatically receives a 5 star from me. To be honest, after reading The Space Between, I did a lot of head scratching and saying, "huh?"

I certainly finished the story with more questions than I had going into it. I think I need to read this novella a second time. When Diana Gabaldon makes a point to write something, it usually means that I need to remember something for the future. 

The Space Between is not a romance nor is it historical fiction. It is a...what the heck was it? A filler? A puzzler? A definite head scratcher. 

I did really like that Joan MacKimmie seems to be a seer of some sort. I think there is a lot of story that can be created with that bit of added knowledge. Michael only lost his wife a month previous so the poor man is still very much in mourning. My heart ached for him. I loved that Diana provided flashback memories of Michael with his wife as we got to meet her and miss her along with him. 

Master Raymond reappears and so does the Comte St. Germain. You may remember them from the long ago Paris days with Jamie and Claire. Lots and lots of questions about The Space Between is generated because of these two. I am not going to spoil anything but I did say out loud, "What the heck?" more than a few times. 

I can't say that I LOVED it, nor did I not like it. So for me, a 3 star is a good rating since I liked it. 

Ruined by Tracy Wolff

Ethan Frost and Chloe Girard's book



Ruined (Ethan Frost book 1)

By Tracy Wolff

Book Blurb:
He’s the last man Chloe Girard should love . . . but the first she ever could.

Ethan Frost is a visionary, a genius, every woman’s deepest, darkest fantasy—even mine. And, somehow, I am his.

He stole into my life like a dream. Turned my reality upside down and made my every desire come true—especially those I never knew I had. He demanded everything I had to give and gave me everything of himself in return.

But dreams don’t last forever, and ours is no exception. Because my nightmares are darker, and my wounds deeper, than I could ever reveal. And as much as Ethan wants to protect me, the secrets we we share will only tear us apart.

Ruined is being heavily marketed in the same bucket as Fifty Shades and Bared to You but I am not seeing the connection other than a super rich young billionaire and a tortured past. (But geez how many romances include that formula?)

I love a first person point of view story but if you read Ruined, you are going to spend a lot of time in Chloe's head. The entire book was pretty much her thoughts, her feelings and what secrets she is debating on sharing. I wasn't sure before what the difference was with "New Adult" books but now I understand. The maturity level is definitely evident. Chloe is young. She spends a lot of time worrying about what people with think. She has trust issues and when she finally reveals her past it is only in bits and leaves out major gaps. She also jumps to conclusions quickly. Basically I found a lack of maturity with Chloe; however it was actually quite realistic for her age. 

Chloe had a horrible event occur while she was a teenager and not enough time has happened between that horrific event and her current age. With only 5 years separating that dramatic event to the present day, I could really see how she still had a lot of healing to overcome. It sure seemed pretty obvious that Chloe should still be seeking counselling of some sort. 

Ethan of course is perfect. Body perfect. Rich perfect. Grounded. Smart. A surfer. A philanthropist. Knows exactly what to say and when to say it. Sexy. Hot. Knows the perfect romantic gifts to send and to top it all off, he knows how to build a sand castle. My eyes were rolling with how unrealistic Ethan was. In fact, his perfection was almost nauseating. I think that is one struggle I have with these billionaire stories. Ethan is so perfect in everything he does and to top it off, he seems to know how to handle an emotional train wreck of woman. 

Truthfully, I was not really enjoying Ruined but not enough to stop reading. Everything was so cliched and there wasn't any originality. Until the end. Until that cliff hanger. And now dammit, I have to wait until July to read what happens. I hate cliffhangers. 

Silent Partner by Renee Vincent

Grayson Anders and Chloe LaRoche's book



Silent Partner

By Renee Vincent

Book Blurb:
Grayson Anders has it all. He's the co-owner of a happening nightclub in downtown Boston, he's wealthy, and women practically throw themselves at his feet the moment he steps on the dance floor. But profiting from these obvious benefits is not his desire. His passion is dancing and he wants nothing more than to find the perfect dance partner. 

Chloe LaRoche is a talented artist, but a failing entrepreneur. Her once thriving studio is now on the brink of foreclosure and unless she paints the next Van Gogh Starry Night, she'll have to cut her losses and say goodbye to her quaint little gallery. Fearing her career is at an end, she drags herself to the local hotspot, determined to drown her worries in the bottom of a shot glass. At least that was the plan...until she lays eyes on a wickedly sexy, swarthy dancer in the club-Grayson Anders. Unable to resist, Chloe finds herself in Grayson's arms, indulging on a passionate, out-of-control, one night stand. And when both awaken the next morning, they are consumed with inspiration. Grayson finds his perfect dance partner and Chloe finally finds her muse. But will her secret destroy both their dreams?

Silent Partner was one of the novels in an eight ebook bundle deal for only .99, Unfortgettable Heroes. 


What a great concept for a story Silent Partner was. I have to admit that when I started reading it I was thinking something was going to be a bit different about the Chloe since she seemed to be pretty silent for a heroine. The reader is treated to a lot of what Chloe is thinking but not much in the way of verbal. Of course when we first meet Chloe, it is at a night club where the music is blasting and talking is usually at a minimum anyways. 

Grayson is sexy. He completely knows he owns the floor with his dance moves and all the women there want him. It was a toss up between whether he was super confident or completely arrogant. When he starts to gyrate and dance with Chloe, I could picture the pair of them right in front of my eyes. 

When Grayson leads Chloe to his apartment above the night club, it was a very sexy read. I loved that he carried the shot glasses in his hands and all the descriptions that were used to get them to the bedroom. Hot!

Without adding too many spoilers, Grayson and Chloe don't immediately become a couple. Grayson has to fix how he wronged Chloe and he did an amazing job. I found Silent Partner a quick and easy read. 

Teasers: tossed shots, ab painting "MINE", cabby protector, limo ride apology

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke

Emmaline Dove and Harry, Viscount Marlowe




And Then He Kissed Her (Girl Bachelors book 1)

By Laura Lee Guhrke

Book Blurb:
Supremely sensible Emmaline Dove wishes to share her etiquette expertise with London's readers, and as secretary to Viscount Marlowe, Emma knows she's in the perfect position to make her dream come true. Marlowe might be a rake with a preference for can-can dancers and an aversion to matrimony, but he is also the city's leading publisher, and Emma is convinced he's her best chance to see her work in print...until she discovers the lying scoundrel has been rejecting her manuscripts without ever reading a single page!

As a publisher, Harry finds reading etiquette books akin to slow, painful torture. Besides, he can't believe his proper secretary has the passion to write anything worth reading. Then she has the nerve to call him a liar, and even resigns without notice, leaving his business in an uproar and his honor in question. Harry decides it's time to teach Miss Dove a few things that aren't proper. But when he kisses her, he discovers that his former secretary has more passion and fire than he'd ever imagined, for one luscious taste of her lips only leaves him hungry for more.

I haven't read too many books around the 1890 time period. It was a nice change to have some "modern" historical conveniences mentioned. It was a really nice change. I liked it so much, I think I will look for other books from around the same time period. 

I was really on the fence about how much I liked the story itself. I found the female protagonist all over the place. Emma was a modern sort of woman being man's secretary and doing a darn good job of it. She was exotic enough to have her own flat and she decorated with her tastes of adventure from the middle east. Yet, she was a spinster of 30 (which her age is constantly mentioned) and she was over the top prim and proper with etiquette. I understood that she really didn't know her own self and she was channeling her deceased Aunt's etiquette virtues but she was such a contradiction. 

I just wanted to be swept away in the romance of Emma unwinding from her spinster status and I wanted Harry to step up a bit sooner. I found Harry's view on marriage a really far reach. With such a long time passing from his first marriage, I would have thought he would not have been so scarred the way he went on. It seemed like every time he decided to discuss his first marriage, the story kept getting more elaborate and made up. I just wanted to tell him to put his big boy pant and move on. I guess I wasn't buying it. 

I did like when Emma and Harry decided to move on to a secret relationship. I found their secret weekends away incredibly romantic and I thought the author did a great job of writing how their little adventurous weekends started to effect Emma. I think that was very true to life and totally believable. 

So for me the beginning of the book was great and the ending was wonderful but the middle dragged a bit for me and I wanted to skip but forced myself to read through. It ended up being worth it but I don't think I am in any hurry to seek out any other books in the series. 

Teasers: peacock fan, sisters, etiquette columns, weekends for lovers

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Takedown Twenty (Stephanie Plum book 20)

by Janet Evanovich

Book Blurb:
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

Well lets face it. I'm invested in this series and I wouldn't dream of stopping now! Besides, these Stephanie Plum books do what I want them to do for me. They make me smile, they make me laugh and they make me feel good. I know that many fans are very tired of the Ranger/Stephanie/Morelli love triangle. I guess I'm a wee bit tired as well but I don't read this series for the romance angle. There is so much more enjoyment that I get out of the Plum books. Having said that, it would be good to have the series wrap up and perhaps a very cool Rangeman spin off series. I would totally be into that!

As much as I LOVE Ranger, lets face it, Morelli is her man. I think Takedown Twenty also had Stephanie thinking along the lines of a more domestic role as well. Who knows? Maybe Takedown Twenty will be the wind down book? 

There was a lot of repetitious jokes from previous books; 

• Lula not wanting to kick a door in because it would damage her knock-off shoes. 
• Grandma Mazur thinking that she is younger than she is. 
• Mom inviting another man to dinner to hopefully rid Stephanie of her single life
• Stephanie's life in peril one time or another
• A strange animal to be the glorified scene stealer in the story

These are just to name a few but if you've read the previous books, you know exactly what you are in for. I wish with all my heart, Janet Evanovich dove a bit deeper into the mystery aspect of her stories like she did in the earlier books. The silliness is all fun and games but I loved the magic of an awesome crime/mystery story mixed in with that silliness. 

Having said that, if Janet Evanovich writes them, I will buy them. 

Teasers: The Eye, butcher shop Stephanie, bridge plunge, Kevin the giraffe

Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair

Master Z (Zachary) and Jessica Randall




Club Shadowlands (Masters of the Shadowlands book 1)

By Cherise Sinclair

Book Blurb:
Her car disabled during a tropical storm, Jessica Randall discovers the isolated house where she's sheltering is a private bondage club. At first shocked, she soon becomes aroused watching the interactions between the Doms and their subs. But she's a professional woman--an accountant--and surely isn't a submissive...is she?

Master Z hasn't been so attracted to a woman in years. But the little sub who has wandered into his club intrigues him. She's intelligent. Reserved. Conservative. After he discovers her interest in BDSM, he can't resist tying her up and unleashing the passion she hides within.

I adore author Kallypso Masters' BDSM romance books and I often see her pimp out another BDSM author, Cherise Sinclair's books. Club Shadowlands was on sale for free on Amazon and I snatched it up. I am always interested in reading a "new to me" author that has been highly recommended by another author I respect. 

Being as Club Shaowlands was book 1 in the series, this first book is the introduction to the club and this story is about the Club Shadowlands owner, Master Z or Zachary. 

I have read plenty of BDSM romance books and I would say that Club Shadowlands was a bit on the soft side. I would suggest that it would be a great book if someone was interested in reading a BDSM book as an introduction to the genre. I admit to thinking that since the story was about the club owner, Master Z, that this novel would be a lot more heavier. Regardless, it was a good read and Master Z was a stellar Dom. 

I was on the fence about Jessica. I liked her in some aspects and in others, something about her annoyed me. As Jessica was completely new to the lifestyle and all that it entailed, I felt her puzzled emotions and her hestitated decisions were all justified. I thought her confusion between abuse and BDSM was totally valid. 

The intimate scenes between Jessica and Master Z were awesome. Actually my favourite part of the story *big grin* The scenes were well written and really hot. As steamy as the scenes were, they were not heavy BDSM. Yes there was bondage, toys and one very short spanking scene but the rest was basically super hot vanilla. As I mentioned, a great introduction into the BDSM genre and I'd happily recommend Club Shadowlands to someone who was curious about BDSM stories. 

Teasers: extremely hot medical scene, Doms aplenty, outside swing sex, first aid to the rescue

What Happens in Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston

Lady Georgette Thorold and James McKenzie's book





What Happens in Scotland 

By Jennifer McQuiston

Book Blurb:
Lady Georgette Thorold has always been wary of marriage, so when she wakes up next to an attractive Scotsman with a wedding ring on her finger, it’s easy to understand why she panics and flees. Convinced that Georgette is a thief, her may-be husband, James McKenzie, searches for her. As both try to recall what happened that fateful night, they begin to realize that their attraction and desire for each other is undeniable. But is it enough?

What Happens in Scotland is cute and has some humourous moments but lacked the momentum to keep my interest for long periods of time. I found I read a few chapters then put it down to read a bit more later. I am not a fan of couple miscommunications as the main baseline for the story plot. Having said that, the story was quirky and unique and I can't recall reading anything similar. So bonus points for creativity!

Even though the story is based in Scotland, I was getting no Scottish vibe from the book. I was disappointed about that because the reason I decided to read What Happens in Scotland was due to my pinning for a Scottish romance. 

The characters, Georgette and James were likable enough and I had enough dislike of the villain to make me happy I read through to the end. I loved that the entire book is just one day so there was something happening with each page/chapter. I especially liked that Georgette seemed to grow as a person and became a stronger woman as the day went on. Awesome that it wasn't a man to bring it out of her either. 

It seemed liked the story was plotted out nicely and the missing segments of time from their mutual drunken amnesia night seemed to come together like perfectly fit puzzle pieces. 

The supporting characters were all excellent and helped carry the story through chapter to chapter. Each of the main protagonists needed the sidekicks in order to make that happen. 

Cute and sweet story. 

Teasers: chamber pot head injury, corset clue, delusional cousin, long overdue father and son reunion 

Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan

Tegen and Cage
Ellie and Dirty





Unattainable (Undeniable book 3)

By Madeline Sheehan

Book Blurb:
Warning: This is not a virtuous and tender love story. It’s chaotic, ruthless, and tragic. This story takes love and kills its innocence, steals away the pure moments, and crushes the hearts of the broken. A story born in childhood, tying one girl to one boy, leads to a destructive path—that hurts more than it doesn’t, that shatters more than it heals—testing the love that binds the two through a lifetime. 

Tegen Matthews is the daughter of Dorothy Kelley, a club whore in the Hell’s Horsemen. A plain little girl, Tegen falls into the gritty world of the motorcycle club. When she meets a sweet, caring boy, she embraces the warmth and affection he shows her. Cage West is the son of the president of the Hell’s Horsemen. Tall and blond with deep brown eyes, as he grows up Cage realizes the power of his dimpled smile and smooth drawl. With one chance encounter, Tegen becomes forever tied to Cage. Following is a wayward journey that is filled with regrets, mistakes, and heartache, pulling at the threads that hold them together. Cage and Tegen fight hard but love harder, and in the end, what matters is where the journey takes one girl and one boy, who have been twined with one another since the beginning. 

This is Tegen and Cage’s story. 

Love doesn’t erase a broken heart, and it sure doesn’t change people. But no matter how old, how flimsy, how frayed the rope of love is, it keeps you tethered to the people you love.

Let me start out by saying that the first two books in this series were out of this world amazing. I rated them with a rare 5+ rating. Unfortunately, Unattainable didn't do it for me the way that Undeniable and Unbeautifully did it for me. I dreamed about those books and had major book hangovers. So having said that, was Unattainable still really good but since I was so over the top blown away with the first two that I'm rating lower than I should? I'm totally not sure. 

Cage and Tegen deserve each other. I was not into them at all. All their yelling and drama was too much. I mean I love drama in stories but not their kind of relationship drama. Sometimes Cage and Tegen's sexcapades bordered on rape and that just isn't my thing. I found that when I was reading their interactions, I was trying really hard not to skim through because I felt the urge to do it constantly. I did not allow myself to be absorbed into their story very much. They gave me a headache. I think the author must have known that the characteristics of Cage and Tegen would not grasp and take hold of readers because she treated us to another couple's story in Unattainable; Dirty and Ellie. 

I will say my feelings about Dirty and Ellie were quite different from Cage and Tegen. I wished the entire book was more Dirty and Ellie and less Cage and Tegen. I was much more interested in their interactions and wanted more of them. Although Dirty's background was over the top disturbed, I still would have liked more about how the pair were healing each other. 

As always it is a treat to read anything with Deuce and Eva (my favourite couple in the series). Anytime the author includes something with Deuce and Eva, I will naturally gravitate towards them and hunger for more. They are the most addicting couple I've ever read. 

I am still addicted to the series and I will keep on reading the series for sure! 

Teasers:  the most bizarre family dinners ever, bye bye Blue, disturbed violence to death, heart attack

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dr. Grace Alexandar & Julian of Macedon




Fantasy Lover (Dark Hunter book 1)

By Sherrilyn Kenyon

Book Blurb:
Dear Reader, 

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. 

As a love-slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and onto the world. She taught me to love again. 

But I was not born to love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace--the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse? 

Julian of Macedon 

I know I'm about a decade late to the Dark Hunter party but better late than never right?

Out the gate I wouldn't say I am wow'd as I had expected to be with this first book, Fantasy Lover. In fact it was a big fat "meh" for me. I found the character's emotions to be over the top and highly descriptive. It seemed like Grace's eyes were always stinging with tears or she somehow managed a scream. Grace was too dramatic of a character for me to take. Her parents die and she shrines them for years. She gets her heart broken in college when she loses her virginity so she has banned men from her life forever. Now I found this adverse action an entire contradiction because as it turns out Grace is a sex therapist. If anyone needed a therapist I would say it was Grace. 

I felt the villain in the story was a last minute decision and he seemed out of place. Rushed. Oddly inserted into the story. Maybe the first draft didn't have enough drama so the author decided to create that silly story-line of a crazy client. There was no depth to the his part of the plot and he was in and out of the story quickly. 

Julian's character was creative and I really did like the actual story of how he came to be and I enjoyed all the Greek Mythos back-story. To me that was the saving grace of this novel and promptly put my book rating from a 2 up to a 3. 

I think I am going to regret that I have slowly purchased this entire series over the past year. Yep. I have every book. I was sure I was going to fall in love with this series since it is so highly rated. I am going to try book 2 right away because I am totally in the mood for an awesome paranormal fantasy story. That is why I decided to start reading this series now. I really hope that the books get better than this lack luster beginning. 

Teasers: love slave, sexy deadline, chick magnet, showers