Treated Myself today!!!

Jaci Burton's Bound, Branded and Brazen and Shayla Black's Delicious released this week and since I will be no where near a book store anytime soon I had to buy them in Ebook.

Now the only problem is which one will I read first!!!

Re~Read Challenge June 2009 ~ Long Hard Ride ~ Lorelei James

One lucky woman…three sexy cowboys…she's in for the ride of her life!

Channing Kinkaid itches for a change; a wild western adventure with an untamed man. Determined to shed her inhibitions and embrace the steamier, seamier side of life, she sets her sights on hooking up with a real chaps-and-spurs-wearing cowboy.

Enter Colby McKay—bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper. From the moment he sets lust-filled eyes on the sweet and fiery Channing, he knows he's found the woman who's up to the challenge of cutting loose. What rough and rowdy cowboy could resist a no-holds-barred sexual romp with a sassy young thing starring as his personal buckle bunny?

Intrigued by Channing's bold proposition of horsing around on the road, Colby impulsively sweetens the deal; sexual escapades not only in his bed, but in the bedrolls of his rodeo traveling partners, Trevor and Edgard.

Although Channing's secretly longed to be the sole focus of more than one man's passions, Colby's demand for complete submission behind closed doors will test her willful nature.

Can Channing give up total control? Especially when not all is as it seems with the sexy trio? Or will the cowboys have to break out the bullropes and piggin' string to break in this headstrong filly?

Product Warnings
Warning: This title contains the following: lots of explicit sex, going strong long after the cows come home, graphic language that'd make your mama blush, light bondage with bullropes, ménage a trois, and – yee-haw! – hot nekkid cowboy man-love.

I knew this month's re-read would be Lorelei James book almost from the start of the month, she had a Novella release today at Samhain that is loosely tied to her Rough Riders Series. So what better book to read then the one that got me hooked on Lorelei's Cowboys.

LONG HARD RIDE is not a book for the faint of heart and although I do love sweet romance their is just something about a book with hot cowboys that makes me a happy girl. Lorelei James writes books grounded in reality. She took her love of PBR (professional bull riding) and mixed it with her no nonsense approach to love. Sure the sex is smokin hot but the core of her books are about finding love, even if it means pushing her characters boundaries and making them take a good hard look at what they really want in life.

Colby McKay is a man who at first glance has it all, a career he loves, friends and family he can rely on and when he wants a woman he only has to reach out and grab one. That is until he crosses paths with the sexy, smart and sassy Channing Kincaid. She's a woman looking to unleash her inner wild child and for her a chance with Colby to experience a no holds barred fling is just want she needs before she returns to the life her family wants her to live. On the surface these two are lovers seeking mutual satisfaction, quickly their connection becomes more and they find themselves falling in love.

Once you look past the heat to the emotions buried in this scorching hot novel, you can truly see the depth of Lorelei's voice and her ability to deliver not only the erotic side of love but the sweet tender sides as well. Without spoiling too much of LONG HARD RIDE, not only do you want Colby and Channing to find HEA, but you can't help but feel that Trevor and Edgard to find their's as well.

LONG HARD RIDE is as good this time as it was the first time and the ROUGH RIDERS is a series I know I will enjoy again and again.

9 out of 10

TBR Challenge June 2009

Well once again I'm late posting this, kids are finally out of school and I have my laptop back so hopefully I'll be posting more. Now on to the review.

Title: Fighting Lady Jayne


Series: Devinity Warriors Book 2


Author: Michelle M. Pillow


Blurb: The second Divinity Warriors book, set in the Divinity Universe.

Jayne Hart has earned her independence by becoming Divinity Corporation’s inter-dimensional boxing champion. Life is great, until a dirty fighter knocks her unconscious. Now, abandoned by the corporation in a parallel world, Jayne will use every weapon she has to be free once more. Even if it means running from her sexy new “husband” and spending the rest of her life in a primitive forest.

Ronen of Firewall longs for a woman to warm his bed and his home, but he had no intention of choosing a bride. In an unprecedented move, one chooses him. Never in the history of the breeding ceremony has a woman dared to lay claim. How can he resist the alluring Lady Jayne? She’s confident and sure in her decision to be with him—until their wedding night when she’s nowhere to be found. But Ronen is not one to shy from a battle. He will find Jayne and when he does, he has one particular “weapon” in mind for taming his seductive, wayward wife.


What worked for me: I love her ability to blend the stories in her series. She did it with Dragon Lord and Lords of the Var, she does it in the Divinty Warriors as well. Plus she writes heroines I can get behind, no simpering TSTL women for Ms. Pillow. Jayne is tough physically, but underneath she is vulnerable and believable. I really liked her and was anxious for her to find her HEA with Ronen.

Ronen on the other hand has spent his life defending his people, he's a warrior through and through passionate and stoic his sex appeal is smoldering. He's intelligent when it comes to war but when it comes to Jayne he is clearly out of his element she frustrates him at every turn and he can't help but want her. Watching as he falls for Jayne was amusing and the sexual chemistry between them is off the charts. Fast paced and well written I definitely found another keeper from Ms. Pillow.

9 out of 10

May 2009 Reads

Lots of re-reading this month. I just struggled it seemed to find new books I wanted to read or that I could get into enough to enjoy.

30 Books however is not to shabby, once again it's more eBooks than Print and I don't see that changing now that I started getting more and more print book in eformat. I just love the instant gratification.

The Real Deal ~ Samhain ~ Niki Gree ~ 8

Strong Silent Type ~ Samhain ~ Lorelei James ~ 9

Born in Fire ~ Berkley Jove ~ Nora Roberts ~ 9.5

Line of Sight ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Desiree Holt ~ 8

To Kiss a Gargoyle ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Sally Painter ~ 8

Buckling Down ~ Samhain ~ Moira Keith ~ 8

Mad About Mirable ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Amarinda Jones ~ 8

Penned Again ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Amarinda Jones ~ 8

Born In Ice ~ Berkley Jove ~ Nora Roberts ~ 10

Born In Shame ~ Berkley Jove ~ Nora Roberts ~ 9.5

One Hot Momma ~ Tease ~ Cara North ~ 8

Wanderlust ~ Samhain ~ KyAnn Waters ~ 8

Shelter Mountain ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 9

Whispering Rock ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

A Virgin River Christmas ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Second Chance Pass ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Pretend You Love Me ~ Samhain ~ Stacia Wolf ~ 7

Temptation Ridge ~ Samhain ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Paradise Valley ~ Samhain ~ Robyn Carr ~ 9

Virgin River ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 9

The Inn at Eagle Point ~ Mira ~ Sherryl Woods ~ 9

Maiden Flight ~ Samhain ~ Bianca D'Arc ~ 9

Border Lair ~ Samhain ~ Bianca D'Arc ~ 9

Almost Perfection ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Lynn LaFleur ~ 8

Deep in the Valley ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Just Over the Mountain ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Down by the River ~ Mira ~ Robyn Carr ~ 8

Ice Dragon ~ Samhain ~ Bianca D'Arc ~ 9

Prince of Spies ~ Samhain ~ Bianca D'Arc ~ 9

Wings of Change ~ Samhain ~ Bianca D'Arc ~ 9

May 2009 Re-Read Challenge

I'm a day late, which stinks but unfortunately my 11 yr old autistic son wanted to see if movies could fly last night so no post last night.

This months Reread goes out to Nath, she along with the reread challenge exposed me to Robyn Carr and now I am hooked. I love Virgin River and I can't wait to read the next books in the fabulous town.

WANTED: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against a backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to re-energize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.

But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans...and a former marine cements them into place.

Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.

I love this series, I actually reread the whole set this month. I couldn't get into reading this month, so I found comfort revisiting this small town and rediscovering Mel and Jack. Two people, survivors who rose above all they lost, what more could you ask for in a hero and heroine. Jack the tough ex-Marine who makes sure he watches over the small town just like he watched over his men in battle. He's a true hero, yet he vulnerable and surprisingly tender with Mel. And Mel she's so strong yet she doesn't see it. She walked away from all she knew, took a huge risk and found the love was still in the cards for her.

But VIRGIN RIVER is more than just Jack and Melinda's story, it the basis for a world, a town that I've come to love. From Preacher and Paige to Rick and Lizzie there isn't anyone I'm not happy to see each time I return to the river. Jack and Mel may have started it all and for that they'll always hold a special place in my heart, but it's the town and it's people that having me coming back time and again.

9 out of 10

TBR Challenge May 2009

"Pretend You Love Me" by Stacia Wolf
Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
ISBN: 1-59998-177-7
Price: $5.50
Length: Novel
Publication Date: December 12th, 2006
Cover art by Stacia Wolf and Scott Carpenter

It's one thing to deceive your meddling family, it's quite another to fool yourself.

Cassie Delistraty is one tough woman. A brilliant attorney, well-schooled in self defense, she's quite capable of taking care of herself. But can she face down her own mama? Heck, no!

Nursing a bruised heart from her failed marriage, Cassie has returned to Seattle to decide the next chapter in her life. But she's stalled – she spends all her time remodeling her new home, playing with her dogs, and flirting outrageously with her former crush, Mike Ashford, whenever they come into contact. She thinks it's working, but her mother has other ideas. She stages a dance contest to find a suitable man to date her hermit daughter.

Enter her knight in shining armor – or rather, a bar apron. Rescuing girl-next-door Cassie Delistraty has been a habit throughout Mike's life. The headstrong don't-rescue-me-I-can-handle-it female always finds some sort of trouble – from helping the downtrodden to protesting wrongdoings. And despite her protestations, she does need someone to watch over her. But could this be one rescue too many? Because who's going to save Mike from Cassie?

The fake relationship Mike springs on Cassie presents her with a tempting new possibility – use the farce to finally eradicate this crush Cassie's labored under for over a decade. But what to do when the flames she fans to life threaten to burn out of control?

When I was looking for a book in my TBR that was a novel about friends to lovers I realized I'd read them all, then when I looked a little more I found this book in my Samhain bookshelf. So I dove right in.

 

But now I find myself struggling to write this review, so much so that it's late for the TBR Challenge, but since I read it and liked it enough to give it a 7 I feel like I need to come through here. PRETEND YOU LOVE ME fits all the Friends to Lovers points that I for one expect to see. Mike is Cassie's brother's best friend, he promised Cal to never get involved with Cassie, yet he's attracted to her. Cassie who is no dummy still manages to get herself into situations she needs to be saved from and Mike is her "Knight in Shining Armor". There chemistry is off the charts and the story is one that left me smiling in the end.

 

The only part that I struggled with and why this is a 7 and not higher is Cassie and Cal's parents storyline, it was complicated and deep and without spoiling it riddled with deception and mistrust. They went for Thirty years unmarried and yet still in love with each other. I found myself scratching my head over this, they never once talked about what kept them apart. Cassie dad would propose every year and every year her mother would refuse. So why oh why doesn't anyone try to get to the bottom of why? It was quite frustrating to me. Then when the truth was revealed we find Mike's mom had something to do with keeping Cassie and cal's parents apart. I was shocked and well amazed at how easily this deceit was forgiven not only by Cassie's parents, but by Cassie and Mike as well. It pushed the boundaries of just how much I am willing to believe. granted this is based on how I feel I would react to the situation, but I don't think I could have forgiven Mike's mom and it would have definitely derailded any chance of Me staying with Mike. Cassie is a better woman than I.

 

So that being said PRETEND YOU LOVE ME is a solid 7.