Throwback Thursday - Impetuous

Author: Lori Foster
First published on June 1st 1995 by Harlequin

Grade school teacher Carlie McDaniels trades in her frumpiness for the look of an exotic harem girl, at least for one costume party. So long, spinsterhood—and hello tall, dark and handsome Tyler Ramsey….

Even after the best night of their lives, Tyler hasn't guessed the identity of his harem hottie…and Carlie plans on keeping him in the dark. After all, a gorgeous guy like Tyler would never fall for his smart-talking best friend. And Carlie's not sure she wants to know what would happen if he ever unveiled the naked truth!

Impetuous is one of Lori Foster’s early works. Early on you can see she had talent. Impetuous was a quick read and very enjoyable. I was able to read it in one sitting. I liked the mystery woman scenario, although I could never understand how anyone could not know who someone was when they have just a mask on. But this is fiction, right? Tyler is your typical gorgeous guy who isn’t sure what he’s looking for, he just knows that what he has had so far in the way of women isn’t satisfying him any more. Carlie is the frumpy best friend who most men wouldn’t give a second glance. Having been hurt and had her self esteem demolished, she hides herself in ugly clothes, glasses and her work. I enjoyed the friendship that develops between Tyler and Carlie. I was rooting for their HEA in the end. I find that the HEAs that come after the couple finds friendship first are the most believable.

If you missed this early work by Ms. Foster, pick it up. I know you’ll love it!

--Kari

Bad Bird: A Mystery

Author: Chris Knopf
Publisher: Minotaur Books

Jackie Swaitkowski investigates the death of a female pilot who had a family tree filled with ex-cons and a passenger list packed with Hamptons high society. Just before Eugenie Conklin's plane took a nosedive, she tossed out a camera case that held an unusual set of photos. While defending Eugenie's husband during the accident investigation, Jackie realizes that she recognizes more than a few of the faces in those pictures. They may be able to prove her client's innocence but Jackie soon learns that to find the answer to Eugenie's death will mean uncovering a mystery from her own family's past as well.

Bad Bird is the second in a new series by Chris Knopf, the first of which is Short Squeeze. Jackie Swaitkowski is a spin off character from Mr. Knopf’s Sam Acquillo series. I haven’t read any books in that other series, but I didn’t get the sense that I was missing anything. If you haven’t read Short Squeeze, you might want to pick it up first. The book does lay out background about Jackie that the author doesn’t really go back over in the Bad Bird. Although, it isn’t crucial. I am just a stickler for reading a series in order.

I enjoyed Bad Bird. I loved Jackie’s character. She is an intelligent, messy, pot smoking attorney who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. She is independent, yet knows when to rely on her friends for help. The secondary characters are equally as interesting, especially her boyfriend, Harry. I think we would all want someone like Harry in our life. While she has relationship issues, he is happy to take her anyway he can get her. The relationship in this is pretty subtle and secondary to the plot. The mystery was interesting with a real twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. I like to be surprised when I read mysteries and this one didn’t disappoint.

I would recommend this book and series. I look forward to Jackie's further adventures. I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a great job on the characters voices.

--Kari

Full Dark, No Stars

by:  Stephen King
published by:  Scribner

A new collection of four never-before-published stories from Stephen King.



1922
The story opens with the confession of Wilfred James to the murder of his wife, Arlette, following their move to Hemingford, Nebraska onto land willed to Arlette by her father.


Big Driver
Mystery writer, Tess, has been supplementing her writing income for years by doing speaking engagements with no problems. But following a last-minute invitation to a book club 60 miles away, she takes a shortcut home with dire consequences.


Fair Extension
Harry Streeter, who is suffering from cancer, decides to make a deal with the devil but, as always, there is a price to pay.

A Good Marriage
Darcy Anderson learns more about her husband of over twenty years than she would have liked to know when she stumbles literally upon a box under a worktable in their garage.

My first thought was that the title is very appropriate.  This book is extremely dark and violent and if that bothers you, skip it.  There aren't any bright spots at all.  In that respect I thought the title was rather clever.  Before I started reading it I wondered what it was referring to, so that question was answered.

I thought each of the stories were good.  1922 was probably the longest and most traditional Stephen King story of the 4.  Rats and psychological horror, the good stuff you expect from The Master of Horror.  Big Driver was a surprise to me.  It seemed a bit of a departure from typical King story-telling.  However, thinking about it for awhile, it was kind of in the same mood as Under the Dome.  Fair Extension was a interesting little twist on the deal with the devil story.  A Good Marriage is one that will make you think a bit.  I think it might make you question what you would do if you were put in the same position. 

I would highly suggest reading the Afterword.  I always enjoy reading King's insights and finding out about his writing and thought processes.  I miss his musings in Entertainment Weekly.  I found the afterword to be interesting and illuminating and a tiny bit disturbing...all the things you want from Stephen King.

--Autumn

When You Dare

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: HQN Books on April 26, 2011

Professional mercenary Dare Macintosh lives by one hard and fast rule: business should never be personal. If a cause appeals to him and the price is right, he'll take the mission he's offered. But then the lovely Molly Alexander asks him to help her track down the men who'd had her kidnapped—and for the first time, Dare's tempted to combine work with pleasure.

Fiercely independent, Molly vows to trust no one until she's uncovered the truth. Could the enemy be her powerful, estranged father? The ex-fiancé who still holds a grudge? Or the not-so-shy fan of her bestselling novels? As the danger heats up around them, the only anchor Molly has is Dare himself. But what she feels for him just might be the most frightening thing of all…

When You Dare it the first book in a new series by Lori Foster. There is a prequel to this book that can be found in The Guy Next Door, which I reviewed here. Dare McIntosh is rescuing his best friend’s sister from the people who kidnapped her when he stumbles on another woman who needs to be rescued. Molly has been kidnapped, taken to Mexico and kept captive for 9 days. She ends up hiring Dare to find the person behind he kidnapping. I really enjoyed this book. Lori Foster knows how to write her alpha males! One of the things that I enjoyed about the relationship between Molly and Dare is that he fell for Molly when she was at her worst. This was rather refreshing to read. I loved Dare’s character. Even though he was definitely a tough alpha, he had a tender side that came out when talking about his assistant, Chris and his “girls”. Molly is a pretty solid character who is used to taking care of herself. Her politeness toward Dare in the beginning was amusing. The love scenes are well written and I loved their HEA.

I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Chris. I would have liked to read more about the relationship between Chris and Dare. I’m hoping that subject gets some attention later in the series, since the same characters are likely to show up. Their deep bond is apparent, but the background is not given. I did guess the person behind the kidnapping pretty early on, but I don’t think it took away from the story at all. The reason behind it was a surprise.

I definitely recommend this book. I look forward to the next one, Trace of Fever.

--Kari

* note: I read an advanced review copy of When You Dare supplied courtesy of the HQN Books. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

Throwback Thursday - Tempting the Beast

Author: Lora Leigh
First Published on November 24th 2003 by Ellora's Cave

Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy" locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from.

Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.

I am a big fan of Lora Leigh's Nauti and Seals series, but I had yet to try her Breeds series. Tempting the Beast is the first. While I enjoyed the book, I was hoping for a bit more. I liked Callan and Merinus. I thought they had great chemistry together and I was happy for their HEA. The love scenes were definitely steamy. The story of genetically altered humans is a great premise. This first story was a good foundation, but it left me with a lot of questions about the pride and lab days. I am hoping that those are answered in the sequels.

I recommend this book to Lora Leigh fans. If you haven't tried it, pick it up. I know I'm going to be seeking out the other books in the series.

--Kari

Other Kingdoms

Author: Richard Matheson
Publisher: Tor Books

1918. A young American soldier, recently wounded in the Great War, Alex White comes to Gatford to escape his troubled past. The pastoral English village seems the perfect spot to heal his wounded body and soul. True, the neighboring woods are said to be haunted by capricious, even malevolent spirits, but surely those are just old wives’ tales.

Aren’t they?

A frightening encounter in the forest leads Alex into the arms of Magda Variel, an alluring red-haired widow rumored to be a witch. She warns him to steer clear of the wood and the perilous faerie kingdom it borders, but Alex cannot help himself. Drawn to its verdant mysteries, he finds love, danger…and wonders that will forever change his view of the world.

I'm on the fence about this story. I originally gave it 3 stars on Goodreads, but I have since changed it to 2. I think I needed to sit on this one for a while. For me, Other Kingdoms was just "OK".

What I liked: It was a pleasant rambling story. I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Bronson Pinchot. His voice gave real depth to the characters in the story, particularly Alex, the 82 year old man who is telling his true fairy tale from long ago. I think if I had picked this up in paperback, I wouldn't have finished it. Mr. Pinchot's voice as the old man was what really kept my interest, not the words themselves.

What I didn't like: It was a pleasant story. That's it. I kept waiting for something to happen and it really didn't. The ending was disappointing and left me with an empty feeling. I am a sucker for happy endings, but I have been known to like not-so-happy endings on occasion. I can see the need for them in some stories. That wasn't the case here. I saw no reason for it to end the way it did and felt very let down; like I had gone on this journey with the old man with nothing to show for it. I guess in the end, it is all a matter of preference.

If you are a fan of Richard Matheson, you might like Other Kingdoms. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't recommend it.

--Kari

And the Winner is.....

Janelle!!!! I have sent you an e-mail.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our blog and left a comment. I hope you will come back again!!!


--Kari

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway!

You are at stop #163. The full list of blogs participating can be found here.




I will be giving away an ARC of From the Dead to one winner (US or Canada address only please). You can read my review of the book here. For a chance to win, just leave a comment below with a working email address. I'll randomly pick a winner then notify the winner Monday by the email address in the comment.

Enjoy!

--Kari

Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

This book is the first in a new series by Beth Revis. Amy is a teen who chooses to go into space with her parents; frozen in the hopes that they will reach a new planet in 350 years. When she is woken up too early, she discovers that she is now stuck and will likely not see her parents again. Elder is the boy who will someday lead the people aboard Godspeed. They both work together to find out who woke her up and who is trying to kill the other “frozens” aboard. The answer to which was a bit surprising. I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot.

I felt that I still had some questions in the end; ones that I am hoping get answered in the subsequent books. I wouldn't really say it was a romance. There is some love interest, but I think it is really one-sided. I didn’t really believe the attraction between Amy and Elder. I thought it was a bit forced. Overall, I did like the book. I found myself wondering what I would do if I was stuck in space forever. The peripheral characters are interesting. Ms. Revis has built a pretty neat world aboard Godspeed

I question the YA label of this book. There are some pretty detailed scenes in this book such as a near rape scene to name one. For parents wondering if it is good for under those YA under 16, I would say to use your own discretion.

--Kari

Falke's Peak

Author: Anna Leigh Keaton, Madison Layle
Publisher: Carina Press

Stressed out ad-exec Dakota wandered into Catamount Outfitters in search of a guide for a wilderness excursion. She didn't expect to be greeted by not one, but five of the most ruggedly delicious-looking men she'd ever seen. Not to mention a live cougar guarding the shop.

Eldest brother Axel agrees to guide Dakota on her mountain trek. In cougar form, Axel's twin, Gunnar, was there as a protection from predators—but he had his eye on the sexy client instead.

While the rule with clients was "paws-off," both Axel and Gunnar couldn't resist Dakota's seductive Native American beauty and determination. As cold days led to hot nights in the cabin, Axel and Gunnar wondered if they'd finally found a woman strong enough to tame them...

This is how I like my erotica. It has an actual storyline. Falke's Peake is well written with good character development. The shape shifter premise was interesting. Because the authors did a great job of developing their characters, I believed the attraction between Dakota and the brothers. The love scenes are tastefully written and are pretty hot as well! While I'm not too into the menage story lines, I liked this one. Probably because I believed the relationship. There are amusing scenes with Gunnar in "kitty" form. If all mountain lions could be like him, I'd take him home with me.

I would recommend this one to erotica fans. It is a quick read and worth the time. Apparently, the authors have submitted a sequel to Carina, so I look forward to reading about the other brothers in the family.

--Kari

* note: I read a complimentary e-copy of Falke's Peak supplied courtesy of Carina Press. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

The Weird Sisters

Author: Eleanor Brown
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam

The three Andreas sisters grew up in the cloistered household dominated by their Shakespearean professor father, a prominent, eccentric academic whose reverence for the Bard left its imprint on his daughters' names: Rosalind (As You Like It), Bianca (The Taming of the Shrew), and Cordelia (King Lear). The siblings eventually left home and escaped their ponderous monikers with nicknames, but their mother's medical maladies brings them back. Before long, their unwelcome reunion reveals that they all have problems: Rose is force-feeding a troubled relationship; Bean is entangled in a big city case of embezzlement; and unmarried Cordy is pregnant.

Since leaving home after high school, the 3 sisters (all named after characters from Shakespeare plays) have all been running from something that they can’t seem to name. Rose (Rosalind) is the typical eldest child. She feels a deep sense of responsibility to take care of everyone in her family. Her deep need for control and order keeps her from really living. Bean (Bianca), being the middle child, has always felt invisible. Her need to stand out in a crown gets her in over her head with her job and friends in the big city. Cordy (Cordelia), the youngest, has never had to make a decision for herself and therefore can’t seem to find direction as she wanders the country. What I found compelling is that upon returning home, they discover that what they fear the most is what saves them in the end. The ending leaves you with a sense that while they all still have issues to deal with, everything will ultimately be OK.

I enjoyed Brown’s use of Shakespearean quotes throughout the novel. Their father, who is a professor and great lover of Shakespeare, constantly uses quotes as his way to communicate with his family. As it is pointed out in the novel, Shakespeare’s use of language has long been open to interpretation. Like the sisters, the reader, on more than one occasion, is left to wonder what their father is really trying to say.

Weird Sisters was beautifully written and engaging from the first page. The characters are interesting and I know they will stay with me for a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is the debut novel by Eleanor Brown. She has a bright future and I look forward to reading more of her work. I would definitely recommend this book.


--Kari

Throwback Thursday - The Bachelor

Author: Carly Phillips
First Published in 2002 by Warner Books

Will this bad boy make it to the altar?

Foreign correspondent Roman Chandler has always prized his freedom above all else. Now losing a coin toss has sealed this youngest brother's fate. Finding someone to escort down the aisle is the easy part—every wannabe bride in sleepy Yorkshire Falls is itching to get hitched to this gorgeous, globe-trotting Chandler man. But Roman still lusts after the woman who got away. Stunning heart breaker Charlotte Bronson has come home to put down roots and get her erotic lingerie business off the ground. She wants a man that won't go chasing off to the far corners of the earth for a breaking news story. He wants her to say "I do."

This is the first book by Carly Phillips that I have "read" (I listened to the audio version). I thought it was a cute romance. There were definitely some cheesy moments in it, but for the most part it was just fun. I enjoyed the relationship between Roman and his brothers. The HEA was believable. I really like romances in which the hero figures out that he is in love before the heroine. It just makes it much more satisfying.

My only problem was with the narrator of the audio book. His female voices were not very good. For the most part, they came across sounding like airheads or valley girls. That was a bit annoying.

I would recommend it, but maybe not the audio version. Pick up the physical or e-copy.

--Kari

The Coffins of Little Hope

by:  Timothy Schaffert
published by:  Unbridled Books
publish date:  April 5, 2011

Timothy Schaffert has created his most memorable character yet in Essie, an octogenarian obituary writer for her family’s small town newspaper. When a young country girl is reported to be missing, perhaps whisked away by an itinerant aerial photographer, Essie stumbles onto the story of her life. Or, it all could be simply a hoax, or a delusion, the child and child-thief invented from the desperate imagination of a lonely, lovelorn woman. Either way, the story of the girl reaches far and wide, igniting controversy, attracting curiosity-seekers and cult worshippers from all over the country to this dying rural town. And then it is revealed that the long awaited final book of an infamous series of YA gothic novels is being secretly printed on the newspaper’s presses.


The Coffins of Little Hope tells a feisty, energetic story of characters caught in the intricately woven webs of myth, legend and deception even as Schaffert explores with his typical exquisite care and sharp eye the fragility of childhood, the strength of family, the powerful rumor mills of rural America, and the sometimes dramatic effects of pop culture on the way we shape our world.

I found my feelings on this book to be hard to put my finger on.  I liked it, but I found it to be kind of bizarre.  The world that Schaffert created seemed like it came out of TV show or something.  It made me think of The Andy Griffith Show meets The Elizabeth Smart Case on Court TV meets A Series of Unfortunate Events (if that series of books ever got as popular as like Harry Potter).  Is any of that really a bad thing?  I wouldn't say so, it creates a pretty interesting mash up.

Essie was a unique character.  She reminded me of like Aunt Bea on The Andy Griffith Show, but she was an obituary writer so she had that sort of morbid character.  I kept flipping back to make sure it was a guy who wrote the book, because I thought it was an interesting perspective to write the book from.  Of all the characters to tell the story, the 80 year old obituary writer of the town probably isn't the obvious choice.

This book has a lot of interesting little topics in it about book publishing, whether or not they're actually true they do give you something to think about.  What it must be like to work for the printing companies that print the books like the Harry Potter books, what environmentalists think about our book obsessions, etc.

Would I recommend it?  Sure, I've already told a couple of people to keep an eye out for it.  It's a book that's stayed on my mind the last few days so I'd have to think that's a good sign.

-Autumn

Heresy

Author: S.J. Parris
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Giordano Bruno was a monk, poet, scientist, and magician on the run from the Roman Inquisition on charges of heresy for his belief that the Earth orbits the sun and that the universe is infinite. This alone could have got him burned at the stake, but he was also a student of occult philosophies and magic.

In S. J. Parris's gripping novel, Bruno's pursuit of this rare knowledge brings him to London, where he is unexpectedly recruited by Queen Elizabeth I and is sent undercover to Oxford University on the pretext of a royal visitation. Officially Bruno is to take part in a debate on the Copernican theory of the universe; unofficially, he is to find out whatever he can about a Catholic plot to overthrow the queen.

His mission is dramatically thrown off course by a series of grisly murders and a spirited and beautiful young woman. As Bruno begins to discover a pattern in these killings, he realizes that no one at Oxford is who he seems to be. Bruno must attempt to outwit a killer who appears obsessed with the boundary between truth and heresy.

I think this book had great potential, but it just fell short for me. In fact, I thought it was really boring. I listened to the audio book and I found myself tuning it out in several places and had to rewind to listen again. I'm not sure if that was the narrator's fault or the content itself. It's probably a little of both.

While the historical aspects of the book were mildly interesting, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. I was expecting much more intrigue and mystery. There really wasn't any. I'm not even sure how the main character figured out the solution. I probably won't read any further adventures.

--Kari

The Guy Next Door (Anthology)

Authors: Lori Foster, Susan Donovan, Victoria Dahl
Publisher: HQN Books

Three sexy new spring-fling novellas from three of today's hottest contemporary romance authors!

Ready, Set, Jett by Lori Foster
A vacation from her no-strings romance with her sexy next-door neighbor. That's what Natalie Alexander needs to get her head—and heart—together. But her solo trip south turns into a disaster when gorgeous Jett Sutter turns up with another challenge.

Gail's Gone Wild by Susan Donovan
Single mom Gail Chapman insists on chaperoning her teenage daughter's spring-break trip to Key West. But she never expects to face temptation—in the hunky form of Jesse Batista, the mysterious man in the cottage next door.

Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl
All-work-and-no-play businessman Eric Donovan won't be distracted by a "businesswoman" who's all wrong for him. Beth Cantrell owns a women's erotica shop! And she has a juicy little secret. Can she tempt him to put pleasure before business for once?

As an anthology, this was pretty good. I liked the first 2 stories the best:

Ready, Set, Jett is the prequel to a new trilogy coming out in April by Lori Foster; the first being When you Dare. Jett and Natalie are great characters. I enjoyed their relationship. I was also intrigued by Jett's sisters and I hope that they show up more in the trilogy. While it did end with a cliffhanger, there was still a HEA feel to it.

Ms. Donavon's Gail's Gone Wild was a cute story. I liked the characters and the HEA. The story was engaging from the start. Definitely worth reading.

The last story, Just One Taste is also a prequel to a new trilogy coming out this summer by Ms. Dahl. I didn't care so much for this one. I'm not sure I liked the mistaken identity premise. The story ended with a huge cliffhanger and no HEA. When I read an anthology, I like to have resolution in the end. Apparently, the 2 characters don't get together again until the 3rd book in the trilogy; which doesn't come out until November. I found this very frustrating.

Overall, I recommend the series if you are a fan of any of the authors. If you can look past the issues with the last story, I think you will enjoy it!

--Kari

* note: I read an advanced review copy of The Guy Next Door supplied courtesy of the HQN Books. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

Throwback Thursday - Birthright

Author: Nora Roberts
First Published in 2003 by Putnam

When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger, and romance.

While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project-fueling rumors that the site is cursed. And she must cope with the presence of her irritating-but irresistible-ex-husband, Jake. Furthermore, when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she is forced to question her own past as well.


I have found another Nora Roberts book to add to my favorites list. Ms. Roberts really knows how to write a story. I loved Callie. Her character is strong, blunt and not needy at all. Callie's struggle to come to terms with major revelations about her life is well written. I really felt for her and the people that these revelations affect. Her ex-husband, Jake is a perfect match for her. Their relationship is fun to watch as they slowly find their way back to each other. After reading this, all I can say is that I want a Jake!

The one thing I also love about NR books are her peripheral characters. They are just as strong and interesting as the main characters. The secondary romance between Lana and Douglas is really warm and just as satisfying.

If you missed this NR, definitely pick it up. I listened to the audio version. The narrator's voice was at first annoying, but it slowly grew on me.

--Kari

To Have and to Kill: A Wedding Cake Mystery

Author: Mary Jane Clark
Publisher: William Morrow

Piper Donovan, an actress who has been having a hard time of it living in Manhattan, has returned home to her parents’ small town in New Jersey. She’s been helping out at her mother’s bakery, which makes it perfect that Piper’s close friend, Glenna Brooks, has asked her to prepare the cake for her upcoming wedding. However, things aren’t as perfect as they seem, and when there is a murder, Piper is determined to figure out what happened and protect her friend.


This is the first in a new series by Mary Jane Clark. It was a really quick read. I was a little disappointed in the book. I felt like the storyline was all over the place. There were too many possible suspects. I kept waiting for Piper and her FBI friend to get involved in the investigation like the synopsis said. Their role in it is peripheral at best and Piper actually stumbles onto the solution by accident. I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Clark, so I'm not sure if this is her normal style of writing. If you are looking for something quick (the audio version is only 5 hours long) then give it a shot.

--Kari

2 for 1! Oz and Hunger Aroused

Authors: Eden Elgabr and Heather Peters
Publisher: Red Sage publishing


Dorothea Gale is a victim of a bad economy. After losing her job, Thea asks Tim Woodman, the man of her dreams and the contractor who built her home, to help her sell it. He leads her to the powerful William Ozarak, a voyeur, who offers her a deal – sexual submission for one month in exchange for two years worth of mortgage payments. Can she barter her body to prove ‘there’s no place like home’? Or will she lose her soul in the process?

Tim Woodman, who is in the middle of a divorce, isn’t looking for entanglements. Yet he can’t help be drawn to the sexy Thea. If he helps her will he lose his heart? Or did he even have one to begin with?

I'm not even sure what to say about this story. The synopsis made it seem like it would have a good story line. I liked the whole Wizard of Oz theme idea. I really didn't see it. To say that Oz even really has a plot is being generous. I do like erotica, but I also like to have a story to go along with it. The characters were one dimensional and I found myself not really caring about any of them. The love scenes were a bit crude and overdone for my taste. I wouldn't really recommend this one. If you want a better erotica story WITH a plot see below.



Author: Dee Carney
Publisher: Carina Press
Jasmine is sick in bed when a sexy stranger breaks in and reveals she’s suffering an irreversible case of vampirism. And because her turning wasn’t approved by the Council, he must kill her once the transition is complete. In the meantime, the executioner offers to ease her torment with chocolate, hot peppers or sexual release. Fortunately for them both, Jasmine’s kitchen is bare...

Corin’s honor demands he do his duty, but he cannot execute the lovely woman while any part of her humanity remains. He must also find - and kill - her sire. Jasmine denies ever having contact with a vampire, causing Corin to question the justice of his orders. Sensing his hesitation, the Council dispatches another executioner, forcing the pair to make a run for it.

Every hour they spend together every sensual encounter they share finds them growing closer. Now Corin will have to choose: kill the woman he loves, or go against everything he believes to set her free.

Hunger Aroused was a pretty decent story. I liked the vampire premise. I liked the two main characters, Jasmine and Corin. They both had some dimension to them and I was pulling for them in the end. There are some pretty emotional scenes toward the end and I found myself drawn right into the drama. For erotica, this one was pretty good. The loves scenes were pretty steamy, but not overdone or crude. I do wish she had written more about the vampire world that she created as I felt like there were some loose ends. I think this would make a good series.

--Kari

* note: I read an complimentary copies of Oz and Hunger Aroused supplied courtesy of Red Sage Publishing and Carina Press. I was not approached or compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*