Natural Law by Joey W. Hill

Book Grade: B+
Cover Grade: F
Page Count: 499, ebook

The Cover:
Okay really I hate to be mean but WHAT THE HELL WAS ANYONE THINKING CREATING THIS COVER!!!! The woman's hands? Look like skeleton hands, and those nails are just bad. The mans back? Ewwww, it's all freckled or something and his hands look feminine. He's supposed to be this BIG manly man! Nothing about that cover says that. I mean his arm muscles don't even look like muscles, they looks like slabs of fat.

Here's a question that really boggles my mind, why can't they use real people? I mean I'm not at all for people on covers, but someones back would be fine. I just don't get why they did it that way. And most importantly.....does someone actually get paid to make stuff that looks like this?????

I'm sorry but as much as I really enjoyed this book I could not buy it in print with this cover.

From the Publisher:
Mackenzie "Mac" Nighthorse is a highly respected homicide detective and a career cop. There isn’t a dangerous situation that can back him down. However, the personal becomes uncomfortably entangled in the professional when he goes undercover in a high class BDSM club as a male submissive to find a Dominatrix who is winning the trust and then murdering her chosen partners. When his path crosses Violet Siemanski’s, he realizes he’s found a Mistress willing to be his ally in finding the murderess. But Violet is also going to shatter Mac’s shields and make him question who he is and what he wants, a challenge more disturbing than any case he’s ever worked.

From Me:
I absolutely was engrossed in this book. But before we get to my review I need to thank AND yell at Chantal! Thank you sooooo much for recommending I read this book, I LOVED IT! But WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IT WAS THE SECOND IN A SERIES!!!!! Grrrr. lol. Okay moving on.

Mac is an undercover cop, he's been on the force for 20 years and is as hardened as they come. He's seen it all. He's about as macho alpha male as they come....until it comes to his sex life.

Mac has accepted the fact that for him when it comes to sex he likes to be Dominated. He's a sub and keeps his sex life as private as possible, he knows how the outside world views his sexual preferences and has no desire to deal with it at work.

But a case that comes to close to home forces Mac to make some hard decisions. There is a woman out there, a Dom, that is killing subs. She is gaining the subs trust, going to their house and murdering them. This is tearing at Mac because the hardest thing for anyone into D/s is trust. To trust someone and make a connection well enough to take it to your home is a BIG chance. And these men are trusting the wrong woman.

So Mac does what he has to. He tells his commanding officer that he will go undercover to a club called The Zone, it is the only connection they can find between all the murdered men. He tells her that he'll go in because it's his lifestyle so nobody will know he's on the job.

When he tells her he's going in as a sub she suggests he go in as a Dom since nobody would believe he's a sub as big and manly as he is, when he looks away and says it's best he go in as his real preference she is shocked.

I'll tell you right now this was one of my favorite parts in the book, soooo freaking funny. After his boss is shocked and they finish talking about the assignment she gives him some type of order (I forget what) and he says "yes ma'am"...then this happened:

A smile flirted around his sergeant’s lips.
“What?” he asked, surprised to see her color rise.
Darla gave a little laugh, waved a hand. “I guess I’ll just have to live with the images that come into my brain now when you say that.” At his blank look, she repeated his words. “ ‘Yes ma’am.’ “

I was rolling.

When Mac goes into The Zone he finds way more than he bargained for. He finds the Mistress of his Heart. As he struggles with this realization a murderer gets closer and closer.

I don't know if any of you know how against ebooks I am. I think it just takes away from the whole cuddling up with a book and makes it kinda of a cold sterile thing. If that makes any sense. I mean I don't' feel all comfy and cozy snuggled up to any piece of technology. I love the pages of a book. But anyway, it's not only that. Every ebook I've read, weather it's been a good read or not, has been fairly short and not as deep or detailed as a print book. That's not saying I haven't liked some, I loved Haley's Cabin, and some of the most erotic books I've read were ebooks.

But Natural Law broke the mold for me. First it was about 500 pages and I was jumping outta my skin excited about that. Then when I got into the story I was blown away. We not only got an extremely erotic read with all the D/s play but we got a book that you had to think and wonder who the killer was. We see Mac at work with friends and we see him in the club and submitting to Violet and we see the romance that builds between them outside of the D/s club. And let me tell you it was HOT!

I may still not understand the lifestyle of D/s but Joey W. Hill did a lot of research and even though it's not my sexual preference I very much enjoyed reading it. All of it. I will definitely be getting the book that came before this and all the ones that followed. I can't wait.

Check Chantal's Review out here.
Check out Joey W. Hill here.
And Buy Natural Law in ebook here, or in print here.

Read the Series in Order:
Holding the Cards
Natural Law
Ice Queen
Mirror of my Soul
Mistress of Redemption

The Seduction by Nicole Jordan

Grade: A+
Cover Grade: C

The Cover:
It's not that there is something WRONG with this cover. It's just I don't like cheese. I like basic stuff, simple stuff. Although one really good thing that is going on here is the rose on the pillow, it symbolizes something from the book. I like the cover to connect with the book. Maybe if it was a real room and not this fake stuff I'd have given it a better grade.

From the Publisher:
As the most notorious rakehell in Regency London, Lord Damien Sinclair sought only his own pleasure, until his beloved younger sister, Olivia, was injured and her reputation ruined during a forbidden tryst. Now Damien will do anything to destroy the young nobleman guilty of hurting Olivia. . . . And Vanessa Wyndham will protect her foolish brother at all costs, even if it means entering into an illicit bargain with the dangerously handsome "Lord Sin." When Vanessa offers to act as a companion to Lord Sin's invalid sister, Damien agrees with one scandalous condition—he'll forgive her brother's debt if she agrees to become his mistress.

And so the seduction begins. But once the affair has ended, will they escape with their hearts intact?

From Me:
Have you ever read a book and you actually hurt for the characters. Not just felt bad but you had pain? Okay that sounds weird, let me explain. When I'm am about to cry for real and I don't want to I kinda get a sharp pain in my chest and sometimes down my arm into my hand. Now THAT happened to me a lot while reading this book. But before I get into it let me just say a big THANK YOU to Grace for getting me this book and the others in the series for Christmas! LOVE YOU GIRL!

Okay on we go...Vanessa's brother has done something so horrible so beyond repair that she really doesn't think there is anything she can do to fix it. While wasting away his days with his friends and spending money his family doesn't have, he lets himself get drawn into a wager of sorts. He must make a young girl fall in love with him and convince her to marry him, all the while never mean to really do it.

His plan works all to well, and when he breaks the news to the girl a horrible accident happens in her haste to flee and she is left unable to walk. The young girl, Olivia is none other than Damien's sister, Lord Sin.

In Damien's quest for revenge he takes everything from the man, who is no more than a boy himself, who hurt his sister. Holding his entire families lives in his hands he leaves Vanessa no choice but to bargain with the Devil himself. But neither of them expect to find what they do in the bargain.

I think I felt so much in the book cause you can so plainly see both sides, well actually there are more than two sides, of the story so clearly. Sometimes there is a clear cut right and wrong. Not here. Cause although Vanessa's brother did entirely wrong by Olivia did that mean that her mother her and her sisters should become destitute?

But at the same time how should Damien seek revenge? Or even justice? Without further damaging his sisters name there is little else to do and something should be done for the damage done his sister.

We watch Damien struggle with loving his sister, that he doesn't have a great relationship with, and also fight his desire for Vanessa. We also see Vanessa struggle with a friendship she never thought to have with the girl her brother broke and the secret she is keeping from her as she too struggles with her virtue with a man she is falling in love with. Vanessa also has to deal with loving and trying to forgive her brother for bringing all of this down of everyone. Where do you drawl the line with family?

I loved this book sooo sooo sooo very much and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Great job Nicole Jordan.

Grade~ A+

Read the Series in order:
The Seduction
The Passion
Desire
Ecstasy
The Prince of Pleasure

Welcome!!!

***This is a sticky so scroll down for anything new***
Hey all! I just wanted to welcome everyone and let you all know I am so happy you've decided to stop by my new blog here at Escape With Me. I wanted to tell you all a little about what my blog will be, as far as I know right now lol, and what I have going on in my side bar. Along with why I chose my title.

I've chosen the title, Escape With Me, since it seemed the best way to describe why I read. Reading is my ESCAPE. Whether I'm stressed, sad, worried or plain old bored, I read and just immerse myself into another world. I love feeling emotions that aren't mine, I know an author is great when I feel the pain or happiness from within a character. When I can put myself inside the book as if I am the character. So in short there is no other way for me to explain my reading except to say it's my escape.

So moving on...as of right now I plan on just reviewing my books (well not JUST since I think my opinions are pretty damn entertaining, lol) and talking about anything book related and book blog related (gossip!). I will also have guest reviewers! Yup, I decided while I did want to do this blog on my own it would still be cool to get a review or just random thoughts and opinions from different people here and there. Daphne from SF will grace us with her presence on occasion as will Charm School Reject! Besides those two you'll be introduced to a few friends of mine that will be totally new to Blogland at all. So I hope that will all be fun. And I am more than open to anyone else interested in doing a guest blog here so let me know.

I'll still be interviewing authors that grab my special attention and be giving you any fun details I can pull out of them. And bringing you any special news I have on all my favorite authors.

On my sidebar you'll see a linked list of all my favorite authors AND a linked list of some new authors along with links to all of their special stuff and interviews. Also on the side are all my favorite book blogs, and lastly (for now at least) my "libraything".

On my librarything I only have books I've read. So if you see a book over there that I haven't reviewed and your interested to hear about it drop me a email and I'll be sure to put something up about it. And if anyone knows how to make the books center instead of right aligned please inform me cause that is soooo annoying me!

I hope to keep coming up with new ideas for posts and featuring current and fun things here but mostly I want you all to have fun. So please please please, if you have any ideas or suggestions for me....TELL ME! I'm all ears.

I am still in the process of moving and switching jobs but I am going to try and post as much as possible during that time. And when it's all done this will be one active blog! I promise! Thanks for all your support. Oh and if you really love me feel free to post something about my move on your blog. lol.

Oh and you'll all be happy to know I got myself a official spell checker! CSR. So if spell check doesn't catch it blame it on her! lol.

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Grade: B

Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard is the luckiest man in the world. But life in the glory lane has started to pale, and Dean has set off on a trip to figure out what's gone wrong. When he hits a lonely stretch of Colorado highway, he spies something that will shake up his gilded life in ways he can't imagine. A young woman . . . dressed in a beaver suit.

Blue Bailey is on a mission. As for the beaver suit she's wearing . . . Is it her fault that life keeps throwing her curve balls? Witness the expensive black sports car pulling up next to her on the highway and the Greek god stepping out of it.

They're soon heading for his summer home, where their already complicated lives and inconvenient attraction to each other will become entangled with a charismatic but aging rock star; a beautiful, fifty-two-year-old woman trying to make peace with her rock and roll past; an eleven-year-old who desperately needs a family; and a bitter old woman who hates them all.

Natural Born Charmer . . . for anyone who's ever thought about leaving their old life in the dust.

I read this a while ago, well maybe a week or more, but just haven't gotten to review it yet. Sorry. But I'm here now. And it sure wasn't because the book was lacking. Cause I really liked the book.

Blue, yes that is really her name, is stomping down the highway on her way to kick some ass when a gorgeous man stops and offers her help. Even if he is laughing at her as he does so. And so starts another amusing, heart pulling, warm, laugh out loud novel from Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Dean is feeling out of sorts and if picking up a pissed off woman dressed as a beaver will put off him having to do a self evaluation on his feelings then that's fine with him. But as one thing leads to another Dean finds himself dealing with things he's spent his whole life purposely not dealing with. Like who his father is. What his mother did to him. The fact that he has a little sister that he's never met.

But as that very sister seeks him out looking for help his world starts to unravel. And oddly enough the only constant that he has is Blue, the crazy, speak your mind, poke your nose in others business, badly dressed woman he picked up on the highway. The woman that although she won't admit it needs him and his help just as badly. The woman that never stays anywhere long enough to grow roots, and fears any type of a real relationship.

So read on and find a cocky woman and man that just may be very wrong for each other at first glance but can't seem to stay away at the same time. A bitchy old woman that seems horrible at first buy just might be a little lonely. And a father and mother that haven't' seen each other in 30 odd years, may have done a horrible job parenting but really really want another chance. And a little girl that helps pull everything together.

I really did like this book. I know this review may not be giving it justice. You know with me being all rusty since I haven't posted a review in FOREVER! lol. But it was a great read. It had me laughing, and it had my heart aching. The one thing that I will tell you I didn't like was the way the ending was brought on. You know what I mean? The ending was fine, but the events leading up to I didn't like. I didn't' like what Dean did, how he went about what he did. And .... Oh hell just go read the book. lol. It's a great read. You won't be disappointed. Although I am glad I got it from the library, I'll buy the pb when it comes out.

Oh and you don't see much of any of the other characters so I'll let you know now. Don't be disappointed on that front.

Read the Series in Order:
It Had To Be You
Heaven, Texas
Nobodies Baby But Mine
Dream A Little Dream
This Heart Of Mine
Match Me If You Can

Sisters by Danielle Steel

Four sisters, a Manhattan brownstone, and a tumultuous year of loss and courage are at the heart of Danielle Steel’s new novel about a remarkable family, a stunning tragedy -- and what happens when four very different young women come together under one very lively roof.
Candy (it’s the only name she needs ) is blazing her way through Paris, New York, and Tokyo as fashion’s latest international supermodel. . . .

Her sister Tammy has a job producing the most successful hit show on TV, and a home she loves in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills. . . . In New York, oldest sister Sabrina is an ambitious young lawyer, while Annie is an American artist in Florence, living for her art. . . . On one Fourth of July weekend, as they do every year, the four sisters come home to Connecticut for their family’s annual gathering. But before the holiday is over, tragedy strikes and their world is utterly changed.

Suddenly, four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives -- on opposite sides of the world -- reunite to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and their father, and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. Thus begins an unscripted chapter of their lives, as a bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends, men . . . and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, they are forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. As the year passes and another July Fourth approaches, a season of grief and change gives way to new beginnings -- as a family comes together to share its blessings and a future filled with surprises and, ultimately, hope.

With unerring insight and compassion, Danielle Steel tells a compelling story of four sisters who love and laugh, struggle and triumph . . . and are irrevocably woven into the fabric of each other’s lives. Brilliantly blending humor and heartbreak, she delivers a powerful message about the fragility -- and the wonder -- of life.

Grade: B for over-all story, F for the shit the dad did.

I haven't read a Danielle Steel book in years! Actually the last DS book I read was not really me reading, it was an audio book and it was The Dating Game. It's funny cause DS has a way of making me hate and love a book at the same time. But I won't get into TDG with this post, this is for SISTERS!

Every 4th of July all for Adams girls come home for their parents big party. Along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since they are all spread so wide they really cherish this time together and never miss it. But this year disaster strikes it the most horrible way imaginable.

As the worst possible fate hits one of the sisters they all pull together (I'm gonna spoil a little here so beware, but you'd find it out in like the fifth chapter anyway). In a freak car accident the mother of all four girls is killed and the artist sister, Annie, loses her eye sight and is just lucky to have survived at all.

To help Annie, and themselves, cope with this staggering change of life they decide to move in with each other for one year. And face more in this year than they ever imagined.

Candy the supermodel struggles with losing her mother by digressing back to a eating disorder she's had since her first major modeling break. And in the world she lives in it is no wonder she can't find the right man, hell at her age she should be with boys anyway at only 21. And this time her sisters aren't standing back to watch another family member throw their life away.

Annie wasn't sure life was even worth living when she woke up to find out her mother was dead and she was blind. She lived and breathed her art all her life, trained to be an artist. What does she do now? Sure that her life will be nothing but her depending on her family and growing into a spinster she was shocked to find that life can go on. Just in a different way. We follow Annie as she learns the basics all over again, how to cook without burning herself, shower herself, and fall in love all over again.

Tammy loves her job, she's created and produced a show of her dreams and even if she can't find anything but crazies to date she's happy with her life. But after the 4th of July things change. She still loves her job, but really feels she belongs with her sisters in NY not in LA. But what could such a drastic decision do to her career that she's faught so hard for? Could she possibly find a happy life in NY? And possibly love?

Sabrina is a major divorce lawyer in NY City and loves her job. But it's really shaded her view of marriage. The way she looks at is, why mess with what works? She and her boyfriend have been together for 3 years and she's in no rush to change anything. She loves having her space and he his, and when they want being together. But at 34 and Chris 36 he wants more. He wants it all, marriage, kids, and he wants it with the woman he loves, Sabrina. But when the tragedy hits Sabrina takes the biggest load on as the oldest daughter. When Chris says he wants more how will she react? Are her fears of a failed marriage going to keep her from the man she loves?

One of the hardest things for the girls to deal with after their mothers death and Annie's blindness was their father. He was married to the woman he loved for 35 years and they never realized how much she did till he started to fall apart. Hating to leave him but knowing he'd have to learn to live again the girls go to NY leaving him in Connecticut. But when a younger woman, younger than Sabrina, starts to sniff around they tell their dad to watch out. Women will be pounding down his door, he is after all rich and still a handsome catch. He blows them off and his naive worries them. As well it should. When 5 months after their mothers death he drops a bomb on them they are shocked, and don't know if their family can handle it.

I'll tell you now. I really loved this book. I balled my eyes out for about 3 chapters when the accident happened. And it was also full of laughs with the sister living together. It was real life and it touched your heart.

At times it did read a little narrative. Like I was being told the story instead of seeing it unfold. Does that make sense? Well that was only a few times, for the most part it was really great.

The only fault I have with this book was the father. He was so sooooo soooooooo unbelievably stupid in the end. I think it should have been written as he almost making a huge mistake but the girls talking him out of it. But the way it ended? With the dad? I HATED IT! It pissed me off to no end. I know my rant on him is not really making sense but I don't want to spoil to much.

Oh what the hell, I'm gonna spoil it so if you don't want to know stop reading now. You've been warned.

He marries a girl 26 years younger than him! FIVE MONTHS AFTER HIS WIFE DIED! He said age doesn't matter when your in love. And when the girls told him it was disrespectful to their mother so soon and with a practical child he didn't listen. When they pointed out that if Leslie really loved him and cared about him she wouldn't rush it, he didn't listen. He had the freaking nerve to say his wife would want this for him, to not be alone. I am not lying when I tell you I got sick to my stomach reading that part. And when the book ended he was still married to her! None of the girls would go to see them at their house, when they wanted to see their dad they had him (alone) come to their place or meet him somewhere else. Which I'm at least happy about that. At least they didn't give in to the bitch bimbo and welcome her to the family. Especially since she was someone they all thought of as a slut when they were in high school together. Someone that their own mother said was fast and wouldn't allow them to hang out with. Yeah sure your wife would approve of her as her replacement FREAKING MORON!!!!! Okay end of rant.

Honestly, besides the dad part I really enjoyed this book.

Haley's Cabin by Anne Rainey

Hero: Jeremy Pickett
Heroine: Haley Thorne
Pages: 102
Catagory: Erotica, Contemp
Grade: B
Buy: Here

Every good girl longs for a chance to be a little naughty.

Raw from an ugly divorce and wrung out from her demanding job, Haley Thorne needs a break. When Haley’s doctor urges her to take a vacation, she heads to her secret cabin in the woods.

The very first night, Haley dreams of an erotic threesome that leaves her panting and aroused. When sexy police detective Jeremy Pickett shows up at her door, she’s shocked: He looks like the man in her midnight fantasy! Levelheaded Haley unleashes her inner seductress and has a little fun—handcuffs and all!

First of all I need to get a damn e-book reader, the kind you can take with you places! I've had this book for over a week now and just got to finish it cause I had to be home to read it. Uggg!

Anyway, I finished it and really really loved it. Anne did a great job of bringing her characters alive. One of the things I loved most about this story is that although we knew Haley was in an abusive marriage and Jeremy was a Detective that part of the characters wasn't the core of the story. It was a part of Jeremy and Haley but not THEM.

I also am a hard sell for falling in love at first sight, just like Dylan. But I think with the way we were lead into the meeting of Haley and Jeremy made it more believable to me. Hell if I'd had a dream like Haley did and then saw the real thing in front of me I'd fall head over heals real quick.

And with Jeremy I believed it because he knew it was not the norm. He didn't think 'Oh I'm in love, this is so the way it always happens', um no, lol. He knew and that is why he held back some. At one point he even said that she stole his heart in under 24 hours that's got to be a record or something. But at least he didn't deny it, which totally annoys the crap out of me with heroes.

And lets touch on the beginning of the story real quick. You want to see how to grab readers from the very first few pages? READ THIS BOOK! OMG when I did Anne's interview and asked her about her f/f/m sex scene she said she wanted a straight woman to read this and still think it was something sexy and say WOW! And hot damn did I! No freaking lie, it was hot. I wish it were longer. lol.

Something I loved in this book...NO BIG MISUNDERSTANDINGS! Hallelujah, haha. Of course with Haley having been in an abusive marriage and then not dating anyone between him and Jeremy she did misunderstand a little bit when Jeremy would say something or do something but it was never blown up to a big thing. He would read her and correct her right away. The way it would happen in REAL LIFE. lol.

The sex? HOT! I love that they used a video camera and handcuffs! Makes me want to go get some, oh wait I already have the cuffs, naughty me. haha. But really the steam between Haley and Jeremy was enough to have me begging for more. I said it before and I'll say it again Anne Rainey has a definite talent for bringing on the heat, and we weren't let down.

Just like everyone else I am going to say it.....I WANT MORE BRAD AND LISA!!!! Which brings me to one of my favorite parts, the ending. Now I am a big one on good endings. You write a great book but suck and bringing it together and I am going to get all bitchy on your ass.

But Anne did a great job here. She gave us a glimpse of Brads feelings for Lisa then BAM turned it over to a little fun and flirty teasing with Haley and Jeremy to tie up the end.

Just the way it should be, cause while I was reading the part of Jeremy and Brad talking over at Lisa's house and really getting into it I was thinking 'this is great cause now I am all about a Brad and Lisa story but damn I hate when a book doesn't end with something about the hero and heroine' then it did. And I absolutely love the last sentence, but I'll leave that for you to read.

I know your thinking isn't there anything bad. And honestly I'll tell you, while I was reading there were somethings that I did want to address when I did my review. But now that I'm thinking back I really can't place what it was that I wanted to say. Guess that just means that the good outweighted the bad by a lot. lol.

I definitely wish it was longer. But I've never been one for books that are only around 100 or so pages. But for the length of the book I definitely got all I wanted out of it. Great job Anne, and I can't wait for more!

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

Hero: Butch O'Neil
Heroine: Marissa
Pages:455
Category: Paranormal
Grade: Two grades here...The book grade~ B, The ending grade~ C

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.

But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.

*****SPOILERS ALERT***** It would be really hard for me to review this book and not have spoilers in it so I'm not even going to try to hold back. BEWARE.

First off how freaking excited was I to be the first one to reserve this book at my library? Then how much MORE excited was I when they got it early and I picked it up on thursday! Yeay me! Okay but now to the review....

By the time I read this book it's been what? Six months since Lover Awakened? So I wasn't really fresh on the whole Butch/Marissa thing. I was a little blurry. But that wasn't really a problem, yeah I wanted to remember why they were apart but it didn't hinder the story.

Right off we see Butch suffering from feeling the odd man out. He has a bond with V, and loves Marissa yet he's not a Brother and thinks Marissa has rejected him. None of the clothes he wears are his down to his boxers and the money he spends just as where he lives isn't his either.

When he comes across a civilian about to be attracted by lessers he steps in to help. Needless to say he's in bad shape when V finds him. He was worked over by the for-lesser and the Omega did a job on him.

When he wakes up he finds himself in Havers (Marissa's brother) clinic under quarantine.....with Marissa by his side. With his memory filled with black holes he can't remember what exactly happened to him but he knows Marissa should not be with him, risking her life.

Marissa didn't think twice about racing to Butch when she heard he was hurt. Nor did she even take a second to think of her safety as she burst into his room without the proper coverings on. When she is found with Butch her brother tells her that she may be contaminated and has to stay there till it is found to be safe for them both to leave.

During the time Marissa and Butch are locked together in this room there are a lot of misunderstandings cleared up and a lot more made.

That I can tell you this book was full of.

It's weird cause normally I'll want to throw a book against a wall for all the misunderstandings these two had. But all I had were my eye rolls and a little annoyances, but I still could not put the book down for two seconds.

I think Ward's saving grace is that she chops up her story's so well. She never says on one person or one scene for a long time. So yeah, I don't like reading about the lessers that much (it bores me) but I want to get to B&M that I fly through the short paragraph or two of lessers so fast.

Anyway. We find out that Butch has Vampire in him, surprise surprise. And he is some super powerful tool to be used by the brotherhood. But here are some of my issues. When he goes through his transition he gets bigger, like the other brothers. Now I already thought of Butch as kind of big, now he's so big that Ward wrote his boxers were all tight on him. Now I normally picture boxers kinda loose so for him to get this big I kept getting a picture of the Incredible Hulk with ripped clothes and all in my mind. I know! But I couldn't help it, and it was messing with the story for me. lol.

Then every time he would fight lessers with the brotherhood he didn't seem to fight as good and when he did his thing he was so tired, he seemed kinda weak. I think all around he seemed kinda weak. I don't particularly think someone that would take their life as strong I think that is weak, and he tried that. Early on in the book. But actually I shouldn't go there cause that situation was unique with what happened to him and how he was feeling at the time. So whatever.

The book of course was full of horrible slag but as usual it didn't bother me to the point of not wanting to read it. It was just silly as usual.

The whole V and Butch gay vibes? Definitely here! lol. I mean there were times when V was all kinds of up in Marissa and Butch's private affairs and he was more focused on Butch than Marissa. And I just have to quote this one part for you all, listen to this and tell me there isn't that I-wish-we-could-but-know-it's-not-to-be vibe:

Without thinking, Butch tilted his chin up, aware that he was offering himself, aware that he...oh, fuck. He stopped his thought , completely weirded out by the vibe that had sprung up from God only knew where.
In slow motion Vishous's dark head dropped down and there was a silken brush as his goatee moved against Butch's throat. With delicious precision, V's fangs pressed against the vein punched through skin. Their chests merged.
Butch closed his eyes and absorbed the feel of it all, the warmth of their bodies so close, the way V's hair felt soft on his jaw, the slide of a powerful male arm as it slipped around his waist. On their own accord, Butch's hands left the pegs and came to rest on V's hips, squeezing that hard flesh, bringing them together from head to foot. A tremor went thought one of them. Or maybe...shit, it was more like they both shuddered.
And then is was done. Over with. Never to happen again.
Neither of them looked at the other as V broke away ... and the parting was complete and irrevocable. A path that would not be walked. Ever.

There was also a part when V was saying to himself that he thought of Butch as his. It was almost like he knew he was in love with Butch and knew it was weird cause he never felt that for a male before and knew also that it wouldn't come of anything cause Butch loved Marissa to much so he was just going to deal with it and try to move on. I mean hell I'm all for best guy friends but these two? Definitely more.

But anyway, I really don't care about that much, just wanted to point out IT WAS THERE STILL! LOL.

We read about Butch's past and his dead sister, also his sister that is alive and his parents. Now in the end we do find out why Butch's father hated him, and how exactly he got Vampire in him. BUT there is no closure to the family issues. Does he really just not care at all? Does his sister really just not care??? Guess you have to read it to see what I mean.

And in ending my choppy all over the place review I'll say that I really didn't like the ending of the book. It came way to fast, like it was all rushed in the end, and it wasn't even of Marissa and Butch! Are you serious! Comon', that just really irked me. But whatever, it was still a good book that I didn't put down for a second and would tell everyone to go get.

Read the Series in Order:
Dark Lover
Lover Eternal
Lover Awakened
Lover Revealed

Author Interview with Anne Rainey

Who exactly is Anne Rainey? I went right to the source to find out, and asked the author herself.

Anne lives in a small town way out in the middle of no-where-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. She never wants for anything and she always loves everyone. Of course, she wasn't always this way.

It all started on one "Rainey" day, as she was sitting on her comfy couch, reading a romance novel and sipping a hot chocolate. She realized the book she was reading seemed to lack a certain 'vavavoom!'. Thus, the talented, beautiful, and rich Anne Rainey was born.

Clearly, Anne is a mere figment. A ghostly figure that pops in and out of my head like a drive-by author. Nevertheless, I do so love it when she's visiting, because her imagination really is wickedly delicious! She'll bring you fantasies and erotic delights that will that will have you grabbing the ice water.


Anne Rainey is on the verge of setting the erotic romance genre on fire with her new release Haley's Cabin which comes out tomorrow, 2/27. She's a funny woman, a caring wife and a loving mother, but most importantly she can also write the heck out of a story.

I actually think I may be more excited about this interview and this book being released than Anne herself....okay well maybe not as much, but very very close!

I was fortunate enough to meet Anne Rainey over a year ago on the Lori Foster BB and right away she and I just clicked. She is funny, talented, honest, and just all around a great person.

During one of the many chats that went on over there it came up that Anne wrote, so of course I had to read some for myself. And OMG was I blown away!

It's no secret here that I love me some hot books and Anne brought on a whole new level of hotness that has me giddy with excitement. Along with great characters and an interesting plot line, the excerpts I've read for her exciting new book, titled Haley's Cabin has me dying for more.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Anne over the phone and through emails and I must say that she was just as great to talk to as she was to email with. She's extremely funny and there were no awkward moments throughout our conversations, for that I'm truly grateful because I'm a novice when it comes to interviews and I breezed right through this one, thanks in a large part to Anne.

While we conversed on the phone, I got to know Anne, the woman a lot more and I must say that she is, as Dylan would say, the BOMB DOT COM. Here are some quick excerpts from our phone conversation.

When I asked her how Hayley's Cabin came about, she surprised me with her answer.

"Hayley's Cabin wasn't supposed to be a story. It was a scene I wrote when I was in a poetry group. It was to help me in learning to write. Then I posted it on the Lori Foster BB and everyone wanted more. So I wrote more."

Here is the blurb about the book:

Every good girl longs for a chance to be a little naughty.

Raw from an ugly divorce and wrung out from her demanding job, Haley Thorne needs a break. When Haley’s doctor urges her to take a vacation, she heads to her secret cabin in the woods.

The very first night, Haley dreams of an erotic threesome that leaves her panting and aroused. When sexy police detective Jeremy Pickett shows up at her door, she’s shocked: He looks like the man in her midnight fantasy! Levelheaded Haley unleashes her inner seductress and has a little fun—handcuffs and all!

Having read bits and pieces of it, I had no idea she hadn't intended it to be a story when it started. HC is 38,000 words, a category length. About 120 pages. And when I asked Anne she told me "it took a couple of months to write if you add up all the days". The original release date was supposed to be Valentines day, but it's been pushed back a bit and is now scheduled for February 27th. Not V-day, but still in the month of love.

With this being Anne's first book published I wanted to know, what are the most frustrating parts of being an author and the whole writing process?

It's frustrating with edits because I always make the same mistakes! It's my fault and I just keep doing it. But for the most part it's not any harder than I thought it would be.

also...

I do so much research for the books (I've talked to police officers, programmers, and construction workers for different books) and I only use the tiniest of what I research in the actual book.

What made you want to write romance?

Well the first story I wrote was because a book I read was to tame and the hero was feminine. I thought 'that's not what a man would do', so I made my own hero. It was a paranormal book, back when they weren't so popular. I've never done anything with it, it's funny to go back and look at it now.

How long does it usually take for you to write a book?

If You Dare was the book that took me the longest to write. There was sooo much research! It is the first book in a trilogy I am writing. It's about two brothers and a step sister and their family business is a winery, and they are Italian. So there was much research on what types of grapes grow where in Italy etc. etc.

Anything in the works right now?

Right now am trying to get a short story done titled Taming Rozland. It is for a Summer Heat Anthology for this summer. A lot of great authors are in on it. It's a story about a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, and a rich debutant girl. The book may be in print, not sure as of now.

I also just recently found out that Anne has another book coming out in April 27th (my sister birthday!), from Forbidden Publications, titled Instructing Sarah. And from the sounds of it it seems like it's gonna be just as hot as HC. If you go to Anne's myspace page you can see video's she made for both HC and IS.

....on with the questions!

Do you need to have a certain set up for when you write? Like no noise and only at a certain time of day?

I can write anytime. The kids can be playing X-Box and it doesn't faze me. I go into my own world. Which is good cause then I'm not shushing them and they don't have to leave the room I'm in. And in the summer I can take my lap top outside while the girls are swimming. Although summer is the hardest time for me to write cause I love to go hiking with my family. I think it's good for them, and they come first, always.

With a lot of authors dabbling in different genre's I had to ask, would you write another genre?

I've written 2 thrillers. I would try my hand at anything but I think I'm pretty aware of what I'm good at writing and what I'm not.

I think the most important part is that she's aware of what she is and isn't good at. We've had to many authors stray from something that they are really good at and go into things that maybe they aren't horrible at but definitely aren't their strong suit, Julie Garwood.

Do you use people you know for a basis for a character? She had me rolling with this one and her reason. lol.

YES! If I don't like someone I can write them into my book and deal with them as I want to. lol.

Are you afraid of the reception that Haley's Cabin will get?

I'm getting a lot of good vibes from everyone on how HC will be taken but I'm still scared to death.

Are you worried what people will think of your f/f/m sex scene?

I wanted a straight woman that has never had a bisexual thought to read it and still think it is a very sensual and sexy thing. And go WOW!

When Annie and I talked it was actually right around the time there was a big to do going on with some authors upset over bad reviews in blogland. So I asked her opinion on it....What if you get a bad review? How will you react/feel?

At first I'll want to shove it down whoever's throat. Then I'll probably laugh. That's me. But I started off a reader and I do believe that you put your money out for that book, your entitled to your thoughts on it. Good or bad. And you have the right to share it with anyone. And it's always good to get some criticism to better my writing. (Ain't that the truth!)

What did you do when you got signed?

FREAKED OUT!

When do you think you'll allow your daughters to read your work?

My oldest daughter is 14, I think she'll need to be at least 16 before she can read my stuff. She has a boyfriend and he wants to read my stuff and I tell him HELL NO! lol, there's no way he's getting ideas from my work. My youngest is 11 so she has awhile.

With Erotica getting bigger and bigger there have been a lot of debates on the differences between erotica and porn. When I broached this topic with Anne she had something to say...

Porn has no plot it's all just sex. That's not what I'm doing. Erotica has it HEA, and there is a plot to it, it's just the sex scenes are hot and long. I could write porn if I wanted to but that's not what I'm doing here.

I get so frustrated with the closed door issue with sex. In movies it is so acceptable for there to be sex, and it is just rated R, not as porn. But to write about it there's this bit NO NO! I just don't get it. Why is it so hard for people to separate porn and erotica?

As an erotica author do you feel free to discuss the stuff you write about? And will you permit that type of stuff to be discussed on your message boards?

Kids have no place reading my books, just as they have no place watching a R rated movie. If you write it be prepared to talk about it. Sweet romance is great for some people just not for me.

What do you find the most sexy on a man?

SIZE! Women are lying size matters! lol. Also forearms, that does it for me. And hands. A huge turn off is soft hands on a man, they can not feel like chicks hands! The need to be work worn. My husband does a lot of outdoors work

How do you come up with what you write? How much enters your marriage?

Fantasy is a healthy thing and is not embarrassing, nothing should be taboo.

As a married woman I feel love doesn't stop at the bedroom door. It's not always pretty flowers. Sometimes it's dirty & that's okay, my husband definitely gives me a lot to write about.

When I asked Anne about her hero's and if she takes personalities from men she knows to create them we had some laughs. I got quite a few stories about her childhood growing up as the only girl, and the baby to boot. But here's her answer and a little of some of her stories...

I definitely use my husband as an outline for my hero's. And sometimes traits from my brothers too.

I have three brothers and I'm the baby. lol. We have a joker, a flirt, and a chauvinist. My oldest brother seems to think I should be locked up in a convent somewhere. I don't know how he thinks I got my girls cause surely I have never had sex! lol.

Just so you can get a picture of how my growing up with these brothers was here's a story.

I am 10 months younger than the youngest boy. I remember one time when I was in high school (we were in the same grade) and I had randomly told my brother about a boy in my class that was picking on me. He didn't even seem to be paying any attention to me as I told him this, and didn't even respond. Later when I went to that class the boy that had made fun of me came in and started to apologize, I was shocked! Then I noticed my brothers friend in the back laughing so I asked him what was so funny....he said my brother just beat the shit out of the boy in the bathroom! lol...
Yeah I also went to my homecoming dance with one of my brothers friends. Very uncomfortable.

Sexiest thing you own?

Does my sweat shirt count? lol

Three things your husband would say about you?

Sexy legs, pretty eyes, stubborn.

Clickhere to buy your copy of Haley's Cabin, and find out all the other ways you can keep up with Anne Rainey and her work. I hope you had just as much fun getting to know Anne as I did. If you have any questions for Anne feel free to drop a line here in the comments and I'm sure Anne will be happy to answer them.

Oh and silly me...starting 2/27 if you stop by Anne's site and leave her a message in her guest book, letting her know what you think of HC or just her, she'll enter you into a drawling to win your very own copy of Haley's Cabin!

And no worries, you know I wouldn't leave you hanging without any teasers, so here it is. And Anne gave us a special EwM peek that's not anywhere else, so enjoy. And remember that Anne said this when you read this excerpt: love doesn't stop at the bedroom door. It's not always pretty flowers. Sometimes it's dirty and that's okay.

Haley must still have been dreaming, because things this exciting just didn’t happen to her. Frankly, she’d never met a man like Jay, or Jeremy, rather. He was so straightforward. He saw what he wanted and threw caution to the wind. After being married to Eric, a man who put on a facade to get what he wanted, it was a refreshing change to meet a guy who felt no need to pretend.

Right at that moment Haley was a few scant inches away from Jay’s impressive chest. God, he looked delicious. She had visions of coasting her tongue over and around each of his nipples, down his torso, then unbuttoning his jean shorts. She’d watch them fall to the floor. Then she’d get to see his erection. Haley wanted her mouth on his cock. She ached to taste him. Honesty forced her to admit she wanted what he’d done to her in her dreams. This was a vacation, after all. A moment out of time. Haley yearned to take some memories back with her on Monday, when her fantasy ended and real life intruded. Something that would last her a lifetime.

After spending an erotic weekend with Jay/Jeremy Pickett, Haley had a sneaky feeling other men were going to seem pale in comparison.

“Can you take off your shorts for me, Jay?” Haley asked, feeling bolder now her mind was made up to take what she could from their encounter.

Jay smiled and in a hoarse whisper replied, “I already took off my top. It’s your turn.”

Okay, so he was going to play hard to get. No problem.

“It’s not really fair, though, because this dress is all I’m wearing.” Take that, she thought haughtily.

Jay’s gaze went south, bypassing her chest and going straight to the notch between her legs. She could have sworn she felt heat there, just from the intensity of his stare.

His silvery eyes changed to liquid mercury. His words nearly melted her in the chair. “My cock is going to feel so damn good inside you, Haley. So good you’ll forget all about your erotic dream. You’ll beg me, baby. That’s a promise.”

He stood to his full, impressive height and took off his shorts right there in front of her. Oh my, he was every bit as big as he’d been in her dream. He was full and hard and so ready for her that her mouth watered from the sight. All she’d need do was lean forward and he’d be inside her wet mouth.

With his feet braced apart, a hard, predatory look on his face, he demanded, “The dress, Haley, off with it.”

He was no longer the friendly, flirtatious man she’d eaten dinner with. Now Jay was an aggressive and dominant male. The raw masculinity of him turned her on more than anything ever had. If she hadn’t felt so confident about herself, the sheer size of him might’ve intimidated her. Haley was confident, however. She’d gained her confidence the hard way. And she knew, no matter how intimidating he seemed, he’d never hurt her.

Without standing, Haley slipped her fingers beneath the hem of her dress and inched it upward. By small degrees she bared her thighs. As she reached her bottom, she had to lift slightly to get the dress higher. Soon, it was around her middle. She didn’t get any farther. Jay’s hand was suddenly there, cupping her exposed mound. His nostrils flared and his jaw twitched, as if he wanted to do much more than touch. She liked the thought. Haley wasn’t the type to drive men mindless and it was empowering to realize she had that effect on Jay.

She wiggled, and he moved his hand away, seemingly reluctantly, and she took the dress off the rest of the way. Haley sat in the hard wooden kitchen chair, totally nude, while she let him look his fill. She only hoped he liked what he saw or she would absolutely die of mortification.

As if reading her thoughts, Jay groaned. “You look so sweet sitting there. So bashful with your legs pressed tight together.” He snared her gaze with his own. “I can’t wait to spread you open, to see that lovely cunt dripping from the first orgasm I give you, baby.”

She couldn’t think. Couldn’t even speak. Jay had taken the heavy weight of his cock in his hand and began rubbing himself as he spoke to her. The sight of him mesmerized Haley. His words penetrated, and she managed to ask, “First orgasm?”

A slow grin spread across his face as he crouched in front of her. He leaned forward and took her nipple into his mouth, softly suckling on her.

“Oh, God.”

Jay laved at her, loving in his assault. Haley could have come right there, without him so much as touching her clit.

Abruptly, he stood, staring down at her now glistening breast. “I’m really going to enjoy playing with your pretty tits.” He stopped touching himself and took her hand, pulling her out of the cold chair and leading her to the backdoor. When he opened it, a rush of brisk night air came in and she was reminded of the dream once again. It was chilly then, too, when she’d let him and Marissa into her house.

Together, they stepped out onto a stone walkway leading to a secluded spot which hid the Jacuzzi. Thick shrubs and colorful flowers formed a wall around it. They were in their own private paradise.

As he took her to the side of the hot tub, Haley noticed he’d set out candles. All shapes and sizes glowed everywhere—on the ground, the little outdoor table next to the tub and along one edge of the walk. The sweet smell of vanilla permeated the air. She wanted to comment on the romance of it all, but before she could, Jay leaned down and whispered another erotic promise into her ear.

“I’ll make you come so many times you’ll wish to be my sex slave.” He licked the spot beneath her ear, and her body shook and her mind went blank. “I’m going to turn you into a little wanton.” He moved farther down her neck, tasting her, nibbling on her overheated skin. “My own private submissive,” Jay promised, then he lifted away from her and ordered, “Get into the water now.”

She obeyed. There was really never any other choice. Every fiber of her being was tuned in and turned on, and she longed to submit to him. Just as he promised, she already ached to be his dutiful slave.

If you want a little bit more click here and read the peek Samhain has on their site.

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb

Opening night at New York's New Globe Theater turns from stage scene to crime scene when the leading man is stabbed to death center stage. Now Eve Dallas has a high profile, celebrity homicide on her hands. Not only is she lead detective, she's also a witness - and when the press discovers that her husband owns the theater, there's more media spotlight than either can handle. The only way out is to move fast. Question everyone and everything . . . and in the meantime, try to tell the difference between the truth - and really good acting.

When I first started this series I think I read the first 6 back to back. Then the next few spread out. When I got to Loyalty for some reason I could not get through it. It was like I was on In Death overload. So I did what I never do, I put it down half way through it. As you know now I picked it back up and finished it (since I don't read out of order and I now am done this book) and seemed to right back on my In Death kick like I was in the start.

Sooooooo I pick up Witness in Death and OMG! I loved this one! I really think this one may be my favorite so far. Well maybe I really like the one where Mavis got with her man, but I forget the title. Anyhow, I'm gonna tell you all now, I won't give away the 'who do it' but I am talking about the Peabody, McNab etc. etc. So if you've never read the story and don't want to know about these people's personal lives then don't read.

Okay so Roarke opens one of his new acquisitions (is that the right word to use?), a Theater, it's opening night and the main actor is murdered right there on the stage, in front of thousands of witnesses, in front of Eve, and with a knife that was supposed to be a prop.

One thing J.D. Robb is good for is jumping right into the action.

Obviously this books about the who did it, most of the suspects are actors so Eve, along with her aid Peabody, have to peel away all the different layers. Who's acting? Who's not? How can you tell?

Not to mention we all (well anyone who's read any of these books) know that Eve struggles with the nightmares of her childhood and this case hits close to home on more than one occasion.

I think Eve became even more .... human in this book. Not that she was some cold hearted woman before. But in each book, Robb peels away a little more of Eve's armor and shows her vulnerability, allows her to lean more on her husband. And not only that but we saw some of the same in Roarke this time around too. Or maybe it could be I just took such a long break from the books that I feel like it's all new. lol.

But really when Eve tried to go the extra step and show Roarke how much she loves him I laughed, felt nervous for/with her, and just loved seeing how much they mean to each other.

The highlight of this book for me? Peabody, McNabe, and Monroe! OMG let me tell you, I was skimming through looking for more on them and then would go back all excited cause I knew more was coming. I don't even know who I like more, McNab or Monroe. I thought I was all for McNab but Monroe touches my heart too. Even though he is a man whore. lol. But Roarke said he's put his money on McNab, and he's not known to lose.

I don't know how J.D. Robb does it though. I laugh, cry and am on the edge of my seat the entire time I read her books. Oh and not to mention am Hot hot hot! Usually when I read a book I take for granted how much work goes into it. But not with these books. I can't fathom how she comes up with all these ideas, and the twists. Then all the stuff she makes up in her world years away from now. It just blows my mind.

This book will go down as one of my all time favorites. Tonight while laying in bed with my husband I actually turned to him and said...."I just want to read that book all over again, I can't stop thinking about it. Usually I have them figured out but she had me till the last second with this one. I want to reread it to see if I can pick up the clues."

In ending I leave you with a few of my favorite parts. If you've read the book you'll know what I"m talking about, if not MOVE YOUR ASS TO THE STORE! Or library, like me, I'm trying to be thrifty. But anyway, here they are:

Peabody drunk, Feeney's cologne, Eve with her candy thief, and Eve selecting dinner ware for her night with Roarke.

Grade~ A+++

(I'll review Loyalty later, I'm not feeling the creative juices flowing on that one right now. lol)

Compromising Positions by Dara Edmondson

Meet Crystal, Patsy and Maureen - three friends in their forties trying to run the obstacle course of mid-life. Crystal thinks she has the perfect marriage until she starts fantasizing about a handsome coworker. But when she suspects her husband is having more than fantasies about another woman, she digs in her heels and fights for what's hers. Patsy discovers her Neanderthal husband Bud having sex with his bowling buddy and wearing women's underwear. When Bud tries to take more than his fair share in the divorce, Patsy sets out to humiliate him into submission. Maureen has enough trouble trying to survive life with her rebellious teenaged daughter Rhianna. When she starts dating the teacher Rhianna has a secret crush on, the fur flies.

When I first started the book I had a huge "OH PLEASE NO!" moment, lol, but as it turned out it was really okay and I loved the way Dara opened up her story. You were hooked right away.

I enjoyed the dynamics between the girlfriends a lot. I always love close friendships in stories because we get to see and hear what is going on with them and their love life from a different angle. There are the thoughts in their heads, and what they share with their significant other, but what they share with girlfriends? That's always a hoot.

So let me tell you what I thought of each of the girls and their stories.

I never really clicked with Patsy. It's not that I didn't like her, but that she annoyed me. I mean yeah, I felt bad for her situation, even though it was kinda funny, but the way she dealt with it made me mad. She kinda just rolled over at first, doing nothing. I'm sorry but if that was me I would have done SOMETHING to get revenge right off the bat. But hey maybe I'm just spiteful like that. lol.

She moved in Crystal and her family, so you know there is going to be some boundary issues. I know these women are really close and all, but if they were that close wouldn't Patsy have known certain things? Like the fact that Chrystal had just lost a ton of weight and still struggles to keep it off? So why would she then go and purposely make all these fatty foods when Crystal even points out that she has been trying to go the healthy road with her family? It's like she was oblivious to the most obvious things.

And I don't want to sound snobby or anything but unless I was off on what I read, Patsy was in her early 50's. I swear it said she was married to Bud for 10 years and she got married when she was 42, correct me if I'm wrong. And she seemed so loud and obnoxious, and big. I by no means am a small woman. I actually struggle quite a bit with my weight but I just don't like reading about big women that don't care that they are big. I don't know, guess it's just one of my weird quirks. I mean age is always an issue with me and my books and it's not an authors fault by any means. Roz in Black Rose by Nora Roberts was the first older heroine I ever liked. And size goes the same way. I mean look at Night Play, one of Holly's favorite SK books, I could not get over Bride's size! But hey we all have our quirks.

So it was just little things like that bothered me. I also didn't like how uneducated Patsy sounded all the time. I know, I know she wasn't dumb, she had a degree. But she sounded that way! She was always talking with this "I'm so dumb accent". Actually that's a bad way to say it, cause I don't care that she had an accent (although I prefer if an author just says what kind of accent they have instead of writing with the accent. But again a personal preference), it was more just her way of talking or the words she used. Like always using ain't, stuff like that. I don't know. Guess I just wasn't really keen on Patsy and her part of the story.

I loved Maureen (I just hated the nickname Mo, YUCK!)! But I'll tell you now if I were her I would have smacked my daughter upside the head! And Holly I soooo know what your ewww moments were! Don't worry everyone, they ended up fine, but I can't tell you or it will ruin the book. lol. But Maureen was great, her personality and her issues with who she was attracted to had me laughing.

Rhianna, Maureen's daughter, annoyed me a lot. But I think she was supposed to. However I don't think the way her character just changed overnight was believable. And I think she acted a lot younger than her age. I don't really see a 17 year old doing the things she did. Well not all of it.

The only thing with Maureen's story was, I kinda felt it was left undone with one part. There is a major thing that is going on with Maureen in the book and when it comes full circle you're so happy for her. But then it's just done. Nothing else. I would have thought we would have seen more on that part, especially with her new friend, Hema, involved. But whatever I still liked Maureen the most.

Crystal was my favorite. That was until I found something out about her toward the end of the book that made me really cringe. I won't say what it is. But it is something that I am very, very against so it made her really unlikable for me. But I know everyone doesn't have the same beliefs as me so it may not be an issue for everyone.

Crystal and Wes were so great together and the issues she started to have were very believable. I loved watching her struggle with her weight and attraction to a different man, and her fight for a job she wanted and her husband. She was very real, and her feelings toward Patsy staying with her were very realistic. I liked that a lot.

All together? The book was good. I think what I was missing was an emotional attachment. I wasn't very emotionally involved, and I like to cry when characters cry.

I will definitely look forward to more of DE's work in the future. I'll just be looking for more emotion, or a better way of sharing the feelings, because I KNEW how the characters were feeling I just didn't feel it myself.

Grade C+