Review: The Claiming of Suzy by KT Grant

The Claiming of Suzy by KT Grant

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Suzy Bean is a woman who lives in the moment and doesn't mind her overabundant curves. The man she secretly loves, JC Mosino, is the only one who can make her untamed sexual fantasies a reality. After having a bit too much to drink at a party, JC drives her home, where their passions ignite. Suzy thinks that this is night where she and JC will go from being friends to lovers.

Unfortunately it doesn't happen quite like that and Suzy ends up throwing JC out because of something he says in the heat of the moment that she takes the wrong way.

Now Suzy's whole world has been turned upside down because she's given up smoking and is sexually frustrated. When she meets a handsome, flirty stranger, who makes her body respond, she becomes even more frustrated. This chance meeting is one she'll never forget, for Mr. Hunk is her new boss, Xavier Marks. Suzy feels guilty because her attraction to Xavier is growing while she still pines for JC.

JC's craving for Suzy is out of control where he wants nothing more than to work things out and become her lover. He has a plan in doing so, but has to work fast as Xavier tries to seduce Suzy. JC is having no part of that, and will do whatever he can to claim this brassy, buxom beauty for his own.



Angelique’s Review

I have come to expect realistic characters, through-provoking plots, and insanely hot love scenes from KT Grant. In “The Claiming of Suzy,” Ms. Grant delivers yet again. This contemporary romance will keep you hooked until the HEA.

I loved Suzy’s character in “For the Love of Mollie” and was thrilled to see her get her own book. Though this character exudes confidence and a snappy wit, she is not 100% comfortable in her own skin. When her love interest JC speaks without thinking, it sets her off and almost into the arms of another man. It was agonizing to “watch” as both characters kept making the wrong moves in an attempt to get the other back.

“The Claiming of Suzy” is a great read and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book (blurb is in the back). However, I do suggest first picking up “For the Love of Mollie” to get acquainted with some of the secondary characters.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Fearless Love by Stacey Espino

Fearless Love (Immortal Love, #2) by Stacey Espino

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Javen Highland is the most ruthless Fear Demon and has the reputation to back it up. He keeps away from love, seeing it as a vulnerability. When a breathtakingly beautiful vampire steals his blood, she also captures his heart.

Javen’s new mission is to convince the blonde beauty that her bite is erotic, not painful. If he doesn’t succeed, he could lose her forever. Emma doesn’t realize just how persuasive Javen can be. He’ll have to show her over and over exactly how good it feels to sustain her with his blood.



Angelique’s Review

Since I loved “Fearless Desires,” I couldn’t wait to get my hands on “Fearless Love!” Ms. Espino once again proves that she is a gifted storyteller with this hot paranormal romance. The plot twists and turns will keep you glued in your seat until the last page.

The characters in this book are realistic, dynamic, and emotionally engaging. As a heroine, Emma is a little too “damsel in distress” for my taste, but she is that way for a good reason. Javen is very Alpha male and set in his ways until Emma throws him off course. It is exciting to see them grow and change over the course of the story.

Due to the complexity of the story and the intertwined storylines, there is not much else I can say about it without giving away plot points. I do have to say, however, that the ending was awesome and I almost started crying. Can’t wait for the next addition to the Immortal Love series!

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Malevolent Dead by Heather Kuehl

Malevolent Dead by Heather Kuehl

Publisher: Eternal Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

To save everyone, she’ll have to do the unthinkable. Werewolf Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, SC. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. Exceptionally hard to kill, Sarah will have do whatever she can to keep those that she loves safe...


Angelique’s Review

I have been awaiting my next fix of Sarah Vargas ever since I finished “Fade to Black” in June. Ms. Kuehl delivers in the latest addition to the series, “Malevolent Dead.” In a world where the night (and day) is filled with all sorts of paranormal creatures, this heroine kicks some serious butt.

Sarah’s life is pretty complicated. The man she loves has to go back to the life she almost ended and her former employer is most likely trying to kill her. While she was driven mostly by anger in the first book in the series, Sarah is not feeling as sure of herself as she once was and thinks that she doesn’t fit into her new life. Add an incredibly hot vampire, Damian, who saved her boyfriend’s life and now needs her help – she ends up in quite the predicament!

I would love to say more, but I can’t without giving away some major plot points. “Malevolent Dead” is an awesome adventure with kick-butt action, hot sexual encounters, and interesting characters. Eagerly awaiting the next Sarah Vargas book!

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

      

Review: A Matter of Duty by Elizabeth Jewell

A Matter of Duty by Elizabeth Jewell

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

A little over two years ago, Piper met Trey, a shapeshifter who impersonated her dead boyfriend and then led her on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, they fell in love.

Now Trey is required to father children to sustain his race. Piper knew this day would come, but she’s not prepared to face Nadia, the shapeshifter woman first in line to have Trey’s babies.

She’s even less prepared to consider the possibility of having a child herself, knowing it’s impossible with Trey. But Nadia’s husband is human…and that’s when things get really complicated.



Angelique’s Review

“A Matter of Duty” is an erotic and challenging masterpiece, not for the faint of heart. Ms. Jewell creates a race that is very different from us (humans), yet so similar. I was addicted from the first word and didn’t put it down until the last word.

Piper is the happiest that she has ever been. There is only one thing that her shapeshifting husband Trey cannot give her – a baby. When her husband is duty-bound to assist another female shifter to get pregnant, this brings the problem and Piper’s other insecurities to the surface.

There are two things in this book that really stood out and made me take notice – the emotion of the characters and the intimate scenes. You can feel Piper’s longing for a child and her apprehension about the opportunity that is presented to her to make it become a reality. The characters are so real that you can almost reach out and touch them. In the case of the intimate scenes, they are outstanding in both moving the plot forward and writing. Writing a believable sex scene can be difficult, but I cannot imagine writing one that includes four people. Ms. Jewell left me in awe.

“A Matter of Duty” is a fantastic read. It will push your boundaries and leave you sweating!

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

      

Review: Lady in Red by Annette Shelley

Lady in Red by Annette Shelley

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

When a young couple meets in a ghost hunting club, they decide to take their relationship to the next level by going to Denver CO for a weekend of romance and ghost hunting. What they don't expect is connection they shared with an old hotel and a murder that took place over a hundred years before...


 
Angelique’s Review

“Lady in Red” is a romantic thriller. Ms. Shelley presents us with a story about love and paranormal investigation.

Kate and Brett are the main characters. I found their thoughts, actions, and comments were inconsistent throughout the story. They also felt flat. Other than a little back story about previous encounters, it did not seem like they existed outside of the story.

Another thing that kept ripping me out of the stream of consciousness was Brett’s “ghost busting” skills. People that are serious about their paranormal investigations would not have behaved as Brett did during the story, including bringing a distracting skeptic to an important investigation.

While it has an interesting premise, “Lady in Red” failed to capture my interest.

2 Tea Cups!

Review: Angel on Fire by Megan Hussey

Angel on Fire by Megan Hussey

Publisher: Phaze Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Rainyn Clery is a gorgeous, kind-natured dancer at Club Nuit; a
strip club/bordello where hot incubus vampires fulfill the deepest, darkest fantasies of everyday women. Despite his great passion for his work, Rainyn finds himself falling in love with Blythe, record company executive and Nuit regular.

Blythe Browning is engaged to marry Richard Billings, a city commissioner in her hometown of Clearview, Florida. Yet Richard's cruel, smug attitude drives her back to Club Nuit, a haven where she finds comfort in the arms of the sensual, exotic Rainyn.

Soon Blythe can't deny her love for Rainyn; a love he returns in the form of beautiful gifts and mind-blowing sex. Yet the man of her dreams harbors a secret that could threaten their love. It seems this gentleman of the evening is also a lord of the night.


Angelique’s Review

“Angel on Fire” is about going for love instead of settling for security. Ms. Hussey presents a story unlike anything I have read thus far, instantly addicting me to the world of Club Nuit. This short novella is both creative and emotional, capturing you until the end.

Blythe is my kind of heroine and has a wicked sarcastic streak. When you see how put down she is by her fiancé Richard, you too will want to beat the crap out of him. No matter how strong she tries to appear on the outside, the years of emotional abuse have her worn down. I was happy for her to get her HEA.

While you learn quite a bit about Blythe during the first half of the book, Rainyn remains mostly a mystery. Since this was the first book I read in this world, finding out what the men of Club Nuit are took me by surprise. It was a nice surprise!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. My only wish is that it had been longer. I am definitely going to have to check out the first novel in this world, “Under Cover of the Night.”

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Divine Redemption by Rebecca Rose

Divine Redemption by Rebecca Rose

Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Sometimes redemption is the only salvation needed to forgive yourself.

In his first selfless act, Donald Write takes a bullet for Daniel Allen. Now he's changed his name and moved across the country to live with Daniel’s family, whose welcoming home reception wasn't very warm.

Jacqueline is Daniel’s daughter. This soft spoken, well dressed lady soon teaches Donald that looks can be deceiving and her heart can be his if he’s willing to open up and except her gift of love.

Donald hadn't counted on the intense and immediate attraction to Jacqueline. She’s the boss’s daughter and off limits; that is until he finds himself with an irresistible primal need to be with her. She shows him love in a way he's never felt before and gives him the strength to become the better man he's always wanted to be. But how can Donald touch and care for someone so pure of heart when their future can be destroyed by his past? A future built on redemption and second chances.


Angelique’s Review

After finishing up “Divine Turmoil,” I was ready to indulge in “Divine Redemption.” The story took me by surprise at first since it actually happens before the events of the first book. The shock faded quickly as I was able to dive back into the world of the Allen family. Ms. Rose delivers another wonderful contemporary romance with characters leaping off the page.

It was nice to finally get to know Jacqueline, since she had a small role to play in “Divine Turmoil.” I really liked her attitude, but also enjoyed that she was smart enough to help the Allen family run their business. That made the sexual tension scenes in the office even hotter.

Cam/Donald was a great hero to Jacqueline’s heroine. Not only was he hot, but he had some pretty serious issues to deal with during the course of the story. The contrast of his family and upbringing as opposed to the Allens really show how far he had travelled in making sure he made something of himself. It also showed the amount of faith that Daniel Allen has in him. I was emotionally involved and was happy to see them get their HEA.

In “Divine Turmoil,” I noticed that the sex scenes were underwhelming after scene after scene of sexual tension that could be cut with a knife. I was happy to find out that that was not the case in this novella. The sex is much hotter and fiercer.

“Divine Redemption” was an excellent read and I’m looking forward to the last installation in Ms. Rose’s Divine series.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: In the Pale Moonlight by Sunny Moraine

In the Pale Moonlight by Sunny Moraine

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Genre: Alternative Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Moonlight can show a great deal more than sun…
For years, Rhys has lived alone on his isolated patch of land, far from his brothers and sisters, shunning all human company. For years, it has been enough for him to hunt alone, without a pack or mate, and for years he had been sure that it would always be that way.

But certainties can play tricks on a certain mind. One night, Rhys finds a young man, James, huddled in a ruined hut on his land. And when--against his better judgment--he agrees to offer James shelter in his own house, everything begins to change. Haunted by a past he can't escape, Rhys finds himself far too tempted by the presence of young human flesh. James becomes far too curious about his mysterious host. And one fateful night could seal the future for both of them, the moonlight revealing too much to be denied.



Angelique’s Review

I had high hopes for “In the Pale Moonlight,” like I have for most werewolf stories. While the book is well written and presents the reader with a curious new world, I found the short novella too dark for my taste. The characters, Rhys and James, were well constructed, but did not get me emotionally involved in the story.

Overall, while Ms. Moraine is a good writer, “In the Pale Moonlight” was just not for me.

2 ½ Tea Cups!