Month: June 2013

Into The Fire by Amanda Usen

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Into the Fire (A Hot Nights Series Book)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-A Hot Night #1
Reviewed by Kay

Jackson Calabrese is from a famous restaurant family in New York. His father still runs the family business since his older brother decided music was his life not cooking. Jackson, the night before the big competition at culinary school, finally gets some time with Lila Grant. They have a night filled with hot sex and then something is said (I can’t say what) that leads to a huge misunderstanding by both of them. To say they part as enemies is an understatement. Then the story fast forwards six months, right before Jack’s restaurant opens and he runs into Lila again.

I won’t say anything more about the storyline except that you have to read it. This book is fantastic and it was a pleasant surprise. I’ve read Amanda Usen before but this is my favorite by her. I loved everything about this novel. And I’m a huge fan of food in my love stories. Huge. I loved the characters, both primary and secondary. I can’t wait for the next book!

Taken By Him by Red Garnier

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

 Taken by Him (The Billionaire's Club #2)

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Billionaire’s Club #2
Reviewed by Kay

This second installment in the Billionaire’s Club features the man-whore, Luke Alexander Preston and executive Peyton Lane. They both are on a hiatus from their regular lives. Luke, from sleeping with everything that moves and rehabbing from a gunshot wound. Peyton wanted a vacation so she could do something she has never done, have a fling with a man she’s not likely to run into in the circles she keeps.

She meets Luke after he runs into her literally. From there they are hyper aware of one another. A fling starts that will end in two or three days time with no strings attached. This story worked for me so much. It was funny, a little sad and a whole lot sexy. Very descriptive love scenes, a favorite of mine. This was a short read and there could’ve been more story but with this for some reason I didn’t care about that. I will definatley be reading the other books in this series and may go through the author’s backlist. This is on my best of 2013 list.

Highlander Taken by Juliette Miller

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Highlander Taken (Clan Mackenzie, #2)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-Clan Mackenzie #2
Reviewed by Kay

Let me explain the hotness level thing first for this book. Inferno is our hottest rating and for good reason but you generally don’t find it in historical romance. At least, not in the historicals I read. I have very specific guidelines for historical romance and erotica has no place there for me. There were multiple sexual situations in this book but no penetrating sex until the end of the book but scenes of non-penetrating sex were explicit as well as some bondage and spanking with a leather strap. That’s where the inferno rating comes from.

Kade Mackenzie has to wed for an alliance to strengthen his clan’s army and holdings. He is a third son. His oldest brother is widowed and not ready to remarry yet. His second brother was all but betrothed and then met his meant to be bride, so his betrothal to a Morrison daughter had to be broken. In come Kade and Stella Morrison to fill the vacancy spot the broken engagement left. Kade has desired Stella even before he met her because she had a feisty reputation. When he sees her, he falls for her beauty. He accepts the fact they have to get married and looks forward to his marriage bed.

Stella Morrison has been abused by her father or his men physically for years. She looks like her dead mother and her father for some reason takes his grief out on Stella. She doesn’t want the marriage but wants to protect her clan. She has heard her husband is a beast, so she is apprehensive to say the least.

I liked this book but not as much as I wanted to. I wanted to love it. It drug a little in the middle for me. Good story telling otherwise. My big problems with it were no full blown sex until the end of the book and in one sex scene he used a leather strap on her. The later is not my cup of tea. Personal preference but I rate based on what I like and I did not like that part. Good voice of the author and she’ll probably get better as she goes on.