B Reviews

Taken by Kelli Maine

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Taken (Give & Take, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Give&Take #1
Reviewed by Kay

Rachael DeSalvo has a chance at getting her dream job. She memorized everything she needed to know to land the job. She has the interview by webcam with the CEO and gets the job! You flash forward a little and she is out on the town celebrating with her friends. She sees a guy who looks familiar and he approaches her. He buys her a drink and then things go from fuzzy to black. She wakes up in a room she doesn’t know surrounded by things she doesn’t recognize. She does however recognize the man from the bar. She puts two and two together and realizes she was ruffied. Her captor is none other than the CEO of the company she interviewed with.

Merrick Rocha has been obsessed with Rachael since their interview and watched her from afar since she had to turn down the job. He is obviously very wealthy and used to getting what he wants. Her turning down the job she so desperately wanted intrigued him so much that he kidnapped her. He wants to possess her. Oddly enough, he also wants her help to re-do an old hotel they discussed at her interview.

Okay, first, the creep factor with the kidnapping almost did the book in for me. I have already read Captive in Dark and refused to read Truth, both of these books have similar themes in them. I tried to wrap my brain around it all the way through the book. I couldn’t grasp the love of this old hotel being the reason he kidnapped her. That being said, watching his attempts at redemption and winning her trust were entertaining. It was said in the book that she always thought he was attractive and therefore attracted to him. She battled with herself and her feelings regarding him through a lot of the book.

I won’t call this a sweet romance but they were happy by the end of the book. There was a little suspense, a lot of creepy, great love scenes once they got started and an HEA. The journey to get there was a little rough. I haven’t decided if I’ll read more of the series yet

The Warrior by Margaret Mallory

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Warrior (Return of the Highlanders, #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Return of the Highlanders #3
Reviewed by Kay

This is the final chapter in this saga, I think.  It is the story of Duncan and Moira. They grew up together in their clan. Moira’s brother is Duncan’s best friend. They had a love affair as teens but due to the different stations in life they had, once their affair was exposed, they were separated. Duncan was sent to France and Moira was married off to an Irish chieftain. Flash forward seven years and we find Duncan sent to check on Moira now that her brother is in a fight for his title. Moira’s life is not all its cracked up to be.

I don’t want to give any of the surprises away in the story so I’ll stop there. I love this series and this story. I love the trope of the brother’s best friend and the sister. There was a great deal of emotion in this story. It’s a great example of enduring love and the importance of family. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve read everything this author has written and will continue to do so.

Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Covet Thy Neighbor (Tucker Springs, #4)

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m
Series: Tucker Springs #4
Reviewed by Anne
175 pages
 
Seth is a tattoo artist who lives above his business.  He’s delighted to learn that his new neighbor is extremely good looking, gay, and open to a little flirtation and more.  He’s distressed to learn that Darren is a Christian pastor.  Seth was terribly hurt by his devout Christian family when he came out to them.  He just can’t get by the fact that Darren is a pastor.  However, they keep running into each other and the attraction just isn’t dying down. Even worse, they find they have more and more in common.
This is the fourth entry in the Tucker Springs series.  This one is written by L.A. Witt and was my first L.A. Witt book.  It stands alone well, as all the books do.  In fact, I’ve read these books entirely out of order, starting with book 3 (Dirty Laundry), then reading book 2 (Second Hand), and now book 4.  Yes, I intend to go back to book 1 (Where Nerves End), which is another L.A. Witt book. 
 
The Tucker Springs books have been just magical for me.  This one especially intrigued me, because I wondered how the issue of Christianity and a pastor having sex outside of marriage would be handled.  I thought it was handled well.   I liked the contrasting experiences they had in coming out to their families.  The growth Seth had to make was painful for him.  Darren was almost too patient.  But it all worked for me, and I was disappointed to see it end.  All of the issues weren’t totally dealt with, but I felt really confident that they would work through anything they came up against.
 
This was another low conflict romance – a favorite of mine.  I’d compare this series to Lauren Dane’s Brown Siblings series.  Very hot and the conflict in the book is internal to the relationship.  I recommend it!


So, how about you?  Have you read this book?  Can you recommend another book that handled Christianity well without being preachy?