Throw Back Thursday- Naked In Death by J.D. Robb

Naked in Death (In Death, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-In Death #1
Genre-Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Reviewed by Kay
294 pages

Eve Dallas is police officer in the year 2058 and also a childhood sexual abuse survivor. She has a couple of good friends and rarely dates. Her work is her life pretty much. She is fresh off of a case that has scarred her emotionally when she inherits a mess of a case. It involves the death of a Senator’s granddaughter, who was a licensed companion. In this future you can be a prostitute as long as you’re licensed to do so. What makes the case more interesting is that the victim was shot with a gun from our current time period. Guns are outlawed in the future. Only serious collectors have them, which leads her to Roarke as a suspect.

Roarke is a very wealthy man with a collection of 20th century guns and he is friends with family of the deceased. But the death of the prostitute is only the first victim and the beginning of this mystery. As Eve gets sexually involved with Roarke, she endangers not only her career but her life as they work together to find this killer that has scared the community.

This was an audio read for me and the first In Death book for me. I enjoyed it and am headed to the library for the second one in audio form. Anyone who likes romantic suspense and a good whodunnit, this is a good start to what I hope is an exciting series. My only complaint as a romance reader is that it could’ve been hotter. Thank you to Anne and my friend Wendy for suggesting this series to me.

No Strings Attached by Suzan Butler

No Strings Attached
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level- No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
250 pages

This was a great story of a pretty much lifelong friendship that slowly grew into something so much more.

Ethan is a wealthy soldier. His family has money and he is a trust fund baby. Complete with a marriage and children clause. He has been friends with Ashlynn since they were kids. They became best friends, then friends with benefits and when he had to marry, she was the logical choice. He had to marry and she needed stability for her and her son.

There was also suspense which dealt with her abusive ex-boyfriend and he kind of lifestyle he led. You were kind of on the edge of your seat waiting for him to show and cause chaos. He was a very bad guy. I was irritated with some of Ash’s choice regarding her safety but watching the two of them fall for each other and their acceptance of that was wonderful to read. I will definitely read more of this author.

Bonds of Hope by Lynda Aicher

       
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High Kink
Series-Wicked Play #4
Genre-BDSM
Reviewed by Kate
228 pages

Quinn is an actress researching a role as a submissive for an upcoming tv series. Marcus is a professional Dom at The Den who has agreed to spend a week with Quinn, giving her his first hand experience in the world of BDSM.

Lynda Aicher has taken what could have turned out to be an extremely formulaic read and turned it into something hot and emotional. In the first few chapters, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect with Quinn, who kept escaping into roles when she was with Marcus, rather than being present. But watching Quinn discover herself turned out to be something special. Marcus was everything you could hope for in a Dom.

My one complaint was that I would have liked to see a glimpse of Quinn and Marcus further into the future than the epilogue gave us. But there’s going to be a book 5 in this series, so I remain hopeful.

Bonds of Hope is a wonderful addition to the Wicked Play series. A rare combination of steamy-sexy-hot and emotion. With strong characters and a moving plot that kept me turning the pages, this one leaves me wanting more, more, more.