Kate

Short Rides by Lorelei James

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Short Rides (Rough Riders, #14.5)
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate
Series-Rough Riders #14.5
Reviewed by Kay

Let me start by saying that this will be a joint review between Kate and I. We have each done a review with Anne but not one together. I’m super excited about it! We’ll each give our reviews, a list of our faves of the series and our not so much faves. I hope you enjoy the review as much as we enjoyed the book and writing it.

This novel has three separate parts-

The King Of Hearts is about Cam McKay who is the deputy of this hometown since his discharge from the armed services. He was badly wounded and ended up with part of one leg and hand amputated. On Valentine’s Day there is a murder suicide committed and he is on the scene. It was very disturbing because of the nature and brutality of the crime. It also talked about PTSD and getting treatment for it. It was okay for me but a little preachy about gun control. I did enjoy his scenes with the kiddos.

Rough Road was about Trevor, Edgard and Chassie Glazner. They are a committed triad. If you are unfamiliar with that, it means they are all lovers in a committed relationship. They all have children together and raise them together. This story deals with prejudice against their lifestyle involving their son. He’s bullied by a child at school and he questions his parents about what the “F” words means.
I do want to point out that the parents of the bully were worst case opinion people. Not every one who disagrees with someone’s lifestyle is a jerk about it. I loved the support they got from their extended family and the lovely vacation they got to take.

All Knocked Up is about Jack and Keely Donohue who are awaiting the arrival of baby number one. Between work schedules and pregnancy hormones it’s a wild ride. The bonus to this story is that we get multiple babies!

I enjoyed all three stories and can’t wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.

My personal favorites in order are (I didn’t rate the novellas):
Raising Kane
All Jacked Up
Cowgirls Don’t Cry
Chasin’ Eight
Rough, Raw and Ready
Kissin’ Tell
Branded As Trouble
Cowgirl Up And Ride
Tied Up, Tied Down
Long Hard Ride
Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Cowboy Casanova
Gone Country

Don’t get me wrong, I liked them all but some more than others. Now, on to Kate.

What does a series that already has 14 full length books (#15 is slated to be released on 6/18) and 2 novellas need? *waiving hand in the air* OOH, ooh, pick me. I know. An anthology containing a short story and two novellas!

King of Hearts featuring  Cam and Domini left me feeling a bit flat. It gives a glimpse of their home life, but it was lacking the heat that I’ve come to expect from a Rough Riders book.   D, blaze

Rough Roads revisits Chassie, Trevor and Edgard as they celebrate their anniversary and deal with issues their oldest son is having at school. I loved this one.  B+, inferno

All Knocked Up follows Jack and Keely through the end of her first pregnancy. This one made me laugh out loud. B, inferno.

For those of us waiting for the next installment in the Rough Riders series these stories will help fill the void and pass the time. I’m curious to find out how many of you are riding the Rough Riders train? What was your favorite book so far?

Kate’s favorites in order:

I’ve not listed them before and it was funny because some of them I actually felt my lip curl just reading the title. And Kissin’ Tell would have been a few spots lower on the list except for Lorelei James’ masterful use of a trampoline 🙂 Makes me smile every time I think about it. I’m curious to know what your favorites are.

1. Rough, Raw and Ready
2. Raising Kane
3. Tied Up, Tied Down
4. Branded As Trouble
5. Cowgirl Up and Ride
6. Strong, Silent Type
7. Cowboy Casanova
8. Kissin’ Tell
9. Should Been A Cowboy
10. Cowgirls Don’t Cry
11. Gone Country
12. All Jacked Up
13. Long Hard Ride
14. Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
15. Chasin’ Eight

Close to You by Kate Perry

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Close to You (Laurel Heights, #2)
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Laurel Heights #2

Reviewed by Kate
267 pages


Margaret has owned her tea shop in the ritzy town of Laurel Heights for years but finances are starting to get tight. She knows who’s to blame too-Eve, the owner of the new coffee shop across the street. So Margaret sends her son Treat (yes, that’s really his name) into Eve’s shop to scope out the competition. As Treat walks into Eve’s shop, he’s glad this is a one time only spy mission because he completely falls for Eve. And the feeling’s mutual. When it becomes apparent someone is sabotaging Eve’s business, both Eve and Treat suspect Margaret is to blame. But is it too late for Treat to tell the truth about who his mother is?

Treat and Eve are great characters and I enjoyed reading about them.  But surprisingly, I really liked Margaret, the third wheel (and villain) in their relationship.  The author does a superb job of making you care not only for the hero and heroine, but the villain as well.  I would really like to see Margaret get her own HEA. 

How about you?  Romance villains.  Love ’em, Hate ’em, or Love to Hate ’em?

Rule of Three by Kelly Jamieson

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Rule of Three
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, ménage
Reviewed by Kate

206 pages


Kassidy is finally reaping the rewards of always following the rules. She has a job she loves and is in a fulfilling relationship with her boyfriend Chris. In fact, after a year of dating, they’ve just moved in together and it’s looking like marriage is on the horizon. Then Chris’s best friend Dag comes to town for a visit.

Dag has secretly been in love with Chris since they first met. But it was obvious Chris would never consider a relationship so Dag never admitted his feelings. He left town years ago, trying to outrun his feelings, but is back to see if there’s any chance of being with Chris now.

Kassidy and Dag are shocked by (and Chris is oblivious to) the immediate sparks that fly between them. To their credit, neither Dag nor Kassidy act on their attraction. Instead they spend a few days becoming good friends. When it comes out that Dag and Chris have participated in threesomes together before, Kassidy decides to step out of her good girl box and give a threeway a try. But when everyone’s true feelings are uncovered, will any of them be left without a broken heart?

I had just finished a Harlequin Special Edition and may have been complaining to Anne a bit because, while I love me a good Harlequin Special Edition, it just didn’t have the heat level I was looking for. So later Anne emails me about Rule of Three. Something like, “Saw this menage story. Thought of you.” Aren’t big sisters the greatest?

Kelly Jamieson has a new fan. Because holy hotness, Batman! This one was scorching. The kind where you just have to take periodic cool-down breaks, you know? But the best part was it wasn’t sex written for sex’s sake. These characters were deep and complex and-oh crap, I’m getting a tad gushy, aren’t I?

My only complaint was that the HEA ended too soon.  I would have liked to see an epilogue with this one.  Of course, without an epilogue, I get to make my own up.  How about you?  Epilogue or no?  Which do you prefer?