novella

Falling For The Backup by Toni Aleo

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Falling for the Backup (Assassins, #3.5)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #3.5
Reviewed by Kay

This latest read from Toni Aleo’s Assassins series is another great addition. It focuses on Jordan, who is the backup goalie. He has been on the bench since a very significant injury. While he was healing, his replacement became a star goalie and basically took his place on the team. Now that he’s healed, he wants to play again and is talking with other teams. He also wants to settle down, get married and have kids, so he’s looking for his future wife.

Aynslee is a elementary education teacher. A red haired Irish girl complete with a big family. She transferred down to Nashville after a breakup with her longtime boyfriend. These two meet on a plane ride back to Nashville. Instant sparks and here you go. I love these novels, I really do. This series is an auto-read for me. When she has a new book come out, I  clear my schedule so I can sit down and read it. If you haven’t started reading her, you are sooo missing out on one of the best new authors there is out there. I can not wait for September when the next book comes out!

Bite Me by PJ Schnyder

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Bite Me (London Undead, #1)

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Paranormal (shifter, zombie), Novella
Series: London Undead #1
Reviewed by Anne
90 pages
Zombies have invaded the world, but seem especially drawn to London.  Werewolves have always existed in secret, and they are immune to the zombie virus.  The zombie outbreak presented them with an opportunity to come out to the world.  Seth is Alpha of a werewolf pack in London.  He and his pack are working to protect the humans, even though many humans are still pretty scared of werewolves.  Maisie is a young woman who was orphaned and maimed in a zombie attack.  She’s on her own now, and despite needing crutches to walk for any distance, she is a fierce hunter and defender of those she cares about.  One night she comes across some tourists under zombie attack.  Yes, in this London there are still tourists.  Now they come to see or hunt the zombies!  Just as Maisie’s assistance is looking to be not quite enough, Seth comes to their aid.  He’s fascinated by this small but feisty human.  She admires his strength and skill and remarkably isn’t afraid of his bad werewolf self.  
 
I really liked this story! The author accomplished a lot in a novella format, leaving me with both a satisfying story and some unanswered questions about the world she built. Maisie and Seth were fun characters, though a little simple, probably due to the novella format. The post-zombie attack London – complete with the Zombie Hunter tourist crowd was well done! There were interesting questions about the zombies. What had started them? What might stop them? Why were they so drawn to London?  There’s plenty to work with in future installments.

I loved that Maisie is really tough, even though she’s a human. Seth, as alpha of his pack was a pretty stereotypical alpha with the heart of gold. I’m pretty fond of that stereotype, though, so it wasn’t a problem for me.

I did have one issue with the story, though. I thought the ending was too much, too abrupt, and too soon.  It was both that I wanted more time with Seth and Maisie and that the final sex scene seemed poorly timed. Maybe a few days later would have been more believable.

It says a lot of good about the book that my complaint has to do with the sex in it. Generally I complain because a book has too little sex. In this case I was so engrossed in the story, the sex pulled me out (ha!) of it. So it’s a good thing.

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good shifter story and those who enjoy a strong female lead. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for the next one!

I will say I’m not a huge fan of the cover.  I’m fine with a romance that has zombies in it. Not so much zombies on the cover. Or maybe that’s supposed to be Maisie?  It’s definitely not my favorite cover.  What do you think?

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.