The Hunter by Monica McCarty

The Hunter (Highland Guard, #7)

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Highland Guard #7
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
380 pages

Ewen “Hunter” Lamont is a minor chieftain and part of Robert Bruce’s Highland Guard. He is also an expert tracker. He has been given the task of bringing Janet of Mar back to Bruce, which will bring an end to Janet’s being a spy. The two shared a pretty steamy kiss awhile back and neither of them have forgotten it.

Janet of Mar is head strong, loyal and very pretty. She’s also a very good spy. She has considered taking her vows as a nun so she won’t lose her freedom. She views marriage as serfdom. Ewen is a typical male of the times with his views on where a woman’s place is. He can’t stand that Janet is in danger all the time.

This is not Monica McCarty’s best work. I hope the next book in this series is back up to her usual standards. Very few people can write Scottish Highlander romance well. She is usually one of them but this one fell short.

The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

Every once in a while we read a book that we love so much that we decide we need to put up a review of it immediately, even though the review calendar is full.  This is one of those books.  Kay and Anne highly recommend you read The Story Guy.

The Story Guy
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
131 pages

This is the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. So much more than a romance. Powerful, moving, sweet, loving and sometimes even funny. It starts with the placement of personal ad and takes you on the journey of two people that so desperately needed each other. The desire to love and be loved is never more profound.

Brian places an ad for one day a week, to meet with someone for nothing more than kissing. No relationship, no extensive touching and no sex. Just kissing. He doesn’t have the time for anything more. He lives with his sister and works as an attorney.

Carrie is a librarian who answers his ad because of how it’s worded. She had no idea what she would be getting. Her confusion over the situation is understandable and frustrating. But growing to love someone is never easy. I really can’t tell you much more because I don’t want to give anything away.

I ended up open mouthed sobbing because the emotional pull of this story is huge.

                     

Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden

Mine to Take
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Genre-Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
151 pages

Trace and Skye were foster children at the same home in their teenage years. Skye’s parents died and Trace’s just didn’t care to raise him. After Trace saves Skye from an attempted rape by their foster brother, they became friends and then lovers. Trace broke up with Skye and joined the Army. Skye became a ballerina and pined for Trace. After an auto accident and the feeling she was being watched, she moved back to Chicago. She tried to hire Trace’s security firm but he offered to help her find her stalker for free. Trace wants Skye back in no uncertain terms.

It was good suspense but I think it’s hard to build great suspense in a novella. The romance was rushed and the lone love scene was hot. I wanted to like it more than I ended up liking it. It was just an okay read for me but I would definitely read more from this author again. Cynthia Eden writes good paranormal books with blistering love scenes that I missed here. Are you a romantic suspense fan?