Hostile Takeover by Joey W Hill

Hostile Takeover is the last in the Knights of the Boardroom series.  This book is INTENSE.  It is not for the weak at heart. 

This is Ben’s story.  Throughout the series we are warned that Ben is a little more hardcore than the rest.  It’s true.  But there is someone for everyone and for Ben it is Cass’s sister Marcie.  Marcie has loved Ben since she was 16.  He thought it was a crush and handled it as such.  Now she is 23 and ready to make him love her back.  

This book is intense emotionally and physically.  Ms.  Hill handles it with intelligence and sensitivity.   

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum #1) by Janet Evanovich

As I lie here once again felled by the crud that has me choking on my own mucus I am not up to reading something new so I figured that I would re-read One for the Money by Janet Evanovich in anticipation of the movie release this week.  In One for the Money we are introduced to the folks that populate the circus that is Stephanie’s life in the “Berg”.  I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much the characters have grown over the past 18 or so books (not counting the “between the Plum’s”).    I had forgotten that underneath all the romance and zaniness there are some darn good mysteries.  I am curious to see how the movie handles Ms. Evanovich’s narrative style.  I may have to go back and re-read the rest of this series. Hmmm.  Now, if I could just breathe.

Darker After Midnight (Midnight Breed #10) by Lara Adrian

Woo Hoo!  What a ride! I read this in one sitting.  I could NOT put it down. This is Sterling Chase’s story.  WARNING! This next bit may contain soft spoilers.

When we last left our Breeds in Deeper Than Midnight Chase was fighting falling into bloodlust and had taken a shot at Dragos that exposed him to the humans.  He gave himself up to human law enforcement to give the Order time to evacuate their Darkhaven and move their women and data.  Darker After Midnight starts right there with Chase in a cell trying not to bleed the scum in there with him.  How far the former Breed enforcer has fallen.  Enter Tavia Fairchild.  She has secrets of her own.  She is the one who gave Chase’s description to the cops.  And is in the end his redemption.  There is a lot going on in this book.  There is an ending of a long story line and the beginning of several intriguing new story lines to explore and discover.  I am excited to see where the Breeds go in the future.  

The Twisted Kiss (Doomsyear #1) by Anya Bast

I fully expected The Twisted Kiss to be longer.  It was billed as the first in a series and I don’t know why but I figured it would be more than 80 pages.  That being said, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to seeing where Ms. Bast takes this.

Genetic and viral engineering by the government goes awry and folks end up Vampire, werewolf, human or dead.  A few turn into psychics and a few turn into monsters well more monstrous than vampires and werewolves.  In this post Doomsyear world women are few thus making the necessity of plural pairings common.  Kylie is human.  The Council (made up of super-psychics) commands that she mate with Michael and Christian.  Michael is a Vampire and Christian is a werewolf and they are Kylie’s soul mates if she will let them in.   

Anya Bast does ménage like nobody else.  This is a well thought out story with toasty m/f and m/f/m sex.   

Don't Bite the Messenger by Regan Summers

Alaska is where vampires rule.  They don’t mind the cold and it’s dark a lot.  Technology screws up around vampires so phones and computers fry when they are around. (hmmm may need to check husband for fangs) To get around this unfortunate fact there are couriers.  Sydney Kildare is a courier.  She has lasted longer than most by being smart and honest.  Working around vampires can seriously shorten your life expectancy. 

This story was way too short!  It was just getting good when it ended.  Not really, it was good all the way through.  I just want more.  

Bedeviled (Dark Breed #2) by Sable Grace

Took me a bit to read this as I’ve been ill.  The second book in this series, Bedeviled finds our heroes in a world of hurt.  Kyana feeds her half-breed blood to her friend Haven (a witch) to save her life although it was against the law.  The old gods are failing and their Chosen replacements are being killed off.  Avoiding punishment by vowing to stop Haven who now is a vampire, lychen, witch cross breed that has been possessed by Chronos in his bid to get his body back and return to power.  Meanwhile Kyana has to deal with increasing feelings for Ryker and how to hunt for her best friend.  Another thrilling ride.

Ascension (Dark Breed #1) by Sable Grace

The first in a new series by a new author or should I say collaboration author as Sable Grace is actually two authors.

Gods, demi-gods, vampires, lychens and witches oh my!  Magic and romance at the end times.  Chronos is trying to come back and he is pissed!  The gates of hell have been opened.  Humans are on the run.  The gods are fading and its up to a half breed vampire/lychen and her friends to find the key to lock the gates of hell and keep the chosen from being killed.  What a ride. 

I’m off to find Bedeviled the next in the series.

All That Bleeds (Etherlin #1) by Kimberly Frost

All That Bleeds is the first in a new series by Kimberly Frost the author of the Southern Witch series.  All That Bleeds is much darker than the Southern Witch series.  I must admit I had a little trouble getting into it but by chapter 10 I couldn’t put it down.  It started out epic fantasy and ended a love story with a mystery through it all.  Ms. Frost has created a fantastic universe and I look forward to exploring it with her in the future.

The Faerie's Honeymoon (Hidden series) by Emma Holly

This is a follow up to Move Me.  Belle and Duvall go to Resurrection for their honeymoon.  Belle is unprepared for the realities of Magic and Magic beings.  Duvall is unprepared for his reaction to being back in a magic infused environment.  I love the interactions between these two.  It is fascinating when the comfort zone shifts.

As you may have guessed from previous posts I absolutely love Emma Holly.  This series and this story does not disappoint.  It has great characters and fantastically HOT sex.   I can’t wait for more.

Erected (Book 1 in the Erector Set series) by Desiree Holt

Contemporary romance with HEAT (it is Desiree Holt after all).  Vanessa “Ness” Bowen is having a tough time of it.  Her car got wrecked and she broke her ankle. But that doesn’t keep our intrepid executive down.   While at a dinner meeting with clients her new car is towed from a handicap spot because she forgot to put up her temp placard (editorial comment here… this never happens in real life although it should.  I frequently see cars without handicapped plates or placards parked in handicapped spots without being towed.  It burns me. Folks just hike it so those that need can get to it.  All better now).   This gives hunky contractor Josh McMann a chance to play white knight.  He assists her in getting her car back and Ness invites him to dinner to repay him for his kindness.  Poor Ness gets t-boned by a drunk running a red light on her way to that thank you dinner.  This gives Josh another chance to play white knight.  Both Josh and Ness have issues.  But there is also a lot of smokin' hot chemistry.  Enjoy the ride.

Copper Beach (Dark Legacy #1) by Jayne Ann Krentz

If you like The Arcane series by JAK you will enjoy this.  Ms. Krentz says she will be keeping this trilogy in the present and just under her JAK  author name.  I’ll admit that it screws up my shelving to have JAK with Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick. 

This is another paranormal, mystery and romance.  Nobody does this quite like Jayne Ann Krentz.  In Copper Beach we meet Sam Coppersmith and Abby Radwell.  I really enjoyed the Sam/Abby dynamic.  Abby has a gift for recognizing “hot” books or those that radiate paranormal energy.  She has the added gift of being able to unlock the encryption that’s been put on some of the aforementioned “hot” books.  Sam’s gifts deal more with crystals.  Sam and Abby meet when Abby is being blackmailed into using her gifts to find and unencrypt a book that will lead to the Phoenix Mine that contains crystals of unknown power.  Sam’s family has been protecting the location of the mine as the crystals in the mine are very powerful and the equipment to test them safely doesn’t exist yet. 

I figure the next two books in this trilogy will deal with Sam’s brother and sister. 

Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly

Cute.  A lot like Ms. Evanovich’s early work.  Wait and get the paperback.

Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12) by Kresley Cole

This is the IAD book we have been waiting for.  Lothaire is an evil vampire.  A chaotic neutral (in it for himself and evil is easier) we have seen glimpses of him in previous IAD books.  So who do you pair up with a guy who has made back-stabbing into an art form?  What being does the Lore consider the lowest form of life on earth? Besides nymphs?  Right, humans.  Kresley Cole gets even with Bad Vamp Lothaire by giving him a human bride.  This may be the best IAD yet.  Now if we could only get Nix set up.

What Do You Say to a Naked Elf? by Cheryl Sterling

I picked this up because I thought it was a spin-off of How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper which I thought was cute.  If you liked that you should like this.

In What Do You Say to a Naked Elf? Jane Drysdale is on her way home and hits a bunny rabbit.  She is then kidnapped by elves and informed that the bunny she hit was a shape shifting sheep stealing elf and she must pay for hitting him. Fun, complications and romance ensue.  

Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar

This is another love fest from various authors offering up short stories that take place in Mercedes Lackey’s world of Valdemar.  I am such a fan girl of this series I will take whatever offerings I get and apparently I am not the only one.  I love that there are some very talented authors out there that seem to enjoy Valdemar as much as I do.  Ms. Lackey edits each of these anthologies and keeps them true to her world.  As long as she and they keep writing I’ll keep returning.

Slugfest (Dirty Business Mystery #4) by Rosemary Harris

I love a series and this one just keeps getting better.  In Slugfest Paula Holliday is in NYC working a garden show for an artist friend of Babe’s.  She doesn’t have her regular crew to help her when things start to go wrong.  But she makes do with some new friends and Lucy.  I suck at solving mysteries and this one was no exception.  But it was fun watching Paula and pals figure it out.  

I’ll definitely be looking for the next installment.

Caught Running by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux

I was first introduced to these authors through their Cut & Run series which I absolutely adore (see http://inmho-read.blogspot.com/2011/10/cut-run-series-by-madeleine-urban.html) so when I happened across Caught Running  I figured I’d read it and see if it was Ty Grady and Zane Garrett that drew me or would another story by these authors be just as good.  I am here to tell you that anything that Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux put out together will be on my auto buy list from here on out.  I will be checking into more of their backlist as well. 

Caught Running is the story of “The Jock” and “The Nerd”.   Ten years after high school graduation Jake “The Jock” and Brandon “The Nerd” are teaching at their old high school.  Jake is head coach and Brandon is a science teacher.  Circumstances throw the two together as Brandon is coerced into becoming an assistant coach for the baseball team.   It is an eye-opening experience for both men.  And then there is the love story.

This is such a terrific read I have to recommend it to everyone whether you read m/m romance or not.  

Private Protectors 1,2, & 3 by Adrienne Giordano

Man Law (Private Protectors, #1), A Just Deception (Private Protectors, #2), and Risking Trust (Private Protectors, #3) by Adrienne Giordano

Romantic intrigue.  Each book can be read as a stand-alone but characters from previous books show up.

Risking Trust (Private Protectors, #3) READ THIS ONE FIRST!!!  For some reason this book is number three but the events in it take place before the other two books.  This is Michael & Roxann’s story.  Twelve years ago, Michael walked out on Roxann without explanation. Now he needs her help. Michael's estranged wife has been murdered and he is the prime suspect.  This is a well told story and a good mystery.

Man Law (Private Protectors, #1) This is Vic (Michaels best friend) and Gail (Michaels sister)’s story.  Gail is a fire fighters widow with three kids.  Vic does dangerous work and is somebody that Gail shouldn’t get involved with as she doesn’t want to lose another love.  But there is this chemistry between them that they find hard to ignore.  I loved the humor of the “Man Laws”.

A Just Deception (Private Protectors, #2) is Peter (aka Monk) and Isabella’s story.  We met Monk in Man Law.  He works with and for Michael and Vic.  Peter is suffering PTSD and is forced to go home for some R&R.  Isabella is an old friend of Vic’s who is in need of protection and Monk is close by so he gets volunteered for the job.  Sparks fly.  This story was the sweetest of them all. 

I do hope that Ms. Giordano plans to continue this series.

Dylan (The Secret Life of Cowboys #2) by C.H. Admirand

So much better than the first book.  Partly because I really could identify with Ronnie a displaced city girl as I am what they call a “damn yankee” a northerner who moved south and stayed.  I can relate to the culture clashes between Ronnie and Dylan.  Also because this book flowed much better.  I don’t know whether it was the author or the editor but this book was much less choppy than Tyler.  I wasn’t doing the whiplash thing saying what the heck where did that come from?  I love the interaction between the brothers and the fact that they admit men can communicate with a grunt or a shrug.  They get it but as Emily and Ronnie said “…women need words.”  

 I am now really looking forward to Jesse’s book.