Tucker's Fall (Purgatory Masters #1) by Eliza Gayle

Erotic romance - BDSM

He is a Dom looking for a sub and she is a sub looking for a Dom.  Maggie is an untrained sub who has been sublimating her submissive desires in an emotionally abusive marriage and a structured career as a professor of human sexuality.  She loses it all when she finally got the courage to go to a BDSM club to do research for her book and is caught up in a police raid and arrested.  She has returned to her home town licking her wounds and trying to figure out what to do next.  Tucker is a Dom who went to high school with “Miss Maggie” he has had to rearrange his dreams and is now at a place in his life where he is tired of the club scene and wants a sub of his own.  He believes Maggie could be that sub.  Can they set aside their fears and learn to trust enough for a D/s relationship or even love?

These characters had me at times wanting to hug or slug them which I guess is a good thing because I was totally engaged.  The sex scenes were melt your socks off steamy.  Can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.  

The Fangover (The Fangover #1) by Erin McCarthy & Kathy Love

When Johnny, the drummer of the vampire band The Impalers commits suicide his sister, friends and bandmates throw him a heck of a wake.  In fact the party was so outrageous that nobody seems to remember what happened.  Johnny’s sister Stella got so drunk she turned into a bat and was having trouble turning back.  It seems that human musician Katie Lambert got turned and married to Impaler Cort.  Drake is missing a fang and Saxon has a cross burn on his forehead.  Maybe he got it from the priest in the bathtub and what the heck is it with the alcoholic parrot? 

The Fangover answers these questions and more.  This is a funny rollicking tale of unrequited love, alcohol induced silliness and happiness found.  Read this when you need a giggle.  I plan to preorder the next installment Fangs for Nothing out in July 2013.

Hot Ticket (Sinners on Tour #3) by Olivia Cunning

Jace’s story and my favorite of the series so far.  I am confused by the publication order though.  This book was better written and more honest than the others to date (in my not so humble opinion).

Jace is the youngest and newest member of the Sinners.  In the other books his sexual preferences were hinted at but not explored.  In this book we find out not only what he likes but why.  Jace has always been a bit of a mystery the shy guy standing off to the side doing his bit but avoiding the spotlight.  In Hot Ticket Jace is put in the position of having to pick up slack due to problems with the other members.  We learn that we all deal with pain in our own way.  Well worth the read.

Love Bites Anthology by Lori Foster, Brenda Jackson, Virna DePaul, Catherine Mann, and Jules Bennett

Anthology includes:

Love Unleashed by Lori Foster
Smookie and the Bandit by  Brenda Jackson
Dog Tags by Catherine Mann
Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul
Mane Haven by Jules Bennett

Anthologies have a tendency to be hit or miss with me.  But as I approve of the cause and because I am a big fan of several of the authors I bought this book and let it sit on my TBR shelf for way too long. I enjoyed each and every story.  I was expecting Lori Fosters to be enjoyable but think my favorite was the touching story Dog Tags by Catherine Mann.  That story alone was worth the price of the book.  I laughed through Love Unleashed and Smookie and the Bandit.  I about cried through Mane Haven.  

The Best Man (Blue Heron #1) by Kristan Higgins

 If you like Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery and Rachel Gibson you will love Kristan Higgins.

The Best Man is the story of Levi Cooper, the local police chief, formerly a boy from the wrong side of the tracks and war hero also the best friend of Faith’s ex-fiancé. 

Faith is the surprise baby, youngest of four and slightly naïve.  She has had one serious romance in her life and was jilted at the altar where Levi was acting as best man. 

It is now three years after the fact and Faith has come home.  But in a small town people don’t forget.  Faith really wants to start over but she keeps running into the green eyes of the best man.  Could he be the best man for her?

This is a sweet, funny contemporary romance.  I read it in one sitting.  Highly recommended.

Under the Hood by Juanita Kees

Is it possible to care too much? There are kids that are in need of help and TJ has been working hard to get them that. She’s set up an apprentice program at the auto repair shop she works at but now it has been purchased by a new owner will he shut down all of TJ’s hard work? Scott isn't exactly running from his reputation on the other coast he is just looking for a new challenge. TJ and her kids prove to be just that. But his past is not far behind and someone doesn't want TJ to challenge the status quo. And then there is the attraction that rages between them and they both know workplace romances are a bad thing right?

I really enjoyed this story right up till the end. I can’t say why without spoilers and maybe others won’t be as bugged by the exclusion as I was. This is a sweet contemporary romance that takes place in Australia. BTW for all us yanks a chook is a chicken. 

I’d like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review

Hands on Training by Melissa Schroeder

Contemporary ménage m/f/m

We met Joey and Heath in The Hired Hand but this can be read stand-alone.  Joey is a knockout who is constantly being judged by her looks and not her brains.  Heath made that mistake when he met her.  The two of them get along like oil and water and now they have to work together on site for two weeks together.  Despite the fact that they don’t like each other they definitely feel combustible chemistry but are smart enough to know they shouldn't mix work and pleasure.  When they get stuck sharing the honeymoon suite their passion explodes and it may take three to keep it planet bound.

Another steamy read from Melissa Schroeder