Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13) by Lorelei James

I’ve read and enjoyed this series and will go back and re-read it again and again.  Ms. James does great cowboy kink.  Kissin’ Tell is Tell McKays’ story.  Georgia Hotchkiss was the cheerleader that Tell lusted after in high school.  Now she is back in town just in time for the 10 year reunion.  Her ex will be there with the woman he cheated on her with.  She asks all grown up cowboy hottie Tell to be her escort so she won’t have to attend alone.  Tell agrees with stipulations.  He wants to date her (with benefits) for the two weeks before the reunion so he can get the chance to know her like he wanted to in high school.  Unlike the opposites attract storylines of most of the other books in this series this is a case of two souls very much alike.  They both have lived through the loss of a brother to death, parents to divorce, and have self-esteem issues out the wazzoo.  Tell is at times seriously sweet, often funny, and sexy as all get out.  If you like smokin’ hot  cowboy romance you can’t go wrong with this series or this book.

Kiss the Dead (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #21) by Laurell K. Hamilton

In this book Anita has her “hungers” mostly under control.  She is much more comfortable in her skin and it shows.  This book has more police problems than vampire or shifter politics which makes it a good book for me.  Yes there is still sex but it isn’t the story.   Sorry no Edward or Olaf. 

Someone is out to emancipate vampires from their masters.  They figure that the European council is in shambles why should Jean Claude and Anita set up an American council.  But as we learned in The Harlequin masterless vampires are trouble and when they run afoul of the law Anita and the RPIT guys are called in.

I liked the story and like the fact that Anita is mostly happy.  I had problems with paragraphs totally repeating themselves.   The writing was not up to Ms. Hamiltons previous high standards.  

Vacation with a Vampire by Michele Hauf , Kendra Leigh Castle , Lisa Childs

Even vampires need a vacation every now and then don’t they?  This book has three tales of vampires getting away from the everyday (or is that every night) routine.

Stay by Michele Hauf  - Italian vampire Lucian Bellisario is now a Parisian.  He lives and works in Paris.  Magen Sloan is an American author on a working vacation.  They meet and bond in Lucians’ antique shop.  Ah Paris by night. 

Vivi and the Vampire by Kendra Leigh Castle – This was my favorite of the three stories.  Justin, hunky vampire and King of Terra Noctem, hasn’t had a vacation in like ever and hasn’t had a date in a couple of centuries.  His sister badgers him into taking a short vacation at of all things a beach resort.  Vampire hunter Vivi is on vacation too.  They meet when she is fighting off the advances of two rather insistent vampires.  Can opposites attract?

Island Vacation by Lisa Childs – Piper Reynolds is in hiding.  She isn’t sure from what.  Her only clues are in her nightmares which feature a lot of blood.  Roarke Monterusso holds Piper responsible for his cousins final death.  When he finds her he lures her to his island with a free vacation.  Will he kill her or keep her?  This story was too short to do it full justice. 

Three stories that prove that no matter how long you live all work and no play makes you dull.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

At Last (Lucky Harbor #5) by Jill Shalvis comes out today

At Last (Lucky Harbor #5) by Jill Shalvis comes out today

The 2^nd of the Chocoholics of Lucky Harbor is the story of “tough girl” Amy and Ranger “hot buns” Matt.  I love this series and this book was as enjoyable as the rest if a little darker.  Amy, waitress at the Eat Me Diner, is following a journey of discovery her grandmother made years before.  The trek takes her into the mountains surrounding Lucky Harbor and into Ranger Matt’s territory.  Matt has been drawn to Amy from the first day he met her.  Amy is convinced she doesn’t know how to love and Matt is convinced that he sucks at it.  Lucky Harbor’s magic is in its community and the brownies aren’t bad either.

Ms. Shalvis has another winner in At Last.  I really enjoy my visits to Lucky Harbor and I've had a sneak peek at the next installment Forever And A Day and you are just going to eat it up.

Champagne and Chaps (Rough and Ready #4) by Cheyenne McCray

I’d read the earlier books in this series and really just kept reading not because they were anything special but because Cheyenne McCray can’t tell a bad or boring story.  This book however tripped over the line for me.  Cheyenne McCray took a sensitive subject like breast cancer and dealt with it with sensitivity and realism.  I applaud and commend. 

Sabrina Holliday is a breast cancer survivor.  She has had a double mastectomy and apparently the asshole she was seeing couldn’t deal and dumped her.  Sabrina hasn’t had reconstructive surgery yet and is feeling self-conscious.  She is a teacher and is spending summer vacation with a writer friend of hers who encourages her to get out and meet folks.  And she meets a gem in the person of Wyatt Cameron cowboy hunk.  Cameron treats Sabrina as a woman. He doesn’t belittle her fears he has fallen for the woman not her breasts or lack thereof.   This book is full of action, adventure, and love.

The Guy Most Likely To... by Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison, & Julie Leto

Three authors who write sexy contemporary romance put their heads together and came up with a theme.  What ever happened to that guy from high school… Lets find out at the 10th year reunion in three wonderful stories.

Underneath It All by Leslie Kelly – “Ever wonder what happened to the guy most likely to...Score with the prom queen?"

Lauren and Seth were high school royalty.  Prom King & Queen except Seth never showed up for the prom leaving Lauren alone and humiliated.  His family up and left with no explanations.  He did leave a message with her folks a few months later apologizing but still giving no reason for abandoning her with no word.  He broke her heart.  Now 10 years later he walks into the reunion looking better than ever and Lauren wants nothing to do with him except she does.  When she finally finds out why he left she feels really bad for doubting him.  Can she get past her broken heart to give him another chance?

Can't Get You Out of My Head by Janelle Denison- “Ever wonder what happened to the guy most likely to... Not date a Playboy Bunny?"

Ali was a busty cheerleader.  Will was a geeky nerd.  When Ali needed a tutor Will stepped up and they became friends.  Will even got the courage to ask Ali out on a date.  When Will calls off the date two hours before it was to take place and informs Ali he doesn’t want to see her anymore Ali is confused and a little bit relieved as her “friends” were giving her grief about going out with the geek.  10 years later Will has turned his geekyness into an asset and is the CEO of his own software security company.  He has grown into his body and is looking much, much, hotter than the wimpy nerd he was in high school.  He doesn’t want to revisit the pain that was high school but he does want to reconnect with Ali and explain why he canceled out on her so long ago. Can the geek get the hot chick?

A Moment Like This by Julie Leto - Ever wonder what happened to the guy most likely to... Ride out of town on a Harley?"

Erica was the good girl.  Scott “Rip” Ripley was the bad boy and never the twain shall meet.  Erica is still stung by the fact that when she tried to get Bad Boy Rip to kiss her when he was tutoring her in French he took off for the hills.  Now 10 years later Erica still wants a piece of that bad boy.  Things have changed for Rip.  He is no longer the angry bad boy.  Back in high school he wasn’t worthy of Erica but he has paid his dues and she might just have bitten off more than she was ready for.

Oh goodness who can’t relate to the horrors of high school and the what ifs and whatever happened too questions.  These three stories are short but sweet and fun to read.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned is a spin-off of Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series.  Like Cat & Bones this series features two very strong individuals.  Vlad (don’t call me Dracula) is a strong and gifted vampire with an affinity for fire.  A human, Leila developed psychic abilities from a freak childhood accident that left her with an unfortunate affinity to electricity to the point where she is unable to touch anyone without shocking them and/or seeing there darkest secrets and possibly their past, present, and or future.  Her only friend is a dwarf vampire named Marty until she is kidnapped by an old enemy of Vlads who wants her to use her gifts to find out where and when he will be.  This book has everything you would expect from Jeaniene Frost; action, adventure and romance.  I look forward to the next installment.