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.