Deal Me In: Spirit of the Prairies by Shirley Damsgaard

Deal Me In: Spirit of the Prairies by Shirley Damsgaard

This one was a DNF for me.  

Deal Me In: Mr. Sandman by Sherri Browning Erwin

Deal Me In: Mr. Sandman by Sherri Browning Erwin

Eve Daniels had it all, a loving husband, a great career, and a great body.  Then she found out her husband was gay and only married her to hide it from his conservative bosses, her company is named in the media by a high profile client as ruining her career, and she gains 30 pounds after her company and marriage dissolve.  She house sits her Aunt's Bed and Breakfast while she figures out what to do.  One night, while sitting on the beach, she sketches out her ideal man in the sand before blacking out.  When she awakes, there is her sandman, alive and well.  Who is her Mr. Sandman really?  And while she understands why she is so attracted physically, why is he tugging on her emotions?  This was one of the shorter entries in the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 and was pretty good for its length.  

Deal Me In: Zola's Pride by Moira Rogers

Deal Me In: Zola's Pride by Moira Rogers

This one was a DNF for me.

Eye of the Beholder by Jayne Ann Krentz

Eye of the Beholder by Jayne Ann Krentz

After a career-stalling tangle with a fraudulent gallery owner, Art Deco expert Alexa Chambers is ready to take risks to rebuild her reputation.  But when she secretly consults on an exquisite collection for the new Avalon Resorts, she doesn't know she will cross paths with the hotel's owner, the enigmatic and possibly threatening J. L. Trask.

Years ago, Trask accused Alexa's stepfather of murder--and vowed he would return to Avalon for revenge.  Now, their meeting is inevitable--and attraction immediate--as they trade sizzling sparks and snappy repartee.  But when a killer emerges from the shadows, these sensual partners team up to solve a deadly crime from the past.  Following a trail of clues to a trendy but decidedly strange New Age spa, Trask and Alexa don't need a crystal ball to see that their survival--and their chances of bliss--will depend on a little help from a higher power: a true and trustworthy love.

Alexa is determined to revive her career after a debacle involving her old boss and a lot of forged art.  She is secretly tasked with creating THE art deco collection of the southwest for the latest Trask hotel.  When she spots a forgery, she wrangles a promise that the piece will not be displayed in the hotel.  At the opening celebration she spots the forgery and about blows her top.  She decides to hide it in a closet so the press don't see it and is in the process when she is confronted by Trask, the owner of the hotel.  This is one of several humorous situations that pop up throughout this title.

Trask is determined to prove that his father was murdered and his questions are stirring up a lot of anger from certain parties.  When one such party ends up dying the same way that Trask's father did, he cannot believe it to be a coincidence.  Unfortunately, as Trask digs through the present and the past, his list of suspects grows rather than narrows.  Alexa is determined to help him if only to clear her step-father's name as he is one of the people Trask is looking at closely.  

Trask and Alexa make a wonderful couple--they are both strong and independent people who have their faults but together they are truly a balanced couple.  I have read this title several times and every time I am reminded why I enjoy it so much--and it always comes back to the characters.  The plot is fun and well timed but I read this book for Trask and Alexa.  If you haven't read this one, I certainly recommend you give it a try!

I purchased this book with my own funds. 

Siren's Call by Jayne Castle

Siren's Call by Jayne Castle

In the Alien catacombs of Rainshadow, there are creatures whose compelling songs lure the unwary to their death.  That's why Rafe Coppersmith, hired to clear out the catacombs for exploration, needs a music talent.  He knows the perfect one, but she probably doesn't want anything to do with him...

Ella Morgan had once fallen hard and fast for Rafe, but then he disappeared for months...and he's not about to tell her why.  Ella, too, has secrets that only her dust bunny knows.  She's not just a music talent; she's a Siren: a paranormal singer capable of singing men to sleep--or to their deaths.

But once on Rainshadow, Rafe and Ella will learn that surrendering to passion doesn't come without risks--and fighting fire with fire only adds to the flame...

I love the Rainshadow series and this is another amazing entry.  Ella and Rafe are a fantastic couple and Lorelei is a super dust bunny!  Just when I worry that the books are going to begin feeling formulaic, Jayne Castle switches things up and adds tension.  This book felt more tightly focused than the last entry or two in the series.  I also really enjoyed that while I guessed one of the baddies another came out of left field and surprised me.  I also enjoyed reading about the various weddings that Ella was a part of, especially the last one!  

All of the entities that make this series, and all of the Harmony books, so great are here: a strong heroine whose skills perfectly compliment the rakish, sexy hero; a fantastic dust bunny; friends from previous books, ties to books written as Jayne Ann Krentz, and hints as to where future stories might leave.  BUT, this book is more than just that...it is also a fast-paced puzzle with pieces both obvious and not parceled out at the perfect rate.  Without getting into the specifics of the plot, which is best discovered on your own, just know that this is the perfect way to spend a few hours!

Reading Challenges
New Release 
I Love Library Books
Story Sprites

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

Broken by Cynthia Eden

Broken by Cynthia Eden

Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job.  But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he's rattled.  For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.

When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate.  Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth.  Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.

As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible.  Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her.  And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs.  While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it's clear he hasn't forgotten her.

Man, oh man am I having a great string of luck with books lately or what?  Add another book (and series) on the TBR folks because this one is a winner!  However, it is best if you go in not knowing too much so I am going to keep this short and sweet...

Gabe is an ex-SEAL who lost his sister in a kidnapping and who has dedicated his life to finding those who are lost, even if it is just recovering the bodies, so that families can have, at the very least, closure.  When Eve walks in and tells him it is her past that is lost, Gabe is both intrigued and suspicious.  So after ripping into Eve's story and verifying that she is indeed telling the truth about not knowing anything prior to waking up in the hospital, he takes on her case.  Eve, who may be missing heiress Jessica Montgomery, is incredibly strong for having lost an entire life along with all the memories thereof.  She is determined not to be a victim (although by the scars on her body she has already been a victim of something horrendous) any longer and fights to get Gabe to help her.  She knows she can't do it alone but is willing to do anything she can to help him help her.  

As Gabe starts digging into Eve's current life in order to figure out her lost one, he finds himself falling for her tenacity and perseverance in the face of an ordeal few could handle as stoically and forthrightly as Eve has.  When if comes to light that she might be Jessica Montgomery, he is with her every step of the way as they work together to solve the mystery of who the Lady Killer is, if Eve was a past victim, and how to keep her from becoming a future victim.  Just as one thing starts to go there way, two more stepping blocks pop up keeping tensions high.  While there are definitely times when the suspense line overshadows the romance, the suspense is just SO GOOD that I didn't mind and the romance was always brought back to the forefront and not just left behind for good.  And the baddie?  Is really, really bad.  And not who I thought it was at all!  

Highly recommended folks!  I have Twisted, the next in the series, on my coffee table right now and I can't wait to dive into it.  

Reading Challenges
I Love Library Books
New Release
Romantic Suspense

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

Birthday Month Reading Challenge: The Mackenzies Series by Linda Howard

Birthday Month Reading Challenge: The Mackenzies Series by Linda Howard

It's been a few months since I have participated in the birthday month reading challenge hosted by you me and a cup of tea.  It was fun to revisit this older series.  I reviewed book one (Mackenzie's Mountain) separately but decided to combine the last four into one review, so voila!  Enjoy!

Mackenzie's Mission: Joe Mackenzie has accomplished his dream of being in the Air Force...indeed, he is one of the best pilots they have ever seen.  He is currently heading up a top-secret project testing out the newest fighter plane: The Night Wing.  Caroline Evans is a top-ranked physicist who has been brought in to replace another scientist experiencing health problems.  As soon as Joe sees Caroline he decides to make her his.  

Caroline was always ahead of her peers intellectually but her skipping grades put her at a disadvantage as she never learned to deal with guys until they all had a lot more experience than she did and their heavy passes would scare her.  She developed a very prickly exterior as a defense and Joe is intrigued and delighted with her "hedgehog" behavior.  Unfortunately, problems have begun to develop with the Night Wing project and the clues are all pointing at Caroline.

Watching these two strong personalities come together is a lot of fun.  Joe makes some big mistakes and Caroline does not hold back in letting him know it!  But he will also protect her with his life and she will have to learn that she is no longer the only person to take into considerations while living her life--Joe is determined to be a huge part of it!

Mackenzie's Pleasure
Zane Mackenzie is one hacked-off SEAL dealing with two critical injuries to his team sustained during a training exercise which was supposed to be weapon free.  He is busy making his displeasure clear when a call comes in that his team is needed to rescue a kidnapped ambassador's daughter being held in nearby Libya.  

Barrie is frightened, naked, and tied to a cot when a moving shadow transforms itself into a man introducing himself as her rescuer.  She is completely out of her depth but does everything she can to aid in her own rescue earning the respect of Zane.  The rest of the SEAL team has to leave them behind as part of a diversionary tactic so Zane and Barry are on their own for a day or two.  They find themselves attracted to each other and act on that attraction.  During their extraction from the country, Zane is shot but Barry is unable to follow him to the hospital due to the sensitive nature of Zane's work as a SEAL and her father's overprotectiveness.

Two months later Zane shows up on Barry's doorstep as she is figuring out a way to run away--she is pregnant and has overheard some compromising statements from her father that make it sound as if he may be a traitor to his country.  He proposes, she accepts, and they are now stuck with how to hide from her father, the original kidnappers who still want her, and a possible mole working on their behalf.  Couple this with some of the funniest morning sickness scenes written and you have another winner.

Mackenzie's Magic
Maris wakes up in bed with a hunk and can't remember how she got there or who he is.  Come to find out she has stolen a million-dollar horse from the stables where she is head trainer and the man is Mac--a drifter who has been working there.  Mac is actually much more than that but it takes a while for Maris to remember her own reality as well as unraveling the cover-up story that Mac has created.  Between recovering her memories, falling in love, and rescuing Sole Pleasure, this is a fast paced and very enjoyable novella.  

A Game of Chance
Chance was adopted at fourteen when Mary found him on the side of the road raging with fever and fighting pneumonia.  All grown up he now works for a shadowy dangerous government group taking down the worst of the world's bad guys.  His sites are set on terrorist Hauer when he gets a lucky break-- Hauer's daughter.  Chance figures he can use her to get to her father.  

All is well with the plan until Chance realizes that Sunny has successfully hidden from her father most of her life and wants nothing to do with him.  Sunny is brave and gutsy and has worked hard to make a life for herself away from her father.  Chance adapts the plan to use her as bait but all hell breaks loose when it works.  Can Chance repair the damage he has done to their budding relationship?  This was a fabulous series wrap up!