Category Archives: 4 Flames

DARKFEVER
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Source: Library

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Dell (August 28, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440240980
ISBN-13: 978-0440240983

SUMMARY:

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

MY THOUGHTS:

I admit, I had no interest in really reading this series until I kept seeing everyone chatting about the final book in the series on Twitter, Blogs, and well…everywhere!  So, I finally caved and requested the first book from the library.  I waited on requesting the rest in the series because either I will like the series enough to buy them all, or I will not enjoy it enough to continue.  Needless to say, I have already put my order in to Amazon to receive the rest of the books in the series.


At first, the book seemed to progress at a slow pace.  Mac is telling us the story of how it began and how the phone call she receives changes her life.  When she is notified that her sister has been murdered in Ireland, it crushes her.  Especially finding out later on that her sister also tried contacting her hours before her death on Mac’s cell phone.  Mac had dropped her phone in the water so she was unable to get the messages from her sister until after her death.  Determined to bring her sisters case out of the unsolved files in Ireland, Mac journey’s to the last city and place her sister was at. 


I was disappointed that it took so long for Mac to run into Barrons.  I had heard everyone stating how sexy and hot Barrons was and when they first meet, Jericho seemed cold and full of himself.  Throughout the entire book I kept wondering what everyone saw in this character and how they could think he was all that and more.  Yet, as I devoured the rest of the book and got sucked into the mystery of the series, I found Barrons growing on me.  Especially when near the end of the book, Jericho is painting her nails and taking care of Mac.  It showed me he had a caring side to him that you know he doesn’t show often or to many people. 


That also brings me to the sexy scenes involving V’Lane.  Now I will say right off the bat, these scenes were hot!  The simple fact that he could just do that to Mac so easily was amusing yet sexy at the same time. V’Lane seems to be warmer in the romance department than Barrons at the moment, but I will trust in the remarks of fellow reviewers and readers that Barrons is the ultimate package in this department.  


Will I continue to read this series? Yes.  Mainly because I still want to learn more of the mystery and unsolved questions that the book has left me with.  Of course, knowing that Barrons will have some sexiness in future books doesn’t hurt or sway me in the least!  I have caught the “Fever” of the series!

“I already gave a copy of this recording to the Dublin Gardai,” I told him, as I fished my cell phone out of my purse and thumbed up my saved messages.  “They’re working to track down the man she was involved with.” See Mac bluff. Better than See Mac run. Way better than See Mac get her stupid self killed.

I glanced at my watch.  Indecision over my outfit was making me late for my midnight appointment with Barrons.  I wasn’t going to have time to dash to the church down the street and dab holy water at my wrists and behind my ears: my version of Eau de Don’tbiteme. 

MY RATING:

THE DUKE’S NIGHT OF SIN
Author: Kathryn Caskie
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon; Original edition (November 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061491039
ISBN-13: 978-0061491030

SUMMARY:

The “Seven Deadly Sins” lived for scandal and delighted in disgrace, but now they must repent—in marriage!
A sin he cannot forget 

The Duke of Exeter knows it’s time to find a bride, and he’s determined to locate the passionate minx who enticed him in a pitch-black library. But how can you find someone you’ve never really seen? Then, while supervising his young ward’s education, he is irresistibly attracted to her exquisite new teacher. He keeps wondering if they’ve met somewhere before, never suspecting she’s the woman he’s never forgotten after his one night of sin. 

A wicked secret 

As a beloved instructress at an exclusive school for young ladies, Lady Siusan Sinclair is a model of deportment. But no one knows her secret—that she fled London for Bath, her reputation on the verge of tatters, her fortune lost. Still, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget the knee-weakening kiss of the man who led her astray . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

First of all that let me say that the cover was not that appealing.  Sure it had a gorgeous man on the front, but the wow factor of the cover comes when you open the flap of the cover and get the whole picture instead.  Yes, I am a fan of covers just as much as books because they are what can capture a readers interest in deciding what will get picked up off the shelf first.

With that being said, the story was great.  It is the third book in the “Seven Deadly Sins” series. and in my opinion one of the better of the three.  The writing was better, the story was better, and the characters were even more enjoyable than the previous two books.  This book pushed the envelope with steamier scenes and bolder characters that pushed this series in a better direction.  Even though the ending was a little out there for one of the two main characters, I still found it to be an enjoyable read with the perfect balance of romance, sexy and plot.

A great new book in a series that will leave readers wanting to cast their own sins once they finish the book.

MY RATING:

RULES OF ATTRACTION
Author: Simone Elkeles
Source: Contest Win

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (April 13, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802720854
ISBN-13: 978-0802720856

SUMMARY:


When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the first book in the series featuring Alex and Brittany, I quickly dove into the story featuring Carlos and Kiara.  If you remember from the first book, Carlos is Alex’s younger brother.  The book starts out with Carlos on his way back to America after leaving his Mom in Mexico.  He is suppose to come live with Alex because he has been getting in trouble and Mom is feeling afraid for him.  


Right off the bat, you can see that Carlos has a big chip on his shoulders.  He resents his brother for leaving his family in Mexico and he makes Alex aware that he doesn’t intend to follow his rules. When Carlos is ordered by a judge to live with Alex’s professor, he his finds himself fighting his attraction to Kiara.  Of course, Kiara finds Carlos mysterious and sexy, but they both fight the chemistry that is brewing between them both.


I really liked this book.  Usually sequels do not live up to my expectations, but this one held its own rather nicely.  While I enjoyed the alternating point of views the author uses, I didn’t feel the instant attraction between Kiara and Carlos.  It felt rushed and forced at times.  I wanted the slow build of attraction like we read about with Alex and Brittany.  I understand that this was a different situation with different characters, but I wanted to see Carlos fall in love with Kiara at a reasonable pace.  I felt that they were both pushed into it.


Overall a wonderful book that leaves me anxiously awaiting the third book in the series that will feature the youngest brother Luis.  Forget the rules and bring on more attraction full of sexiness!


MY RATING:

YOURS FOR THE TAKING
Author: Robin Kaye
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge
in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (January 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402240104
ISBN-13: 978-1402240102

SUMMARY:

He might be too good to be true…

Ben Walsh shouldn’t be single. Handsome and wealthy, Ben is equally at home in Idaho where he grew up and in Manhattan where he’s now an art dealer. Suave and successful with impeccable taste, he normally has women beating down his door. But the one woman he wants can’t be convinced that he’s for real…

She isn’t sure if she has time for fairy tales…

Gina Reyez has fought for every bit of her success, and it’s about time for things to start going her way. So when Ben makes a proposal that will allow her to take care of her family the way she wants to, she agrees. Besides, a guy this perfect would never be interested in her…right? By the time Gina figures out that she’s read Ben all wrong, the arrangements are made, the papers are signed…but what exactly are they getting themselves into?

MY THOUGHTS:

It has been so long since I have read this series, that I forgot how much fun and amazing it was!  Author Robin Kaye has a way of giving you a relaxing and wonderful contemporary romance without all the nonsense you see in some books.

The characters of Gina and Ben were such a delight to read about.  The conflict and spark that you always like to have in a romance was present from the beginning.  Even though I think the plot of marrying for money or to secure a place in a will demand has been used plenty of times before, the author made sure to put her own spin on it and bring a delightful and fun read.  I loved Gina trying to figure out how to adjust to wilderness life! It was so much fun to read about. 

After I finished the book, I was satisfied with everything within the covers.  The author didn’t disappoint me with the new book.  Think of it as a relaxing bath tub read for when you need a break!  I loved it!

MY RATING:

I DREAM OF GENIES
Author: Judi Fennell
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge
in exchange for an honest review*

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (January 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402241895
ISBN-13: 978-1402241895

SUMMARY:

Having a 2,000 year old magic genie fall right into your lap should be a good thing. At least, that’s what down-on-his luck Matt Ewing thought. But Eden is no subservient fairy tale genie. Beautiful and independent, Eden isn’t so keen on having to answer to yet another master. Then, after centuries of being alone, and against her better judgment, Eden suddenly finds herself in danger of falling for Matt. When she flips his already unstable world upside down, Matt is at his wits’ end-if only he didn’t find his inept genie so darn irresistible!

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the authors previous series featuring under water adventures, I had great expectations for her new trilogy featuring Genies.  I love the way the author can take a fantasy romance and weave fun humor into the tale without going overboard on it.  


With this book, the author did not disappoint with her way of making magic with words.  Eden was funny and determined which fit her character well.  She also balanced perfectly with Matt, who has had some bad luck lately.  Both characters were a delight to read about and they each brought a unique charm to the book. 


Although I still love the authors previous works better, this is a new series that I am sure will capture your heart just as well.  A wonderful book with just enough romance, fun and charm to keep you wishing for more!


MY RATING: