RAVISH: THE AWAKENING OF SLEEPING BEAUTY By Cathy Yardley

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RAVISH: THE AWAKENING OF SLEEPING BEAUTY

Author: Cathy Yardley 
Source: Purchased from PBS
  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Avon Red (September 23, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061376086
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061376085
SYNOPSIS:

An innocent beauty, trapped in sleep . . .

Sheltered from society, Aurora Jacquard has yet to feel the sweet release of physical love. Then, on the night she is about to give in to temptation, she inexplicably falls into a deep coma.

A handsome prince, determined to discover her secrets . .

Jacob White is one of the best neurologists in the world, and he intends to awaken Aurora from her virginal slumber. But when she begins to invade his dreams every night, beckoning him into a sensuous place of lust and danger, Jacob realizes there’s more to this woman than meets the eye.

It will take more than a kiss to wake her up . .

Trapped in a world of erotic dreams, Aurora and Jacob must surrender to their deepest darkest desires . . but how far are they willing to go?
MY THOUGHTS:
After cooling down from reading Crave, the first book in the series, I dove right into Ravish.  This a the modern day adaptation of Sleeping Beauty.  Again,  this is another highly erotic book by a talented author.  Hot and steamy doesn’t even begin to describe this series.   
After Aurora’s parents make a pact with a voodoo priestess, so they could have a child, they quickly realize the mistake they make.  When Aurora decides to have sex for the first time, the voodoo curse takes effect and she falls into a coma.  The physicians all label her as Sleeping Beauty because she stays in this coma for six years, with no medical reason.  Her parents hire Dr. Jacob White to try and awaken her.
After Jacob dreams of Aurora, he tries to figure out what the dreams mean and if they are real.  This is where the hot sex and erotic fantasies come into play. (Yes, pun intended)
He dreams of Aurora whenever he falls asleep.  They quickly fall in lust and love and try to figure out how to wake her up so they can have a life together. 
The author also included a secondary story in the book featuring Jacob’s brother.  They all intertwine into one story and flow nicely.  Like I said before, this book is highly erotic, and should only be read by adults. 
I am looking forward to reading her next book, Enslave: The Taming of the Beast.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

CRAVE: THE SEDUCTION OF SNOW WHITE by Cathy Yardley

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CRAVE: THE SEDUCTION OF SNOW WHITE
Source: Purchased through PBS
  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Avon Red (June 3, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061376078
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061376078
SYNOPSIS:
When a woman is ripe for the picking . . . 
Beth Cordova’s life is no fairy tale. Having barely escaped the evil grasp of her wicked stepmother, this “missing princess” seeks refuge in a strict commune where carnal pleasures are forbidden.
Sometimes just one bite of the apple . . .
Her world is lonely and void of intimacy, until the charming Stephen Trent arrives at the commune. Suddenly Beth yearns for a man’s touch, the feel of his lips on hers . . . and Stephen is eager to show this pure-as-snow princess that she can still be the sensual woman she was once upon a time. 
Is all it takes to unleash her desires…
But all is not what it seems, and the stunning beauty finds herself again in danger, her stepmother hot on her trail. The commune’s founders will not tolerate the pair, yet fleeing its walls could prove fatal. Trapped in a world where passion is outlawed, can Beth live happily ever after? 
MY THOUGHTS:

Whew! This series is NOT for the faint hearted.  There was more sex scenes in this book than a man’s magazine. (Not that I would know)  Even though the scenes were hot, horny, and graphic, I could easily pick out the adaptations of the fairytale in this book.  Beth and Stephen were hot together and had the chemistry to be rooting for them from page one.  

Stephen joins the commune to work undercover as a reporter.  He is instantly attracted to the Goodmaid Beth.  They quickly fall in lust and love which is forbidden in the commune.  The Founders are very protective of Beth.  Beth joined the commune when she was seventeen, escaping the deadly clutches of her evil Stepmother.  She faked her own death.  Stephen realizes who she is when he notices her birthmark.  They find themselves in danger trying to escape the commune.  

Not only was this book so hot and steamy, but the author’s adaptation to it was great.  I was a little confused at times thinking is this a historical or modern day book?  As I kept reading it though, I didn’t care. It is modern day themed, but with the commune you get a feel of historical.

A great new author for me to keep looking into. Just be forwarned, that this book is hot and steamy.  If you don’t like to read erotica, then this book would not be for you.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

COWBOY TROUBLE by Joanne Kennedy (ARC review)

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COWBOY TROUBLE
Source: Sourcebooks (thank you Danielle!)
* I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 2, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402236689
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402236686
SYNOPSIS:
A cowboy like that could break your heart…
Fleeing her latest love-life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown’s transition to rural living isn’t going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a farm-but without the constant help of her charming, sexy cowboy neighbor, she’d never make it through her first Wyoming season.
But he could sure keep you warm at night, too…
Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl. But he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch. He’s ready for love, and he wants to go the distance…
Then the two get embroiled in their tiny town’s one and only crime story, and Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible...
MY THOUGHTS:

Girl gets tired of city life. Girl moves to ranch. Girl falls in love with hunky cowboy next door. Suspense. Sex. Love. Happy Ending.  It may sound like the normal romance book featuring cowboys, but there is a lot of wonderful story in between each of those sentence’s.  The author does a wonderful job of making this story flow smoothly and giving the reader everything they come to expect from a romantic western love story.  You get the handsome cowboy,(just look at the cover), the strong heroine, plenty of suspense and intrigue throughout and steamy love scenes all in a nice little book.  The author is new to me, but is now on my automatic to buy list.  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After 25 years in the business of selling books, I finally decided to sit down and write one. Five years and a lot of hard work later, I’m looking forward to the publication of my first novel, Cowboy Trouble, coming from Sourcebooks March 2nd.
Cowboy Trouble combines humor and suspense in a romance written for women whose interests range beyond high heels and hairstyles–readers whose idea of high fashion is wearing their Wranglers in “slim fit” instead of “cowboy cut.”
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!






THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD by Amanda Forester (ARC review)

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THE HIGHLANDER’S SWORD
Source: Sourcebooks (Thank you Danielle)
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 2, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402229488
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402229480
SYNOPSIS:

A quiet, flame-haired beauty with secrets of her own…
Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent, until her brother’s death leaves her an heiress. Soon she is caught between hastily arranged marriage with a Highland warrior, the Abbot’s insistence that she take her vows, the Scottish Laird who kidnaps her, and the traitor from within who betrays them all.
She’s nothing he expected and everything he really needs…
Padyn MacLaren, a battled-hardened knight, returns home to the Highlands after years of fighting the English in France. MacLaren bears the physical scars of battle, but it is the deeper wounds of betrayal that have rocked his faith. Arriving with only a band of war-weary knights, MacLaren finds his land pillaged and his clan scattered. Determined to restore his clan, he sees Aila’s fortune as the answer to his problems…but maybe it’s the woman herself.

MY THOUGHTS:
Aila is shaken when she is forced to marry Padyn at once with no courtship or engagement.  To say her world is turned upside down is an understatement.  

The author shows great work in details and story plot that flows nicely and makes a Historical Romance beautiful for modern day reading.  There was not a lot of dull spots, which made the book flow beautifully and quickly.  For a debut author, this was amazing to accomplish.  I am not a huge fan of historicals, but the author has written such a wonderful story, that I really did enjoy it this time around. 

A great new book from a new author that will keep you warm at night with quick page turning romance.  A great new addition to the romance genre.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

DELICIOUS by Shayla Black (ARC review)

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DELICIOUS
Author: Shayla Black
Source: ARC received from publisher (thank you Liz)
* I received this ARC copy free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 2, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425232425
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425232422
SYNOPSIS:
He can’t control his desire.
Luc Traverson’s entire future is planned out—but there is one very sexy obstacle in his path: Alyssa Devereaux . She’s a former exotic dancer turned strip club owner and restaurateur. Recently, Alyssa and Luc shared one night of wild abandon that left Luc terrified by his loss of self-control—and Alyssa desperate for more.
And that’s just the way she wants it.
Fulfilling a promise, Luc is the guest chef for Alyssa’s restaurant debut. The sight of her makes Luc wild, so how can he survive a week without letting loose and ravaging her—especially when she’s begging for it? Luc’s desire for her explodes when he realizes he isn’t the only man desperate to have her. But one of the others is deadly. And that’s not the end of Alyssa’s secrets…which are as dark and mysterious and enticing as her fantasies.
MY THOUGHTS:
OMG!  I have been dying to post this review! Now it is finally close enough to release date that I can’t hold back any longer in sharing with you this Delicious book!

First of all, I have waited FOREVER it seems for this book.  Luc so far, is my favorite out of all of the series so far.  Ms. Black has got a knack for writing wonderful stories that leave you hot and bothered and on the edge of your seat with suspense.  Just when you think the story is coming to an end, she throws more at you!

What was nice about this book is we get to not only get mention of the previous books’ characters, but we actually get to see interaction with them.  We get to read the hot and heavy sex scenes that the author has mastered, the suspense that keeps this plot moving effortlessly, and characters with depth and reality to them.  At first, I wasn’t too sure about the character of Alyssa, but as the story progressed I really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Luc.  I was constantly trying to figure out the mystery of who was stalking Alyssa, and the author kept me guessing up until the end. 

The sex scenes alone were enough to keep me going through this book.  The heat radiated from the pages and left you panting along with the characters.  The author knows sexy and can write it with ease.  I will never look at a strawberry the same way again after reading this book. 

A book that is very erotic, scorching hot and oh so Delicious!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!