2010 Romance Challenge Roundup Clompleted

by ⋅ 4 Comments

WOOHOO! I finished a challenge for 2010 and it’s only the end of Feb!  I will continue on with this challenge and add to it through out the year though.  But below, is my completion post for the challenge!

2010 Romance Reading Challenge
Runs from Jan 1rst,2010 until Dec 2010
I am signing up for:
— Obsessed – Read 20 Romance Fiction novels

NAUTI INTENTIONS by Lora Leigh

by ⋅ 1 Comment
NAUTI INTENTIONS
Author: Lora Leigh
Source: Library
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 7, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0425226050
  • ISBN-13: 978-0425226056
SYNOPSIS:
Since he saw Janey Mackay taking a dip in her bikini, Major Alex Jansen has had to quell the fire she ignites in him. Even touching her would mean death at the hands of the Mackay men. Until now, the girl of his dreams-and fantasies-has lived in a vacuum of affection, shying away from the danger she thinks men represent. Alex sets out to prove her wrong, with his torturously slow caresses.

Everyone thinks Janey’s safe now, with her abusers dead. But when someone starts leaving spine chilling notes, Alex won’t rest until she’s completely safe. And completely his-body and soul…

MY THOUGHTS:
I know I should have read this tory in order, but the wait list at the library didn’t think I should.  When I had heard about this book, everyone had said it was a scorcher!  Well, the hot sex scenes did burn up the pages, but other than that,  this book fell flat for me.
I loved the bones of the book.  It had greatness just in the blurb in my opinion.  The plot could have been wonderful.  Once I started reading it though, it just wouldn’t click for me.  The characters of Janey and Alex were to forced and never caught a spark in my mind.  They seemed boring.  Janey was all over the place and Alex was too pushy.  
Now, I will say that maybe if I had read the book in the order it was meant to be read, I might have felt better about the characters. With that being said, I will wait for the first in the series to arrive and read it.  If I like it, I will reread this again to see if the book will come to life to me then.

MY RATING:


 
I did not enjoy this book.

DELICIOUS by Shayla Black (ARC review)

by ⋅ 6 Comments
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!

FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON by Jeaniene Frost

by ⋅ 4 Comments
FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON
Author: Jeaniene Frost
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Avon; Original edition (February 9, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061583227
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061583223
SYNOPSIS:
The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .
Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost. 
MY THOUGHTS:
I have never read the other books by this author that are so popular, but I will definitely be checking them out now after reading this book. 
I loved all the characters in this book.  Denise was a little whiney at first, but she does change throughout the book for the better.  Spade is just hot!  He needs no further explanation.  If Cat and Bones were wonderful so I know the series that features them will probably be devoured by me in one day as soon as I get them.  
I have read a bunch of review from numerous blogs, and everyone says that this book was not as great as they expected it to be.  I don’t see what was wrong with the book. It had plenty of action and romance for me.  (Can I get a HELL YEAH for that shower scene that Denise got to witness of Spade?!) HAWT!  Not to mention Ian sounds like a character I can’t wait to see unfold on the pages. Especially with more mentions to his piercing! I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next on in this series due out this summer in 2010.
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

SIZE EIGHT IN A SIZE ZERO WORLD by Meredith Cagen

by ⋅ 3 Comments
SIZE EIGHT IN A SIZE ZERO WORLD
Author: Meredith Cagen
Source:Author
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 340 pages
  • Publisher: iUniverse (November 23, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1440169748
  • ISBN-13: 978-1440169748
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Lindsay Chandler-a 32 year-old New York working wife and mother with old-fashioned values who thinks she’s living a fairy tale life (she’s not). Then an unexpected friendship with her upstairs neighbor (he is smart, successful, sophisticated and sexy- she’s not) unleashes her passion and re-ignites her sparkle. This liaison causes her to question the way she lives her life. Yearning for a storybook ending, she decides to make changes in her life, embarking on a quest for self re-invention.
MY THOUGHTS:
Are you looking for a sassy and upbeat book to read?  The author did a wonderful job of writing a witty and fun book with Size Eight in a Size Zero World.  Not only will this book make you scream at Lindsay for some of the choices she makes, but you will stand up next to her for the decisions she finally realizes are the right ones.  She gets tired of being a doormat and wakes up and realizes there is more out there. A great plot that finishes up nice at the end.  Some parts seem to drag out, but the end is worth the wait.

MY RATING:


Very Good! Worth Spending Your Money on!