Sinful Book Reviews

I chose this as my prize when I won the Whisper in my Ear challenge last month. Since I previously steered clear of romance, I also steered clear of Moning. Since reading Tina Folsom’s A Touch of Greek for the Book Lovin’ Bitches Ebook Tour, I’ve slowly become a fan of romance as a fun and easy read. I’ve never really loved it for the writing or plot construction… until recently. I got my first glimpse with Irish Moon by Amber Scott, but this book has really sealed the deal. It’s just a good book, regardless of genre.

Hawk and Adrienne are both stubborn and completely likable. No, not likable, lovable. I loved them the whole time. Their banter was just so much fun. I was smiling the whole time. Although, I must admit I got a little frustrated by Adrienne’s resistance. I understand her need to be strong, but she was really just hiding behind her past experiences. It wasn’t fair to Hawk, but the book needs tension and all that. It was just frustrating to me after listening to something like seven hours of her resisting him.

The plot was pretty good, though it was mostly centered around the characters. I mean, that’s kind of the way it is in romance novels. I was happy I had the person responsible for Adrienne’s trip through time figured out. I’ve just read too many books with similar subjects in the past year not to know who he was. I think it’s funny how his personality can be very different depending on his role in a book. Still, he’s always mischievous. It was nice touch to the story.

Phil Gigante is an American actor, director, and producer with over 20 years of experience in theater, film, television, and radio. He’s read for a 130 books and received many awards for his versatility in narration. I was very wary of him when it began. I wasn’t sure I liked his voice, but once I got into it and heard his Scottish accent, I changed my mind. He was wonderful. There was a distinct voice for every character, and his switch between Scottish and Southern American accents was flawless. I highly recommend this audiobook.

This is another good one. It sucked me in just like the last. Though there was a little less humor in this one, I still really enjoyed it. Grimm is a little more serious and brooding than Hawk. Still, he’s likable. I really love that this one was connected to the last one. I hope they’re all like that.

Grimm has been hiding some things. He tries desperately to keep them hidden in this one, but it’s not so easy with another clan hunting him down. His banter with Jillian is pretty funny. She basically throws herself at him. Because if his belief that he’s something savage, he resists. Well, until she literally throws herself at him. By then, it’s a little too much to handle and one of his secrets is out: he loves her. I was surprised by how quickly their romance developed. I guess it’s because there’s a lot more to this one than the two of them falling in love. Grimm has to come to terms with what he is, and find out what that means.

Again, I must mention that Phil Gigante is awesome. Love that brogue!

Not quite as good as the first book in the series, but still worth the read. On to the next one!

So it continues with Moning’s Highlander series. One thing I really love about this series is that they are all different stories, but they’re also all connected in different way. For instance, we meet Hawk Douglas and Adam Black in Beyond the Highland Mist. Grimm, Hawk’s best friend is the hero in To Tame a Highland Warrior. In The Highlander’s Touch, Adam black returns with a little less mischief and we hear the name Douglas again in a couple of supporting characters. I imagine these two are Hawk’s brothers. It’s just so fun the way it all connects!

Like the two books before, the reader is introduced to a headstrong woman and an enormous and muscular warrior. The two meet, argue, keep secrets, and fall in love. There are some intense sex scenes. Conflict arises when the aforementioned secrets are revealed. It’s all resolved magically and ends with a romantic happily ever after. I would never consider any of those statements spoilers because if you’re buying a romance novel, that’s what you’re going to get. The basic structure is simple. There were some unique things about this particular story I liked, and some I didn’t.

I loved the bond they developed. When they explained it later, it seemed a little silly. Still, I thought it made the story more interesting. They really were sharing all of themselves with each other in that way. Even though Circenn was keeping a secret from Lisa, she knew he was keeping something from her. It was one of my favorite parts of their relationship.

The ending was a little much. I get it. It’s romance. They all end with happily. However, all of the things they did to changes they made in time got a little ridiculous. I found more funny than aggravating. I guess that’s good. It was just a little much that they all got every single thing they wanted. Still, it was a fun book. Phil Gigante, again, did a terrific job. He’s just such an awesome narrator. And when they say “performed by Phil Gigante” they aren’t kidding. He’s not just reading the book, it’s a performance with emotion and some really great voices.

This might be my favorite of this series so far. I loved the plot of this one so much. There was so much to it. I loved how it incorporated quantum physics into the time travel. Now, I always love the men in this Highlander series, but Drustan really stole my heart. He was just great. I also really liked Gwen. She was definitely my favorite heroine in this series. We’ll see if anyone else shows up that I like more.

Like the others in the series, the plot and characters are really engaging. I love the banter that Moning writes between her characters. Her characters tend to be stubborn, but very sincere. There was a point when I thought the pace got kind of slow, but the ending really made up for that. I absolutely loved the ending. It totally won me over and turned what would have been a three or four star rating to a five star rating. This is the kind of series I could come back to later and love it just as much the second time.

Phil Gigante, again, did an excellent job. He is seriously one of my favorite voice actors. I just love that brogue!

It’s so nice to see more of the Mackeltar brothers. Dageus really gives his brother a run for his money with the dangerous, dark quality he has going on in this book. It’s pretty difficult to say which I prefer. Of course, I’d take them both. 

This was yet another great installment of Moning’s Highlander series. I’m getting close to the end of it, which makes me sad. Still, there’s no shortage of romance books about the Highlands. I suppose if I miss it too much I can try out a different author. Dageus stole my heart. What he did for his brother was just amazing, so is the strength he has to keep the spirits inside him at bay. I also liked Chloe, though maybe not quite as much as Gwen. She was just geeky enough to win me over.

Moning doesn’t disappoint. The plot and characters are still very engaging. We get to see our favorite mischievous fairy again. Adam Black is back, pleading with his Queen for the sake of a few humans. I took a peak at what the next book is about, and I’m so excited that he will be the focus! There’s plenty of time travel, magic, and some creepy cult out to make sure Dageus goes dark. It’s easily a thrilling story, but it also has all those delicious scenes between Chloe and Dageus that we’re really looking forward to. Still, my favorite remains Kiss of the Highlander.

Every time I finish one of the books in this series, I always think “that was my favorite!” Seriously, this one is my favorite. It was so good. I just love Adam Black. He’s shown his face in a few of the previous books, and it was so nice to hear his story. They’ve all been pretty sweet, but this one was the sweetest. I was so giddy by the end.

I already had an interest in Adam, so there was no problem with me finding him likable. Gabby, however, was new. I loved her. I feel like the women in the books just get better with each book. Gabby was hilarious, and also pretty sweet. Like the others before it, this one is full of sweet romance, endangered lives, and some hot sex. It also features a cameos made by the MacKeltar brothers and their wives. This one just has a little more fairy action (okay, a lot of sinfully sexy fairy action). As it turns out, the darkest fey prince is the sweetest Highlander of the series. This one is highly recommended. It will be way for fun for you if you read all the ones before it, but it can still work as a stand-alone.

Phil Gigante, once again, rocked it with his brogue. I love it! It makes the experience so much more fun. And again, I’m impressed with his ability to swap accents quickly (which is well-displayed in a scene with the Mackeltar brothers, their wives, Adam, and Gabby, all of which have different voices and accents). He’s most definitely one of my favorite voice actors.

Okay, so whoa. That didn’t exactly end the way I expected. Don’t worry! It wasn’t bad. It was just different from the other books in the series. It left things really open for another book. Or, at least, it felt that way to me. I know I still have to read Into the Dreaming, but the synopsis to that has nothing to do with the way this one ended. Oh well. We’ll see if there was supposed to be more in time, I suppose.

First awesome thing about this book? More yummy MacKeltar. I’m really enjoying their cameos and the story line staying in their family. Cian is older than any of the time-traveling, immortal (or, at least, for a little while) Highlanders we’ve met so far. He hails from the ninth century. It shows a little bit. He makes some cave-man-like demands at the beginning. Jessi, like the characters before her in this series, is incredibly likable and strong-willed. Well, she is until Cian kisses her. Then, she’s putty in his big, strong hands. Their relationship is fun, and sometimes really sweet.

Moning weaves a great plot, complete with faerie magic and the Highlander twins we all love. There’s not much I can say that I haven’t already said in the reviews of the previous books. If you’ve read them and you liked any of them, you’ll love this one. It wasn’t quite as good as the last one. That one remains my favorite. It’s interesting how they all line up and have little cameos. If you’ve never read the series, I suggest starting with the first one and moving in order. It’s more fun that way, though they could all stand alone. But they’re in chronological order, as far as plot goes.

Phil Gigante is, of course, amazing. The performance and production of the audiobooks for this series deserve a round of applause, or maybe an award. I know The Dark Highlander was nominated for an Audie when it came out. I think the whole series should have been nominated for an Audie. It’s superb. Seriously, if you’ve never tried audio, these are a good place to start.

I’ve been meaning to try out one of Megan’s books for a while now. I think I decided to try one when Collide came out. I just loved the cover. Then, I read some reviews of her books over at Under the Covers. They sounded delightful. Though I usually like historical romance, I do enjoy some contemporary romance every now and then. I also don’t usually read erotic romance, but I’ve found that I can enjoy those just as much when they’re well written. It’s just funny to think about the fact that a year ago I would never have picked up this book. I’ve just opened up so much to romance that I really enjoy them. They’ve become my fun reads. When I get too bogged down by YA lit or other genres, I can pick up a romance book and devour it. That is exactly what I did with this audio book. I listened to the entire thing in one day.

Olivia is a great character from the beginning, but I really enjoyed witnessing her develop. She’s so cautious. She almost never gets involved with anyone after being burned by Patrick. Yet, she keeps Patrick in her life, allowing him to hurt her over and over. Patrick isn’t ignorant to how she feels about him, and he constantly uses those feelings to manipulate her. It was such a relief when she finally stood up to him. Her relationship with her mother is strained. That was another part of development that was nice to witness. Though there will probably always be issues between Olivia and her mother, at least they began working through them a little bit. I think Alex was a big help in that department, too.

Olivia’s relationship with Alex is captivating. It was difficult for me at times because I would never be one to hold back asking questions I wanted the answers to. Olivia spends half the relationship without asking a lot of questions that she should. I know it’s hard to find the line between asking questions and prying, but I would have been pushing a little for some answers. Though Alex claims he never lied to her, sometimes withholding information is just as bad. I still have to give him credit. He does answer truthfully when she asks him questions. I do like that they’re not perfect. Both Alex and Olivia make mistakes and have to work at their relationship. It’s so obvious they want to make it work and they’re willing to do what it takes. Most of the strain comes from Olivia’s previous experience with Patrick and from Alex’s reluctance to lay out his past for Olivia to see. I have to say Alex is the one to step up in the end. He’s exactly right. Olivia can’t punish him for what someone else did to her. And no matter what he’s done in his past, what really matters is that he loves her now and that she’s the one he wants to be with.

Something Alex says in the book really stuck with me the rest of the time. He and Olivia are messing around, and he’s talking to her about control. Having control can make you feel exciting and sexy, but sometimes losing it can make you feel all the same things. Either way, there has to be trust. And I just got to thinking about how in a relationship both parties have control of each other. There’s vulnerability, and where there is vulnerability there has to be trust. It made the title make so much more sense to me. For things to work, both Alex and Olivia have to lay everything on the table. They have to strip themselves of their secrets, feel naked and vulnerable, and trust that the other person will love them for who they are and will stay true to them. That’s what I got from it anyway. There’s a lot more to it, but I don’t need to make this review any longer. I’ll just throw in that I really enjoyed Lauren Fortgang’s voice acting. I absolutely loved her voice for Alex. It can be really difficult for women to pull off good voices for men, and I think she did a great job.

There were things I liked and things I didn’t like. I’ll begin with what I did like.

Solomon. He is one of my favorite characters ever. He’s so precious with his wacky interest in chemistry and matching colors. He spends the entire book trying to find a color to match Serena’s eyes. I also love how he surprises Serena constantly with curiosity about the men she’s been with, because he wants to know about their stays. Or his horror at some of the waistcoats men wear. He cracks me up constantly in this book. I love all the little things about him that Serena falls in love with. He’s just amazing. I wouldn’t say he holds the weight of the book, but he holds a lot of it.

The truth about Elijah. I was pretty surprised when the truth about Elijah (Solomon’s twin brother) came to light. I was also glad. I loved Elijah. There wasn’t nearly enough of him in the book and he was a pretty complicated character.

The things I didn’t like so much…

Serena. Okay, so that’s not totally true. I did like Serena. I thought she was even a great character sometimes. She was just so stubborn, and I hate that. I hate watching a woman ignore what’s right in front of her because she thinks things will be better that way. They’re never better that way. It makes everyone miserable, including this reader. I was so annoyed every time she shut Solomon down. It took almost all 317 pages for her to get herself together and admit how she felt. Though, I have to say that was one of the sweetest speeches ever. For the most part though, she drove me insane.

It was pretty slow. I’m not saying that there are things I’d cut out. It just wasn’t as fast paced as I wanted it to be. It didn’t really pick up until about 210 pages in, and that’s a long time for a 317 page book. I really like things to take off in the beginning. But if they don’t, I like for them to pick up within the first seventy or so pages. It took me far too long to get invested in this one. Still, if you like historical romances and a to-die-for guy, you should consider picking this one up.

My initial reaction upon finishing was that it was good, but there were some moments when I felt like I was trudging. I have to give Amanda Scott credit for making Scotland feel so authentic. However, I’m much more interested in romance and less in navigating the country. When it came down to what I didn’t like, that was pretty much it. There was just so much discussion about where they were going and how they should get there. I’m not sure if all of that was made up or what, but I could barely follow any of that talk. More importantly, I didn’t care. I just wanted romance and plot development.

Now that I’ve gotten that one complaint out of the way, let me explain what Amanda does well. First of all, she writes stellar characters that are easy to connect with. I was honestly invested in all the central characters: Ivor, Marsi, Hetty, Jamie, and Will. All of them! Ever Jake won me over, which is good since the next book is about him. Ivor is a great hero. He’s strong, dominant, but also gentle toward Marsi. Marsi is brash and willful heroine commonly found in romance novels. She never felt cliché though. I still liked her because she was exactly what I wanted her to be. The other three were just a treat. I just adored the boys and Hetty was around for some words of wisdom here and there.

Another thing Amanda does well is create conflict and build to the climax. By that point, I had to know what happened. I was so worried for the future of Marsi and Ivor. All the things that could have gone wrong for them were eating me up. It’s funny how that happens when I’m reading. I mean, this is a romance novel. Things are probably going to work out just fine, but I still bent out of shape when things go awry. I still worry.

My favorite thing about this particular Highland romance is that a lot of the speech is written in dialect and the language doesn’t often stray from the language of the time in which it’s written. It made everything seem that much more authentic. Even with the dialect, it was still easy to understand.

It’s a good book. I recommend it to lovers of historical Scottish romance. It’s one of my favorite genres. It just dragged a little during the discussions about navigation. I’m willing to pick up the previous book in the series (which I assume is about Ivor’s sister and brother-in-law) just to see if I like that one a bit better. I’m also a little interested in the next one involving Jake.

I was so excited about this after reading the first in the series. I just couldn’t wait to read Puck’s story. It took me a little while to get to it, but it was the perfect bedtime read for my trip. It was interesting and I loved both Puck and Regina, but it didn’t keep me up all night reading. I felt fine waiting for the next night to learn more. I usually love it the other way, but it fit my busy holiday schedule.

Puck is everything I hoped he’d be. He’s present in the first book and, if I remember correctly, his personality shone through in that one. In this one, it’s all him though and I just loved that. He was wonderful. Hilarious. Sweet. Completely devious and at the same time a perfect gentleman. It was so much fun to read his clever comments. Regina was the real surprise. She might be my favorite romance heroine ever. She’s so determined and stubborn, but still has that trace of innocence that her role calls for. The two of them make a delightful pair. They really made the book for me. I also enjoyed a real introduction to Jack. He showed up in the first book, but there was no real sense of who he is. In this one, there’s much more to him and it really whet my appetite for his story. I know I’ll love it. So far, this is the best of the series, but we’ll see how I feel after the next one.

The only downside I found was the plot. The whole idea was fine, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was still in the introduction mode. It wasn’t until the last third of the book that I felt things pick up and get exciting. I would have liked it to gear up a little earlier than that. I think it was mostly because I was just as engrossed in the suspense part of the plot as I was in Puck and Regina’s romance. Normally, I’m so wrapped up in the romance part that I never really dig into the rest of the plot. By no means does this make the book bad. I definitely think it’s worth reading, it just bothered me a little.

I recommend this one to historical romance fans. There’s no need to read the first one, but it also includes a good bit of Puck and his witty humor, so don’t overlook it.

Oh, I’m so excited about reading the rest of this series. I already have the second and third one on my Kobo. I have some things I need to read before I can get to them, but I’m going to try any read them as soon as I can. I’m starting to get into the detective thing. I’ve read a couple of good books involving them and loved them. This is one of them. Luke was great!

I’m so happy when I read a contemporary romance that isn’t just about sex and love. There have to be other conflicts, or it’s a little boring. I say this about contemporary specifically because it’s a lot easier to pull off other conflicts with paranormal or historical romance. There’s always some conflict involving the paranormal beings in the book or the honor of a lady or something like that. Sometimes when you pick up a contemporary romance the only conflicts have to do with the romantic relationship in the book. It’s like that’s the only part of their lives that matter or something. This book, however, throws in issues with family, friends, and work. The brewery gets robbed so there’s a whole ordeal with that. The relationship between Tessa’s two brothers is strained. Luke is having problems with his best friend. There are layers and makes for more interesting reading. A+ for that!

I’m also glad I didn’t have to wait a century for Luke or Tessa to show interest in one another. A lot of romance novels dance around it for half the book and I get frustrated. The characters will have feelings for each other, but they won’t act on them for what seems like forever. Tessa practically pounces on Luke the first chance she gets. Their romance starts very quickly in the book. I find that I much prefer that.

Every single character in this book is interesting, even the ones you’re supposed to hate. That’s why I’m so excited about reading more of the series. I’m hoping some of them will pop up again. Luke and Tessa are the leads in this book, but her brothers play a huge part as well. Wallace (the guy who comes up with the brews) is one I know I’ll have to pay attention to. He’s already piqued my interest. Simone was also a nice character in this book. Her subplot was just as interesting to me as the main plot.

I highly recommend this one if you like contemporary romance. It’s fun and sexy, but still has some more thoughtful parts.

This is exactly what a romance should be. It was just perfect. I absolutely loved this book. It had elements of danger, suspense, and romance, with a nice historical setting and plenty of spicy scenes. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve become a sucker for historical romance, but this was one of my favorites.

Esme and Fielding, though tagged with ridiculous romance novel names, are terrific characters. I’ve read enough erotic short stories and novels at this point to start making up my mind about what I like and what I don’t like. What I love about these two is that, though they have a bit of desire for each other upon first meeting, they don’t just jump into bed with each other. They do get to know each other first and it makes their relationship more interesting. Too often, I’ve read romance novels where the characters have no depth. It’s all about sex. It’s so much more interesting to me when the characters are deeper than that. Don’t get me wrong. The sex is fun and absolutely appropriate for a romance novel, but we all want a little depth to the stories we read, right?

One of my favorite elements of the book was the treasure seeking. I had just finished Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff when I read the first chapter of this book. The fact that he was looking for the great library of Alexandria drew me into the story immediately. Though it isn’t actually about that, there was still plenty of treasure-seeking adventure to it. It made the plot so entertaining. I really loved all the myth behind Pandora’s box and the predicament the characters find themselves in. It was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it to romance lovers. I think I’ll read the next two!

Who knew wings could be so sexy? I was reading a review of this on Amazon. The subject line was “Move over, Edward! Hello, Elijah!” I could agree more. I mean, Edward has been out of my mind for quite some time (eagerly replaced by Peeta, Kartik, Po, and, I admit it, Mr. Rochester). Elijah is really battling for the spot though. I’ve read one other of Amber’s books (Irish Moon, read the review here), and I really loved it. I was so eager to read this when she offered it. It blew Irish Moon out of the water for me. I mean, they’re entirely different books, and not really comparable. Still, I felt more connected to the characters in this book.

The plot is maybe a little confusing, at first. Once some explanations are put forth, the action begins and the story really progresses. There’s some pretty good character crafting going on, and that’s something I love more than a good plot. It lies mainly in Elijah’s character, and also a little with the relationship between Sadie and her sister. I think good character development is a crucial part of a good book and a good writer. That’s really what won me over with this one. Of course, the bad ass fights and X-men-like powers didn’t hurt.

The other realm and the world and creatures within are enough to captivate any reader, even without all the awesome action and very sexy romance. This one really is a winner. I noticed someone had listed this book in a “New Authors to Watch For” list on listopia. I couldn’t agree more. I think Amber is a very talented author. She has an incredible imagination and great writing skills. She crafts her stories well, and I urge any reader to check out her stuff.

Well done! I really enjoyed this one. It’s definitely an original world, and I can’t wait to read more of it. Ann says she just released a novella in the series, so I’ll be getting my hands on that soon.

Eliana (whose name name I had serious issues keeping straight in my head. For some reason I wanted to take the “i” out and make it Elana) has grown up in what they refer to as a dry area, where the residents are atheist. While the rest of the world has been raised in freedom of religion, Eliana has been sheltered. It’s quite a shock to her when her gorgeous professor informs her that could be Chosen to serve one of the gods her parents taught her didn’t exist. She takes it all pretty well though. Despite her sheltered upbringing, she seems very open minded.

I love Eliana. She’s a very likable character, as are her friends in the book. Aiden and Devon are positively swoon-worthy, and Jack and Chrissy give the book a tough of light-hearted humor that’s needed to stomach the darker themes. And, yes, there are some dark themes. The antagonists, worshiping gods of Destruction, do some very gruesome things. With lesser gods of sorrow, rape, and torture, you can only imagine how sickening some of the scenes can be. I think there’s a nice balance though. There’s the presence of pure evil, giving the story the tension it needs. But it’s well balanced by romance and humor.

That’s right! The steamy moments the cover promises are present, and they fit right in with the story. Bravo, Ms. Mayburn! I’m ready for more, and I highly recommend this to anyone interested in paranormal romance.

Kasey Michaels is so clever! I loved this book and I am very eagerly awaiting the next two. These brothers are to die for. This particular book is about Beau, the oldest of the brothers. It has all the elements a good romance should have: love, passion, and adventure. The extras are what made it really stand out there, for me.

Chelsea is one of the most likable heroines I’ve come across. She’s witty and playful, yet there’s still an innocence about her that makes her seem wholesome. She’s absolutely perfect for Beau. The two start off with a playfully turbulent relationship. Chelsea tries to blackmail him into agreeing with her plans, but ends up caring more for him than she thought possible. Beau, who only remembers her as little brat of fourteen, is completely taken by the strong-willed woman she’s become. It’s so much fun to watch.

The brothers make their appearances. Robin Goodfellow Blackthorn, otherwise known as Puck, plays a large role in this story. Staying true to the name, he always seems to be into mischief and can’t seem to be serious about anything. I’m excited to read the story about him. It will take quite a woman to straighten him out. The other brother, who they call Black Jack, is a little more mysterious. He runs with the more dangerous crowd and Chelsea refers to him as all dark, compared to his fair brothers. Sounds positively yummy. The dangerous ones always make great stories.

The Shakespeare references aren’t a huge part of the book. It’s mostly in their names, not too much in the plot itself, but they’re still pretty clever. They make other little references to Shakespeare. The sex is so well written. The scenes flow effortlessly with the story, and they have that perfect sense of tension and release that is essential to good sex scenes. They’re not vulgar, but definitely steamy. If you like your romance packed with cleverness and real love, I suggest picking this one up.