Review: Holiday Heat by Jaci Burton & Lauren Dane

 

Description:

Unraveled by Jaci Burton
Mitch is always on the lookout for the next great spot to build one of his Famous hotels, and he's found it- right on the white, sandy beach where he grew up. The only thing standing in the way is Greta.
The ramshackle beachfront motel her father left her means everything to Greta, and no amount of money- or hot nights of passion- will entice her to sell. No matter how much Mitch's touch shreds her defenses.

For once, Mitch finds himself thinking about settling down with the right woman. Now if only he can convince her he wants more than her body- and her hotel…

Sweet Charity by Lauren Dane

After years of pretending a one-night stand never happened, Charity has finally coaxed Gabriel back into her bed. It's not just good, it's fanfreakingtastic! Except he still insists he's not good enough for her.
Watching charity not just endure but enjoy his darker urges is better than Gabriel ever imagined. She deserves candlelight and roses, though. He'll let go when she finds the right man.
Charity's not having any of it. She knows what she wants, and she's willing to play rough to get him…

(blurb)

 

Review:

I won this one in a twitter contest. I read it first and as you can see I bought the first one the same night. II really enjoy these Xmas themed books and they always help to get in the mood for the holidays! Both stories are connected to the first book but they can be read as standalone. I didn't even notice that they weren't. I only discovered the first book cuz of the mention inside this one.

Unraveled by Jaci Burton

This was a very touching and lovely story. Greta had a horrible past with an asshole husband and still struggles a bit with emotion and sexual interaction. She loves her motel and things her dad gave it to her for a reason. She knows it's not the best but it's her fathers work and her own now too. She just don't want to lose it. 
Mitch is some hot guy and he's really successful in everything he does. He's a former professional surfer and has the body to confirm that! He wants the motel but what he wants even more id Greta. Now he just has to convince her of that fact.

I loved the way the relationship between these two developed. Not only did they learn to trust each other they also involved her kids. That was heartbreakingly sweet to watch. Mitch puts so much time and effort into the kids and all out of his own volition. Great is a skeptic from the start and can't believe that Mitch does all this without a hidden agenda.

These two can also turn the pages on fire and I loved each word of those scenes. Very hawt!
Wonderful love-story with a lovely family and the nicest and most thoughtful kids inside.

Sweet Charity by Lauren Dane

Gabriel is one of these guys you want to slap silly cuz he believes in some things that are just not true and he's too stubborn to change his mind. Reminded me a bit of Todd of Laid Bare but Gabe doesn't want to hurt Charity and thinks she deserves something better. Sometimes guys have some ideas, huh?
Charity can't forget Gabe after her one-nightstand with him. It was nothing good- really not- but he seemed to be holding back and she knows that he still wants her. So why doesn't he do something about that? Time to take that problem in her own hand. She wants him and she will get him. Way to go Girl! I loved her character. She's strong and knows what she wants- a great heroine.

The sex in this book was scorching hot with a little BDSM put in for good measure.
No need to turn the heater on while you read that. Believe me!

I enjoyed all the family ties in this book and how welcoming they were. This one really started my Xmas mood.

I recommended these books(Holiday Heat and Seduction) for everyone who likes to get warm inside before Xmas.
 

To learn more about Jaci Burton visit her website here and you can look at Lauren Dane's website here.

Holiday Series:

1. Holiday Seduction: my review here, reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon
1. Holiday Heat: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon

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Short Review: Holiday Seduction by Jaci Burton & Lauren Dane

Description:

UNWRAPPED by Jaci Burton
Amy Parkers kind of fantasies wouldn't cut it in the straight-laced law firm where she's fought her way to partnership. And she refuses to let a younger man use her to advance in the firm. Justin Garrett might be brilliant, gorgeous and sexy, but he's firmly implanted in the look-but-don't-touch realm. Until a corporate acquisition in Hawaii over Christmas gives Justin the opportunity to show Amy he's interested in her as a woman, not as a way to advance his career. And he has the ideal plan to help unwrap the perfect Christmas gift for Amy.

TO DO LIST by Lauren Dane
Since she could pick up a pencil, Belle Taylor has used lists to map out her life. But now, just steps away from her highest career goal, she realizes the life she thought she wanted exacts too high a price. Exhausted, she heads home for Christmas to make a new to-do list. She didn't factor in Rafe Bettencourt, her brothers best friend kissing her under the mistletoe! Suddenly, Belle finds herself with a whole new set of goals to balance with what she thought she always wanted. Because Rafe's plan is to seduce Belle back home where she belongs. (blurb)

Review:
Technically this is the first book in this series but with me being me I read Holiday Heat first. That was also the reason I bought this book cuz I really loved it and noticed that it was book 2 after finishing it. So I searched amazon and found this beauty and had to buy it immediately.

And let me tell you this book didn't disappoint.

UNWRAPPED

by Jaci Burton
This story is about a workaholic on forced vacation and with no way to escape the offered R & R. And Amy really struggles with what she finds on the island. She's too focused on work to have a private life. I enjoyed the way Ms. Burton played with the biased view most people have of a business woman. At the beginning Amy is really inhibited and all business but she has this weak moment on the plane(a really naughty weak moment) and that gives Justin the last clue he needs to really pursuit her.
He already accidentally(yeah, sure!!!) discovered her little erotic fantasy and now his plan is to fulfill it! He is focused on work too, but he knows how to sweeten up his free time and plans to do exactly that with Amy.
Okay I will say it the way it is: this story is hot and I mean it. I just say:
"Hawaii, 2 men and a woman." A perfect way to celebrate Xmas.
The characters are very likable and OMG the men are hot! So happy that Mitch(man #2) got his own HEA in Holiday Heat cuz he is a fine specimen, athletic surfer and all.
It's a nice story and very fast read! I so had to buy a Jaci Burton book after finishing that one!

TO DO LIST by Lauren Dane
First thing I noticed in this book is "OMG Brian please go away!". I so hate people ruining a perfect situation. I really wanted to slap him silly. 
That said back to the review: Belle is very focused on her goals and determined to reach them. She realizes that perhaps she pays a too high prize to accomplish that.

She's thinking her whole life over and tries to find out what her real priorities are.
Rafe is such a funny and lovely character. He realizes what a great woman he has in front of him and how much he missed her.  So he plans to win her heart with all means. He stole MY heart at the beginning and with every thing he did he got an even stronger hold on it!
The relationship between these two develops at a nice pace. They get to know each other again and discover how good they really match(every pun intended).  
It's a really hot read but I didn't expect anything else from Lauren. We've got a bit of Dirty Talk in this book and I always notice that I'm not such a fan of it! Strange huh? Give me smexy scene to read and I'm in but let them talk about it and I'm not so happy with that. A little pet peeve of mine, I know!
The wonderful community of the small town it's set in warmed my heart and all the love you can see in these families made this story an even more wonderful Xmas read.
A very good book for the season and I will definitely read it again next year.
 

To learn more about Jaci Burton visit her website here and you can look at Lauren Dane's website here.

Holiday Series:

1. Holiday Seduction: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon
1. Holiday Heat: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon

Review of Holiday Heat will be up tomorrow!

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Review: Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter

Description:

Under the cover of wintry dark shadows, passion's magic ignites a fire too hot to touch -- and too wicked to die....
Two never-before-published paranormal stories to delight the senses and tantalize the imagination!

KRESLEY COLE delivers a breathtaking tale of a brutal vampire soldier about to know love for the first time...and a Valkyrie aching to be touched.
Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden -- the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Soon desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together, can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

GENA SHOWALTER puts a daring spin on a tale of huntress and hunted...and concocts a sensual chemistry that is positively explosive.
Aleaha Love can be anyone -- literally. With only skin-to-skin contact, she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors. Only she becomes the captured. Breean, a golden-skinned commander known for his iron will who is at once dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life. Because for the first time, Aleaha only wants to be herself.... (by goodreads.com)

Review:

 

Thanks to Mandi from smexybooks I had the opportunity to read this one and I'm so happy I did. As you might have noticed this book contains to independent stories so I will talk about them separately too.

Untouchable by Kresley Cole

This is the Story about Daniela(lovely name, made me think of my sister the whole time *grins*) half ice-maiden, half Valkyrie and Murdoch one of the famous Wroth brothers known for being vampires.
Danii had a really long(2000+ years) and very lonely life so far. She's an ice-maiden which means she will get burns when a normal person touches her. She can only be touched by her own people but these don't really like her and try to kill her every chance they get. Yep, that sounds like a real frustrating life.
Murdoch doesn't mind not being blooded cuz having a woman always is trouble in his opinion! When exactly that happens with Danii he think that is his punishment for being a lady-killer in his human days. Not being able to be with a woman for so long and now the only woman to get him on is the one he can't touch! Life can be really cruel!
These two have seriously chemistry going on. This book has the most erotic scene without touching. Really blew me away.

The side characters are hilarious as ever. I so love these Valkyrie and I have such a soft spot for the Wroth brothers.
The plot was good. I wanted to know how this whole mess would work out in the end and why she got bowling shoes from the goddess of impossibility. But the end was not what I expected and didn't really cure my curiosity. It was one of these too easy solutions and left me a bit unsatisfied.

Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter
This is the story of Breean and Aleaha. We already met these two as a couple in Devyn's book. I was so curious about these two since the last installment. Aleaha was a bit different than I expected her to be. All my expectations where formed by the things Bride thought about her and Aleaha is not the small vulnerable girl I pictured.

Same is true for Breean. I expected a more nicer man. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining at all but he was a bit too animalistic. Not too animalistic for being enjoyable, that he was all right but for being a Rakan.Not sure if you get what I mean. I never thought the Rakan would be that way.
I loved to see the relationship between this two build up and loved that they're both stubborn as hell. I have to admit the book was not as hot as Devyn's but she really spoiled us with that one. I thought this resolution of this story was a bit easy too.

Considering everything I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all fans of both series! 



To learn more about Gena Showalter please visit her website here and you visit Kresley Cole's site here.

review Untouchable/Tempt Me Eternally @Smexybooks
reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon

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Review: Adored by Tina Donahue

Description:

A shameless fantasy come true…
When tall, dark and delicious Adam Farrell crosses Danni’s radar at a trade show in Vegas, it’s not lust at first sight. He’s been the star of her wicked fantasies for a while, pleasuring her in acts of domination and submission that leave her breathless. Aching for his masterful touch, believing she’ll never have it, Danni indulges in a public sex act Adam alone witnesses. What follows is a night of wild and unrestrained passion in his powerful arms. It’s only the beginning.
An undisclosed business deal has turned Adam from competitor to Danni’s new boss. His hunger for her is absolute and he’ll make her fantasies seem tame as he takes her in ways she never imagined—whenever he wants, wherever he desires.
Seduced by Adam’s plan to mix exquisite control with adoration, Danni’s swept into a sensual adventure she can’t resist. Until corporate politics intrude and she learns what Adam’s been hiding to protect her…a secret he’s long feared will tear them apart. (blurb)

Review:
I have to shamefully admit as I got this book as a review copy my expectations weren't really high. Never heard something about that book or the author at all. But OMFG I was so wrong.

I started this book on my way home from one of the most boring lectures of my life. I read it in the tram and that was a huge mistake. I only read the first 2 chapters but all the other people must have thought: "What does she read that makes her blush like that?" And I was so strong and didn't start screaming some confusing things like: "Don't you dare masturbate now!" so I should be happy. The book gripped me from the start and took me on a wild and really hawt ride.

Danni is a very emotional but strong character. She got hurt in the past, not only by two asshole boyfriends but also by her cheating father. She has a few commitment issues because of that but she tries to not be too suspicious of every man and to give Adam a real chance. She trusts him not to hurt her but there is one thing she can't forgive and that is lying.

Adam always was intrigued by Danni and now he finally gets his chance to do something about it. He wants her not only for one night but for long time. He loves that she is so open about her fantasies and wants to explore how far he can go with her. He doesn't want to burden her with a few things and so he tries to solve them hinself without telling her about it. Typical man!

These two really made me sweat. Their chemistry is unbelievable hot and very imaginative. I loved the build up and the back and fourth these two experienced through the whole book.

The story is a nice mix between contemporary and erotica. I loved that it was not only like reading porn but more like a sweet story with many hot interruptions. *wink*

The one drawback was that I knew after the first 2 or 3 chapters how this book would end but I enjoyed it very much nonetheless.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves his contemporary romance spicy.




To learn more about Tina Donahue and her books please visit her website here.

other reviews @goodreads, buy this book @Ellora's Cave
 
Come back tomorrow: Tina will be here with a guest post and she will also giveaway a copy of Close To Perfect!

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Review: Mia's Return by Teal Ceagh

 

Description:

Ten years ago Alexander hungered for Mia Menendez and

for a single day they had indulged that passion before tragedy struck. Now Mia is back, but she thinks Alexander died ten years ago, and no man has been able to stir her heart since. The truth could kill her.
Wyatt Whitacker, demon hunter, hates Alexander and all his kind. But one look at Mia and her pulse-stopping curves and his scarred, angry heart begins to melt and his body to rouse in ways he’s long forgotten.
The bonding has begun… (blurb)

Review:

 

This is the second book in the Destinies Trinities series. The book starts a few month after the first and tells the story of Alex, Mia and Wyatt.
Alexander is an ex-small-time criminal turned vampire who's now fighting on the good side. His life changed drastically with him being turned to a vampire. He's now a successful businessman and a great fighter against the evil forces. He's a strong and unprejudiced character. He likes the way his live developed till he meets Mia again.

Mia is a girl coming out of a poor family with brothers stuck with the wrong people. She grew up with her brother's gangster buddies coming over and totally lost her heart to one of them. Alex was and still is center of her wet dreams. They got this one perfect night together and he promised her so much more but he died after he left her bed. Now, ten years later she meets him again by chance. He still looks the same and she wants him even more than all this time back. Mia is headstrong and has a quite stubborn side. She always gets what she wants and she will do everything to get him.

 

Wyatt is a vampire hunter deep down to his soul. After a critical experience in his life this is his purpose and he can't think of doing something else. His mission is his top priority. He's a very emotional character with soul deep wounds. He lived through hell and still fights. I really admired him.

So how do these three come together? I won't tell you but be sure it's a good thing they do.

These three have a few issues to get through before they can get together comfortably. Wyatt hates vampires so he needs a bit time to get comfortable with the idea that he's foretold to bond with one. The resolution of this goes real quick, perhaps a bit too quick for me.

Steamy is not enough to describe this book, the words burn your eyes. Very hawt read it is and so good for my hormones. ;)

The story in this book brings us a few revelations concerning the bad guys but leaves enough out to keep your interest. The story is fast paced, a bit rushed at some points but it totally suits the book.

Enjoyed this one and can't wait to read what happens in book 3- Sera's Gift(release day is Dec, 9th- that's next week).

To le

arn more about Teal Ceagh and her books please visit her website here.

The Destiny's Trinities Series:
1. Beth's Acceptance: my review, reviews @goodreads, buy the ebook here
2. Mia's Return: reviews @goodreads, buy the ebook here
3. Sera's Gift: release Dec 9th (!!!)

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