Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux

Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They're partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be the last thing they do.

************************

Our heroes are armed, dangerous, and well worth the wait!

Ty and Zane are as awesome as ever… even more-so! Their relationship is finally on solid ground and there wasn’t the angst over who would pull his head out of his ass first and admit to the “L” word and that, that was so refreshing! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved the previous books, sometimes because of that angst, that uncertainty… but the time had come for some acceptance, moving forward, and making love where they both knew, without doubt, that that’s what they were doing!

This time our heroes find themselves traveling to Chicago to hunt down Julian Cross, the anti-hero who starred in Warrior’s Cross, with orders to deliver the man to Washington, DC, using any means necessary so long as he gets there alive. As Ty & Zane and Julian & Cameron – Julian’s lover/boyfriend - get closer to their destination, it becomes clear that what Ty and Zane had thought would be a cut and dry assignment is anything but, and that makes for one exciting cross country adventure.

I want to mention that I read Warrior’s Cross in preparation for Armed & Dangerous. since Julian and Cameron play starring roles in this book. I am so glad I made that decision, not because I needed it for any plot carryover, but because it gave me so much insight into Julian and Cameron and their relationship – insight that I can say without a doubt enhanced my enjoyment of their role in this story. That said, I don’t think it’s necessary to read Warrior’s Cross in order to truly love Armed & Dangerous.

The bottom line - Fans of the Cut & Run series will love this latest installment. Abigail Roux delivered an amazing story and did a phenomenal job of writing it solo. Any concerns I had that the book would feel different... lacking somehow... were put to rest and if it felt different at all, it felt better - it flowed seamlessly. I suppose it's possible that has more to do with the storyline itself rather than Ms. Roux's writing, but I don't think so, and only time will tell. For now all that matters to me is that I loved this book from the first page to the last – devoured every single word and I so cannot wait for the next installment!

If you love romantic suspense and m/m stories but haven't yet tried this series... you're missing out on some amazing stuff. Do yourself a favor and wait no longer - read some of the reviews, grab the books and settle in for some great times.

My gratitude to netgalley.com and Dreamspinner Press for providing me with a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.   

Skin Deep by Pamela Clare

Skin Deep is a story that all of us die-hard I-Team fans have been waiting for!

Megan Hunter, Marc Hunter's baby sister, has been working hard to put her life back together after the horrific ordeal she went through years ago, and just as things are falling into place, when things are finally looking up, she gets a very unwelcome, very dangerous visitor from her past.

Nate West, a local rancher, has just delivered several cases of beef to a community shelter and as he's leaving he spots Megan, that sweet, beautiful woman he's noticed volunteering at the shelter... and she's in trouble! Being the kind of man he is, Nate steps in to kick ass and it turns out to be one of the best decisions he's ever made.

Wow, I really enjoyed this short story! Megan is all grown up, taking care of herself, moving on and not allowing herself to remain a victim. She has such strength, such compassion... I simply adore the woman she has become!

And Nate. *sigh* Nate West, a new character to the series, is all kinds of wonderful. A strong, hard working, honorable man... Nate is everything I love in a hero. He brings with him some emotional and physical scars, and this makes him all the more appealing. Apart they are wonderful, but when Nate and Megan come together they are perfect! And seeing sweet, adorable little Emily, Megan's daughter, was such a treat!

Skin Deep, the first installment of the I-Team After Hours series is a sweet, sexy story that gives our Megan the happily ever after she is so deserving of and adds another hot, alpha male to the cast of I-Team heroes!!

Bonus story! And if that's not enough, the extra little story at the end, Marc & Julian Make a Beer Run, is laugh out loud funny and an awesome revisit with my favorite team of RS heroes!!!

Let Me In by Callie Croix

 

Let Me In by Callie Croix is a short, very sexy story about allowing those you love to love you back, and learning to trust that they do, unconditionally.

Marine lieutenant Talia Barnett is home on leave for the Thanksgiving holiday, and the last thing she expected was to be met at the airport by Liam Brodie, her secret crush. Talia has had it bad for Liam almost since the first time she laid eyes on him, but skeletons in her closet, fears that her mother’s illness will scare him off, has had Talia keeping him at arm’s length, unwilling to risk their friendship should he learn the truth.

Liam knows that Talia’s hiding something. He doesn’t know what, but he’s done being pushed away. When he discovers her secret and learns the reasons for Talia’s emotional distance and having only a few days to work with, he pulls out all the stops and goes after the woman he’s wanted since the first time he met her.

I absolutely adored Liam in No Holds Barred where he helped his best friend Nathan give his fiancé, Caitlin, her threesome fantasy. When the weekened was over, Liam walked away and ever since then, I’ve been desperately hoping he would get a story of his own. Honestly, I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I was when I found his book on netgalley! Just as I fell for him then, I’ve fallen even harder now for this super sexy, devoted, romantic, grounded, dominant man - Liam really is the perfect hero.

Talia’s story is unique – or I should say, her mother’s story is unique. The depression and the way it manifested itself is heartbreaking and seeing how deeply it affected Talia made it tragic. Early on I was drawn to Talia and her devotion to her mother, but there came a point where her insecurities became annoying and just… too much. That said, the epilogue was very sweet and left me feeling contented with this happily ever after ending.

The bottom line - As always, Callie Croix delivers a sexually charged story with the perfect amount of romance. From the first page to the last, I sighed, smiled, fanned myself and just couldn’t put this book down. I’m so looking forward to more by this author!

Note: I feel I should mention that this story is labeled BDSM and while it’s hinted at, it never happens.

My thanks to netgalley.com and Carina Press for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Temptation & Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone

(No Spoilers)

Temptation & Twilight is the third and final book in the Brethren Guardians series and is filled with twists & turns, angst & heartache, passion & romance… it’s safe to say, this story has it all, and it’s delivered with so much sensuality that the entire experience feels like a dream.

From his very first words in Seduction & Scandal I’ve been captivated by Iain Sinclair, the man, the kilt and what’s not under it, the brogue that slips through when his guard is down… everything about him has attracted me. We’ve come to see him as an unrepentant rake, a self indulgent man who knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it, regardless of who gets hurt. But all that aside, finally getting to know the real Iain, the man who’s so self deprecatingly vulnerable that he dares not show that side of himself to anyone, not even his friends, I couldn’t help but fall hard for him.

We’ve also seen quite a bit of Elizabeth, sister to Adrian, Lord Sussex, in previous books, and yet never really gotten to know her. That all changes in this story as we’re allowed a deeper look into her sightless life, her fears, her dreams… and what an amazing woman she is. Though I knew she and Iain would one day have their own story, I never really felt them as a couple, but all those doubts are gone now and in my mind and heart, they are the perfect match.

Even though we finally learn the true identity of that purely evil being, Orpheus, and understand the true reasons why the Brethren Guardians became his target, I’m sorry to say that this story moved a bit slow for me, the plot never grabbing hold as it did in the previous books. It was Iain and Elizabeth who kept me coming back for more, waiting and watching as they put their pasts, their heartbreak and their mistrust behind him to move forward and find their happily ever after, one so richly deserved.

Temptation & Twilight was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of Harlequin/HQN in exchange for an honest review.

Colby Law by Debra Webb

Colby Law is the forty-eighth - yes, you read that right - book in the Colby Agency series, and a heartwarming, exciting, steamy story that begins a new case for the well known and respected private investigation firm.

Colby Investigator Lyle McCaleb is sent to Texas to investigate what the press had dubbed the Princess Killer case, a decades old serial killing spree that devastated a small Texas community. The crimes were made even more abhorrent because the victims were all young girls, and the evidence pointed to Clare and Rafe Barker, a well respected couple whose involvement further rocked their town. But twenty years later Clare is set free on appeal and information comes out suggesting that Rafe, who initially confessed to the crime, isn’t guilty, and that Clare might be the sole killer. Unfortunately that information comes from Rafe himself which makes the Colby Agency dubious at best. When Rafe tells them that his wife will go after three girls who went missing and were presumed dead – his own daughters – and asks the agency to keep the girls safe, they have no choice but to check in to the possibility that he’s telling the truth.

Enter Sadie Gilmore who seven years ago was Lyle’s ‘one-that-got-away’ – except it was Lyle who did the leaving. As he tries to protect Sadie without telling her who her parents might be, while also working to regain her trust, things begin to heat up between them, rekindling what had been left unfinished. Can Lyle keep his cool while fighting the feelings growing between them, or will he lose it and risk losing Sadie in the process?

Colby Law is my first taste of Debra Webb’s writing and I thoroughly enjoyed the way she told this tale. The story is interesting and definitely unique, and the characters are people I became invested in. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books making up this case!

3.5 of 5 stars

This ebook was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of Harlequin Intrigue in exchange for an honest review.   

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

He is a man of simple tastes - and complex pleasures...

Cameron Mackenzie is a man who loves only horses and women - in that order - or so his mistresses say.

Ainsley Douglas is a woman with a strong sense of justice and the desire to help others - even if that means sneaking around a rakish man's bedchamber.

Which is exactly where Cam finds her - six years after he caught her the first time. Only then, she convinced Cam she was seeking a liaison, but couldn't go through with it because of her husband. Now a widow, she's on a mission to retrieve letters that could prove embarrassing to the queen. Cam has no interest in Ainsley's subterfuge, but he vows to finish what they started those many years ago. One game, one kiss at a time, he plans to seduce her. And what starts out as a lusty diversion may break Cam's own rules - and heal the scars of a dark and damaging past...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron is the third book in the Highland Pleasures series and wow… what an amazing story!

Many people have asked me whose story I liked better; Cam’s or Ian’s? The thing about answering a question like this is that it’s like comparing apples and oranges, or in this case, the finest Kentucky Bourbon and hundred year old Scotch! Both are amazing in their own ways and depending on your mood, you’d choose one over the other. But when it’s all said and done, both warm you up, make you feel all tingly inside, and one finger just isn't enough ;)

Another way to describe the differences would be to say that when I need to hold someone, to soothe them, bring them peace, I’d choose Ian. If I’m in the mood to tame someone, to ease their burdens and bring comfort to their soul, I’d choose Cameron. And make no mistake about it, Cam is a man in desperate need of taming and comfort.

So let’s talk about Lord Cameron and his many sins. To say I adore this story is to say the least. From the first page to the last, I couldn’t get enough of Cameron and Ainsley. Where one is weak, the other is strong, where one is restlessness, the other is tranquility and because of this, together they are invincible…the perfect match… which they prove time and time again. Cameron’s wicked ways have us believing that he’s nothing but an insensitive rake, but we soon learn that there’s much more to Cam than meets the eye. His tortured soul, his vulnerability… but for a man with his reputation, his sins are not so many. That’s not to say he isn’t wicked, because he most assuredly is, and in the most delightfully scrumptious ways. And like all the Mackenzie brothers, he’s honorable, stubborn, demanding and goes commando under his wears a kilt.

I suppose, to be fair, I should mention Ainsley a bit more, too, but I won’t. Why? Because while I thought they were perfect together, it was Cameron Mackenzie who made this an amazing story.

So there you have it, my totally random ramblings about The Many Sins of Lord Cameron and it should go without saying that I’m dying to read Hart’s book next!        

5 of 5 stars!!!!

Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

“The quick and the dead are all the same.
Everyone’s just looking for home.” - LASSITER

(Spoilers are marked)

Hear ye! Hear ye!
Leteth it be known that on this day, March 31st, 2012, I solemnly vow that I shall never doubt the WARDen again!

So, now that that's out of the way, my thoughts on the book...
I wasn’t sure she could do it. Pffffft! Silly me.

I didn't think she could pull it off. *sigh* Whatever was I thinking?

And had I had actually considered skipping this book and not reading it at all? Yes, yes I had. *hangs head in shame*

In fact, I've spent the past year angsting and fretting and worried and crying and angry… and over what? That Wellsie would be replaced? That the whole ‘Wellsie can’t move on until you do…’ storyline would feel too contrived? That I'd have to sit through more Qhuay drama than any human being should be forced to endure? Yes, in fact, I worried about all of those things and much, much more, but like I told my Goodreads friends in the JR WARD BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD GROUP, never, ever, will I doubt the WARDen again!

Okay, let's get down to business...spoiler thoughts:

Tohr and Autumn and their story: I honestly wasn't sure what to think about No'One because we'd never been given enough of her character to form any real impressions. I'm thrilled to say that I think she's all kinds of awesome! I loved that she didn't try to hide behind her mistakes, that she came out, faced them, admitted to them, and did everything she could to make things right.

And Tohr... what a male of worth! Amazing, honorable, hot... But wow... I felt so much pain for him. The WARDen did a great job, I think, of showing that it was not easy for him to let go. That it tore him apart to even think about it. In this one book I was able to feel what he'd been living for the past years since Wellsie's death, and I needed to feel those emotions in order to buy this story.

This was a tough one for me, because I was very upset, very worried about Wellsie being replaced, worried that it would be a 'they were never meant to be' couple... but I think the WARDen did a fantastic job of handling a difficult subject and she did it with compassion, understanding, and a great deal of love and respect all the way around.

That's not to say that I'm not sad still. Even after I finished the book, I cried for Tohr and Wellsie, and their baby, Tohrment, son of Tohrment, and for all that had been taken from them. I'm truly not sure if I'll ever be okay with it, but it is what it is.

John Matthew and Xhex: I always thought it was a little easy for JM to accept Xhex as a fighter. It just seemed too simple for a bonded male to be able to send his mate out into the field and be okay with it. That's why their story in Lover Reborn, I felt, was perfect. We finally were able to see how JM really felt, and how his feelings affected Xhex. I really appreciated this glimpse into their relationship and am thrilled for the way things worked out for them.

The Band of Bastards: I can't say enough about them. I hated them, despised them, sat imagining all kinds of horrible ways to kill them, and loved every single minute of it! I can't wait to read more, especially about Xcor. He's the Bastard I'm most excited about!

Assail: Hot damn! I'm digging Assail... I wonder if he's part Sympath and that's how he and Xhex knew each other?! He's a male to watch!

Qhuinn and Blay: Over the years I've become ambivilant about their story. I had reached the point where I just wanted their book so it would end already... be put out of my misery! I thought if I had to spend even a moment more watching their crap I'd rather drink bleach!!!

Yes, well, that's all changed. In one scene of several paragraphs, Qhuinn took me from loathing them to adoring them, and I am so, so stoked that their book is next!!!!

Layla: I still say she's a female of worth who's just misunderstood.

The epilogue: You can't get much more Harlequin Presents than this without changing publishers.

What made this book all kinds of brilliant...

The entire message of this book is summed up by Qhuinn, in one of the best, most poignant scenes of any Black Dagger Brotherhood book ever, and had me throwing fist punches and shouting, YES!:

All that simple-and-easy ended as he turned around. In the library, through the open doors, he saw Blay and Saxton talking. And then his cousin stepped in and pulled Blay into his arms. As the pair of them stood together, body on body, Qhuinn took a deep breath and felt a little death of his own come to him.

He guessed this was how it ended for them.

Separate lives, separate futures.

Hard to think that they had started out inseparable—

Abruptly, Blay’s blue stare found his.

And what Qhuinn saw in it caused him to falter: Love shone out of that face, unadulterated love untempered by the shyness that was very much a part of his reserve.

Blay didn’t look away.

And for the first time… neither did Qhuinn.

He didn’t know whether the emotion was about his cousin—it probably was—but he’d take it: He stared right back at Blaylock and let everything he had in his heart show in his face.
He just let that shit fly.

Because there was a lesson in this Fade ceremony tonight: You could lose the ones you loved in the blink of an eye—and he was willing to bet, when it happened, you weren’t thinking about all the reasons that could have kept you apart. You thought of all the reasons that kept you together.

And, no doubt, how you wished you’d had more time. Even if you’d had centuries…

When you were young, you thought time was a burden, something to be discharged as fast as possible so you could be grown-up. But it was such a bait-n-switch—when you were an adult, you came to realize that minutes and hours were the single most precious thing you had.

No one got forever. And it was a fucking crime to waste what you were given.

Enough, Qhuinn thought. Enough with the excuses, and the avoidance, and the trying to be someone, anyone else.

Even if he got shanked, even if his precious little ego and his dumb-ass little heart got shattered into a million pieces, it was time to stop the bullshit.

It was time to be a male.

As Blay started to straighten, like a message had been received, Qhuinn thought, That’s right, buddy.

Our future has come.

AMEN Qhuinn!!! And the future doesn't get better than that!

One final thought...

And in closing, I feel the need to point out that I'm thrilled that I am not the one who has to change the sheets in the Brothers' rooms at the Mansion. You couldn't pay me enough.

Just sayin'....