I'm a really big fan of Rachel Grant's Evidence series - she does a nice job of balancing suspense and romance with really fun characters. In TinderboI'm a really big fan of Rachel Grant's Evidence series - she does a nice job of balancing suspense and romance with really fun characters. In Tinderbox she starts a new suspense series with a military and adventure emphasis. According to the author's note in this book, her husband is an archaeologist and has worked in Dijibouti, in the horn of Africa so she carries that knowledge to her books (although events and other places are obviously fiction).
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Tinderbox is energy. This book is fast-paced and fueled with action and a steamy romance. Our heroine Morgan has found the"paleoanthropological find of a lifetime." A fossil, nicknamed Linus, which Morgan thinks might be three million years old. On top of that, Linus was butchering something when he died, meaning they would see what food he was going to eat. This is a once in a lifetime discovery, and Morgan is thrilled. But things go south when a local warlord targets Morgan and her fossil. Rushing to a nearby military base for assistance, Morgan is stopped outside the base by two special forces, Green Berets. After forcing her out of her car, they realize there is a bomb underneath and rush to take cover. Her car explodes, and so does part of Linus. Devastated, Morgan takes her anger out on our hero.
Master Sergeant Pax Blanchard could care less that a fossil blew up, he is just happy to be alive alongside Morgan. After some meetings, it's determined that Morgan has mixed herself up with some dangerous people in Dijibouti, and Pax is assigned to be her security detail as Morgan finishes up her work.
Pax and Morgan have immediate chemistry - but Pax is professional and when his commander tells him to not get involved with her, he takes that order seriously. Pax has been in the Army for fourteen years and it's his life. It's his passion and his calling and he is not going to let a sexy woman take that away from him. But oh is it a struggle for him.
Although Morgan's dad is a General and she can't stand him or his military ways, she can't help but lust after Pax- and she makes it known. She is very forward with her attraction and very vocal about being denied his sexy body. She made me smile a lot. Morgan surprises him - while she is a very serious palaeontologist with a lot of brain smarts, she is also well rounded in other areas:
"Can you shoot a person if you have to?"
"Do you think these men had anything to do with the explosion?"
"Yes." He did, but he'd have said yes either way.
"Then I will blow the motherfuckers' squirrel-sized peckers off."
(and she does)
Morgan is used to dating the scholarly type. The attentive, caring, quiet guy that respects her. Pfffft...she is so over that now.
But sometimes she hated to admit she might be attracted to a guy who wasn't so insistent on being understanding. A guy who admitted to liking guns because it was scientifically proven that just touching one upped a guy's testosterone level.
Just once she wanted to date a guy who was as pro-testosterone as he was pro-estrogen.
She sees that in Pax - he is a gentleman but oh does he have that alpha side that she knows will boss her around when they get naked together. This type of attitude in a man she is craving also reflects her personality as well. She doesn't hold back when she talks, and her insults can be quite colorful:
"Why would I want balls?" She tried to get a grip on her anger as she adapted her favorite Betty White quote. "Have you ever seen a woman taken out with a simple kick to the crotch? Hell no, because a vagina can take a beating. I'd like to see you squeeze a baby out of your precious, fragile balls." You intolerant, jizz-headed ass.
It takes a while for these two to hook up due to their circumstances, but the sexual tension is done so well.
"You're a bad girl, Dr. Adler."
"You should probably spank me."
She felt the intensity of his gaze even though she couldn't see his eyes behind the sunglasses. "Do you like spanking?"
"It depends on the timing. As I'm coming - yes. Pretty much any other time - no."
"Ah, fuck," he whispered. "how the hell am I going to get that image out of my brain."
Pax also says things like this:
"You keep this up, and I end up fucking you, I will not apologize for crawling out of bed five minutes after I come. You got that? I will fuck you and walk away. No emotions."
"Works for me."
Sometimes that alpha attitude can work so well for me - and it does in this one. He never comes across as a jerk. Just an alpha military guy looking to do his job and maybe indulge in some lust. Plus in the long-run, he is a good guy and totally lets his emotions into play and treats Morgan very well. As they dance around each other and eventually find their way into bed together, their lusty feelings become deeper and they both truly come to care for the other.
Rachel Grant paints a nice picture of the setting in this one - the details never drag the story down and there is always exciting adventure just around the corner. I'm very much looking forward to book two.
I like military romance and really enjoyed Deadly Descent (among other military romances) from Kaylea Cross last year. Tactical Strike features our heI like military romance and really enjoyed Deadly Descent (among other military romances) from Kaylea Cross last year. Tactical Strike features our heroine, Gunship pilot Captain Candace Bradford who is very hard working, very serious and doesn’t have time for the lusty glances that Combat Controller, Staff Sergeant Ryan Wentworth throws her way. Part of the problem is that Candace is an officer, and Ryan is not, so pursuing a relationship with him would be off limits. And Candace as Ryan comes to find out, always follows the rules. But Ryan is stubborn, and super protective. He notices Candace is out flying missions all night and not sleeping well during the day and this bothers him. He wants to comfort her and make her feel better (if they are naked while comforting, he is fine with that too) When the enemy launches a surprise attack, Ryan is there to help Candace and others to safety.
What really shines in this book is the way Kaylea Cross writes the action. It’s so suspenseful and well done. There is a helicopter crash in Deadly Descent that I still remember to this day. And the action in Tactical Strike doesn’t’ disappoint. My frustration comes with the romance aspect. Ryan and Candace have a great attraction to each other to start the book, even though Candace pretends it doesn’t exist. There is nice sexual tension and even an actual romance scene that I enjoyed. But then these two get dragged off into battle and the romance gets put on a side burner. And it makes sense to have the romance put aside as these two fight for their lives. I would have been more angry had they been humping on the side of a mountain. But, I needed more pages in this story to let the focus return to the romance once everyone was safe. I feel like we get a little cheated in the romance department.
The villains are a continuation from book one and she continues to write them well. She makes them villains, yet she attaches emotions to them that make you not hate them completely. Again, had the book been longer, this could have been analyzed a little more.
If you like books with lots of action, this one and the first book in this series might be for you.
Angsty. I had to know how it would all play out. Sometimes heroine got on my nerves. I loved the hero's best friend. A few editing mistakes, but overaAngsty. I had to know how it would all play out. Sometimes heroine got on my nerves. I loved the hero's best friend. A few editing mistakes, but overall I recommend. As I write this review it's only $.99....more
Uncommon Pleasure contains two novellas, each with a different hero and heroine (and happily ever after) but the stories do intertwine.
Over the Edge
A Uncommon Pleasure contains two novellas, each with a different hero and heroine (and happily ever after) but the stories do intertwine.
Over the Edge
A word used a couple of times to describe Ty Hendricks, former marine now part time oil rigger and part time security specialist in this book is “contradiction.” Our heroine Lauren sees him as two people. The first time she sees him on the rig (she is a geologist who flies out to the rig for a few days) he is purposeful. He is aloof, a little cold, but gets the job done. She immediately knows after exchanging a few glances with him that once they get back to the mainland she can have him in her bed. Once she gets him there, she sees another side to him. A southern gentleman, pain hidden in those eyes of his, a slight vulnerability that he is too stubborn to fully share with her. Ty is used to using women and then dumping them after getting back on the mainland. But Lauren – while she doesn’t push for more than just sex (although she is quite curious about his life) he finds himself going back to her time and time again.
This book explores their relationship through a lot of sex, but there is more to it. She comes to know him and oh so slowly Ty realizes he needs to deal with the stuff that went down while in Afghanistan so he can have a chance at a future life. His buddies John (owner of security firm) and Sean (fellow Marine) kind of give him a wake up call of their own. For a 137 page story, I feel like we really get to know Ty and Lauren. Anne Calhoun has a way with describing a scene that just throws you into it. I could picture everything happening so vividly. A nice ending too – nothing rushed. No promises of forever, but a promise of what could be. I do have a niggle! But you have to read the second review first.
All on the Line
I actually liked this one more than I thought I would. I wasn’t a huge fan of Sean in the first story but I liked him here. This is a reunion romance of sorts, as Sean and Abby were hot and heavy, until Sean got deployed again, breaking up with her over email while over seas. Sean realized it was going to take all of his concentration to keep his men alive, and broke it off with Abby. Abby has a lot on her plate with a very sick father and trying to go to school. Sean’s abrupt email crushed her. But now he is home, and seeks her out. Abby agrees to a fling with just sex, since Sean may be deployed again, but we can all guess how that works out.
I felt the author does a nice job with reuniting these two and building a solid foundation for their relationship. Abby is so set on declaring her independence that she doesn’t want Sean to do anything for her – but being a romantic hero of course he doesn’t listen! He mows her lawn and fixes her car…and gives her many orgasms. Man those romantic heroes can do it all *wink*
Now to my niggle. It is kind of spoilery so I’m going to hide it. Read at your own risk.
(view spoiler)[In both books, towards the end there is a M/F/M menage. The first book is Ty, Lauren and Sean. This menage has a little bit more of an impact with Ty and Lauren’s relationship and didn’t mind it too much. But I was so surprised to see such a similar menage in book two (this one with Sean, Abby and a friend of Abby’s). The second menage felt very redundant and didn’t really feel like it was necessary to further Sean and Abby’s relationship – or even if they are doing it just for fun – it just didn’t seem to fit. Anne Calhoun had a novella out late last year that had a similar menage in it. What’s with the second dude coming into all of these relationships for one night? Just to add more of an erotic tone? It feels recycled. (hide spoiler)]
So there you go. Anne Calhoun has a great voice for these erotic stories despite my niggle. Looking forward to more.
This is the fourth book in Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knight Inc series, featuring ex-military guys who go on missions with the front of a motorcycle shThis is the fourth book in Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knight Inc series, featuring ex-military guys who go on missions with the front of a motorcycle shop. I’m not sure what to make of this book. I can’t deny it is entertaining, but it is also over the top silly in some places.
My biggest frustration is with our heroine Vanessa, who is a communications specialist. She has had a thing for Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux, but now Rock is missing. When the team gets a report that he has turned dirty charged with killing innocent people, the Black Ops crew doesn’t believe it. Because of a bowl that Rock has in his bedroom bought from a specialized vendor sold only in Santa Elana, the team goes down there with a hunch he is there (quite the hunch there). Vanessa decides to go off on her own to find him, and does. Rock is hiding deep in the jungle in a treehouse 40 feet off the ground. It is here I start to question Vanessa. I never once believed she is a communication specialist or that she should be working for a Black Ops team at all. She came across as lustily aroused by Rock, and not a professional about her job. Rock has the CIA hunting him down, which is uh..pretty serious. Vanessa goes screaming through the jungle when noises scare her and taking any opportunity to try to molest Rock. As I said earlier, there are parts that are entertaining..I found myself smiling or getting into the action. But it would quickly turn to frustration when Vanessa would scream “geez louise” for the 100th time.
So instead of Vanessa going in to bring Rock back to them, he has to be the one to save her. I wanted her to be stronger and more independent. Make it feel like she is actually an experienced Black Ops member. Everything is a little silly in this book. When the CIA puts some kind of optical bug on their safe house, the crew decides to put vibrators (sex toy vibrators) on the windows to make them vibrate to disable the bug. They are all giggling about it while their lives are at danger. Again – I’m a broken record – I think many can find this entertaining. I kind of did. But at times I needed the team to act professional or that they really could die that day.
In the past I think I’ve complained that there are not enough dirty sex scenes in this series, but that is definitely taken care of here. Rock is a naughty boy. While there are plenty of lusty sex scenes, I’m not sure if I actually believed in their true love. But hot scenes nonetheless.
Over the top, slightly silly black op romance book. I’m not sorry I read it, but I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one.
I really love this romantic suspense series by Laura Griffin. I think she does such a great job with not only the suspense part of the story (which usI really love this romantic suspense series by Laura Griffin. I think she does such a great job with not only the suspense part of the story (which usually has me holding my breath) but really well done character development as well. In her latest, she not only gives us a solid suspense story but the hero is a Navy SEAL.
Gage Brewer is a SEAL all the way down to his core. He loves it and lives for it. So when his girlfriend Kelsey gave him the ultimatum, leave the SEALs or leave me, he chose his brothers in the SEALs. Now Kelsey wasn’t necessarily being unreasonable. She was deeply in love with Gage. But he was stationed in California, traveling all over the world on super dangerous missions, and she works in a crime lab in Texas. Every day she would worry he wouldn’t make it back from his missions safely. It wore on her. She is also ready to settle and start a family, something she can’t picture doing with a SEAL.
When this book starts, they have been broken up for some time. Kelsey has moved on and was engaged to Blake, a FBI agent, but has broken it off since. (but she still keeps in contact with him). Kelsey is a forensic anthropologist, specializing in bone recovery. While on a dig in the Philippines, she discovers a skeleton and the DNA traces back to that of someone on the terrorist watch list. She meets with Blake, who works for the counterterrorist part of the FBI to see if she can assist. While at his apartment, someone comes in and murders him. Kelsey narrowly escapes out a bathroom window and goes on the run. When Gage hears she is missing, and her ex-fiancé is dead, he makes it his mission to find her and keep her safe. They go on the run together, trying to piece together the investigation as the bad guys continue to set them up.
Laura Griffin writes such engaging stories. I like this one a lot because Gage still loves Kelsey, he is just in a tough position with his career. He is such an alpha SEAL, that he can’t imagine a life not involved with them, but he can’t imagine a life without Kelsey too. He pushes her, and protects her and goes all SEAL-y on her. Yes, I’m pretty sure that is a word. His SEAL buddy Derek has a fun role in this book too which I really enjoyed.
Kelsey is a fun heroine who has a pretty awesome job – identifying anonymous bones. She of course still loves Gage, but can’t wait around for him anymore. But when they are forced together on the run, she can’t help but want him
“Why would I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?”
Gage turned into the parking lot of a cheap-looking motel and whipped into a space. “Because it’s like sex, only better.”
Kelsey bit her tongue. He was getting to her, and he knew it. It was the way he looked at her with those warm blue eyes. It was his low voice, his two-day beard. Just the sight of his muscled forearm propped on the steering wheel right now was giving her a bone-deep craving for something she knew she shouldn’t have.
Their romance develops at a nice pace and I like that the author doesn’t throw in sex scenes at random when these two are in great danger. She waits for them to only be in slight danger when they get it on. *wink*
I think Laura Griffin needs to write more SEAL hero books! But even if she doesn’t, I highly recommend this author and series. This one and the previous book, Twisted are my favorites, but each one is good and can be read as a stand alone.
Maybe not the most original plot, but damn sexy and erotic. I enjoy this author's voice. Easy, sexy read. Maybe not the most original plot, but damn sexy and erotic. I enjoy this author's voice. Easy, sexy read. ...more
I didn't like this one as much as the first book. Never felt a real connection between the h/h. Nice tension to start, but it got old. Supporting charI didn't like this one as much as the first book. Never felt a real connection between the h/h. Nice tension to start, but it got old. Supporting characters and story lines were not my favorite either.
Also bummed that after the suspenseful end to book one regarding Laura and Trent that their story wasn't next. (They are bk 3 though).
I liked this one, but not as much as the previous book. H/H were okay together - who I really liked was Vanessa and Rock. And I just saw Wild Bill andI liked this one, but not as much as the previous book. H/H were okay together - who I really liked was Vanessa and Rock. And I just saw Wild Bill and Eve get a book. Want that now. :)
Before I get into the review, let me start by saying how crazy and over the top Lisa Marie Rice books can be. I feel like I have to put that warning oBefore I get into the review, let me start by saying how crazy and over the top Lisa Marie Rice books can be. I feel like I have to put that warning out there if you are a LMR virgin. The characters are all super intelligent, super stealthy. They have millions of dollars of security and weapons and the most advanced technology ever. And when they fall in love, it becomes the most grand emotional, sexy relationship ever. I totally understand how some will read this book and just shake their head and say, no thank you. I find it fun and entertaining and wacky. Okay, maybe this one at the end is a little too wacky, but let me set it up.
Tom McEnroe, or ‘Mac’ was on a mission with his fellow Ghost Ops men set to destroy a lab they thought was building a bubonic plague weapon, when things go bad. He thinks his team is betrayed by his commanding officer Lucius Ward. At the end, only Mac, John and Nick escape. As the entire government thinks these three are now the enemy, they have to go off the grid to survive. They create their own little world, deep within a secret location, taking in other stragglers along the way that need refuge. They steal money from other bad organizations to fund their massive hidey-hole. (although they call it something much more technical. I enjoy a good hidey-hole).
Catherine Young is a neuro-scientist who specializes in dementia. She thinks she is helping to find a cure, but what her boss has not told her is that he is trying to develop the super soldier, and then build an army and go back to China to rule the world (simple goals really). One of the men she is working on is Lucius Ward aka Mac’s former team leader. She just thinks he is in the later stages of dementia. But all of a sudden she starts to receive images from him. Catherine has always been able to read people’s emotions by touching them, but Lucius is throwing her mental images. She feels compelled to go searching for this man named Mac, and in a trance, gets in her car which just happens to drive to the ultra-secret world where Mac lives. He thinks she is an enemy. But deep down Catherine knows she must break through his defenses and tell Mac that Lucius is alive, that he did not betray his team and that everyone is in danger!
First, I’m not a fan of character with telepathy. And in this book I feel like the rules of Catherine’s telepathy aren’t very solid. For the most part she can only read someone’s emotions by touching them. But she gets these blasts of super powers in this book that sometimes let her see images and at times even communicate telepathically with people. Like – when it is convenient. So I didn’t love that.
What I did like is this whole set-up. This book takes place about 10 years in the future (they have the iphone 15 – giggle snort). But Mac and his crew are alpha, top of the line security (Mac has a keyboard under the skin of his wrist) and are experts at everything. They live in this crazy dome of a world where everyone is thriving. It’s fun and entertaining. Like I said, if you start to nit-pick this book, you would be here all day.
Not only is the setting over the top fun, but the romance in this one is too. First of all, Mac is an ‘ugly’ hero – and oh how I love an ugly hero
He’d been born ugly, with big, irregular features. An opponent who’d had a boot knife and slashed his face open with it has scarred one side of his face, and then the Arka fire that had burned the other side of his face had taken care of the rest.
At first Mac thinks Catherine is the enemy, so there is much tightening of the jaw, and secret meetings with his men. But when Mac is convinced Catherine is genuine and she is telling the truth, there is literally a 180 degree turn and they go from enemies to completely in love. Mac isn’t used to women finding him attractive, they usually run away screaming. He finds peace and love with Catherine (all within 3 days). I would have liked to see this romance develop a little slower. It’s totally insta-love the first time Mac sticks his peen in Catherine.
He drew in a deep breath and felt her breasts and belly slide against him. He closed his eyes, then opened them. “I think we should talk, but I don’t think I can pull out. Just not an option.”
His dick had a mind of its own and nodded enthusiastically inside her.
Oh that silly dick.
Oh Christ. Mac pulled out just a little – a teeny bit because his dick definitely did not want to face the cold, cruel world outside Catherine’s body – then slid back in. Jesus. Tight. Very tight. Very, very tight.
Seriously, his dick steals the book.
So yes, totally over the top but fun. I have to take points off for the telepathic powers Catherine has and insta-love Mac and Catherine develop in three days. I also think much page time is spent with the villains and that bored me at some points. Otherwise a fun book and I can’t wait for Nick and Jon’s books to come out.
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