Review: Cria by Suzanne Rock

Title:  Cria
Author:  Suzanne Rock
Series:  None
Released:  May 2010
Genre:  Paranormal, Erotic Romance
How I Got It:  Ebook from Dark Diva Reviews 

*Original review posted at Dark Diva Reviews

Book Summary

Deep in the heart of the Amazon Jungle, an ancient breeding race begins… Ever since she was jilted by her lover, Aleta had been subjected to humiliation by her Jaguarundi tribe. Not anymore. She is determined to emerge from her final Cria unmated, and finally be free of tribal traditions and her overbearing father. Aleta has plans -- bigger plans than her father’s desire to see her marked by some oafish warrior in an outdated breeding competition. After the Cria she’ll move to the city and start fresh, leaving her clan -- and her broken heart -- behind. Unfortunately, the past is unwilling to let her go. Forced to abandon Aleta when he went into exile, Luiz knows that this Cria will be his last chance to reclaim what is rightfully his. When a surprise encounter doesn’t go exactly as planned, he realizes it will take more than a little seduction for Aleta to forgive the sins of the past. The race is on, and the battle of wills has begun. Everyone knows that in the Cria anything can happen, and with the stakes this high, all bets are off.

My Thoughts
Suzanne Rock is one author that does a great job of steaming up pages without a forced feeling. Cria is my second novella that I have read by this author and at this point, I love everything that I have read.  The only complaint that I have is that the story was too short!  I would love to sink my claws into one of her full length reads and fan myself as her characters take their time getting to know one another. 

While Cria was a quick read, it did not disappoint me in any way.   Cria’s plot was well written and the story was easy to follow.  The writing was so vivid that you could not help but get wrapped up in the main character’s emotions. The chemistry between Aleta and Luiz oozed off the page.  They were both strong alpha like characters that needed each other to feel complete.  Their romance was chaotic because of past betrayals and misunderstandings and their attraction was passionate and unavoidable because they were true soul mates.

My Rating    I give Cria four flowers of love.  While, it didn't earn a place on my fav bookshelf,  Suzanne Rock is now one of my fav authors.  This book is definitely a super hot read.
Read an excerpt here

To Be Read Tuesdays

Here are the books that are next on my TBR.   

Gwen's psychic abilities first make her an outsider among the werewolves. Then they make her a slave. Forced to use her power to help a deranged werewolf seek vengeance, she gives up on her dream of ever being accepted and loved. That is, until Nico and Tony are thrown into her cell. Her attraction to the Kyron Pack brothers is immediate and overwhelming. As she submits to the physical attraction, old wounds heal and her powers strengthen. The brothers think she can save them, but to do so would require more than just physical intimacy, and would reveal a secret too dark and horrifying to share.

When Nico and Tony use their lust to help their battered mate, buried memories rise to the surface, and jealousy threatens to destroy the fragile wolf in their care. As each of them bonds to Gwen, they begin to withdraw from each other. Now they must heal their inner scars and forgive the past if they ever hope save Gwen and escape the Boardwalk alive.

Zora has lived the past thirteen years in an anesthetized state. She logs long hours at work and takes sleeping pills at night, helping her to keep insanity at bay and the howling of wolves from her dreams. But memories of her family, slaughtered by a pack in Montana, haunt her. One night, her troubled dreams are interrupted by a man who urges Zora to return home—and finds an erotically stirring way in which to entice her to do his bidding.

Vaughn is a vampire. He’s read Zora’s thoughts for years, making his desire for her nearly unbearable, especially when she begins to fantasize about him. Vaughn responds in reality, but can his mind-blowing orgasms help Zora call forth the mystical power buried within her? Will their lust be a distraction or will it help them defeat the pack?

Journey to the very edge of honor, loyalty . . . and love

During China’s infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury, yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding.

Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for a defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior…

Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li’s innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her – which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted….

It is 1498, the dawn of the Renaissance, and Venice teems with rumors about an ancient book that holds the secret to unimaginable power. It is an alchemist's dream, with recipes for gold, immortality, and undying love. But while those who seek the book will stop at nothing to get it, those who know will die to protect it.

As a storm of intrigue and desire circles the republic that grew from the sea, Luciano, a penniless orphan with a quick wit and an even faster hand, is plucked up by an illustrious chef and hired, for reasons he cannot yet begin to understand, as an apprentice in the palace kitchen. There, in the lavish home of the most powerful man in Venice, he is initiated into the chef's rich and aromatic world, with all its seductive ingredients and secrets. It is not long before Luciano is caught up in the madness. After he witnesses a shocking murder in the Palace dining room, he realizes that nothing is as it seems and that no one can be trusted. Armed with a precocious mind and an insatiable curiosity, Luciano embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. What he discovers will swing open the shutters of his mind, inflame his deepest desires, and leave an indelible mark on his soul.

Brian Weller is a haunted man. It's been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian's life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Diva Mail(1)

Okay, so I've been having a love affair with my mail man.  Why, because he's been bringing me stuff without me having to threaten him.  We've had unpleasant words in the past, but I think he understands that I own him and if I don't get my books, there will be hell to pay.

Anyhoo, everyone has the IMM (In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren) meme going on on their blogs, so I figured I'd do one too.  But oh course, I had to put my own little twist on it.  So, I will call mine Diva Mail.  

My Diva Mail will consist of print and ebooks that I get for review, books or swag won in a contest, or just swag that I receive in the mail.

Here's what I've gotten in the last two weeks .

For Review

• The Mermaid's Pendant by Leann Reilly (Pump Up Your Book Tours)
• A Note From An Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker (Pump Up Your Book Tours)
• Mieradome (ARC) by Kate O'Hegarty (author)

• Cria (ebook) by Suzanne Rock (Dark Diva Reviews)
• Dark Deception (ebook) by Suzanne Rock ( CK2S Kwips and Kritiques)
• Where The Rain Is Made (ebook) by Keta Diablo (author)
• The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone (ebook) by T. L. Clarke (author)
• Alien 2 (ebook) by Eve Langlais (author)

Won

• Sex Magick (ebook) by Laura Stamps (Twitter contest)

Swag From Authors

• Book Marks, Postcards, and charm from Jeannie Lin (Butterfly Swords)
• Cover flat from Moira Rogers (Undertow,Crux)

Sexy Saturday

Book Blogger Hop and Follow My Book Blog Friday

I was out of pocket with my blog hopping last week, but I won't be tardy for this week's blog party.  If you stop by and visit me, please make sure to comment.  Also, don't forget to check out my Contest link to see what's up for grabs during the final days of my Diva Day Giveaways.

Book Blogger Hop With Jenn @ Crazy For Books
The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that they may be missing out on!  This weekly book party is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, visit Crazy For Books to grab the logo, then post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs  that are posted in the Linky list.

Follow My Book Blog Friday with Parajunkee
To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host Parajunkee and anyone else on the list that you want.

• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky Thing.
• Grab the button and make a post so that anyone visiting can comment.
• If someone comments and follows you, don't forget to comment and follow back.

New To Me Blogs I've Found This Week

• Wicked.Sexy.Books.

To Be Read Tuesdays

It's Tuesday again and time for another look at my To Be Read list.  I swear, I think I'm having a smut craving because a lot of my books are erotica. Thank you, Twitter Friends (TFFs) for leading my reading into that direction.  Honestly, I have been reading some pretty tame books so I'm excited to get to some smexy reading. So here's my week's reading.

1. Dark Deception by Suzanne Rock
2. Down On The Boardwalk by Suzanne Rock
3. Where The Rain Is Made by Keta Diablo
4. Sex Magick by Laura Stamps
5. The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone by T. L. Clarke
6. Myself and I by Earl Sewell
7. The Spurned Viscountess by Shelley Munro
8. The Promise by Brenda Joyce
9. Tracker's Sin by Sarah McCarty
10. Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

Review: A Rogue's Pleasure by Hope Tarr

Title:  A Rogue's Pleasure
Author:  Hope Tarr
Series:  None
Released:  August 16, 2010 (originally released in 2000)
Genre:  Historical Romance
How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary:
Miss Chelsea Bellamy is desperate

Her beloved brother is being held for ransom! Impoverished after the deaths of her parents, Chelsea doesn't have five shillings, never mind the five hundred pounds the kidnappers are demanding. With no one to turn to, she resorts to highway robbery to raise the sum.

Lord Anthony Grenville is bored

Viscount Montrose's coach is overtaken by a highwayman—who turns out to be no man at all! Anthony hasn't been this intrigued by anything, or anyone, since his return from the war. And when he catches the flame-haired thief breaking into his London house to further fill her coffers, he comes up with a plan to rescue her brother—and resolves to seduce her into his bed!

Their passion is mutual

Chelsea accepts Anthony's aid, but she'll never become his mistress—even if the thought of it fills her veins with liquid fire...

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Hope Tarr and I love it.  I haven't read a lot of historical romances, but this book is making me rethink that choice.

The romance between Chelsea and Anthony was pure drama and funny as hell.  I was rooting for Chelsea to have a HEA with him even though he didn't really deserve her.

Chelsea was a very likeable character.  She was feisty at times and did what she felt was necessary to survive.  Other times she was very naive and got caught up in situations that she should have seen coming.  I hated the fact that she felt like she had no one she thought she could depend on to take care of her.    And Anthony certainly wanted to take care of her, just not in the way she really needed him to.

Despite his rakish ways, I loved Anthony.  I wanted to hate him so bad, because he was so full of himself.  He treated women like playthings and plotted to get keep everything in his favor.  He even got pissy when his so called "services" were rejected.  I was glad when he did the right thing and redeemed himself.  Although I do not approve of his methods (looking the other way), he did a good job of worming his way into Chelsea's heart.

My Rating:
I give the book five flowers of love because it sucked me in from the beginning.  I enjoyed it and could not put it down.  It's funny, romantic, and involves a crude but sexy manwhore.  This book is a new fav for the bookshelf because I will want to read it over and over.

Read an excerpt

Review: Love Remains by Kaye Dacus

Title:  Love Remains

Author:  Kaye Dacus

Series:  The Matchmakers, Book #1

Published:  August 1, 2010

Genre:  Romance

How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary

Nashville native Bobby Patterson has just returned home after many years away to take a position with the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. His new job: lead a task force investigating potential real estate fraud connected with the Middle Tennessee Historic Preservation Commission.   

Zarah Mitchell, who’s worked at the Commission for more than a decade, is about to face a piece of history that could ruin the life she’s built in Nashville: Bobby Patterson—her first love and the reason her father kicked her out fourteen years ago. 

When Bobby realizes Zarah is part of his investigation, he is tempted to use his grandmother’s not-so-subtle setups as a way to learn if Zarah is involved in the fraud. Zarah, at her grandmother’s suggestion, tries to put the pain from the past aside to see if any love remains between her and Bobby. But when she learns he’s been investigating her, will she be be able to forgive him a second time?

My Thoughts

After reading the book summary, I had high hopes for this book.  How cute would it be for a couple of southern grannies sitting around drinking tea and plotting up ways to marry off their single grandchildren?  Crazy, right?  I still thought it would be a different twist to my regular romance reads.

Love Remains is the first book in The Matchmakers series and the first book that I've read by Kaye Dacus.  I tried to get into it, but it did not hold my attention well.  Sure there were parts that I enjoyed, but I found myself skipping ahead a few pages just to get to the good parts.

I did like Zarah and Bobby.  I thought they made a great couple and loved that they were getting a second chance at a HEA.  Their romance was sweet but it was drawn out a little bit too much for me.  

My Rating

I give this book two flowers of love.  This is a library read for me.  Like I said, this was the first book that I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be my last.  I guess maybe I was looking for more crazy granny shenanigans. That probably would have made the book a little better.  

I do see potential in this series.  I'm still interested to see  how the other grannies will pull off their matchmaking so I will be picking up book two, which will come out in May 2011.

Review: Tempting The Enemy By Dee Tenorio

Title:  Tempting The Enemy
Author:  Dee Tenorio
Series: None
Published:  June 14, 2010
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley


Book Summary
The man of her dreams...or her worst nightmare. Only one can win her soul.


Detective Pale Rysen, an Alpha, is determined to secretly rebuild the Wolf packs from the ashes of genocide. So when a killer starts picking off young females looking for sanctuary, it’s his job to protect them. Forced to work with a hated enemy, he fears his cover is about to be blown.


Jade-Scarlet’s membership in the powerful Order of the Sibile has always been controversial. A half-wolf, Jade’s unstable psychic powers are a constant disappointment to her mercenary handlers. When her oracle commands her to work with Pale, Jade sets out to prove herself...even if it means challenging the enigmatic shifter.


Yet Pale triggers more than her curiosity. He sends her into Heat, which could mean losing control of her gifts—something she can’t allow. As the number of victims rise, so does the danger. A murderous darkness wants them both dead. But even if they stop the killer, how long can they fight each other?


My Thoughts
This was my first read by Dee Tenorio and I was pleasantly surprised with it. If I have to chose one thing that I like about this book, it would be Pale.

Pale is a true alpha male.  I loved the fact that he acted the part, but didn't broadcast it to everyone and expect them to bow down to him.  And while you could tell that his temper was always thin as wind, he always managed to keep himself in check.  He especially kept himself together when dealing with his mate, Jade.

Jade was a likeable character.  She was a strong woman and could hold her own if she needed to.  She did have periods where I wanted to smack her.  I mean who complains when they've got someone as hot as Pale all but drooling over them?  No one.

The fact that those two were made for each other is an understatement.  They are both from different walks of life, but they still seemed to fit together perfectly as if nothing else mattered.

At times it was so frustrating to see them fight their attraction tooth and nail, but in the end, they more than made up for it.

I also liked the mystery that was presented in this book.  The killer's identity was a wonderful twist.  I thought I saw the killer' identity a mile away, but was totally wrong.  I love it when an author keeps me guessing.

My Rating
Tempting The Enemy is a good quick read.  If you love Alpha males, please don't miss this one.  I give it three flowers of love because I wanted more!

Read an excerpt



1/2

Series Review: The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa

Author:  Julie Kagawa
Genre:  Fantasy, YA
How I Got It:  ARC ebooks from Net Galley

Book Summaries:

Title:  The Iron King
Series: Iron Fey Series, Book #1
Released:  February 1, 2010

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Read an excerpt 

Title:  Winter's Passage
Series:  Iron Fey Series, Novella
Released:  June 1, 2010

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

Title:  The Iron Daughter
Series:  The Iron Fey, Book #2
Released:  August 1, 2010

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Read an excerpt 

My Thoughts

Oh great, another series for me to obsess over.  I don't read a lot of YA because the characters are usually young and they haven't developed into the kick ass heroes and heroines that I like to read about so they don't hold my attention very well.   But every now and then I run across one that has just enough action and romance to make it worth my while.   

In the Iron Fey Series, Julie Kagawa has taken well known characters and given them new life.  Her vivid imagination had me reading all three books back to back.  The books are written so wonderfully that you cannot stop reading until the last page has been turned.  Then you whine for more.

I didn't want to review each books separately, so I just decided to do one big review.  To tell the truth, I can't tell where one book stopped and the other began.  In my mind, all three books ran together as one big story.

At times I felt like I was reading a cross between A Midnight Summer's Dream and Alice In Wonderland  with a little bit of The Matrix sprinkled in.  The series was a fun read.  It had crazy characters, romance, and plenty of action.

I liked Meghan.  She was a little bratty at times, but she developed into a pretty good character.  Once she found out who she was, she did what was necessary to protect herself and those that she cared about.

Puck I could have done without.  He annoyed me from start to finish.  True he helped Meghan as much as he could but I still felt that if he hadn't been such a prankster about everything, her journey would not have been so complicated.

As soon as Ash stepped on the scene, it was all over.  Bad boy or not, I was rooting for him to get the girl, no matter what evil he'd done or did to get her.  He may have been the enemy and whatnot, but it's just something about bad boys that make me swoon.  His character did a complete turnaround which made me love him even more.

Grimalkin and Iron Horse were my favorite characters.  Grimalkin was super selfish and charged for every favor he did, but always came through in the end.  I'm still wondering what he had to gain from all the help he gave because he sure didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart.
Iron Horse was a complete surprise.  He was the enemy, then the friend.  I didn't know whether to trust or root for him to go to that big scrap yard in the sky.

My Rating

I give the series five flowers of love.  I enjoyed the books and would recommend them.  I am anxiously awaiting the next installment, Iron Queen, which is due out in February 2011 (sad face).