Gaming For Keeps by Seleste Delaney

Gaming For Keeps

Seleste Delaney

Entangled Publishing

June 10, 2013

5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Keeps-Entangled-After-ebook/dp/B00CK51J9Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374871856&sr=1-1&keywords=gaming+for+keeps

Only after inviting a girl that he met in an online MMORPG to meet him at a gaming convention does Cal Burrows learn there is danger afoot at the convention. As a spy, he has been enlisted to get hold of a code that a terrorist is sending through at the convention so they can find out what he’s up to.  He can only hope that her hesitation in accepting his invitation will convince her to stay home.

Penelope Holloway is drawn to the online persona of the man who invited her to the game convention. Her first relationship begun online and ended badly, and while she is hesitant, Pen not only is curious about her online friend but she has enjoyed going to the convention in the past. After a case of mistaken identity, she decides her friend is a jerk as well before accidentally meeting up with him in the bar and finding out later who he is. Except she never suspected he was a spy or that her life was going to be in danger at the convention.

Gaming For Keeps was a pure delight to read. The characters were likable (I always find the geek characters are people I would enjoy hanging out with). The pace was face, the sex was hot and the action kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re worried that the novella length won’t give you a full story, leave that worry at the door. This is the perfect length.

ARC provided by publisher for honest review.

Charming by Elliott James

Charming

Elliott James

Orbit

September 24, 2013

3.5 stars

John Charming is an outcast. He was raised as a knight Templar but he found himself hunted by them when it was discovered that he was part werewolf. After the knights killed Allison, his fiancée, he became a lower, always fighting the wolf inside. He never expected that his life would be turned upside down when Sig, a Valkyrie vampire hunter, walked into the bar he managed.

Sig is in a bad relationship but doesn’t have the heart to leave him as he is part of her team that hunts monsters. When she returns to the bar and finds John under attack from vampires, she steps in to save him and he ends up working with her team.

I really liked John and Sig. Their conflicts were realistic and worked within the perimeters of the story. Charming is the first in what I hope is a long series, and I do hope Sig returns to work with John. They really make a great team. There is no romanticizing the vampire element in this book, and the villains are written chillingly.

ARC provided by Netgalley for review.

http://www.amazon.com/Charming-Pax-Arcana-ebook/dp/B00BAXFFY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374811376&sr=8-1&keywords=elliott+james+charming

Gambling On Love

Gambling On Love

Nancy Fraser & Patti Shenberger

Entangled Scandalous

May 20, 2013

4 Stars

Jake McCade has been duped! Not only did the young man arranging transport north for a family of slaves trick him in to accepting half the money now and half upon arrival, when the young man is injured, it turns out he’s no man at all but a young woman.

Felicity Beaumont only wants to do what is right. Her father tricked the family into signing papers keeping them indentured even after slavery was abolished. Only her father caught up with her before they reached their destination and she and Jake must wed or he faces jail.

What a refreshing historical romance. Felicity is a smart woman who knows how to take care of herself, her man and others along with making her place in the town. Jake was not a jerk of a man, rather one that despite his reluctance to give his heart again, finds himself caring deeply for his woman and he supports her in all that she does.

The sex scenes are hot and believable because you can feel the growing affection between the couple. I’m looking forward to the next book by these two authors.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Love-Entangled-Scandalous-ebook/dp/B00CK51J9E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374025586&sr=8-2&keywords=gambling+on+love

Lone Ranger (2013)

Lone Ranger
2013
Armie Hammer, Johnny Depp

I normally don't do movie reviews but this is one of those rare times that I agree with critics. Ugh. The Lone Ranger had the potential to be good. There were some funny moments and lots of excitement. And lots of time dragging moments where I *think* the director/producers were going for an art film feel with symbolism and imagery. Unnecessary. I also feel they really dumbed down both characters for this movie. It could have still be humorous without both of them just being...stupid. This one, like One For The Money last year, I will not even pick up at the $5.00 bin at Wal-Mart. Too long, making it too much time I'll never get back.

CLOSE KNIT KILLER BY MAGGIE SEFTON

Close Knit Killer

Maggie Sefton

Berkley Prime Crime

June 4, 2013

Maggie Sefton's Kelly Flynn series never disappoints. I've had the pleasure of reading every book in the series and the main characters have all become close friends that I enjoy visiting with each year. Ms. Sefton provides enough clues and enough twists and turns that I can't figure out whodunnit very easily. After all of my years of reading mysteries and watching them on television, that isn’t easily done.

This book was purchased by me.http://www.amazon.com/Close-Knit-Killer-Knitting-Mystery/dp/0425258394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373589716&sr=8-1&keywords=close+knit+killer

SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows

Seal Of Honor

Tonya Burrows

Entangled Publishing

May 28, 2013

4 Stars

SEAL of Honor is book one in the HORNET series by Tonya Burrows.  Equally hot and exciting, there’s not a dull moment to be found in this book. Gabe Bristow is disgruntled and trying to figure out where to go with his life now that a car accident left him unfit for duty as a SEAL. Reluctantly he agrees to a private sector job in a unit that’s just starting up, and the team find themselves under a trial by fire when they are called in to rescue a hostage in Colombia.

The victim’s sister, Audrey Van Amee, is at her brother’s apartment in Colombia searching for clues herself when both Gabe’s team and the villains show up at the same time. Gabe and Audrey end up separated from his team and on the run from different guerilla factions.  The bullets fly as fast as the heat flashes up between Audrey and Gabe.

It was refreshing to have a heroine who was not military or law enforcement but managed to take care of herself and the hero as well. That’s not to say she didn’t make mistakes, but she and Gabe were pretty evenly split on taking care of one another. If you like your romances filled with action and suspense and surprise twists at the end, pick up SEAL of Honor.

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

http://www.amazon.com/SEAL-Honor-Hornet-Tonya-Burrows/dp/1620612585/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373416089&sr=8-2&keywords=seal+of+honor