Dalila crashes onto a hostile world, finding paradise in the arms of twin brothers. The men's government demands she choose, which warrior to mate and which will die.
Warning: Contains two deliciously sexy heroes, one determined woman, and hot sexing!
For more "Must Read" books and categories go to:
http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/must-reads/
There are some of these I definitely don't agree with and many additions that I think should be made for instance The Art of Racing In the Rain by Garth Stein and The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood series by Debra Anastasia.
What favorite "must reads" would you add to the categories?
Must Reads
"Someone made the comment that we read too many books for them to keep up with what they should be adding to the “to be read” list. I’ve taken that suggestion to heart and I bring to you the “Must Reads” list, according to me. I’m going to break these down into the following:
Enjoy!"
Paranormal / Urban Fantasy Stand Alone
The Vampire and the Virgin – Kerrelyn Sparks
Twice as Hot – Gena Showalter
Spell of the Highlander – Karen Marie Moning
Paranormal / Urban Fantasy Series
Black Dagger Brotherhood – JR Ward
Demonica Series – Larissa Ione
4 Horseman of the Apocalypse Series – Larissa Ione
Contemporary Stand Alone
Line of Scrimmage – Marie Force
Love At First Flight – Marie Force
Everyone Loves a Hero – Marie Force
Contemporary Series
Chicago Stars – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Fatal Series – Marie Force
Historical Stand Alone
Barely A Lady – Eileen Dryer
My Darling Caroline – Adele Ashworth
The Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
Historical Series
The Bridgerton Series – Julia Quinn
The Outlander Series – Diana Gabaldon
Erotica Stand Alone
Deeper – Megan Hart
Addicted to You – Bethany Kane
Tempted – Megan Hart
Erotica Series
The Sinner’s Series – Olivia Cunning
The Brown Sibilings Series – Lauren Dane
Diamond Girl (G-Man #1) by Andrea Smith was heavily promoted when it was released, and since that's not unusual I pretty much ignored it. Then the reviews began coming in, and since many of those were from some of my more favorite reviewers, I started to ignore it less.
http://www.nocturnereads.com/2013/04/review-giveaway-diamond-girl-by-andrea-smith.
html http://www.sweetspotbookblog.com/2013/04/diamond-girl-g-man-1-by-andrea-smith.html?zx=f2c4ea002fcaf966
http://readingpastmybedtime.net/2013/10/15/cover-reveal-night-moves-g-man-series-3-by-andrea-smith/
http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/review-diamond-girl-andrea-smith/
When I finally gave in and looked up the synopsis, I was intrigued enough to buy the book outright. I'm so glad that I did! Considering the name of the series, I wasn't surprised by the twist and I don't think most people would be, but it was so well executed I forgave the spoiler. It took me a good portion of the book to decide if I liked our leading man, but I was intrigued by the heroine. The sex appeal was steamy, but not overdone for the most part. I especially enjoyed the unusual aging of the players, so many books with this kind of plot would have gone to new adult. I think this was better. Way better.
Andrea Smith's review Apr 21, 13
(Review from the author)
"I absolutely loved writing this book. I have always wanted to do a story where some under appreciated, still 'naive' at mid-life heroine wakes up and smells the coffee. That is exactly what happened to Samantha Dennison. It is refreshing (at least to me) that sometimes a heroine can still be sexy and vital after sending her only child off to college and finally, discover her own sexuality and individuality.
Samantha was defined by those around her; those she took care of and strived to please: Jack, Lindsey, her parents. Finally, at age 35 she got the wake-up call and oh, what a call it was!
Who would have imagined the instant chemistry between Sammie and 'bad-boy' biker Slate? It was there and as much as Sammie was confused by it, Slate was infuriated by it. She was not his type of chick or was she?
Sure Slate had the omnipresent 'commitment' issues that is not so rare in this genre of book, but think about it. It's not so rare in reality either!
I hope those who haven't read 'Diamond Girl' will give it a read. For those who have and have taken time to rate and reciew: I thank you very much!"
Synopsis:
Thirty-five year old Samantha Dennison sends her only child off to college and finds herself generally feeling F-R-U-M-P-Y and lost. Her loveless marriage to 'the mannequin' has become intolerable; her daughter and best friend have both advised 'Sammie' to get a life of her own. Her husband has his own agenda which does not include her.
Sammie finally heeds their advice and takes pole-dancing lessons to get into shape and develop self-esteem, but it serves to do much more than that! The thrill of the dance and sexuality she discovers within herself is a potent mixture. She gets a part-time job as a dancer in an Indianapolis Gentleman's Club called Jewels. She becomes the dancer known as 'Diamond' and very quickly catches the attention of a 'bad-boy' biker named 'Slate'
Slate is the ultimate 'alpha' male; however there's a problem: he simply wants it to be about exclusive sex; Sammie wants and needs more from Slate. Sammie's certain she's embarked on a dangerous relationship with the hot biker and 'prospect' member of the notorious Outlaw Motorcycle Club. She soon finds out she's totally out of her league with Slate and the dangerous people he associates with in Indianapolis. Something big is brewing in Indy; and it's not about race cars!
'Diamond Girl' will keep the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end; this book has it all: passion, erotica, romance, danger and possibly more... much more.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
"I understand holes. This last year I've felt like one of those snowflakes we used to make in school. The ones where you fold the paper a certain way and then keep cutting and cutting until the paper is shredded. That's what I look like, a paper snowflake. And each hole has a name. And nobody, not you, not me, can fill the holes that someone else has left. All we can do is keep each other from falling in the holes and never coming out again."
Making Faces is a new adult romance written by Amy Harmon. I generally avoid this genre, but this one came so highly recommended by several book reviewers that I finally gave in and read it.
It was very very sweet, with a young love flavor. Inspirational in a way that the reader will carry away many encouraging words after reading it. And sad in a way that isn't just brushed off after you're done and it's back on the shelf. It's about heroes and living when it would be a lot easier not to.
There is no smut at all in the book, she's a pastor's daughter and he is all about wrestling, but their love story goes above simple smut and slap and tickle.
Synopsis:
Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore.
Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.
Halle Pumas #5
Panty Scale: 2
Synopsis:
Delayed gratification has its place. This wouldn't be it.
Gabriel Anderson has accepted a unique position in the shifter world. He's about to become a Hunter, one of the few trained and sanctioned to hunt down the rare rogue shifter dangerous to humans and shifters alike. There's one catch: until his training is complete, he must hold off on marking his mate. No problem...after all, she probably couldn't handle the sexual demands he dreams of making on her.
Her mate's apparent desertion devastates Sarah. And his friendship with another woman threatens the bond they should be sharing and building. Maybe flirting with another man will make him sit up and take notice--and finally win Gabe's heart. It works. Almost too well.
One touch of another man's hand on Sarah's tempting body brings every ounce of Gabe's possessiveness roaring to the surface. He wastes no time making his erotic dreams of dominating her a reality--whether she's ready for it or not.
If she's not, the only place he'll ever have her is in his dreams...
As much as I love romance novels, especially the smutty ones, I've never been tempted to be silly over the men the graced their pages, or their covers. Though, if I were to be tempted, I think the men of the Dream Man series would probably tempt me the most.
Law Man is book 3 in the series. Mitch Lawson has appeared in each book since the beginning, and has always been represented as a really good guy. How can you not route for a sexy, good guy to find a women of his own? I have since the very beginning, and book 3 is his story. I was happy to see that he found someone that fit him, though no one could have predicted the handful that came with her.
The women that float through from book to book also keep bringing me back to this story. Mostly it's Elvira, but she just wouldn't be the same without the others. She is just so unrepentantly nosey while at the same time loyal, wise and cunning that you can't help but love her.
Panty Scale: 2 (disappointing, I would have liked to have seen more sexiness with the law man.)
"I was... I was... made for you?"
"I'm a cop for a reason, honey."
"So you were made to save me," I guessed, not sure I liked that.
"No, I was made to protect you, and you were made in a way that it would always be worth the effort."
Synopsis:
Sweet, shy Mara Hanover is in love with her neighbor. For four years, she has secretly watched her dream man from afar. Handsome police detective Mitch Lawson is way out of her league. She's a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, and there's no way a guy like Mitch would want anything to do with her. But when Mara has a leaky faucet that she can't fix, it's Mitch who comes to her rescue.
Mitch has been eyeing his beautiful neighbor for a long time. He jumps at the chance to help her, and soon their formerly platonic relationship gets very hot and heavy. But when Mara gets a disturbing phone call from her cousin's kids, she gets pulled back into the life she's tried so hard to leave behind. Can the hot law man convince Mara to let go of her past-and build a future with him?
If you've never read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein you're missing out on one of the best books of our generation. Now is the time to indulge. Young or old, man or woman, this book is for everyone. It isn't a story about a dog, or about racing. It's a story about love, about living, about surviving the hard stuff, the stuff that hurts so badly that surviving isn't what you're sure you want to do. Its about being a better person. It isn't all love and light inspiration, though it's that too, it's ugly and messy and hard, just like life. Just like love.
Synopsis:
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.
Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through.
"A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it."
A very low key romantic suspense perfect for those days where even a lot drama within he pages of a book is too much. The plotline is unique and fun, our heroine is brilliant but a little dim, our leading man is sexy but predictably world weary and our evil villain is a genius but not what he is assumed to be. Who can ask for more?
Actually me. I hate loose ends in a story and Prototype left one homocide investigator dangling without answers. Just enough the bother the finicky reader.
Panty Scale: 1 (more insinuation than smut)
Synopsis:
Angelique Hunter works for a cutting edge robotics company programming and designing some of the most lifelike robots in the world. Her latest accomplishment is a robot created in her own image. A perfect replica of herself down to the smallest detail. Her only regret is that her invention is being sold exclusively for personal entertainment. Everything changes the day she discovers her skills have been used to build a killing machine. Now she's running for her life, pretending to be one of her high-tech creations, and praying that no one discovers her secret.
For all that there were a reasonable amount of pages (291), it didn't feel like the characters developed much personality along the way. It might be just it's the first book in the series and the author is laying the ground work, but as it was I found it difficult to care about any of them. Except maybe the monkey. To complete the feeling of disappointment was also that the story just stopped. Not a cliffhanger exactly, it almost felt like a printer running out of ink. It didn't make any sense to end it there in that way, and it certainly didn't leave me looking forward to the next book.
What did strike me was the secondary foundation of a brother and sister that grow up with a mother that is mentally ill. An insanity that steals their childhoods and subjects them to torturous, unnecessary medical care and the trauma of hiding, being unable to trust anyone, and waiting for that parent to completely crack. who do these kids grow up to be? What drives them in their adult lives? How do they get past being broken and find their adult selves? I don't know how much the author will explore and expand on this line, but it is the one thing that might make me come back for #2.
Panty Scale: 2
Synopsis:
Morgan Wolf is a complicated man living an uncomplicated life on a mega yacht he doesn't own. He lets women believe what they think they see. It's easier that way. No woman would want the truth he's never shared.
Lara Lamb is sailing away from what she thought she wanted. Because she wanted the wrong things and always for the wrong reason.
Lara sees Morgan for what he is: a rich, shallow Peter Pan who happens to have a cute monkey. Trouble is she's only right about the monkey.
She's everything Morgan never wanted. She makes the easy way look like the coward's way. Ready to take the chance, Morgan struggles with how to let Lara closer than anyone's ever been. Will his unspeakable wounds be too deep for her to bear?
This is a full length (50,000 words) novel that can be read as a standalone or continued with Wrecked (Part 2) and Rescued (Part 3).
*This is adult contemporary romance with scenes and language aimed at a mature audience.*
Out of all the shifters I like the bears the best and the Halle Shifters series lets me play out that latent Teddy Bear love with a good dose of sexy without it being scarey weird.
Bear Naked seemed like a more involved and complete story than the first two books. We're starting to see the prophecy play out and all the pieces moving into place. It was good but I can't keep from wondering who's story is next and how long it will take before it's here?
Synopsis:
To win a frightened heart, you have to bare your own.
Any woman would be eager to be Ryan Williams’s mate. Any woman but Glory Walsh. The sexy bear shifter is beautiful, strong and persistent, she’ll give him that. But Glory’s past taught her one simple truth: people leave. She can’t get past the fact he left her once before. Okay, so he had a good reason, and he did come back. Try convincing her emotions.
When Glory finally agrees to a date, Ryan feels like shouting hallelujah. He only left his mate to hunt down the man who’d shot her, but convincing the stubborn woman she has a permanent place at his side is tougher than he thought.
Their date takes a turn for the bizarre when Glory thanks Ryan for the series of romantic gifts—gifts Ryan never sent. It seems her past is coming back to bite her, and before it has a chance to sink its teeth in and tear her out of his life, Ryan will have to bare it all, right down to his soul, to protect the woman he loves. Even from herself.
Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, a blue-haired heroine, and a hero who isn’t afraid to get all kinds of naked.
Amelia Ryan fled Earth’s fanatically religious government to live quietly among the aliens of Plasius. Her life of peace shatters when a three-man clan from the planet Kalquor kidnaps her and holds her prisoner.
With their people poised on the verge of extinction, the Kalquorians are determined to have Amelia for their mate. Amelia is equally determined to escape. But when her body thrills to the ruthless domination of her captors, she finds herself surrendering to desires she never imagined possible.
RATING: Carnal/Erotica—mild BDSM. Captive situation/forced seduction. Multiple sexual partners. Retrospective MOM and rape of the heroine--not by the hero
