Mischa Blake needs the relaxation of the Blake brothers’ weekly poker games now more than ever as he feels the pressure of his responsibilities as a parent, partner, and student multiplying. When one of his siblings proposes reviving their game of Truth or Dare, Mischa revolts. Instead, they all agree to share a truth, and Mischa has to decide how much of his domestic situation to share with his family.

The frantic pace of life is overwhelming, and Mischa has begun to let things slide. With the holidays just around the corner, he figures his current situation is a temporary thing. When he misses one of his son’s soccer games that Donovan left work early to attend, time runs out.

Upset by the hurt in their son’s eyes, Donovan decides that something must be done. He’s worried that he’s pushed Mischa into doing things at the wrong time, pushed his dreams on his young lover, just pushed too hard for too much in general.

In a desperate attempt to get Mischa to think about what he wants instead of what Donovan wants, Donovan issues an ultimatum. He sends Mischa away with orders to think about his priorities.

Truth or Dare is one of my favorite series that features m/m romance; the stories are the epitome of what romance is. The characters are compelling and full of depth, while still having flaws that shows that they deserve to be loved too, no matter what sex they are.

I have to admit that Mischa and Donovan’s story in the series has always been my favorite so I was delighted to get a Christmas short story featuring the couple (I know it’s almost June). Mischa showed up on Donovan’s door step answering a job ad, one that he was not qualified for I might add and Donovan took a chance on him and love. Now they have been together for a while and they have settled into a routine but things are far from perfect.

Both of the guys work too hard and things are not good at home. Donovan spends too much time working because he can’t tell his boss no and Mischa is overloading himself to finish school this semester. Their home is neglected but worse than that, they are neglecting each other. Donovan is afraid Mischa is missing out on his youth and decides to set him free, at least for the weekend; if he comes back he’s his to keep – right?

It takes an unfortunate incident for them to realize that they both need to make some changes in their lives and relationship if they are going to make it work. Donovan has to realize that this isn’t the 1960’s and that it’s ok for Mischa to help with the household finances. Mischa needs to quit holding everything in and talk to Donovan when they have issues, not run and hide from the problem because it only gets worse.

Even though this was a short story, it didn’t lack any in content; we got to see the other Blake brother’s that we have grown to love throughout the series. The author is killing me because he left a teaser at the end of the story and I am ready for the next book RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Overall I loved Donovan’s Deal and give it 4 Flaming Hearts. 

Voodoo for Two #2

Determined to marry the most eligible bachelor in the parish to save her family, Lucie LeBieu turns a “love bug” loose to cast its Voodoo spell. What she doesn’t count on is hitting two targets—the golden boy congressional candidate and her Cajun-hot ex. To set things right, she must undo the spell before she falls into bed—and back in love—with a certain down and dirty heartbreakin’ cop or breaks another man’s heart.

Undercover investigator Ben Boyette is back in Louisiana on special assignment when he runs across his old flame, brewing up trouble as usual. But when hometown threats turn deadly, Lucie’s life is on the line. Determined to protect both her and his politician assignment from falling victim to a murderer, Ben finds that he’s the one who’s falling hard for the irresistible bayou temptress.

Lucie gave up her dream seven years ago when she broke up with Ben Boyette so he would follow his.  Lucie is overwhelmed, looking for a way to save her grandmother’s house and get out of the bayou and her heritage may be just the answer.  The only problem, every time she has tried to use voodoo in the past, it has backfired and caused more trouble than good.  A simple love spell is the answer to her problems; she just hopes it will work this one time.

I was pulled into this story right from the beginning.  The characters are interesting and funny and I couldn’t wait to see how the story was going to end.  I loved Lucie’s from the start, she has a good heart and tries to do the right thing but she just goes about it wrong.  She sees Eric as the answer to all her problems but the more she is around him, the more she realizes that what she is doing is wrong.  She and Ben have a history that just won’t go away and neither will he.  In the end she does the right thing for everyone, including herself and everything works out.

Ben and Eric have been friends for a long time and now Ben has returned home to help protect Eric from the crazy stalker following him.  The only problem, how can he protect Eric when he can’t even protect his own heart?  He knows that he is playing with fire with Lucie but he just can’t seem to stay away from her.  Eric has also fallen hard for her, which has put a strain on Ben’s friendship with him.  After several near misses on Eric and Lucie’s life, Ben is even more determined to have her again if he can just convince her.

This story was full of humor and comedy; it had me laughing at Lucie’s antics trying to find that ladybug.  She got herself into some really sticky situations and Ben always seemed to be the one to rescue her, even though she thought Eric was her knight in shining armor.  I have to admit in the romance triangle between Ben, Eric and Lucie; I was rooting for Ben and Lucie.  Eric is a good guy but he just didn’t seem the right person for Lucie.  The intrigue was always in the background but it was important to the story and kept it interesting.  Overall it all worked well together to make a wonderful story.

Overall I enjoyed this story very much and have even picked up the first book in the series.  I give Voodoo for Two 4 Flaming Hearts. 

Foreplay – The Zodiac Book 1 by Tammy Valentine

Foreplay starts our journey through the Zodiac with Izzy and her friends.  When Izzy left to meet her friends for coffee, she never imagined that her love life would change because of it.

During lunch the girls were sharing stories about their men and Jessica starts predicting the guys zodiac signs.  She is convinced that she can tell you what their sign is just by their sexual performance.  Izzy is skeptical but continues to drink in every word she says.

They share a few stories and Jessica keeps guesses the correct sign for the guy.  The girls convince Izzy that her love life needs an overhaul and she should be the guinea pig for the experiment.

They agree that Izzy will go through a dating agency and she will date a guy from each of the twelve zodiacs and they will compare notes and see if Jessica is right.  The other two girls will make sure everything stays fair.

I loved this short story and wanted to see where this bet was going to take us so I bought the next story Aries Unleashed.  I give Foreplay 4 Flaming Hearts.

Hubby has been trying to decide if he wanted to trade his truck or not for the last couple of months.  We finally decided to just go down to the dealership and drive the GMC Terrain and everything just moved so fast from that point.  We drove the SVU and then sat down with the saleman and the next thing we know the sales manager is showing hubby the “bottom line” of what his new payment will be and we’ve bought a new SUV.

I think we were both kinda shell shocked because we didn’t even have our trade with us when they cut the deal.  We did have financing but they even beat that.  We did get a really good deal on the SUV and it will be much better on gas mileage but hubby is giving up his truck that he’s had for a few years.   We went back and forth all night about whether we were doing the right thing or not and I don’t think hubby got much sleep.  We took the truck in yesterday and signed the paperwork so we are the new proud owners of a GMC Terrain.

My question to you is do you dread dealing with the dealerships when it comes to buying a new car, is it better to have your financing when you go in, and do you usually buy the extra warranties they offer at the time of the signing?  It was easier to have our financing when we went in and we did end up buying the gap protection but you always wonder if you are doing the right thing.

Happy Sunday everyone and BTW – Ironman was awesome.  That is how we celebrated the new vehicle.

Lawe’s Justice (Breeds #26)

In Lora Leigh’s scorching new Breed novel, two adversaries are destined to explore the only thing they have in common: an irresistible mating heat…

Diane Broen’s lived to protect her younger sister Rachel from harm. But now that Rachel has been mated off, Diane’s occupied herself with less fulfilling tasks at the Genetics Council–until she’s paired with a new team member, a Breed male notorious for his attitude, and a touch that makes her recoil.

Lawe isn’t thrilled with her either. A lion at heart, he prefers a lair of solitude. When it comes to females, he’d rather snarl than purr. And while fate may have paired them to fight on the same team, neither is willing to admit to the obvious: the mating heat between them is positively incinerating.

It’s only when danger threatens that they make a hotter-than-hell connection–one so explosive it could destroy them. Or, as providence reveals, bind them together, forever.

Diane and her team have been working with the Breed soldiers trying to find an antidote for her niece Amber.  She and her sister Rachel have lost their family and Diane will do anything to keep them safe, even ignore the heat rising inside her every time she is around Lawe.  Ever since he helped rescue her, Diane can’t Lawe off her mind, he’s her mate but she knows that if she gives in, she is going to lose herself forever.

Lawe has never forgotten how he felt when he rescued Diane and realized that she was his mate.  He has stepped back and let her continue to do her job while his team makes sure she stays safe.  He senses her hurt every time they are together; because of his need to protect and her desire for freedom they continue to dance around the mating heat.

I love Diane, she is a strong female lead that is a trained fighter that is lethal and would do anything in the world for her family.  She has been tracking down leads for some teens that escaped the labs years ago; they alone may hold the secret to Amber’s cure.  The odds are stacked against her; she is having to prove herself to Lawe, she has a traitor on her team and she is in a battle against time to find those young adults.

Lawe is your typical alpha male.  He has the breed mentality ingrained in his DNA, mates always come first.  Jonas wants him to take a desk job but he lives for the field, if he can only convince Diane that the best place for her is safe at home.  He can feel how deeply Diane is hurting every time they are together but he just can’t allow her to continue taking jobs in the field.  He has held off initiating the mating heat because he knows they will both be lost with the first kiss and he can’t risk her safety.

The story continues right where the short story An Inconvenient Mate leaves off.  It not only tells the story of Lawe and Diane but it is action packed with glimpses of some of our favorite characters from past books.  I can’t wait to find out if the three they are looking for will be able to help baby Amber, I feel so bad for the little angel.  The ending was my favorite because Lawe finally understands what both he and Diane need out of their relationship.

Overall I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read the next one in the series.  I give Lawe’s Justice 4 Flaming Hearts. 

Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.

The long awaited book about Qhuinn and Blay is finally here and it did not disappoint.  Qhuinn and Blay have been dancing around each other for years but the timing never seems right for them.  Now events keep pushing them together, will they be able to finally make things work?

Qhuinn has had a hard life and had to grow up at a very early age.  He was shunned by his family because of his eyes but he always found safety and love at Blay’s house.  He is a fighter alongside the Brotherhood now and has a home where he is loved and trusted yet, he still feels alone.  He and Layla have a child on the way; he will finally have his own family.  Before he can move forward though, he has to work through his personal issues.

Blay has been in love with Qhuinn for as long as he can remember but has given up on ever having a relationship with him.  He has moved on with Saxton and things have been good but there is still something missing.  Now that he is free, will Qhuinn be able to overcome his personal issues so they finally have a chance.

Qhuinn and Blay have been friends forever and if it wasn’t for Blay, Qhuinn wouldn’t be here today.  While Blay has made it known that he was in love with Qhuinn, Qhuinn hasn’t been able to admit his feelings.  Over the past year he has been dying a little inside watching Blay and Saxton together, knowing he would never have him for his own.  He has decided that he needs to grow up and get his life together before his young is born.  He and Layla have become friends but she isn’t the one for him but they will still have the family they both desire.

Qhuinn and Blay have several encounters and let me say, JR has written their scenes so well.  They are actually quite HOT together and the reader is provided with enough information to know what is going on between them while still leaving some things to the imagination.  The scene in the clinic was really powerful and I actually ached for Qhuinn when he and Blay got into their screaming match in the training center.  But when Qhuinn finally has his ahha moment, I wanted to cry right along with him.

There are so many moments in this story that evoke emotion from the reader that you are fully vested in these characters.  The book also gives us glimpses of the Band of Bastards, Assail, the shadows and lessers.  Each chapter is full of action or emotion.  There is so much going on in this world that it is impossible not to include these side stories.  We were given just a taste of new plot lines that include Trez, Assail and Xcor and the possible female mates in their futures.  And the all the brothers were present and accounted for.

I loved this book and took my time reading it because I just didn’t want it to end.  I give Lover at Last 4½ Faming Hearts.   

Lionel and Crow and Tim, oh my!

Can Dorothea Gale escape the clutches of foreclosure by making a deal to have sex with three handsome men?

Dorothea Gale is a victim of a bad economy. After losing her job, Thea asks Tim Woodman, the man of her dreams and the contractor who built her home, to help her sell it. He leads her to the powerful William Ozarak, a voyeur, who offers her a deal – sexual submission for one month in exchange for two years worth of mortgage payments. Can she barter her body to prove ‘there’s no place like home’? Or will she lose her soul in the process?

Tim Woodman, who is in the middle of a divorce, isn’t looking for entanglements. Yet he can’t help be drawn to the sexy Thea. If he helps her will he lose his heart? Or did he even have one to begin with?

Dorothea “Thea” Gale is alone, jobless and fixing to be homeless.  She can’t bear the thought of losing the home she had custom built to foreclosure.  She doesn’t realize what she is getting into when she asks an old friend to help her sale it.

Tim and Thea have crossed paths several times over the past few years but the timing has never been right.  Now Tim is back in her life and in the middle of a divorce but he is willing to do anything he can to help Thea, even introduce her to his biggest competitor.

This isn’t your typical Wizard of Oz story so be warned.   Oz is a steamy, sex filled take on an old classic that contains very little actual romance, aside from Tim and Thea’s story.  Thea agrees to Oz’s proposal to do whatever he requests from her for thirty days in order to save her beloved home.  She is allowed to bring one male with her when she comes and Tim seems to be the natural choice for her because she trusts him.

Thea is surprised when she and Tim are joined by two other sexy guys, Lionel and Crow.  She is not used to “performing” before an audience but Oz prefers to watch, rather than participate.  As the days pass, she becomes more and more aware of her sexuality, even though she is still uncomfortable with what she is doing.  If she can just get through thirty days with Oz, her house payments will be paid for two years.

The story is very sexy and not for the light hearted.  I liked the characters involved, even though the story line is a little weak.  Thea is literally in the hands of three sexy men while Oz watches.  Each of the characters has something they are hiding and throughout the story they are revealed.  I loved the addition of Tim’s ex-wife in the mix, that was perfect and definitely stirred things up.  Tim and Thea have the most to lose with their budding relationship on the line but he finds a way to salvage it and Thea’s house in the end.

Overall I enjoyed this story and will definitely never be able to look at the original the same again.  I give Oz 3½ Flaming Hearts.  

Calling the Shots (Long Shots #4)

He’s had a wild ride, and now sex club owner Josh Scott is looking for a change of scene. But first, he’s determined to bring two friends together, and he’s willing to be a third wheel to move things along…

Beth Norris is eager to be set up with hot bartender Oliver Stephenson, but she’s equally attracted to matchmaker Josh. Soon she’s fantasizing about both men at once—and about being the one to call the shots in the encounter…

Ready to move on with his life post-divorce, Oliver is conflicted by the realization that he’s attracted to women and men. Or more specifically, to Beth and Josh. He tries to keep his distance, but it’s not long before the chemistry between the trio combusts in a night of mind-blowing sex.

In the light of day, it’s clear something deeper than desire is growing between Josh, Beth and Oliver. But though Josh has helped others find love in unconventional relationships, is he willing to take a chance on one himself?

Josh may be comfortable with his sexual preferences, not everyone in his life has shared that sentiment.  He has been carrying around the scars of his childhood for years and has always held everyone at an arm’s length.  His pride and joy is his club, Mavericks.  He designed it himself to ensure that no one would ever have to be embarrassed or ashamed to explore their sexual needs and desires.  Now the club is under attack and Josh’s past is closing in on him, will he finally let the two people that love him in?

Beth loves her job as Josh’s assistant and would do anything in the world for him.  He saved her when he gave her a job and she is good at it.  She has started having fantasies about not only Josh, but their sexy bartender Oliver too.  She has a policy of not mixing business with pleasure though after getting fired from her last job.  There is just something about those two though that would make her reconsider her stance, now if she can convince them to play too.

Oliver has been struggling with his life since his wife cheated on him and took all his money.  He has been working as a bar tender and avoiding her like the plague. He has become fast friends with his bosses and admires them both.  For the first time in his life, Oliver is questioning his own sexuality and Josh and Beth are just the right people to help him explore his needs and desires.

I was so excited when I found out we were going to finally get Josh’s story.  I feel in love with him in Double Shot, Paul and Sadie’s story.  Paul is not only his business partner but also his best friend and he has been in love with him for years.  He is happy for Paul but he seems a little jealous of the relationship between Paul and Sadie.  He wants that for himself but doesn’t think he deserves it because he will only bring heartache to the people he loves.  I love that he is confident in his own desires and needs but is selective who he plays with.

The club is his world and he will do whatever it takes to keep his members safe, while allowing them to try out their most secret fantasies.  He doesn’t want anyone to go through what he did as a youth, everyone is safe there.   His mother called him names and tried to brainwash him through her religious cult until his dad rescued him.  His past has left him broken, at least in his opinion and he doesn’t feel like he deserves to be happy in a relationship.  It takes losing his club and life to realize that it is worth taking a risk on an unconventional relationship with Oliver and Beth.

I think my favorite thing about this story is that really each one of them comes with a lot of baggage.  Josh has his history, Beth has a poor track record with relationships and Oliver’s wife cheated on him and cleaned him out.  Each one thinks they are too broken to desire a chance at happiness but after one incredible night spent together, they begin to hope and dream.  They are good for each other and bring out the best in each other; I am glad they found a way to make their relationship work.

I found the scenes inside Mavericks interesting.  I personally don’t know anything about sex clubs and found the descriptions fascinating.  It gave me an insider’s perspective of what goes on and all the things you can experience without being offensive or too much.

I love this series and I think this was my favorite book so far.  I give Calling the Shots 4 Flaming Hearts.  

Kiss the Dead (Anita Blake #21)

When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…

But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them…

In the latest installment of the Anita Blake series Anita is called in to help find a missing teenage girl.  She is working alongside SWAT and her old friend Zerbrowski while heading into a vampire den.  They didn’t realize that they were walking into a trap set specifically for Anita.

After a hard day of vampire executions, all Anita wants to do is go home to her sweeties and wash all the vampire goo off her.  What she finds is trouble brewing with Asher, he is feeling sorry for himself and starting fights with the others, including Anita.  She doesn’t have time for his drama, especially when her sweetie is being held hostage by a fanatic with a bomb.

I have developed a love/hate relationship with this series.  I remember when my brother gave me the first book in the series to read, I was hooked.  I devoured all of the books up through Obsidian Butterfly and loved them.  My love/hate relationship started with Narcissus in Chains when things started to really change for Anita and her men.  The books started to contain a whole lot more sex and less content, yet I keep reading them.

Anita is still wrestling with her polyamorous lifestyle but she is finally becoming more comfortable with her numerous sweeties.  They have all settled into a routine and everyone, but Asher, seems to be learning to share.  Cin is still trying to get Anita to see him as an adult not a child because she is still struggling with his age.

To me this story seemed to drag through three quarters of the book and then the actual climax covered the last 25 or so pages.  It was full of “fluff” to fill the pages and really wasn’t needed; the story is a good story if you take out the extras.  I think the ending made me want to throw the book, you had all the buildup and then BAM the story is over.

I did enjoy the fact that Anita is spending more time doing police work and seems to be getting back to her “roots” so to speak.  There was a lot less sex in the book, don’t get me wrong I don’t mind sex in books but sometimes it overpowered her stories.  I also love the fact that we got to see Micah, Nathanial, Jason and Jean Claude along with some of the other well-loved characters.  I would’ve loved to see more old school, bad a$$ Anita raise some zombies but at least she is back to working with her friends at the police station and FBI.

Overall this was not my favorite story in the Anita Blake series but it is closer to the early stories than some of the others.  I give Kiss the Dead 3 Flaming Hearts.  

Immortal Ever After

A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

Valerie has moved to town temporarily to hone her veterinary skills at the local university.  While out walking Roxy, Valerie is drugged and kidnapped along with several other girls.  The girls are kept in cages and fed laced oatmeal until it’s their turn to feed the rogue vampire that has taken them.  The only family she has is her dog Roxy so when she goes missing there’s no one to notice.

Anders has been watching his friends and fellow enforcers drop like flies as they find their lifemates.  They are shorthanded now and waiting for reinforcements when they intercept a suspicious call to the local police.  The women were in bad shape, especially the one they found outside.  He never expected to find his own lifemate among them.

Immortal Ever After is the newest installment in the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands and it definitely doesn’t disappoint.  The characters are interesting and lots of fun to get to know.  The story is filled with not only new characters but characters we have grown to love throughout the series.  I love that this series is so much fun to read; the stories are full of romance, love and humor.

Valerie is a great match for Anders, she is spunky and fun but she isn’t a damsel in distress.  While in captivity, she comes to the realization that it’s up to her to save herself and the girls.  She becomes fast friends with Leigh and the others but her reaction to Anders continues to puzzle her.  She isn’t looking for love or a relationship; (she’s been down that road) because of Anders, she is reassessing her life and love.

Anders isn’t interested in going through the drama his friends are going through when they find their lifemates.  He constantly gives Bricker a hard time because he is always hungry and wanting to stop for food.  Now he finds himself enjoying food again, little by little, starting with ice cream.  The moment he realized he couldn’t read Valerie, he knew he was in trouble but he was looking forward to finding out what fate had in store for him.

The heroine is strong and able to take care of herself but isn’t afraid to ask for help when she needs it.  She takes the information that they are immortals in stride, even though she thought her capture was a vampire wannabe.  I love that she was able to keep her wits about her to figure out a way to escape “Igor” and his boss by herself.  One of my favorite scenes was when she and Leigh were in the van and she had a mallet in her hand, I laughed so hard at that whole scene.  In the end, Anders was able to step in and help her so he could play hero too.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and loved visiting with some of my favorite characters from previous books.  I give Immortal Ever After 4 Flaming Hearts.