Posts tagged ‘Lauren Dane’
September 2011 Book Releases, part 1
Another big release day is coming up! Here are a few books I’m looking forward to getting my hands on:
September 6, 2011: One Salt Sea (October Daye series, book 5) by Seanan McGuire
This series has become one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. The author weaves a good, fast-paced story for Toby and the gang. And, I also enjoy the theme of what it means to be a hero—especially through the eyes of a woman— on which Seanan McGuire often touches. I also enjoy the chemistry between Toby and Tybalt, the King of the Cats.
September 6, 2011: Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter series, book 4) by Nalini Singh
While I didn’t enjoy the last book as much as the other books in The Guild Hunter series, I do enjoy the series originality. I’m excited about Archangel’s Blade, because this is the first book that will depart from Elena and Raphael’s relationship, and focus on Dmitri, Raphael’s second in command. I’m hoping this will shake things up a bit. My hopes are high, since I’ve already been hearing great buzz about it.
September 6, 2011: Never Enough (Brown Siblings, book 4) by Lauren Dane
I’m still behind 1 book in this series, but am really looking forward to Adrian’s story.
I’ve really enjoyed all of the stories, and (eldest brother) Brody’s most of all. I like how we get bits and pieces of the other siblings’ stories without sacrificing the central relationship. Dane always conveys the depth of the main characters’ feelings so well.
I just LOVE this cover!
September 6, 2011: Midnight (Dark Age Dawning trilogy, book 2) by Ellen Connor (aka Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty).
I had really high expectations for Nightfall (book 1 in the trilogy) and it lived up to all of them.
The world is dark and gritty and the action is intense. I’m looking forward to seeing how Chris, who is just beginning to become hero material in Nightfall, fills that role in Midnight.
Three years pass between the 2 books, and I’m really curious about how the world has developed during that time.
September 6, 2011: Cipher (Southern Arcana, book 4) by Moira Rogers
I read books 2 and 3 last month, and am so excited I didn’t have to wait long for Cipher.
Kat and Andrew’s story has been unfolding slowly over the course of the series (& boy has it been a bumpy ride!), and now they will finally get their HEA.
One of the great things about this series is that the wolf/supernatural politics are just as absorbing as the romance. I also can’t wait to see what will happen after the events in the previous book.
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That’s a lot for 1 week, isn’t it? Is there anything coming out this coming week that you’re excited about?
June 2011 Book Releases, part 1
Tuesday is a big ebook day for me. 3 books I’ve really been looking forward to will be released. I won’t know which one to read first.
June 6, 2011: Nightfall (Dark Age Dawning trilogy, book 1) by Ellen Connor
This is book 1 in a new series is by the writing team of Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty. Adjectives like “gritty” and “intense” have been used to describe it.
Ann Aguirre is an auto-buy for me. She does such a great job of balancing world-building, character development, and action.
I was lucky enough to get it and read it over the weekend, after preodering it, I have to say, all of the above is true.
In Nightfall, Jenna is kidnapped by Mason, a man who believes her father’s apocalyptic prophecies and has promised her father he would watch out for her when the predictions start to come true. Together, she and Mason have to fight the horrors that come to pass and figure out what exactly is happening to the world around them and to themselves.
June 6, 2011: Goddess with a Blade by Lauren Dane
I’ve read contemporary erotic romance, paranormal romance, and futuristic romance by Lauren Dane, but, this will be the first urban fantasy I’ve read by her. I love Lauren Dane’s writing, and am looking forward to it.
Rowan is a “physical vessel to the Celtic Goddess Brigid and raised by the leader of the Vampire Nation”. Sounds like a kick-ass heroine if there ever was one! She encounters a sexy vampire leader, and has to solve a series of vampire-related killings.
June 6, 2011: Yours to Keep (Kowalski family, book 3) by Shannon Stacey
Currently reading this!
After Angela James raved about this book at the Romantic Times blogger dinner, I had to start reading this series.
I’ve really enjoyed books 1 and 2 of the Kowalski family series, and like its predecessors, Yours to Keep has a great blend of fun, family, and chemistry between heroine Emma, and Kowalski cousin (and recent Army vet) Sean.
June 6, 2011: Bad Company by KA Mitchell
There’s something about this story that really sucked me in when I read the excerpt. (See excerpt on linked page.) It’s already pre-ordered, and I can’t wait to download it today!
Nate and Kellan were friends until Kellan outed Nate in high school. 13 years later, Kellan comes to Nate asking for a favor: pose as Kellan’s boyfriend to get back at Kellan’s homophobic father.
Why should Nate help Kellan out? And, why would Kellan ask him, when he knows that Nate hates him?
I love transgression/forgiveness stories, and am so excited to dig into this one!
June 7, 2011: Hunt the Moon (Cassie Palmer series, book 5) by Karen Chance
It’s been a long wait (2 years!) since book 4, Curse the Dawn. I really enjoy this fast-paced series, and am looking forward to see what’s in store for Cassie, Mircea, and Pritkin, especially since I’m hearing that the Pritkin/Cassie relationship might progress a bit.
I’ve read a couple reviews that indicate that this is one of the best books in the series so far, and am excited to see for myself. I’m on the library wait list for this one, so hopefully it won’t be too long before I get it.
June 7, 2011: Hit List (Anita Blake series, book 20) by Laurell K Hamilton
Yes, I’m STILL hanging in there with Anita and the gang.
I am totally invested in the characters, and really want to know how Nathaniel, Jason, Edward, and even Jean Claude are doing.
When Anita and the guys don’t get too caught up analyzing their relationships, there is usually some good supernatural action (of the non-sexy variety), and I’m hoping Hit List will deliver.
I’ve been listening to the audiobooks from the library for a while now, and always like the production on these.
June 14, 2011: The Demon’s Surrender (Demon’s Covenant trilogy, book 3) by Sarah Rees Brennan
This is one of my favorite YA series, and Alan’s on the cover of this one!
If you want a gripping, unique YA, I can’t recommend this series enough. I love the relationship between brothers Alan and Nick. They are often at odds, but when it comes to fighting the magicians who complicate their lives, they have each others’ backs.
And then there’s Jamie, his sister Mae, and the dancer Sin who round out the cast of characters. Confession time: while Nick has had considerable chemistry with both Mae and Sin, it’s his rapport with Jamie that gets me. If this were a different kind of story, I’d be hoping for a Nick and Jamie HEA.
This book is the last in the trilogy, and I can’t wait to find out how Sarah Ress Brennan will conclude it.
June 14, 2011: Come Unto these Yellow Sands by Josh Lanyon
Lanyon is another auto buy for me, and this one sounds really good!
A professor gets embroiled in a murder investigation when he tries to help one of his students. Complicating matters is the professor’s boyfriend, who happens to be the police chief.
I always have high expectations of Lanyon’s books, and am rarely disappointed. I will be pre-ordering it soon!
That’s a lot of books for just a 2 week period! Luckily, 3 of them will be library reads, but even so, my poor bank account is taking a big hit this week!
What are you looking forward to in June?
21 Author discoveries in 2009 (well, at least they’re new to me)
One of the ways I was able to limit myself to choosing only 5 for my Top Reads of 2009, was that I told myself I would acknowledge some really great new and new-to-me authors that I read last year. (This list is in no particular order.)
Here they are:
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JR Ward-Black Dagger Brotherhood
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Suzanne Brockmann-Troubleshooters series
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Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Her site.)
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Jordan Castillo Price-PsyCop series, Hemovore
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Loretta Chase (Her site.)
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Meredith Duran (Her site.)
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Lauren Dane-Federation series
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Ginn Hale-Wicked Gentlemen
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Scott Westerfeld-Uglies series, Leviathan series
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Maggie Stiefvater-The Wolves of Mercy Falls (Shiver) series
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LB Gregg-Men of Smithfield series
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Jill Sorenson (Her site.)
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Jill Shalvis-Wilder Adventures series
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Julie James (Her site.)
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Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett (Their site.)
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Jane Seville-Zero at the Bone
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Carolyn Jewel (Her site.)
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Gail Carriger-Alexia Tarabotti series (Soulless)
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Seanan McGuire-October Daye series (Rosemary and Rue)
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Jennifer Ashley-Highland Pleasures series (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie)
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Samantha Kane (Her site.)
Well, duh. Honestly, I was sort of put off by the random h’s, “bro-talk” and ubiquitous brand-name-dropping that I had read was so prominent in this series. But, at the same time, so many people whose reading tastes I shared (and whose opinion I heeded) loved this series. They were so right. I call it my “Pringles” series. Totally fun to devour and completely irresistible. I’m waiting for Lover Avenged to come in from the library. I have found the controversial switch from a pnr style to more of a uf style hasn’t affected my enjoyment of this series.
Duh, again. Spec Ops/Military themed romances aren’t my first choice. But, this is another reason to read outside my comfort zone. Lori (among others) convinced me to give this series a try. And I have come to love not only the action-romance combo, but also the way the characters and their relationships grow over the course of the series. This is one of those series where, when I think I’ve chosen my favorite hero or couple, I keep remembering others, and have such a hard choosing just one. This is just such a consistently great series, and Suzanne Brockmann is a masterful writer.
Yeah, again, I’m sometimes late to the party. I won What I Did for Love over at Book Binge. It was celebrity romance, another theme I don’t really read. But, SEP writes both incredible characters and some of the best dialog around. Natural Born Charmer has become one of my Top 5 Contemporary Romances, as well as a “comfort listen”. I’m still working my way through her very lengthy backlist, and have only had 1 so-so read.. BTW, if you haven’t listened to SEP’s books in audio format, they are SO worth checking out.
I’m SO digging Vic Bayne and the PsyCop universe. Tracy first turned me on to JCP’s Hemovore which was an awesome m/m parnormal romantic suspense. I’d heard great things about her PsyCop series, but just never got around to reading it (I think I melded it in my mind with RoboCop. 
) But, after enjoying Hemovore so much, I had to read it. Right now, Vic is one of my favorite misfit heroes: edgy, a loner, and still trying to figure out what Jacob is doing with a guy like him. The supernatural mysteries are tightly plotted and really absorbing. And, the chemistry between Vic and Jake is smoking. I’ve also got to say, the PsyCop book covers are among my favorite in the m/m genre.
SO GLAD I listened to Carolyn, who told me I HAD to read Lord of Scoundrels. This is now one of my Top 5 Historical Romances. The dialogue is great, and I love how Loretta Chase can take a romantic convention and completely stand it on its head. In LoS, Jessica doesn’t treat Dain like the jaded rake that he projects, but nurtures (sometimes with VERY tough love) the wounded child she sees inside of him. LC’s heroine’s are smart, and she always has a surprise for the romance reader. So far, I haven’t been disappointed in a Loretta Chase book.
Bound by Your Touch was such a beautifully written book! I just wish the covers weren’t so cheesy. To me, they distract from the wonderful story inside. The story of Lydia’s and Sanburne’s romance was an exciting read. Also, there was a love scene in BbYT which was the best I’d read all year. It brought together the emotions and sex that really revealed so much about these two characters (and was incredibly hot.) I also enjoyed Written on Your Skin immensely, which involved characters introduced in BbYT. I’m not currently reading historicals, but when I’m back in the mood, I’ll definitely be picking up MD’s debut novel, Duke of Shadows. ETA: I forgot that I won this over at Ciara Stewart’s! And then, the lovely Rosie brought me a signed copy from RWA!! THANK YOU, ladies!
Relentless (Book 2 in the Federation series) was such a surprise for me. I had seen it, and book 1, Undercover, around, but the plots hadn’t really caught my attention. Then, I went to a So Cal Bloggers get together, and it came home in my bag after one of our book swaps. Then, it blew me away. I was worried that starting with the 2nd book in the series would leave me confused, but Lauren Dane seamlessly weaves in the essential information from book 1 without ever seeming to info dump. I loved Relentless so much that I immediately went out and bought Undercover. I’ve also started LD’s shifter series, Cascadia Wolves, and have been told that her Chase Brothers series is also excellent.
Author of one of my Top 5 books. I’d been hearing some buzz about this book, and then read a post by JenB at the Den of Iniquity (her former blog) that made me HAVE to get this book. I’ve written ad nauseum about how much I love this spec fic m/m novel. But, really, it comes down to Ginn Hale’s wonderful story telling skills. Even in her short online story Shy Hunter, and her story in the Hell Cop anthology, it is clear that she has a way with characterization and plot. I’m eagerly looking forward to her Wicked Gentlemen sequel, as well as anything else written by her.
Scott Westerfeld has been around writing YA fantasy for ages, but I finally listened to his Uglies series this year, and was blown away. This series set in a futuristic society where everyone receives plastic surgery on their 16th birthday to make them “pretty” was not only an exciting read, but also much food for thought about accepted standards of beauty and the need/desire to conform to society’s norms. SW’s current release, Leviathan, is a steampunk adventure that takes place on the eve of WWI.
I’ve had Maggie Stiefvater’s Lament on my tbb list for ages, but it was her new shifter book, Shiver that finally got me to read her books. Shiver really demonstrates what a multi-talented author she is. The prose is beautiful, the atmosphere is vivid and the characters were ones I really cared about. Maggie Stiefvater writes in a beautiful, lyrical style, and she is also very musically talented. (She wrote the music for as well as animated Shiver‘s book trailer-scroll down to bottom of linked page to view trailer.)
I was nervous about reading a book by a person I knew (virtually) and then I was relieved to read the fun, sexy and fast-paced first installment in the MoS series, Gobsmacked. I love how LB has developed her stories around the rural NE town of Smithfield, and her men are guys I’d want to go out for drinks with. I’m also enjoying the elements of suspense in this series, and I can’t wait for 2010 to bring MoS 4 and LB’s new series, Romano & Albright.
I’m not a big romantic suspense reader, but Jill Sorenson’s debut novel, Crash Into Me was a great departure from my regular reading. I love the San Diego area setting of her 2 books, and the characters are original and compelling. One of my other favorite things about both Crash and Set the Dark on Fire are the strong secondary storylines featuring YA characters. The suspense plots kept me guessing, and even after I knew “who did it”, finding out the “why” kept me reading. I’m really looking forward to finding out what 2010 will have in store for Jill!
Jill Shalvis really knows the mountain setting (again, a part of California not often written about) she writes about, and her characters in the Wilder Brothers Adventures are interesting and sexy. I was worried that I’d be disappointed with Instant Attraction (book 1) after hearing so many raves for it. Luckily, it was as good as I heard, and Instant Gratification (book 2) was even better. Jill Shalvis takes characters that are sometimes a little hard to warm up to, like Emma in IG, and over the course of the book makes the reader understand why she is the way she is, and enjoy reading about her growth.
Hollywood and law firms are 2 settings I usually don’t enjoy in romance. Yet, Julie James proves that great writing will trump reading biases every time. Great dialogue and character growth are my 2 favorite things about JJ’s books. Especially in Practice Makes Perfect, I LOVE how smug, arrogant lawyer JD Jameson is slowly revealed to be the great hero he is. There’s a scene toward the end of the book revealing a secret about JD that got to me so much I had to re-read the scene a couple of times to take it in. Can’t wait for Something About You, out in March.
Havemercy reminded me a lot of Sarah Monette’s Doctrine of Labyrinths when I first picked it up (dark fantasy magical world told in alternating 1st person povs), but by the end of the novel, I felt like Jones and Bennett had set their own path. Then, with Shadow Magic, they took Havemercy’s world and made it even better. Their story-telling is exciting and still is able to touch on themes like the act of storytelling, legend and myth, and the intersection of an individual’s story with the story of a culture. I love it when a writer’s books get progressively better, and I am really psyched to see what happens with this series in the upcoming Dragon Soul.
I meant to get around to reading Zero at the Bone for months, after seeing a review of it at Lesley’s. When I finally picked it up, I couldn’t believe I had waited so long. I loved the intense relationship between D and Dr Jack, and the action kept me riveted to my reader. As soon as I finished ZatB, I went to Jane Seville’s site, and read all the Jack and D short stories she has there. Now, I’m waiting like a kid with my nose pushed up against the pet store window looking at puppies, hoping for a new book by Jane Seville.
I’ve come to love both her historicals and paranormal romances. Her beautiful prose style really smacked me upside the head when I read Scandal, and then when I read her pnr My series, Carolyn Jewel became one of my favorite all time authors. In fact, Scandal is on my Top 5 historical and 2009 Top 5 reads, and My Forbidden Desire is on my Top 5 pnr reads. (See sidebar on right for Top 5 links.) I think that what Carolyn Jewel does so well in these very different types of books is that she really gets inside the characters and lets the reader not just see, but also feel what they are feeling, be they a 19th century widow or a 21st century fiend.
I love checking out the Orbit release schedules to see what one of my favorite fantasy publishers has coming out. I’ve found more than one new author on their schedule that I’ve come to enjoy. This year, the cover for Soulless caught my attention, and the description of this steampunk paranormal made it at the top of my to be bought list when it was released. Gail Carriger’s smart and witty writing style made this book so much fun to read.
This is on of my favorite new uf series that debuted this year. (Ilona Andrews’ The Edge series and Ann Aguirre’s Corine Solomon series would be my others.) Though, this is the only one by a debut novelist. I first saw this at Kmont’s, in a New Author Spotlight post. The story was dark and starts out quite melancholy (given what happens to Toby, it’s understandable) yet the action never bogs down in mopiness or self-conscious angsting. The world is very complex, but doesn’t info dump and Seanan McGuire allows it to be revealed naturally, through the action of the plot. I can’t wait for the rest of the series, starting with A Local Habitation, coming out in March.
This was another book that had so much buzz, I was afraid to read it for fear of being disappointed. Luckily, for me, The Madness of Lord Ian was a wonderful historical romance. This wasn’t just because Lord Ian was such an unusual character (which he was) but also because I found Beth to be equally interesting. Now, in 2010 not only will Jennifer Ashley be releasing the next book in this series, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage, but also the first book in her new pnr series, Pride Mates, which due to its shifter-y goodness, I’ll be really looking forward to as well.
Though Sam Kane’s m/m/f Brother’s in Arms series is better known, I first read her m/m romance, Islands. The romance and emotions blew me away. She is so great at showing how the characters feel about each other, whether it’s through a love scene, a conversation, or simple looks or touches between characters. Of course, after loving Islands so much, I did go back and read The Courage to Love (BIA 1). I’ve been meaning to get back to finish reading the series, because I know that there are some great love stories to be told there.
PHEW! I feel so lucky that I found so many great new authors last year. They are now all on my upcoming books list as I look forward to their new releases, or on my to be bought booklist as I continue to read their backlist. A couple of things I noticed while compiling this LONG list:
Many of these were books I wouldn’t have picked up on my own. The were stories that were either outside of my comfort zone or had story lines that I don’t usually like.
The other thing was that I DID pick up these books because of other bloggers’ recommendations. So, a big THANK YOU to everyone who led me to these great authors.
Did you have any author discoveries in 2009 that you want to share?
A few new additions to the old TBR pile
This week, books and audiobooks have found their way into my house or are winging their way to me as I write this. First off, it seems like a conspiracy that Audible, Borders, and Harlequin have all sent “rewards” or incentives. I am helpless before their emails offering me the opportunity to rationalize picking up some new books. I also love sharing great deals I got (I’m the same way about clothes, shoes, etc). Hence, this post!
First off, Audible sent a “Happy Anniversary” $10 credit last week, which I immediately had to put toward Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr and Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. I’m currently listening to Fragile Eternity, and it is excellent! Then, this week they sent a “Penny a minute” offer, which resulted in my getting Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong and First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh. (It was about $13 for both audiobooks!) I’ve already read MotO and LOVED IT so much that I want to now “re-read” it in audio. I’ve only read 1 other Balogh before, but this looked like a fun one.
Then, I totally succumbed to Harelquin’s $5 off purchase of $20 (with email coupon code) plus free shipping . I wound up with Stranger by Megan Hart (40% off!), Rachel Vincent’s new YA, My Soul to Take, and Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn. Total cost for the 3 trade edition books was less than $22.
I still haven’t used my Borders Bucks, but that’s mostly because I haven’t had time to get myself to Borders.
However, I finally received the copy of Kage Baker’s The Women of Nell Gwynnes I’d ordered ages ago. It’s a boutique book by Subterranean Press, and is a beautifully packaged novella with wonderful art. It’s actually a signed, ltd edition copy. Amazon had it for a great price, and I couldn’t help but indulge myself when I received an Amazon credit on a return. 
BTW, in December 2009 Subterranean Press will be producing Angelic by Kelley Armstrong, an Otherworld novella featuring Eve Levine.
I’m also waiting anxiously for Undercover by Lauren Dane to arrive in the mail. I recently read Relentless, book 2 in the Federation series, and fell in love with Lauren Dane’s writing.
Phew! So, that’s what’s landed on my doorstep recently.
How about you? Any good books — or book deals you want to crow about?
Her Royal Spyness & Relentless: A little sweet, a little sexy
In my typical schizophrenic fashion, I’m reading — and enjoying immensely — 2 really different books. (I have 3 books on the sidebar, but I haven’t been reading much from my Palm lately, which means I’ve stalled on Hell Cop. I’ll get back to it eventually. And, of course, this isn’t to mention the YA Spec Fiction Specials that I’m finishing up, in audiobook format.)
First off, is Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness. It’s the first in the Lady Georgiana mystery series.
Here’s the description:
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I love stories about this location and time period—England, between the World Wars, like the early books of the Hercule Poirot series (though Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence and Mr Quinn stories were my favorites) and the Bertie Wooster series.
Georgie is a free-spirit, utterly charming, and very aware of the fact that there is a lot about life she needs to learn. I wish the mystery part of the story started a little earlier in the book, but aside from that, I’m really enjoying Her Royal Spyness.
It’s funny, because a lot of the world that Georgie is a part of is not that different from the historical romances I read. There’s the social seasons, coming out, being presented to the Queen, and life among the ton, just like a regency. I always imagine this time period between the wars, in a lot of ways, to be the last hurrah of this kind of life, which seems to change so greatly as a result of WWII.
Anyway, I’m having a great time reading about Georgie’s adventures in London and ready to read about her solving the murder.
I really like that this is part of a series, and I just wish there were more than 3 in the series backlist. (Book 3 just came out this month.)
The other book I’m reading is Relentless by Lauren Dane. I’m blaming Lori, from Let’s Gab, for making this one jump to the front of the TBR list. After reading her review, I couldn’t not pick it up.
Here’s the description:
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Lori was so right! It has just enough world building to be interesting, but not get bogged down with any info dumps. I was worried that I might feel like I was missing something since Relentless is book 2 of a series, but I haven’t felt that way at all. However, if this book continues as good as it starts (I’m on p 70) I will probably pick up book 1, Undercover, as soon as I get a chance.
The connection between Abbie and Roman is immediate and intense. As I’m reading it, I can really feel how they are completely knocked for a loop by what they are feeling for the other person. They are struggling to hold on to their professionalism and do the right thing for their respective position in society. I like that they don’t just throw that all out the window because they are (at this point) in total lust.
So, things are really smoking with them. Really. Smoking. Hot. I can’t wait to read more. And, really, it isn’t just the love scenes, but their world and their situation that I find so interesting. Can’t wait to read more!
Are you reading any good books this week?
People are going to talk…