Dark Spirit (Spirit Wild #2) by Kate Douglas

Romy Sarika has spent much of her life suffering at the hands of a sadistic cult leader. Twenty years earlier she watched him kill her mother, and now she awaits the same fate. But when the self-proclaimed prophet orders Romy killed, the wolf part of her rises up and for the first time she shifts. Managing to save herself, she leaves death and chaos in her wake.

Alone in the woods and badly injured, Romy is found by Jace Wolf and Gabe Cheval, two powerful and striking Chanku who help her heal and simultaneously unleash sensual desires in her that are as new and intense as her wolf-like abilities. But just as Romy’s opening herself to this new erotic world and the passionate connections she’s forming with both men, danger is closing in.

Bent on revenge and driven by bloodlust, cult members are pursuing the trio. Discovery could mean not just Romy’s death but destruction of the Chanku way of life. With their lives at stake and the Chanku race in jeopardy, the three must fight to save themselves and the future of their proud race.

Type: Paranormal Romance
Heat: 4 out of 5--though limited
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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I always enjoy Douglas and her Chanku--basically shifers in this world. They're interesting and steamy and have a little laughter mixed in now and again. Totally works. And this time it was all about Romy who is running for her life after escaping the cult she was born into and that's hunting her because she's shifted into a wolf for the first time.  And, well, because they're assholes. *nods*

The Reluctant Governess (Ladies Unlaced #3) by Maggie Robinson

A secretary for the renowned Evensong Agency, Eliza Lawrence may have a pretty face, but she’s much prouder of her mind and her morals. When she’s pressed into temporary governess duty as a favor to her boss, she doesn’t expect to bend one bit for the rakish Nicholas Raeburn. Not even when he opens the door to her half-dressed…

Despite his bad reputation, Nicholas is a man of honor. To Nick’s way of thinking, he doesn’t need any help raising his daughter, Domenica. If only he weren’t so drawn to the meddlesome woman’s sparkling wit and uncommon beauty…

But when an act of misplaced chivalry goes seriously awry, resulting in mayhem and almost murder, Eliza becomes the only woman he can depend upon. Nick will do anything to protect his family, but who will protect him from falling in love with his reluctant governess?

Type: Historical Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5-- though not too much
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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Not even gonna lie. The cover--which is gorgeous!--and the title--ack a governess!-- totally had me lusting over this one. I mean. How could I resist I ask you? I couldn't! I tell you. I just couldn't! Heh. And I'm glad I gave The Reluctant Governess a go. It was my first from Robinson and she totally has me wanting to read more.

The quick of it is that Nick needs a governess for his little girl Sunny. Or rather his auntie-in-law thinks he needs a governess for her. But Nick is the most unusual of employers. He's an artist and tends to paint and photograph women *gasp* a la natural! Scandalous! He's rather free with rules and scoffs at Society. Something the very prim and proper Eliza--who has been sent as a temporary emergency governess-has a thing or two to say about. Whew boy...does she!

Only with You (The Best Mistake #1) by Lauren Layne

Cocktail waitress Sophie Dalton doesn't exactly have a life plan. She's perfectly happy being everyone's favorite party girl. But when a Las Vegas bachelorette party goes awry and an uptight businessman mistakes Sophie for a prostitute . . . well, Sophie wonders if it's time to reevaluate her priorities. Swearing off her thigh-high boots for good, Sophie slinks back home with damaged pride-and a jackpot of a hangover.

Yet what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there. On a trip to Seattle to open a new office, Grayson Wyatt meets his latest employee-who turns out to be the same woman he recently called a hooker. Wealthy and gorgeous, Gray is a man used to getting what he wants. And it doesn't take long to figure out that smart, sassy, sexy Sophie is everything he's been looking for. As their late nights at the office turn into hot morning-afters, they realize their Vegas misunderstanding may lead to the real thing . . .

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

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Emotionally stunted stick in the mud meets spirited social butterfly who...might be a hooker. Okay, so, not a hooker but that's Gray's first thought when he laid eyes on Sophie during a Las Vegas trip. :snortal: Little did he know she was the one who would shake his world right down to it's foundation. And he might just do the same for her. Only With You was just what I needed this week.

Oh.My.Gosh. I loved these two. Gray and Sophie are so dang...broken! And wonderful. And infuriating. Heartbreaking. Funny. Make you shake your head and pinch the bridge of your nose but love them anyways...perfect.

Gray--and damn that's a sexy name--was handsome and socially awkward. He put his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion as Sophie so elegantly put it...was a gorgeous shithead in a beautiful suit.

DNF: Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.

Type: Contemporary Romance/Light para
Heat: None by the time I quit
Rating: DNF

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And can't believe I'm saying this but I ended up calling it quits on Better Homes and Hauntings. I usually love Harper and her quirky characters/storylines but just couldn't get into this one at all.

Fake It (Rule Breakers #2) by Jennifer Chance

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New grad Anna Richardson works hard—so hard that she’s given up having a romantic life. Anna has even convinced her friends that she’s dating an amazing guy—who they’ve simply never met. But now Anna has a wedding to attend and needs to produce the hottie she’s been lying about for the past six months. Enter Jake Flynn, her infuriating, motorcycle-riding, jaw-droppingly gorgeous neighbor, who’s more than willing to fake it for a weekend. In fact, Jake won’t be satisfied until things get real.

Though Jake is only playing the role of adoring boyfriend, he’s starting to feel the heat, and judging by Anna’s sweet blush, so is she. Letting chemistry this intense go to waste would be a real shame. Soon, though, the thin line between fantasy and reality fades. Jake may not be what every buttoned-up fast-tracker wants, but he’s sure as hell what Anna needs. And if she takes a ride with him, their adventure never has to end.

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

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Oh. How. Fun! Fake It was a blast! And had oh-so-many of my favoritest things! Yes I am totally using favoritest as a word! lol Pretend relationships, lust-worthy heroes, a heroine finding her way, hot lovin' and a little kidnapping along the way. How could a girl resist?!

The quick of it is that Anna's friends and family are nosy as hell and they want her dating and in love. Something...she's really okay skipping out on right now. And to get them off her back, well, she invents a man. And all's going well for 6 months until she's actually got to show up at her best friend's wedding...with said hunky man she's been "dating". Eep! Her plan is to convince someone to do a little role playing and become "Dave" for the weekend...Enter one oh so sexy neighbor she's been fantasizing about for months--that she's never had the courage to approach-- and that might have just been doing the same thing over her.

Quote-tastic (54) & Review--Bound to be a Groom by Megan Mulry

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

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Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

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Today I'm featuring a "naughty" historical. It's a menage with f/f and m/m elements and was pretty steamy. I just loved Anna's (and gah what a fabulous name! lol) response to this. So made me smile.

Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones #2) by M Leighton

"Leighton put together an endearing romance that's full of funny, sweet and steamy moments." ~herding cats & burning soup

Laney Holt is a preacher’s daughter. A good girl. Her only goal was to get married, have babies, and live happily ever after, just like her parents. Only that didn’t happen. The two people closest to her betrayed her, and Laney’s dreams came crashing down. Now she’s left with an empty space she doesn’t know how to fill. Until she meets Jake Theopolis, a daredevil with a death wish who has heartbreaker written all over him.

Jake has no interest in thinking beyond the here and now. All he wants out of life is the next rush, the next “feel-good” thing to keep his mind off the pain of his past. His latest rush? Showing Laney there’s more to life than being a good girl—and that going bad can be so much fun. Her only concern now is how she can ever hope to satisfy the wild side of a boy like Jake. She’s looking forward to trying. And so is Jake.

Type: NA Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

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So. We've got one covergasm worthy cover. A notoriously bad boy hero. And a notoriously good girl heroine. A little bit of a past together and a whole lotta time up close and personal that gets a little...wild and a whole lot sexy. Yep. I had a pretty good time with Some Like It Wild as Jake *mmmm Jake* helps Laney let down her hair and have a little naughty time for once in her life.