February Re-read Challenge

2/28/2009 11:01:00 PM / Posted by Kris / comments (4)

I recently read the first two in this series. Extreme Exposure and Hard Evidence (my review here). When I first read Unlawful Contact (review here) I had no idea that it was part of a series. I had wondered briefly because some of the characters were talked about like the reader should know them but then dismissed it, don't know why. So after reading the other two, I needed to re-read and felt this book would be good for the challenge.


Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
Taken hostage by a convicted murderer while reporting at a prison, Sophie Alton has no idea that the man holding the gun to her head is the bad boy who was her first love in high school. Condemned to life without parole, Marc Hunter finds himself with no choice but to break out of prison after his younger sister disappears with her baby. Though he regrets what he has to put Sophie through, he can’t let anything get in the way of his stopping the corrupt officials who are set on destroying what’s left of his family. But being near Sophie rekindles memories for both of them. As the passion between them heats up, so does the conspiracy to put both of them in their graves.

I loved this more the second time around. A lot of the things I missed the first time around because I had not read the other books made more sense this time. Last time I felt that I was missing something and that I was supposed to know the other characters and had no clue who they were. I had more background info on the heroine than before so that also added to my enjoyability. Some very hot scenes and a lot of soul searching for Sophie. Great storyline and great characters.

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Extreme Exposure and Hard Evidence and other stuff

2/15/2009 03:40:00 PM / Posted by Kris / comments (1)

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. Hubby took us girls on a date to CiCi's pizza. The littles got dressed up and walked holding Hubby's elbows like little ladies, it was very cute.

I have been watching my middle child (the 4 year old) more closely lately and have noticed something. I have always known that she is a good liar, but something that has come out of that is her imagination. She has a great imagination. She is my storyteller and she directs all the storyline when playing with oldest or just herself. She tells oldest what to say and has the whole story worked out in her head. Great stuff, it is fun to watch and listen to. Maybe she will be an author one day.

Have you picked your re-red yet for this month, don't let it sneak up on you, this is a short month. After reading these two books, I picked mine, Unlawful Contact. When I read it the first time, I did not know it was part of a series and felt that I was missing something because it read like I should have known who these other characters were and I did not know them, So after reading these two I definitely have to re-read it. Just foundo ut too, that there is another story in this series in an anthology called Catch of the Day that has Lissy's story about meeting Will. I will have to look for that one.

February reads so far:
Dark of the Night by Suzanne Brockmann (A) did not review because everyone else already has and I had nothing to add, I loved it.
Midnight Sins by Cynthia Eden (A-) comes after book Hotter After Midnight good paranormal romantic suspense
Kiss of a Dark Moon (Moon Chasers book 2) by Sharie Kohler (B)
Night Huntress (Sisters of the Moon book 5) by Yasmin Galenorn (review here at Book Binge)
The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress by Maya Banks I have always made it a policy of mine not to buy any book with Tycoon, Millionaire, Billionaire in the title, but for Maya I make an exception. Not my fav by her but good. (C+)
Into the Lair (Falcon Mercenary Book 2) by Maya Banks (A-) Great paranormal action read

Update: Joint review of Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann over at Breezing Through Books



Extreme Exposure (I-Team Book 1) by Pamela Clare
It's been years since her child's father dumped her, and since then investigative reporter Kara McMillan has kept men at bay—although every day she aches more for a lover's touch. But to get that, the hard-boiled journalist must become vulnerable—a feeling she vowed never to have again.

With his dangerous good looks, charm, and power, Senator Reece Sheridan could have just about any woman he sets his piercing eyes on. But he’s intrigued by only one. This Kara, this gutsy investigative reporter, has a sensuality that arouses him to no end. If she’s a firebrand in print, he guesses, she must be just as fiery in bed…

But this is no fling. A sudden political scandal—and attempts on Kara's life—could very well drive them apart. Or maybe, just maybe, adversity could draw them into a bond even more intense than their steamy sexual embraces…

Great solid romantic suspense. Kara is a single mom trying to get ahead in her career. She is an investigative reporter and covers the politcal arena. She is very good at what she does. She get a very dangerous lead about a company that is not following environmental laws and as she followsup on this someone wants her to stop or else. Reece is a senator that has noticed Kara around and respects her professionally. Now he wants to get to know her personally. He is a great do-gooder hero. He was a teacher turned politician trying to be a good example to his students and cannot wait to go back to teaching. But still Alpha in his protectiveness. Good stuff. Great story.



Hard Evidence (I-Team Book 2) by Pamela Clare

After the murder of a teenage girl, a mysterious man in a black leather jacket was seen lurking near the crime scene. Investigative reporter Tessa Novak has him in her sights as the culprit…

That man was Julian Darcangelo—an undercover FBI agent working with the Denver police. He’s closing in on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. Tessa’s accusations could blow his cover—and he wants her off the investigation.

But just as Tessa has made Julian a target of interest, she is now a target—of the killer. And as they are forced to trust each other, their physical attraction escalates as intensely as the threat from a ruthless murderer who wants to see both of them dead…

Another solid romantic suspense. Tessa is in the wrong place at the wrong time. A teenage girl is killed right in front of her and now Tessa wants some answers. But the more she delves the more she puts herself in danger because she does not realize the caliber of people she is dealing with. Julian is an agent that has been tracking this criminal and been undercover working on this particular crime ring for years. He has many scars on his heart and thinks that he is too damaged to be good for anyone. He is so opposite from Reece (hero in previous book) in pasts and what they have seen. But they both are men with a goal, to stop bad things from happening.
Tessa thinks that the girls death was the result of gangs but little does she know that she is now in the middle of a human trafficking ring.
The only thingI didn ot like about this book was her naivete about human trafficking. She is a reporter and does not know that these things go on and what happens to these girls. Even I know that much from tv and books. Besides that I loved the book.

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My Fair Captain and The Englor Affair

2/08/2009 04:42:00 PM / Posted by Kris / comments (1)

Hey everyone, hope that everyone is doing great. So far we are all doing well, but with the economy the way it is who knows what next week brings so keep praying. The school system in my county has to make 100 million in cuts so me along with many other teachers are wondering if we will have a job next year. I remember thinking when I started teaching that it was a good idea because we always need teachers and there will always be kids to teach. but I am foreseeing a very hard time coming up for education and fear for our kids' quality of education.

My hubby is getting ready to launch his new web design company so that is exciting. He is very excited about it and happy that he can do it from home so that he can stay home with the two little ones. I will post the site when he launches it in case any one is interested or curious. :)

Moving on, I had heard so much about this book and how good it was that I got it and the next in the series and read them back to back. Good stuff.


My Fair Captain (Sci-Regency Book 1) by JL Langley
Talk about a compromising situation! A storm of political intrigue, murderous mayhem and sexual hungers is brewing on planet Regelence. Swarthy Intergalactic Navy Captain Nathaniel Hawkins ran from a past he had no intention of ever reliving. But when his Admiral asks him to use his peerage, as an earl and the heir to a dukedom, to investigate a missing weapons stash, hes forced to do just that. As if being undercover on a Regency planet where the young men are supposed to remain pure until marriage isnt bad enough, Nate finds himself attracted to the kings unmarried son. All Prince Aiden Townsend has ever wanted was to be an artist. He has no interest in a marriage of political fortune or becoming a societal paragon. Until he lands in the arms of the mysterious Earl of Deverell. One look at Nates handsome face has Aiden reconsidering his future. Not only does Nate make a virile subject for Aiden's art, but the great war hero awakens feelings in Aiden he has never felt, feelings he cant ignore. After a momentous dance at a season ball, Aiden and Nate find themselves exchanging important information and working closely together. They have to fight their growing attraction long enough to find out who stole the weapons and keep themselves from a compromising situation and certain scandal.

This is a great M/M futuristic romance story. Nate was a great Alpha hero. Aiden was definitely a beta male and it worked for them. The storyline was very good and the world building was unique to me. On this particular planet called Regelence, they live perpetually in approximately Regency England and M/M relationships are the norm. Children are mostly lab created using the DNA of both parents. Nate goes there to investigate a theft, little did he know what he would find there. There is some d/s as well in the story.



Cover Image of The Englor Affair eBooks, by J. L. LangleyThe Englor Affair (Sci-Regency Book 2) by JL Langley

In hiding who he was, Payton found himself…and the man he would grow to love. After his brother is kidnapped, Prince Payton Townsend masquerades as an Admiral’s assistant in order to track the culprits through the tangled mysteries of the planet Englor. He finds way more than he bargained for in the form of Marine Colonel Simon Hollister. Simon is no ordinary soldier. He’s heir to Englor and his life is mapped out for him: throne, bride, and eventually an heir. He never expected a dalliance with Payton to blossom into love, or that the organization that taught him to lead would threaten that love—and their lives. Danger and intrigue abound as they learn more about their shared enemy, and about each other. What they learn could help them rise above to an enduring love—or pull them apart.

I read this as soon as I finished My Fair Captain, the first in this series. I loved the storyline, lots of intrigue and romance. This was an excellent futuristic romance. Simon was a great character. He is heir to the throne of his world and is dealing with the politics and intrigues of the court. He is also attracted to men and that is not an accepted thing on his planet. Enter Payton, who is from Regelence, a world where M/M relationships are the norm, and he is also there doing some investigating. I loved watching them and wondering how it was going to work out. Payton was a lot more alpha than Aiden was in the firt book. Simon was the slightly more dominant partner but Pay could hold his own well. This partnership worked a little better for me because it was a little more balanced to me than the last book. Nate has a large role in this story but you do not see Aiden very much. Great book.

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King of Sword and Sky and others

2/02/2009 04:38:00 PM / Posted by Kris / comments (4)

Happy Groundhog Day! This evening Hubby and I are going to do our yearly tradition of watching the movie Groundhog Day on groundhog day. If you have not seen it, you are missing out, it is a great movie.

Reads for past two weeks:
Witch Fire by Anya Bast (B+)
Witch Blood by Anya Bast (B)
Witch Heart by Anya Bast (review here at Book Binge)
The Quickening by Antonia Tiranth (review here at Book Binge)
No Other Lover by Jane Ann Long (A-)
The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston (A-)
Sons of Amber by Bianca D'Arc (C+)
Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann (review coming soon)


Thought: You know you are a book junkie when ... you buy your purses based on if you can fit a book into it. (I never buy a purse that I cannot fit a trade size book into.)



King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul Book 3) by C. L. Wilson
Returning to the Fading Lands with his Celierian truemate, Rain discovers a dissension among the most powerful members of his own council. As the Eld plot their next deadly strike, Ellysetta struggles to master her powerful magic and discover how to save the tairen, while Rain confronts open challenge to his rule and prepares to lead the Fey army to war.

I promised I would post this after my re-read of the first two books.
Great addition, I LOVE this series!! They finally travel to the Fading Lands and find that things are not exactly as they should be. Rain discovers somethings that have happened because of his near insanity. When he was not himself his power was given to the Counsel and now (like when the military takes power during a war) they do not want to give the power back over to Rain. They have gotten huge egos with all that power and do not want to give it up.
They also have a lot of suspicion about Elly and her Marks that she has and how safe she actually is, they do not trust her.
Elly starts working with the tairen trying to save them and discovers exactly what is happening to them, but does she have the power to save them.
Great story. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens with the Mage War. And if Shan and his mate get rescued. Good stuff, June is too far away :(

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