Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley

4 Stars

I read this book in spurts.  I enjoyed the beginning, then between 25-50% it dragged then I really enjoyed the last half.   But between 25-50% I would just read some then read something else, then come back to it.  I am glad that I finished it. 

Tack “Kane” Allen is the president/leader of the Chaos Motorcycle club.  We met his first in Mystery Man, and he also showed up again in Law Man.  He first meets Tyra at a Chaos party where they hit it off and end up getting it on.  But then Tack bursts Tyra’s “dream man” bubble by kicking her out and sending her on her way. 

Also, Tyra is Tack’s new office manager.  She knew this before hand, but Tack did not, and he doesn’t date people who work for him.  He wants to fire her and she gets mad and insists on staying (although at this point she believes he is a big jerk and wants nothing to do with him).  Also at this point, Tack changes his mind and decides that Tyra is a keeper. 

As with all books in this series, the heroine is under siege.  In this book, it is not her crap that is drawing the attention.  It is either 1.) her best friends fiancé (kidnapping by association) or 2.) Tack himself.  Tyra ends up taken multiple times.  I actually love those parts.  Not that I like for women to be kidnapped or beaten or stabbed, but I love how the KA heroes go crazy without their women and do anything to get them back.  My only complaint is that the actual action last about ten seconds.  Tack’s boys drew the fire away from him, he went in and bang, bang and the action is over.  I want some fighting or nasty villain dialogue in which Tack can smack him down. 

I loved that Hawk, Mitch and Brock were all in this and willing to do anything to help Tack get Tyra back.  We even Saw Hector and Sadie once too!  I love the “posse”, but it is obvious these girls aren’t as close as the Rock Chicks.  I am excited that Shy and Tabby get their own book and that means the start of a new series. 

Favorite Quote:

Hmmm…this is harder than usual.  I went through my clippings and I only had two from motorcycle man and neither were appropriate for a blog.  I also remembered that Tack and Tyra would make grand proclamations of love and it got old because people don’t talk like that. 

Conquering the Dark Axe (The Northern Knights) by Amber Dane

3.5 Stars

The story line was actually quite good.  This book was only a couple of bucks so my expectations weren’t high but I was in the mood for some medieval romance warrior stuff.  It wasn’t just about the hero and heroine falling in love.

Alexa is the sister that was promised to Rourke.  Now that Alexa’s sister is dead, the king has decided that Alexa will marry Rourke in her stead.  Only Alexa has been raised more like a boy and has never intended to marry.  She won’t make this easy on Rourke.  And Rourke has scars so deep he won’t let anyone in. 

A good chunk of the story is how these two try to hurt one another because they are scared how they feel and don’t want to be vulnerable.  Another aspect of the story are that someone at Barnett manor is trying to kill Alexa or Rourke or both.   And yet another aspect of the story is that a part of Rourke’s past that he thought long dead comes back and uses trickery and deceit into acquiring Rourke for his nefarious purposes. 

At times the lengths that Alexa and Rourke went to hurt one another got tiresome.  They always regretted what they would say, but too many times the author noted that the characters were too mad to care at the time. 

Overall, it was enjoyable. 

Funny Story

I know this isn't a book review or have anything to do with books actually (but it does involve reading).  It made me laugh so hard.  It is a story of the worst first date ever...

The Fart That Almost Altered My Destiny

Ilona Andrews Serial FREE Online Story

I know I posted before about this, but it is getting really good and I can't even wait for the next installment to come out every week.  You all should go read it right now!  Catch up!  Clean Sweep is the name of the novel. 

Favorite line from today's installment:
"At no point did the words ‘Help me, Sean Evans’ come out of my mouth.”

http://demo.ilona-andrews.com/

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloise James

4 Stars
This is an adorable (and adult) retelling of the Cinderella story.  Kate is the Cinderella in this story.  Instead of evil stepsisters, she had one kind but flighty half-sister.  There was indeed an evil stepmother.  And we learn that Kate’s father was not the blameless beloved man from the Disney version :).  The prince, Gabriel, is from Marburg and must marry a Russian princess for money.  Not for himself, but for those hangers-on that rely on him.  Kate’s sister needs the prince’s permission to marry the prince’s nephew (really I supposed that Kate’s sister’s fiancé needs the permission as he is the prince’s nephew), but he must meet Victoria (the sister) in order to do this.  Victoria is unable to go and Kate had to go in Victoria’s place (as Victoria).  As someone else mentioned the prince quickly learns Kate’s real identity, which I found refreshing.  I find it frustrating when the reader knows the truth and a main character labors under misinformation the entire time.

It took too long for the hero and heroine to meet and it just took too long to get the story rolling in general.  Once it did though I found I was thinking about the story long after I had turned off the kindle.  I wanted to get back to the characters and see what would happen.  The author clearly has a sense of humor.  My favorite part is when Kate is trying to train Victoria’s dogs (which she must take around in public for the disguise).  She uses cheese to do this, and at one point she is taking a boat ride with the prince and it comes out that she has stuffed her reticule full of cheese (dog treats).

I loved how strong the heroine was.  She was charming and witty.  She laughed and made others laugh.  I enjoyed that there weren’t overtly catty females causing general mayhem.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a sweet (and sometimes steamy) retelling of classic fairy tales.   

Marti Talbot's Highlander Series I

I am so pleasantly surprised by this book.  I am definitely going to get the next book in the series (once October 1st hits as my book allowance will allow that).  I am always a little bit leery of the free books and I tend to have a little bit more lenient review for free books because…well they are free. 

As you can see from the title of the book, this book is actually a compilation of three novellas featuring first Anna, then Rachel and finishing with Charlet.  I loved each of the stories by themselves, but they created a larger story that I loved as well. 

Anna is sent to marry Laird Kevin MacGreagor sight unseen.  However, when she arrives she is a little worse for wear.  She was taught that she should fear the highlanders and when they find her badly beaten they are angry and she is more frightened.  The rest of the story is the story of Anna and Kevin and how they grow together. 

Rachel is Anna’s little sister.  She was barely four years old when she came to live with the MacGreagor’s.  Connor has loved Rachel for a long time and it appears that she can’t stand him.  There is trouble with a near-by clan and Rachel is the scout to find out the other clan’s plans.  She gets into a bit of trouble on one of these missions and Connor goes out of his mind with worry. 

Charlet is the baby that was found on MacGreagor land sixteen years.  Now the English are after her, to wed or kill her, and every Laird in Scotland wants to marry her to keep her from the English.  In an effort to save her, Laird Kevin MacGreagor sends her away with Blair Cameron (Laird Thomas Cameron’s second) to keep her safe. 

My criticism only applies to the first two books with Anna and Rachel.  They both have reasons to not like small spaces and I understand this, but the way they acted on these feelings was annoying to me.  It could be that I don’t have any irrational fears that I didn’t like that aspects.  I found their mother to be selfish.

Overall I really enjoyed these.  The descriptions of the land, people, dress etc was wonderful.  The stories are short enough to keep my attention the entire time.    

Fate Succumbs by Tammy Blackwell (Timber Wolves #3)

Oh-My-Goodness.  I have had this book on my kindle for a couple of months but just now read it, and I read it in 2 days once I started (because I couldn’t be bothered to do such things as eat or sleep, who needs those, pah!)

So the book picks up with Scout and Liam on the lamb from the Alpha Pack.  Liam is his typical self, being scowly  and brooding.  He doesn’t tell Scout where they are going or what the plan is.  Scout is still devastated that Jase has betrayed her and she doesn’t know what happened to Charlie after they escaped.  They move from place to place and soon find that they need to disguise Scout as the Alpha Pack has released to the media that this particular Senator’s daughter is missing so the whole country is looking for the strange looking girl with pale skin, silvery hair and silvery eyes. 

Throughout the book we learn more about the shifter culture and just what exactly is so wrong that the rebellion is needed for.  We learn about Liam and Alex’s past.  Alex still comes to Scout in her dreams.  Liam and Scout get closer.  This is the last book in the series (although, I just want my voice to be heard, I think this should be a quadrilogy, or a longer even!) so we do get resolution to the situation with the alpha pack. We met more characters and I loved them all!  Just Read it! 

Favorite Quote:  I will have you know that this author is amazingly funny!  There were so many times when I found myself chuckling or smiling at something Scout said and that doesn’t happen often for me.  I love you Tammy Blackwell!  So I don’t really know if this is my favorite, it is one of a long line of favorite scenes…

“Are all Shifters impervious to the cold, or are you just so badass the cold avoids you out of fear of being Chuck Norrised?” –Scout to Liam

***Spoiler***

I read from others that they didn’t feel like the Scout/Liam connection was valid and I must respectfully disagree.  I absolutely loved, loved, loved it!  It was slow and sweet.  They were both struggling over whether it was real or cabin fever or just Alex-look-a-like attraction.  My only complaint about it was the very end when Liam came back from Romania, it ended a few pages too soon.  What is the plan?  He asked her to give up the alpha position!  She said no, but that should have been a bigger deal.  Will he stay in Kentucky or will she go to Romania.  I could have used another entire chapter just about those two stinkers working things out.  I savored every moment throughout the book when those two got pushed too far and their lovey-dovey feelings broke through.