Dangerous by Diana Palmer ~Review and Contest

DANGEROUS
Long, Tall Texans
Hardcover
HQN Books
ISBN-10: 0373774591
ISBN-13: 978-0373774593 Buy link
 
Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville’s resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn’t handle a man like him—a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven....

Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven’s pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family’s unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it...and the ice around his heart.

As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie’s life is on the line, and she’ll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love.

My Thoughts:

Kilraven, a CIA agent working undercover in Jacobsville, Texas, has had an extremely rough hand dealt to him. Facing, or should we say not facing, the deaths of his wife and three year old daughter he is bent on revenge and justice. The killer is still at large and it seems that these two senseless deaths are linked to several other murders that have taken place over the last few years. Opening his cold case, two officers are attacked, and there is a small break in the case.

Kilraven needs Winnie's, a local 9-1-1 dispatcher, help to interrogate a Senator's wife. He is well aware of young Winnie's feelings for him and her innocence, but he doesn't care who he uses or the depths that he must go in order to find the person responsible for his family's murders.

 I have to admit that I am struggling with this "review". I am always pleased to be considered to read and review new releases, whether it be a well known author or a new comer to the scene, but Dangerous is the first one that I really wish I had passed on to the next willing reviewer. In excepting the offer I have an obligation to both my followers and the author to give an honest review, which includes my feelings on the book. With that in mind, please remember that these are my thoughts and opinions and you should by no means let them cloud your reading expectations of this well known author and her current new release.

Dangerous fell flat for me. I had a lot of hang ups while trying to read this book. It has been many years since I have read a book by Diana Palmer, so many in fact that I can not remember the names of the books that I read. I know she has a huge following, but after finishing Dangerous I have to wonder why.

The relationship between Kilraven and Winnie made me feel like I was back in high school. The boys will say anything to get into the girls pants. Yes, Winnie is suppose to be innocent, but at 22 years old you would think that she would have some inclination as to what a boy, or in this case a man, would say or do to girl/woman who he wants to get into bed, yet have no strings attached. I am fine with the fact that Kilraven wants to marry Winnie to gain information for his murder investigation and want an annulment as soon as the investigation is over, it does make for good story line and provides a way for the hero and heroine to get together. But in the same sentence he also suggests that they take liberties and indulge themselves and actually share the marital bed and get a divorce instead of an annulment just seemed a  little callous and again I was transported back to high school.

The constant repetition of thoughts, comments, etc really had me pulling my hair out.  For example, and this one is just a minor one:

"...Her face was flaming, and not only from the intimate position. She hadn't dreamed that men would say such blatant things to women! 'Im not on the pill!'

That stopped him dead. His mind wasn't working. It was enslaved to the throbbing hunger in his lower extremities. he didn't have anything, either. He didn't carry prophylactics because he never slept with women. She could get pregnant. Just for an instant, he thought about a baby in her arms and his whole soul felt grief like a lance. No! Never again!

...'It amazes me,' he said.
'What?' she asked.
'How very innocent you are,' he remarked quietly, staring straight into her dark eyes.
She colored prettily. 'I'm getting less innocent by the day' she said tautly.
He grinned. 'Didn't know men said such blatant things to women?'"

Like I said, this example is very mild but it occurs throughout the book. One person is thinking something or saying something and in comes another person with the same comment or voicing the thoughts of the other. Palmer also has the annoying habit of explaining everything and leaving nothing to your imagination. I could have gone with out several scenes while Winnie was at work or the couples walks to the car. Let me add here that I read not the finished product but the "Advanced Uncorrected Proof."  I really hope that the finished product has eliminated the problem (in my opinion) areas.


While I was struggling in the beginning, wanting to put the book down and move on to the next, I decided I would surf the net and try to find another review of Dangerous. My initial search found only one giveaway and one review in blog land. I recently did another one and found another review. One is pretty negative and the other pretty positive. So here are the links to the reviews:

Positive Review

Negative Review

The overall story line was descent and if I could have just gotten past my own hang ups with the repetition and "telling" of the story I think I would have enjoyed Dangerous more.

My rating: 3 stars

Now for the contest

Thanks to the publisher I have two books to giveaway. 

All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment. 

Contest is open until May 31

Opened to United States and Canada only.

I will post the winners June 1

Wasteland series is out!

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The Wanderer-by Crystal Jordan
This story opens up the reader’s eyes to a whole new world. Kadira and Ezra’s chemistry burn up the pages, not to mention what happens when they bring more people into their bed. The Wasteland comes alive in a wild post apocalyptic way that reveals a tribal community with technological know how and a lot of…um…interesting customs.
Buy Here

The Whore-by Lilli Feisty
You may think the title says it all. And its true, no one does in your face gritty like our Feisty, but there is a lot of vulnerability, humor, and yes, man on man while a woman is watching love as well. Feisty takes us to the edges of city life. The darker edges. Shows us that there is more to this Wasteland than meets the eye. And she shows us pirates…I mean…pirates for heaven’s sake.
Buy Here

The Breeder-by Eden Bradley
Nitara brings us into the heart of Kroy Wen, the sacred Temple. She shows us civilization-the fragile, barely hidden barbarity of it. And she shows us that when love is involved, acts of great courage are still possible, even in the Wasteland. (And yes, you heathens, she also shows us dirty nookie and threesomes and man on man love.)
Buy Here

The Priestess-by RG Alexander
The final book gets to touch base with each of the worlds. Most closely intertwined with Eden Bradley’s Breeder, it starts in the Temple. But Xian, The High Priestess, comes into contact with pirates, thieves, and Wanderers. Hel, her Sun Guard, has a past with them as well. When Xian goes off to discover the truth about the world shes living in, why she doesn’t have all the answers as High Priestess, she takes Hel along and they discover the addictive taste of freedom.
Buy Here

I am just a little excited about this series (anthology). It is not normally something that I would pick up on my own but after reading two weeks worth of blurbs and excerpts I am jonesing. The last of the four book was released yesterday...now I can get all of them and start reading!!!

Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas~~DIK Reading Challenge

Why is Lady Sophia looking for a lover?

And could she seduce the most marriageable man in London? 

Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal -- to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So she insinuates herself into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house. 

She knows he is falling more in love with her each day. But she never counted on falling in love with him. And she never dreamed he might very respectably ask for her hand in marriage... 

My Thoughts:

I love Lisa Kleypas! I don't think I have ever bought a book with her name on it that I did not absolutely love. And saying that I realize now that I always go into reading a Kleypas book with high expectations. Happily Lady Sophia's Lover held up to not only the hype but to my expectations. I know we always say we just could not put it down, but that was the case again.

 This is the second book in the Bow Street Runners series. I normally try to steer clear of starting a series in the middle but I have heard so many wonderful things about this one particular book and the title worked in two of the challenges I am participating in, I made the exception and I am so glad that I did.

Sir Ross, handling the job of several men, is the Chief Magistrate and the people either love him or they hate him. He is known to be a fair man and is willing to help anyone and everyone.  These traits are not what Sophia was expecting when she took on the job of his assistant at Bow Street. She was looking forward to meeting an aging bald man with added padding around his waist who exhibited awful character traits. 

His protective instincts come to the front almost immediately where Sophia is concerned. After years of celibacy and leading a lonely life of work and more work, Ross is shocked when he is faced with a rather uncomfortable condition and racy thoughts concerning the beautiful Lady Sophia. The sparks are flying from their first meeting and he knows that it is only a matter of time before he gets her into his bed.  Sophia's plans are falling apart around her with every day that she spends in Sir Ross's presence. She is most certain that she will be the one to suffer a broken heart when her plan comes to fruition...Make Sir Ross love her and leave him with a broken heart after she has ruined him.
 

I loved everything about Lady Sophia's Lover. There is a battle of wills, a saucy woman, a strong man who knows he can not do anything but fall in love with the beauty in his life, revenge, manly protective instincts...what is not to love. 

Rating 5 stars

 

The Breeder by Eden Bradley

Need to give a shout out to Eden Bradley and her new release The Breeder! This is book three in the Wasteland series.  Happy Release Day, Eden!!

From the Smutketeers Blog

(What a beautiful cover!)

In 2012, the world came to a grinding halt as radiation hit from a massive solar storm. Crops died, animals perished, cities fell and humans became little more than beasts themselves. Under the threat of starvation, civility was reduced to mere memory. Only the strongest men survived, and physically weaker women and children wasted to nothingness. 

More than a century later, humanity struggles in the desert Wasteland that was left. The solar radiation rendered most women infertile, and the population dwindles more with each year that passes. Scattered up and down coasts, isolated cities eke out an existence from fishing, foraging and hunting for what little game remains. Outside the city walls, men face the threat of pirates and raiders.

Few women remain, divided into four classes—Wanderers, Whores, Breeders and Priestesses. They are as reviled as they are worshiped, a commodity any man must pay to touch. 

There is only one rule in the Wasteland—survive.

Book One: THE WANDERER — Crystal Jordan, May 4, 2010
Book Two: THE WHORE — Lilli Feisty, May 11, 2010
Book Three: THE BREEDER — Eden Bradley, May 18, 2010
Book Four: THE PRIESTESS — R.G. Alexander, May 25, 2010

THE BREEDER, Book Three in the Wasteland Series

Destined to serve the desires of an entire city, all she wants is one man. Or maybe two…

Wasteland, Book 3

Born to the Temple, Nitara knows the Great Goddess’s plan for her: to bring life into what is left of an arid and wasted Earth. Since puberty she has been trained to arouse and titillate, to ensure the continuation of the human race.

As is the custom, the man captured for her is strong of blood, though considered little more than a wild animal. Yet when she looks into his eyes, she sees no primitive creature, but the man whose face and hands haunt her sensual dreams.

For Akaash, a hunter and warrior, it’s his shame that he will be sacrificed to a goddess he doesn’t believe in, for a people who are not his own, leaving behind his Wanderer clan—and his bonded lover, Dhatri. Locked in the bowels of the Temple, he has a month to ponder his fate, all while falling helplessly under the spell of the virgin temptress who will soon take his life.

With each tortuously erotic encounter, however, Akaash realizes that Nitara is as much a prisoner as he. If he can just get a message out to Dhatri, there may be a slim chance both of them can escape…

Warning: Sexual acts in a prison cell, by the sea, in the desert, on an altar, with every possible combination of dirty deeds between two men and one very lucky woman, and all of it hot enough to melt sand! And her panties. If she were wearing any.

Now I have not had the opportunity to read any of the books included in the Wasteland series, but I am really looking forward to getting my fingers on these extremely hot books! Head on over to the Smutketeers blog and get a glimpse into The Breeder  with  an X rated excerpt!

Wicked Sexy by RG Alexander

Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Red Hots!

ISBN: 978-1-60504-887-1
Length: Novella
Publication Date: January 26, 2010
Cover art by Tuesday Dube
 
Something magic this way comes…

Wicked ³, Book 1

Callie has always known the Abbotts were different. Witches, though they call themselves “Magians”. They are her second family. Harrison Abbott has been her best friend since they were children. Tucker Abbott, her life-long crush. And their brother, Tyghe? A magical pain in her backside.

When the Abbotts need her human perspective to solve a mystery, she doesn’t hesitate. Especially since it means getting everything she ever wanted. A chance to be one of them, to have magic, even if it’s only temporary.

Someone is attacking young women at Triune, a ritual that helps Magians find their perfect threesome—the match that will complete their magic and their hearts. Callie expected to be dazzled by her first glimpse into the Magian world, but the bone-melting desire between her and the Abbott brothers isn’t part of the plan.

Nor is the decades-old secret that makes her the target of a killer…

My Thoughts:

I came across this amazing set of ladies, The Smutketeers, over the weekend through Samhain Cafe (Yahoo Group).  I joined their Yahoo group and joined in on some of the conversations. I realized that I had not yet read anything by any of the authors. Having had a difficult time with my last book I went scrolling through my Kindle to find something by a familiar author when I ran across the name R G Alexander. What do you know...this lady happens to be one of the Smutketeers and I have at least two of her books unread. So I opened up this novella with my coffee in hand started reading.

I couldn't stop reading! My hubby is none too happy as I was suppose to finish pressure washing the deck which completely slipped my mind while I wrapped up with the Magians. I can not possibly tell you any more about the plot of the story than the blurb that I grabbed from Samhain already does without giving too much away so unfortunately you will have to suffer listening to me rambling away about how I feel!! LOL

Those of you that have followed me for a while know that I don't like Anthologies and Novellas are not that high on the list either, however I was pleasantly pleased with this one. When I finished I felt fulfilled. Other than wanting to know what happens next for Harrison and getting glimpses into Callie's Happily Ever After I wanted for nothing when I turned the last page. You know what I mean... so often when reading a novella I feel like things are rushed and I am left wanting more, not a sequel but more story... the author just didn't pull it off for me kind of thing.  Wicked Sexy was the exact opposite, everything progressed smoothly without being rushed. There was enough background information leading up to the romance to make you feel like "this is right!"

The mystery that needs solving opens up doors for Callie that she never thought possible. It also lands her slap dab in Tyghe's arms, something she almost dreads. Tyghe has been the bane of her existence since she met Harrison as a child. Tyghe tormented her, cast spells on her bike, and just made life a little more interesting. It seemed only right that Tyghe and Callie would have this strong attraction to each other after the spell was cast. Problem being that Tyghe is highly jealous of Callie's long time infatuation with older brother Tucker, who is thankfully away on a one man hunting trip.

To top off a wonderful page turning plot, RG can write some explosive love scenes! Ladies bring your fans when reading Wicked Sexy.

Rating: 5 stars

LOVER MINE by JR Ward

I really don't think that I need to include the blurb for this book! Everyone has jumped on this bandwagon and knows that the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood novel is all about John Matthew and Xhex. This long awaited for romance definitely did not disappoint! It captured me from the very first page. I finished LOVER MINE over a week ago, but have been so wrapped up in trying to get some books read, which I only accomplished one, playing Mafia Wars, and joining new yahoo groups that I have been very bad in not getting my thoughts on my blog.

I have not always been a big fan of Xhex, but I have to say that she does make the perfect mate for John Matthew. LOVER MINE keeps you on an emotional roller coaster that has you loving to hate Xhex and breaking your heart not only for JM but for Blay and Qhuinn as well. I think that for content alone this one has just become my favorite BDB book...I still have my ranking of the Brothers and JM has never been number 1, but I loved his story! I kept waiting for Xhex to figure out that JM was not Darius's son but Darius himself, but of course it never happened.

I really didn't get why JR Ward deviated so far south to the Plantation and the investigation of ghosts. I understand now that she needed a way to leave an opening for the next book, which unfortunately won't be Blay and Qhuinn's story... because these Brothers really need to get their Happily Ever After!!

Rating: 5 stars

Happy Mother's Day

I doubt that I will be logging in over the weekend, so I wanted  to take a moment to wish all of you special ladies a Happy Mother's Day!!

My son is sick so we won't be going to his baseball game, but I am looking forward to spending a weekend at home with both my kids, husband, and LOVER MINE.

I have jumped on the band wagon...

I have just spent the last few days totally immersed in the HBO series True Blood. Now I tried to watch it when it first aired, but the first episode was so raunchy I just couldn't bring myself to actually sit down and watch it knowing my kids were in the next room. Well, we recently added HBO back to our cable package and Seasons 1 &2 are on Demand so I can watch it during the safety of school hours... no children can accidentally walk in and see or hear something that they really shouldn't and I won't have any interruptions, kind of a double bonus!! Anyway, this series actually trumped reading. I have been so involved in the series and jonesing to find out what is going to happen next that I have taken every spare minute of my day and nights to watch all 24 episodes throwing all books to the wayside. LOVER MINE showed up yesterday morning and I couldn't make myself sit down with it...now how  f&*^ed up is that (please excuse that slip--I do try to keep my posts and language clean, but I fear that is exactly how I feel). How can a simple TV show trump the Brotherhood? I mean I refused to buy the books because I found the covers to be rather silly and uninteresting, but now I have the entire series sitting in my closet, thanks to my mother who has read the entire series and won't shut up about it, and all I can think about is crawling onto the couch and diving into the that first hideous covered book and reading the entire series cover to cover with out coming up for air. My husband is actually kind of shocked with me... He has not seen a book or my Kindle in my hands in days and he knows about my obsession with the Brotherhood and cannot believe that the beautiful book is still sitting in the box that it came in.
So after watching the last episode of Season 2 I logged on and headed straight to Ms. Moonlight's blog. She is the only person that I could remember having read the series, wasn't sure if she had watched the HBO series...guess I should have known she would not have let the series get by her. lol I only scanned some of her posts concerning True Blood, skipped right over the book reviews--I don't want to taint my own opinions when I finally sit down to read the books. My first thoughts about Bill were very similar. I just cannot see the fascination that he stirs, I mean he does seem rather dull and old fashioned. Remember I have not read the books... I have to admit he has grown on me, he still looks a little old, but his looks are growing on me and he is starting to make me think of a classically good looking man with the old Southern manners that I really do believe some men really should adopt. Jason is some major eye candy, but he certainly isn't the brightest penny in the bag. My daughter calls him a man whore, my friend says he is not respected, but ohhh my wouldn't I like to have him sitting on my couch doing nothing more than looking pretty and ummm well you get where this is going. Eric--what is there to say about him. He seems like a real dick. I am very happy that he had to cut his hair because it just looked wrong long and shaggy... but is he good looking? Like I told a friend of mine in Savannah..."he hasn't grown on me" there is potential there. Sookie, I didn't like her in the beginning but I am really loving her now. I found myself in the very beginning of the series hoping that Sookie would choose Sam over Bill but it just wasn't in the cards. I love Tara and Lafayette. These two have brought tears to my eyes with their antics and comments.

Now I must wait until next month before the next season starts and I am wondering do I put the list of books that I have for May to the side and just read Sookie or do I wait. There are benefits to both. The wait makes it that much sweeter and I get to enjoy several good books in the process, but I am in the mood for instant gratification. In the end I will probably just sit it out and read the books next month, when I haven't so many other distractions. Right now I have one review and contest due at the end of the month, another possible review for the beginning of June, and two challenges that I need to complete. That's 8 books before the end of May and we all know that I am slower than dirt when reading. So the posts will definitely continue to be slow in coming, but I am planning on getting a few out with this month!!

Enjoy your Hump Day and I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!