4.5 Star
Review: Broken by Shiloh Walker
Title: Broken
Author: Shiloh Walker
Release: March 2nd, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.
Desperate
Sarah McElya is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.
Driven to desire…
But Quinn must get closer to Sarah when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…
I have heard about the greatness of Shiloh Walker all over twitterverse for a while now…. but my time has been limited and being that urban fantasy is really my favorite genre, I had put her books low on my list. When the opportunity to join the ARC tour sponsored by the Book Vixen, I jumped at the chance! Thus my Shiloh Walker virginity is gone and I was oh so wrong to wait so long!
Sara is on the run, tho we don’t find out why til the very end. I found myself assuming she was on the run because her husband was abusive, the snippet flashbacks point to that. Yet, everything we see of her personality led me to think there was something else going on. She is a fighter, she didn’t seem like the running type. These contradictions had me invested in her character from the start. I love a good strong female lead who can be strong yet maintain her compassion and femininity and Shiloh Walker gives us that in Sara.
Quinn. I could say so much about this man, but the easiest thing to say? Wow. Somehow Walker crawled inside my head and created a man I couldn’t help but drool over. He is broken, tormented, wounded. He is protective and strong, but still respectful of Sara as a person. He is so emotional within his own head, but expressing it was next to impossible. Somehow Walker makes this fault both endearing and lovable.
I loved the plot of Broken, great twists that I didn’t see coming! I did wish for a bit more action throughout the story, but I am not sure it would have fit in and that doesn’t keep me from loving this book. The development of the relationship between Quinn and Sara was certainly strong enough to carry the story. It was passionate and desperate in all the ways we book sluts love. One of my favorite dialogue scenes from the start of their relationship:
Sara cocked a brow at him. “Didn’t you tell me a few days ago I’d be better off keeping my distance from you?”
“Yeah, I told you that.”
“Hard to do if you come looking for me.”
Quinn shrugged. “I don’t see you walking away.”
“I was here first,” she said pointedly.
But what really gets me about this book is the smokin hot sex appeal of Quinn and his mouth. He talks at all the right times, and I love it. For a man who claims to not know how to flirt, he sure picks it up quickly.
Raking his teeth over the soft skin of her wrist, he said gruffly, “You really shouldn’t look at me like that in a public place, Sara.”
“Look at you how?” she asked, her voice almost as hoarse as his own. She blinked at him, looking a little dazed.
This book is not in a series, per say, but it is related to the previous book Fragile which features Quinn’s brother Luke. I will be picking Fragile up without question. Broken is an excellent read for any romance reader and Shiloh Walker is definitely going on my “must buy” list of authors!
Other Reviews:
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author as part of an ARC TOUR
Review: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry
Title: Road Trip of the Living Dead (Amanda Feral, Book 2)
Author: Mark Henry
Release: March 1st, 2009
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I opened up Road Trip of the Living Dead and prepared myself to be entirely grossed out by Mark Henry’s sick and twisted sense of humor again. He did not disappoint and I quickly found myself gasping and giggling at Amanda Feral and her “pottymouth.” I mean how can one not love her?
I’m a total shoe slut. Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin: this is an open invitation. Feel free to run a train on me. The cost? Stilettos, duh.
In Road Trip of the Living Dead Amanda, Wendy, and Gil find themselves up to their supernatural asses in trouble and are forced out on the run (all because of some really gross ghost urine!). The gang uses the need to leave town as an opportunity to visit Amanda’s deathly ill mother. However, nothing is ever simple for these three and their road trip quickly turns into an adventure filled with action, danger, gold grills, and fleshlights (google if you must, but I warn you… do it when you are completely alone! its errrr interesting).
While I found book 1, Happy Hour of the Damned, to be heavy on the character plotting, book 2 was a nice blend of character and interesting storyline. If anything I think Gil and Wendy took a smaller role about halfway through and I missed them a tiny bit! The mystery and suspense was better and more to the forefront than the previous book. I was engrossed in the oddly developing story and simply did not want to put this one down! Mark Henry brings in some new characters that are sure to make you laugh, including a sexy new werewolf named Scott. We even got a smexy scene that will make you snicker!
I have only one itsy bitsy complaint (or I would have given this 5 stars) ~ I wanted more with Amanda’s mother. We get such a tiny glimpse of her at the end and I was slightly confused as to what happened to/with her. There was quite a bit of setup as to Amanda and her mother and that plot line seemed to take a bit of a backseat in the end. However Amanda did make a few comments that lead me to believe this was intentional and more is coming.
With Road Trip of the Living Dead Mark Henry had me once again laughing hysterically, out loud, causing the hubby to look at me like I had lost a few marbles. If you haven’t yet jumped on the Save Amanda Feral bandwagon, don’t worry, there is still time! Book 1, Happy Hour of the Damned, is being re-released as Mass Market Paperback on January 26th and you can pre-order it from amazon.com here. You can read my review of book 1 here. Book 3, Battle of the Network Zombies is being released on February 23rd.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author.
Review: Skin Game by Ava Gray
Title: Skin Game (Skin, Book 1)
Author: Ava Gray
Release: December 1st, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A hit man who never misses the mark.
Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
*Warning* I am totally going to quote a super smexy scene below.
Kyra is a woman on the run. Ever since she conned a wealthy dangerous man from Las Vegas she has been going from city to city conning locals with big egos, trying to stay ahead of the hit man she is sure that is on her tail. Kyra is unique, somehow she has the ability to steal a person’s talent with simply a touch of their skin. The talent or length it will last is never a sure thing, so she has to move fast and make a quick getaway.
Reyes is a hitman, with a sense of morality. He takes the job of tracking down Kyra and finding out where she put the mobster’s money, by whatever means necessary. He plans for everything job related, but the one thing he didn’t plan for was the instant attraction between him and his mark. The more he works to earn Kyra’s trust and find the mobster’s money, the closer he gets to her and the more complicated his job becomes.
One sentence could sum this entire book up…. Kyra and Reyes are HOT. My favorite scene is without a doubt the first time the two get to the smexing on page 23. Reyes is a man who likes to be in control and Kyra is a girl who likes to fight it. The chemistry between them is instant and we get a book filled with smoldering sexual tension!
“You’re not in charge, Kyra. try to tell me what to do again and I’ll stop. If you want to be completely in control, you should do it yourself.”
“Bastard. Maybe I will.” She reached between them, curled her fingers around his cock, and squeezed. “Who’s in charge now?”
His hips bucked. “You make me come like this, and you don’t get a hard cock inside you tonight. Let go.”
She levered up on an elbow, working her fingers along his length in an irresistible rhythm. “Make me.”
For as quickly as the two first do the “deed” and as much sensual tensions as there is in the book, I was worried the book would be all erotica with little plot. No need to worry tho, Ava Gray balanced a great romance with an equally great plot. Kyra and Reyes spend days/weeks on the run yet it is never boring because the interactions between them are so well done.
Skin Game is well paced thoroughly captivating to read. Not only are the main characters interesting, but the side characters do a great job supporting the story and creating interest. I can’t wait to find out more about Foster and what his story is. I am predicting he has something supernatural about him, but we won’t know for sure until book 2, Skin Tight, comes out.
Only one thing kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. I would have liked more knowledge or setting up of Kyra and her supernatural gift. Her ability is the only thing paranormal in this story and is just thrown out there as fact. There is no supernatural world building or background to base it off of at this point. I am hoping we get more in future books. On top of that Reyes accepted her ability easier than I would have thought. Yes, he had some reason to, but in a world that appears to be completely normal I expected a bit more disbelief.
All said in done, Skin Game is a hot, sexy, fun read. I will definitely be picking up Skin Tight when it releases in June, 2010. If you haven’t read Skin Game yet and would like…. stay tuned! I happen to have an extra copy and will be offering it up shortly!
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
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