Review: Hot on the Hunt

Title: Hot on the Hunt
Series: ICE: Black Ops Defenders, #3
Author: Melissa Cutler
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 288
Buy Link: Amazon

Blurb:

This ex-ICE agent has one last chance with the one who got away -- if he can protect her long enough...

Black-ops agent Alicia Troy spent years plotting the perfect revenge on the man who left her for dead...until her plan is foiled by her ex-teammate--and ex-lover--who taught her the meaning of betrayal. She can't trust John Witter...so why can't she stop wanting him?

For John, it's a race to get to Alicia's intended victim before she does because he's the only one who can prove John's innocence, but the race turns into a battle of wits against the woman who believes he deceived her. But when their former agency turns on them both, labeling them "armed and dangerous," John has a new mission: keep his woman alive.

Review

As always, Melissa Cutler never disappoints. She is a freaking LEGEND! Move aside Ms. Nora Roberts, Melissa's coming through! :)

This book was filled with action and tense situations between Alicia and John. I especially loved that a red lipstick is Alicia's calming agent. As a beauty lover, I really enjoyed reading that when she feels a bit down, she just put on her red lipstick and she feels like her powerful self again. I also loved that even though she's lethal in every way, she also was a bit vain. She's such a strong heroine, I think she could be a great role model if she was a real person.

John, on the other hand, was the definition of honor. He might as well had the word tattooed on his forehead. He felt it was a weakness because of how he was treated by the people he trusted most. However, he couldn't shake off the integrity he possessed. Add to that he didn't want anything bad to happen to Alicia. You know people truly cared for each other when even they felt betrayed, they still looked out for that person. That's an amazing quality to have.

I also really enjoyed that the rest of the crew made a short cameo. I just loved it when such strong individuals were in the same vicinity as one another. It also meant that there were room for humor because of the different personalities present. 

Finally, the bedroom scenes were just enough. I loved the sexual tension that was there for more than half the book. I was sure the characters felt the same way, but the wait was completely worth it. 

      He ripped his shirt over his head and tossed it on the bed, then rubbed a casual hand over his chest and abs. He wanted her to look. It was vain and stupid, but so what? Let her see what she was missing because she was too proud and scared to admit that she believed in his innocence.
      Holding her gaze, he walked her way, toward the bathroom door to the left of her desk, unlatching the fly of his jeans as he moved.
      He stopped in the doorway, leaned his shoulder against the molding and grinned at Alicia's flushed face and chest that wasn't yet moving.
      "Don't forget to breathe, Phoenix."

Can we just take a moment to let that imagery sink in? *fans self*

If you haven't read this series at all, why? Do you live under a rock? Do you not enjoy reading? There's something wrong with you. Just saying. Go buy this series. I've linked the reviews I did for the first two books. Don't miss out.

Tempted by Danger, #1 | Secret Agent Secretary, #2

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Review: In Your Corner

Title: In Your Corner
Series: Redemption, #2
Author: Sarah Castille
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 302
Buy Link: Amazon | Audio CD

Blurb:

"You have to go. I won't be able to control myself. I've wanted you so bad for so long and after I've been in the cage...I can't think straight." He gives a guttural groan and his fist clenches on my hip.

Primitive. Primal. His need speaks to me. I tighten my grip on his neck and rock up to kiss him. He takes over. His kiss is hard and demanding.

"Mine." His voice is raw, savage and for a moment I truly believe he may lose control.

He rules in the ring

Two years ago, Jake and Amanda were going hot and heavy. But when Jake wanted more, Amanda walked away. Jake immersed himself in mixed martial arts, living life on the edge. But that didn't dull the pain of Amanda's rejection-until a chance encounter throws them together.

A high-powered lawyer, Amanda was a no-strings-attached kind of girl. But two years after her breakup with Jake, she still hasn't found anyone who gets her heart pumping the way he did. And then he shows up in her boardroom, hot as sin and needing help...

But can he rule her heart?

Jake is darker, sexier, and impossible to resist. As their chemistry builds, Amanda's not sure if she can stay in control, or if she's finally willing to let him claim her body and soul.

Review

Hot, Sexy, Humorous. Sarah Castille does it again!

I fell in love with this series when I read the first book, Against the Ropes. Just like the first book, trust was an issue. However, this book was much darker, had more pain, and Amanda was more confused.

"I drift. In and out of nightmares. Breaking glass. Harsh laughter. Thin, reedy voices. Pounding on doors. My cries awaken me. And then I drift again. In the haze of sleep, I imagine the bed dips. An arm wraps around me, holding me tight. A warm body spoons me, keeping me safe and warm. The deep rumble of a voice soothes me."

Amanda couldn't give her heart to anyone because she didn't think she knew how. She was afraid of being let down like always. Poor Amanda. I felt bad for her. No one deserved to feel that way, especially not her.

Thankfully, Jake realized his previous mistake and he stuck around. Jake was the definition of a person who loved unconditionally. He accepted Amanda in spite of the flaws that she tried to hide from him. He loved her for who she had become. It only took Amanda long to figure it out.

Other characters in this story tickled me quite a bit. Rampage was such a crazy character. He was always messing around, had a big grin on his face, but also he had quite the observation skills. I just loved the vibe he gave out. I hope he'll find the woman for him in future books :)

Rampage: "This is 'manda. She's Redemption's unofficial attorney and she's Renegade's girl. That means you don't speak to her; you don't look at her; you don't touch her; you don't breathe the same air as her. She's gonna train over there. (points to the far end of the mat) We're gonna train over there. (points to the opposite end)"
Amanda: "I feel like a pariah. And by the way, I'm not Renegade's girl."
Rampage: "Everyone knows you're Renegade's girl. Don't need to be shy."
Amanda: "How does everyone know? Did he say something?"
Rampage: "He didn't need to say anything. A man stakes his claim, every man with a beating heart in the vicinity knows it. That was done the first day he brought you back to Redemption. Reinforced at the renovation party. The minute you walk in here, he's got eyes on you. He's got hands on you. He keeps the sharks away. You never wonder why no one bothers you? You never ask yourself why, looking the way you look and dressing the way you dress and smiling that pretty smile and with all those smarts in your head, you've never been harassed at Redemption?"
Amanda: "But.."
Rampage: "You're his. Looks like you're the only one who doesn't know it."

Ray was the other character that I fell in love with. The man was a caveman! Way too protective, but within reason. He was also very good at reading Amanda. His protectiveness towards Penny was also very endearing. I wonder if they would end up together? That would be interesting :)

Penny: "If I want to dance around the cage, that's my business."
Ray: "You just try to dance around the cage, Pen. I'll be all over your ass. We gotta find you a man that will look after you. A good man. Someone who'll treat you right."
Penny: "I had a man."
Ray: "You had a worm."

Overall, this book is a must read like the first one. The sex was sizzling, and it had a lot of heart. It showed that hard work and determination paid off in the end. All Amanda needed to do was ask for help.

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Interview: Jeffe Kennedy

Title: Going Under
Series: Falling Under Trilogy, #1
Author: Jeffe Kennedy

Blurb:

Knowing all too well the damage online trolls can inflict, game designer Emily Bartwell takes privacy seriously. Living in solitude and working remotely under a male alias gives her a sense of security. The sexy writer renting the house next door ignites desires she’d forgotten she had, and when he invites her to play games of a very different sort, Em is ready and willing. Even if it means breaking all her own rules to abide by his.

Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.

At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he’s not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.

Interview

Hi! Welcome to my blog! Thank you for stopping by and answering some questions!

Sure thing – thanks for inviting me!

1. Where did you get the inspiration for this book?

Well, originally this was going to be part of my Facets of Passion series, which all have precious gems-style titles and take place on various coasts. This book was going to be “Emerald” and I wanted it to be in the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest. To me that means computer tech. I was also fascinated by what some female gamers have gone through, dealing with online trolls. I wanted a heroine who was a gamer and – more than that – a game designer. I wanted someone super smart and who was in hiding because online trolls ruined her life. I went from there!

2. How did you choose your character names?

Heh – names carry a lot of meaning for me, so I choose them carefully. My heroine has layers of identities, so she has several names. She picks “Phoenix” to be her screen name as a game designer, both because evokes glory and supremacy, but also to emblemize that she’s risen from the ashes of her former life. Her day to day name, Emily, is one she deliberately picked to be plain and unassuming. She was born with a society name – Silar – which I pulled from “Heroes.” I wanted that sense of her being a superhero and having alternate identities. She scrambled it when she married and made it be Lisa R. All of this reflects that she sees herself as being many different people – and she’s not sure which is real. As for Fox, his name is actually Raynard – a family name that means “fox” in French. I wanted him to have a nickname that conveyed how clever and wily he is. He’s also a ginger, so that played on a couple of levels.

3. Do your characters remind you of someone you know in real life?

Not exactly. All of my characters have fragments of me in them, but they’re also very much their own people. I sure wouldn’t mind knowing Fox though! :)

4. Since writing erotica sometimes can be a bit "hot", do you ever need to take a moment after writing a scene?

LOL! I don’t necessarily have to take a moment, but yes, I do get totally revved. It’s good energy, though, so I usually pour it into something else.

5. Anything you'd like to say to my readers before you go?

As always, thanks for reading. You all are my tribe! I’m happy to answer more questions in the comments.

Thanks again for visiting my blog!

Thank you!

About the Author:

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author with a writing career that spans decades. Her works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including Redbook. 

Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns;  the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and an erotic  contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera, which released beginning January 2, 2014. A fourth series, the fantasy trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms, hit the shelves starting in May 2014 and a fifth, the highly anticipated erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, will release starting in July. 

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog, on Facebook, and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Foreword Literary.

http://www.jeffekennedy.com/

http://www.jeffekennedy.com/category/blog/

https://www.facebook.com/jeffe.kennedy

https://twitter.com/jeffekennedy

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