LYNDA CHANCE - SEDUCED BY THE AMERICAN MILLIONNAIRE

LOUISIANA LIAISON #1

RESUME
An Erotic Novella of Desire and Temptation
Life in the suburbs has been domestic, not daring. A fateful trip into the city delivers unsuspecting single mom Jenny Babin into the hands of ruthless Richard Bergeron.

Richard lives in a dark underworld where money is made and lost with a roll of the dice.
Jenny is drawn into an erotic relationship filled with passion, dominance and dark persuasion.

Can she escape Richard's control before it's too late? Or will her time in the city become the life she's always dreamed of?

IN MY OWN WORDS
Jenny, a single mom, is meeting her 2 friends at a bar for fun and drinks.  She ends up in the wrong bar (how clumsy of her) and meets Richard, the owner of the establishment.  It's obvious for the man that she is indeed at the wrong place.  A pick up bar is NOT where an obvious soccer mom should be.  He decides to let know and let her go but the instant attraction they feel will lead them on the path of discovery.  For her, it will be about letting go of control in all shapes and forms.  For him, it will be about acknowledging his feelings...And make sure she doesn't slip by him.

MY REVIEW
If you have read some of my other reviews, you already know I'm a fan of Lynda Chance.  I did, indeed, enjoy the book, even if it was a short story (it comes with it's limitation, as we know).  I fell in love with Richard in all his possessiveness and macho-alpha-male-i'm-in-charge type from the very beginning.

However, it kind of left me hanging because you expect it to be a backing in his past or his profession to support this side of his personality.  Being a club owner is not sufficient to explain either his fortune of shady past.  Unfortunately, it's a great example of the shortcomings of a short story because all this side information is put on the back burner and is not there to complete the story.

There is also the fact that for a single mom who made it on her own, she's freakin' clueless!  so much so, it sometimes feels like you are in front of a blushing teenager!!  A little annoying at times.  I like my heroine to have somewhat of a backbone because with the men they are confronted with, it's imperative if don't want to get walked all over.

I always end up re-reading myself and wonder if anyone would pickup the book after going over this review but rest assure, you should.  It's still a good short story that you will likely enjoy and you'll probably be inclined to pickup the 2 other related stories afterwards!

MY CLASSIFICATION
Type: Contemporary erotic romance (or Romantica, as I like to call it)
Keyword: Alpha-male, Possessive Hero
Intimacy: Sizzling

MY RATING
I gave it a 3 stars, but only compared to her other books.  As it was one of her first, I would say it's darn good but she does only get better.

LORA LEIGH - TEMPTING THE BEAST (Breeds #1)

RESUME
Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy" locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from. Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.

IN MY OWN WORDS
Merinus is a free spirit overprotected by her brothers and father.  She craves to make her place in the family business and become a great reporter.  She is after her story: Callan Lyons.  Callan is a bread, one of many, created in a lab out of an experiment.  The breads are destined to become perfect soldiers, to obey command without question and to kill without remorse.  Free at last from the Genetic Council who created and tortured them, it also means they do not have all the knowledge of their species - especially not when confronted with the "mating frenzy".  When it takes hold of Merinus and Callan, it is all consuming and puts them in great danger.  Running from the Genetic Council who hasn't given up trying to abduct her and kill him, Callan must protect his woman and his Pride...And take his place as a leader.

MY REVIEW
Welcome to the world of the Breeds.  With a Bang.  It will take you, consume you, enchant you, leave you breathless and asking for more.  It is the first in the Breed Series and you WILL want to read the others.  A warning: they are not all as good as this one, but are worth reading.

In true Lora Leigh fashion, you will find a great story plot, an Alpha-Male who does all he can to remain in control - and to control resist his woman, a strong and feisty heroine who will give her man a run for his money and good dialogue.

Also in true Lora Leigh fashion, the dialogue is sometimes a little tacky and goes too far.  I'm also not crazy  when a virgin heroine is suddenly consumed with sex and becomes all knowledgeable.  It does make for great sex, mind you.  Thank God, no threesome in those books!!!

You have to keep in mind that this story introduces us to a whole new world so there is a lot to explain.  It it however done with great taste and not to lengthy.  It is a world so creative and so unique, it stands the test of time with all the other stories and will evolve to a point where you will feel you are part of their world.  It is a sci-fi but weirdly enough, you can almost forget about it, it is so believable.

Another word of advice: If this is your first Lora Leigh, prepare to be shocked! It is naughty, unexpected and raw...But all in a delicious way.

MY CLASSIFICATION
Type: contemporary erotic romance of the sci-fi genre.
Keyword: Breed, Possessive Hero, Alpha-Male
Intimacy: 2 words - Oh! Yeah!

MY RATING
I gave it a five star because apart from the sometimes tacky dialogue, I have read this book over and over again...And will continue reading it every few months!

LYNDA CHANCE - STAKING HIS CLAIM

RESUME
Twenty-one-year-old Elaina Ruiz has only just begun college when she meets Raul Vega for the first time. Recognizing his ruthless intensity for what it is, she doesn’t correct him when he assumes she is an eighteen-year-old freshman.
Raul Vega has never met a woman he couldn’t do without. Until he meets Elaina Ruiz and knows she has to belong to him--even if it means waiting for her to grow up.

IN MY OWN WORDS
Elaina Ruiz has just lost her mother and is looking for herself, having cared for her for a long time.  She decides to spend her holiday vacation from college visiting her ant.  She meets the very intense Raul Vega and is instantly deeply attracted to the handsome cowboy.  The problem is that he is VERY intense and she doesn't know if she is ready for that relationship.

Raul, on the other hand, will stop at nothing to get the girl, even if it means waiting for her.  He has felt his bachelor days end on the spot at the first sight of the young beauty.  He will pursue her and bind her to him by any means necessary.

MY REVIEW
On the plus side, you will find in this book everything that makes Lynda Chance's stories enchanting: A very possessive hero, an alpha-male sure of himself and his place in life.  A young heroine who will give her man a run for his money.  A believable storyline you can (almost) relate to.  Great dialogue.  Intensity.
On the down side, I will have loved to see this book being a little longer (it's a short story).  It has the downfall of any short story in my opinion; a rushed ending.  Not a bad one, mind you, just one that could have benefited a longer ending.
The cover does also suggest a more erotic twist.  Unfortunately, the action doesn't really support the intensity of the great dialogue and what it builds up to be.

I will however write reviews on other books written by Lynda Chance since her work just keeps getting better and better.  All in all, I couldn't but the book down.

MY CLASSIFICATION
Type: Contemporary Romance
Keyword: Alpha Male, possessive Hero
Intimacy: Borderline Young Adult, the dialogue makes it adult in a big way

MY RATING
I gave it 4 stars since it's a very well written short story that will leave you searching for more Lynda Chance's work

Jaci Burton - Nothing Personal

RESUME
Ryan McKay needs a wife to fulfill the terms of his grandfather's will and remain CEO of his multimillion dollar business.  When his fiance slams the door a few hours short of the deadline, Faith, his trusted assistant, steps in.  Faith has been in love with Ryan from afar since the day she came to work for him.  She think she is plain and doesn't think she could ever be more.  Family members stand to gain from the inability of the pair to remain together and meet all the requirements of the will and will stop at nothing to make sure it falls apart.  Will they be able to stay together through thick and thin?

MY REVIEW
It's a classic Cinderella love story, written on a frame we have seen before.  Dare I say, Harlequin style?  The situation, him being cold, her being insecure, the emotional discovery for both of them, the betrayal, the misunderstanding, the reveal of their true emotion, the end.
It seems very cold explained this way but in reality, if you are into that king of romance novel, it is very well written.  It comes complete with the oh-so-present and loved makeover.
This book doesn't contain detailed sexual encounter but there is some seduction attempt!  Very vanilla throughout, it reminded me of my teenage years when I discovered what romance novels were!

MY CLASSIFICATION
Type: Classic Harlequin Romance
Key Word: Cinderella Story
Intimacy: Some Romance, no graphic love scenes

MY RATING
I gave it 4 stars because it's a good vanilla love story, well written and enjoyable.  It caters to a particular audience who loves a more tame type of romance story, Happily Ever After style!

Sam Crescent - Blackmailed by the Beast

So here it is.  For a first book (or so it says in the dedication at the beginning - Yes, I do read those too!)  I couldn't ask for more.  It's well written, you are not lost in the story, it's believable.  That's for the good part.

I love a good blackmail story, that's for sure.  I'm just not really fond of the female character being a doormat.  Really, after her family treats her like Cinderella for years (which she never questioned why!) she still goes on loving and caring for them.  All throughout the story.  Urgh.  The sex if OK, wel described and believable.  I did however felt like an outsider looking in instead of being engrossed in the story. 

There were a lot of scenes I would have love to have seen developed - or not have read about it at all.  There are too many actions described without any follow through. 

SPOILER ALERT
As an exemple, for a possessive man, the fact that she ran right into his friend, wearing only an untied bikini and that the result of this encounter was her breast spilling out of the top SHOULD have lead to another outcome then just something along the lines of "I know you didn't do it on purpose - It's OK".  Or the mention of retribution with a spanking, only to never go there again.  The ending was also done as I read too often: in a hurry.

After reviewing what I wrote, it would appear as though I wasn't satisfied with this book.  You would be right!  But since it was a first, I will say without a shadow of a doubt that my next review will be on one of Sam Crescent's story!  I will definitely give it another go.  Stay tuned for what I hope will be a more positive outcome!

Type: Old plot line with a modern setting
Key word: Blackmail
Intimacy: Ok, not memorable

His Indecent Proposal by Lynda Chance

I'm the type of person who will read everything I can get my hands on from a particular author  after reading just one book that caught my attention...And kept it until the end.  Lynda Chance is one of them.

I will start by my review of "His Indecent Proposal" first.

First of all, here are my categories:

Type: Moderne
Key Words: Alpha-Male, Possessive Hero
Intimacy: Good and lots of it

If you like the whole "I need to get a wife at all costs" scenario, this book is for you.  It has a very modern twist to it but when it comes down to the basic, it's a man who will use this excuse to get the woman he is lusting after for a long time.

I really enjoy Lynda chance's style.  You would swear the F* word is in the dictionary she has on her desk and I could do with a few less of them but all in all, the writing is intricate and will make you connect with the characters instead of keeping you on the outside.

The love scenes are intense on will make you crave a good alpha-male by your side.

The only thing I can say is that Mrs Chance gets better with every book she writes.  "His Indecent Proposal" being one of the first (I presume), it could have used a little more emotional depth.  As it stands, it doesn't ring incomplete but you feel like you just barely scratched the surface of the characters.

When the first thing I do when closing a book is to go look for another one from the same author, it speaks for itself.  I give it a good 3.75!

Praise for Lora Leigh

I thought I would start my blog by talking about my favourite Romantica author, Lora Leigh. Actually, I shouldn't categorize what this amazing author does; whether it's mainstream, erotica or just plain romance, she just knows how to capture your attention with the right amount of emotional connection, romance and sensuality...oh! and of course, hot, sweaty and sinfully sexy love scenes.

Mrs. Leigh knows the right balance in the ever present battle of wills, between her main characters; you can always be sure to find the alpha male at it's best and the lady who will stand up to him. To tell you the truth, not to find these elements in her books would be a huge disappointment. Every time I sit down and turn the first page, I know I'm in for a great time.

Although her "Breeds" series is really great, I must say my all time favourite characters would have to be the man of the "Elite Ops". I love the way the characters are linked to the "Temping Seals", giving a second breath and a sense of continuity to her great leading men.

Here is a chronology of the "Elite Ops". Please note that even if I recommend to read them in the order they have been published, they can as easily be read on their own.

1. "Wild Card" - The story of Noah Blake, formerly known as U.S. Navy Seal, Nathan Malone. In "Tempting Seals", Nathan Malone was taken hostage but a powerful drug lord during a mission to save a US Senator's daughter. He comes back as Noah Blake, now an Elite Ops operative.

2. "Maverick" - The story of Micah Sloane, formerly Israeli Mossad agent, bent on revenge and caught in a web of emotional entanglement he must deal with, in order to save the woman that captured his heart.

3. "Heat Seeker"- The story of John Vincent, formerly known as Australian Secret Intelligence Trent Daylen. He has a second chance with the last woman he shared his bed with and the only woman he's ever loved. But as an ex-CIA agent herself, she's too clever for her own good; Will love win over 6 years of hurt and sorrow?

4. "Black Jack" - The story of Travis Caine, formerly known as MI-5 agent Travis Dermont. A little harder to follow, as it introduces the female of the "Elite Ops two, another branch of the super-secret agency. In my opinion, this book has to be read twice in order to fully assimilate all the twists and turns of the great plot laid page after page. One thing I must say, though: It lays the grounds of what promise to be a great new wave of stories.

As for the last of her man, Nikolai Steele, i'm impatiently waiting for August 31st 2010, as his "Renegade" will reveal himself...