Review:

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this! Ellie returns to her small town Kentucky home to open up her own practice (she's a family MD) and to watch over her dad who is an alcoholic with diabetes. Her dad is a drunk asshole and ignored her when she was growing up. Tyler is the town "bad boy." Tyler owns a construction company and rehabs old properties. He had an abusive father.
Ellie needs to become a sex goddess so she can snag the guy she *thinks* she wants. But not everything is as it seems.
This was a nice friends to lovers with ugly duckling (when she was younger) thrown in.

For romance-opoly- Heartbreak Hospital (doctor hero or heroine).

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/2001004/post

The Sea Queen

Review:

This was a kindle freebie at one time.  Look at that GORGEOUS cover!  However, that's the *only* good thing about this one.  I was annoyed with Calypso- she was a horrible heroine and happened to have had many children, but was a virgin (whatever).  She didn't treat others very well.  The writing didn't work for me; there's a lot of slang used (calling Hades "hawt" or feeling "funky").  I would have normally DNF'd this, but I needed a quick read (I'm a bit behind on my end-of-year reading goal).  

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1998741/the-sea-queen

Fire Touched

Review:

This was an improvement from the last book.  Finally the pack fully accepts Mercy as one of their own.  That constant pettiness and disrespect toward her was really, really aggravating.  Let's hope it continues since that respect has been hard won.  This opens with a troll invading their territory and a proclamation that Mercy makes.  Zee and Tad are back.  We are introduced to Aiden, a boy who has lived in Underhill for a very time that has ability over fire.  There are new developments that happen with the fae.

[spoiler]The Pack and the fae sign a contract of neutrality that means pack lands (the Tri Cities) are neutral territory.  Mercy's walking stick (the fae artifact) is destroyed while it saved her life.

[/spoiler]

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1998739/fire-touched

Off Limits

Review:

I generally don't like boss/employee romance because of the power differential, I picked this up thinking that this could be different.  Yeah, not really.  What kept me reading was the writing; I really liked the author's writing style.  I really, really wanted Gemma to quit and sue for sexual harassment.  Because it 100% was.  Jack just took everything to a whole different level and I didn't like him.  At all.  Asshole.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1996452/off-limits

Laid Bare

Review:

This started out as a nice, very spicy second chance love story. I liked Erin and found her to be relate-able and very open in regards to what she liked. I liked her brothers and appreciated how they were not overbearing assholes. I was less impressed with Todd and his inability to communicate his desires ('cause, ya know it's dirty!).
I knew there was going to be a 3rd party from the synopsis on the back of the book. While I liked Ben as a character, I didn't like him as the third party with Erin and Todd. I just didn't like this as much once he got involved. I did like that they were open about relationship with families.
Romance-opoly: Erotic Eaves

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1996451/laid-bare

Midnight's Lover

Review:

Spoiler's for the previous book/Dark Sword series.
This is Ian's story. He was pulled into the future d/t his tie to Duncan (his twin who was murdered by Malcolm) and Dierdre. The individual responsible for pulling Dierdre to the future was Declan. Declan wants to rule with Dierdre, but she doesn't want to share. So, at this point they are not working together (so it appears). Ian hide because he didn't have control of his god; so he thought.
Danielle lost her parents were she was 12 and came to Scotland to live with her aunts, one of whom taught her about her magic. Danielle has the ability to return lost objects to their owners. She finds a key and must at once get to MacLeod castle. She finds Ian and together they find each other. Declan's main involvment in the story:

[spoiler]

He found Kirstin and placed her as a spy. He took her memory of meeting him.

[/spoiler]

It remains to be seen just how her placement will play out. I maintain he is more of a threat then Dierdre. Dierdre's plant

[spoiler]

Charlie

[/spoiler]

failed. Deirdre is still alive, but the artifacts are in place to locate Laria (who supposedly is the only one who can kill her).
Next up Saffron

[spoiler]

who may have her sight restored

[/spoiler]

and Camryn.
From Dark Sword series: (There really needs to be a character list; I'm sure I'm missing someone)
Cara and Lucan, Larena and Fallon, Marcail and Quinn, Isla and Hayden, Reaghan and Galen, and Sonya and Broc. Marcail and Quinn's son, Aidan, then there's Ramsay, Camdyn, Arran, Charen, Phelan.
Dark Warriors: Logan and Gwynn

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1994172/midnight-s-lover

Shadowdance

Review:

My favorite so far!
Mary and Jack have a dislike of each other (but do they really?) ever since they've met. This takes place about 2 years after the events of Winterblaze. Jack is a Regulator and Mary has newly moved into the same position after "graduating" from being Poppy's assistant. They partner up to find a murderer.
I really like the mix of paranormal historical romance with a side of steampunk thrown in. It really works for me and I love it. It's not quite a 4.5-5* read for me mainly because the main conflict between Mary and Jack could have been at least partially solved with a nice, long, honest conversation. Instead assumptions were made and well, there you go. Yes, there were "reasons" behind it; but isn't that always the case?
I also like that each book is about a different couple and the end of this links to the next book and couple.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1992020/shadowdance

A week to Be Wild

Review:

Libby is a successful business woman in London for a conference. She's built her marketing firm from the ground up. Alex is a successful businessman turned billionaire. They meet and you know the rest.
I had a hard time getting past Libby turning into a brainless idiot when she first meets Alex. They shared a look and Libby gets so turned on. Yes, really. Get past that and it's not bad. Both are layered individuals who had someone they loved die and those deaths effect each in different ways. I just wish their "meet" had been done differently.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1989561/a-week-to-be-wild

Bringing Home the Bad Boy

Review:

Evan lost his wife very unexpectedly 4 years ago. Their son Lyon is now 7. Evan decided it was time to sell the house she died in and move. He moves next door (2 houses down) from Charlotte AKA Ace/Aunt Charlie. Charlie was Rae's BFF, honorary aunt, and she had a serious childhood crush on Evan.
I went into this one a bit unsure how I would feel. I really didn't like Charlie's insecurities and her constantly bringing up Rae as a barrier to their starting a relationship. On the other hand, I really liked Evan and how he really, really fought for Charlie and stood up for her when needed. I did think Charlie said "I'm sorry" way too much. Russell was a first class asshole. Overall, this was just an okay friends to lovers romance.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1984011/bringing-home-the-bad-boy