REVIEW - SHARPSHOOTER

"Two years ago Gunner Ortez saved Sydney Sloan's life on a mission gone wrong. And ever since then, he's been watching her back. Now a hostage-rescue mission is about to blow the Elite Ops agents' lives apart once again."

Author: Cynthia Eden
Pages: 129 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Publishing on July 23rd 2013
Form: E-book (from NetGalley for an honest review)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Shadow Agents #3
Amazon: Buy / $4.95 (Paperpack) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $5.50 (Paperpack)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Two years ago Gunner Ortez saved Sydney Sloan's life on a mission gone wrong. And ever since then, he's been watching her back. Now a hostage-rescue mission is about to blow the Elite Ops agents' lives apart once again.

Working side by side back in the jungles of Peru, the heat between Sydney and Gunner is hotter than ever-and so are the threats to their lives. With the danger escalating, Sydney knows Gunner is her only hope at successfully completing their assignment. But the ex-SEAL who arouses passion she'd only dreamed about also poses the greatest risk to the secret she carries in her heart...and in her belly."  ~ From Goodreads

I do have to say I've never really been a fan of love triangle dramas, Sharpshooter relies heavily on the brothers who want the same girl plot, sure they are all special agents and able to bring down rain but this relationship causes problems. Also the blurb doesn't prepare you at all for the miserable am I boaching on my 'I-thought-he-was-dead' half brother's fetching fiancee? This was a surprise I didn't want.

I wasn't a fan. I think I had trouble with Gunner having such poor self-esteem... and that just isn't sexy... it was hard to like him when he was being a little girl about Slade coming back... not a turn on for me. Actually it really crated on my nerves. I wanted him big, rugged and manly, standing up and saying she's his and his brother needs to respect that... but oh no, he has to think about it for good part of the book!

Eh, sorry I'm ranting about this. I was expecting a sweaty jungle romp with enemies... and what I got was whining, insecurities in the jungle.

Now I really really liked the suspense! Man Cynthia Eden knows how to write one! She kept me guessing, intrigued and entertained with her plot and supporting characters! I definitely want to read more from her. :) And the cover portraits the book so well! Gunner always has Sydney's back.

This book is for you if you love... love triangles, heroes pining for their brother's girl and heroines who know what they want... and can kick ass to get it.

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REVIEW - A SEAL IN WOLF'S CLOTHING

"Finn believes Hunter will be targeted next, only to discover Hunter is off with his mate on a honeymoon, and he fears Hunter’s sister is in grave danger. But the SEAL soon learns protecting the unpredictable sexy she-wolf is a mission and a half and protecting her isn’t all he wants to do."

Author: Terry Spear
Pages: 326 pages
Publisher: Sourcebook Casablanca on March 2012
Form: Paperback (from my personal library)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Heart of the Wolf  #9
Amazon: Buy /$6.59 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $7.19 (Nook)
All Romance E-books: Buy / $7.99 (E-book)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Meara Greymere is in charge of the cabin rentals on the rugged Oregon coastline, so her brother and his mate could take a delayed honeymoon. But while Hunter is away, the she-wolf intends to play—she just has to convince the right alpha male to rent one of the cabins, and she’ll take it from there. But when Finn Emerson arrives with every intention of pretending to be her lover, she's not going to take this lying down. She knows he'll tell her brother what she's up to and put an end to her game.

Finn Emerson is a Navy SEAL, formerly one of Hunter Greymere’s team members, and now he's trying to track down a gray wolf, who's already made an attempt on one of their team member's lives. Finn believes Hunter will be targeted next, only to discover Hunter is off with his mate on a honeymoon, and he fears Hunter’s sister is in grave danger. But the SEAL soon learns protecting the unpredictable sexy she-wolf is a mission and a half and protecting her isn’t all he wants to do."  ~ From Goodreads

This story has both adventure and suspense, and romance to boot! I loved the story of Meara being on a hunt for a mate and Finn's escalating jealous streak about it while the poor alpha tries his best to protect her. If you haven't read the series before ( like I hadn't ) here are some unique things you need to know about Spear's werewolves: First they are either man or wolf, no middle stage. Two, if sex gets to actual penetration you're mated, no buts about it. Which caused so much delicious teasing and heavy petting that you almost got sexually frustrated for the couple!

I hadn't read any Terry Spear books previously, but I will from now on, she's got excellent writing skills for paranormal romance, the characters are believable but animalistic at times, dialogue flows nicely and plot doesn't halt but keep moving and is exciting to read. Plus all the passion and desire make for scrumptious reading!

Loved Finn being a big bad Navy SEAL wolf, it was a compo of power, cunning and raw sexuality in an alpha package. Of course good part of the book he wants to slake his lust for Meara believing he's the last possible option for a mate, but all that jealousy and possessiveness sure seems to point otherwise. I do love SEALs but I also love hot werewolf alphas so I was so very satisfied with Finn, and his contradicting desires.

Meara was an alpha female, outspoken, caring, strong and all those in great ways. She wasn't ultra bossy, daring or stupid enough to get into trouble - and boy do I love a smart heroine! Not so much a damsel in distress, so it's safe to say I loved Meara and her alpha tendencies, which also meant she and Finn got Chemistry! Oh boy! It was urgent and blazing wicked hot, with that little bit of tease as they couldn't go all the way.

The romance between Meara and Finn started out tempting, then scorched with a kiss, and burned as lust between them, and the danger helped feed the flame. I loved the we know we wouldn't be good together, we are worlds apart but still not being able to keep paws off - it was sweet, passionate and everything one wants in a shifter romance!

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REVIEW - SEDUCTION UNDER FIRE

"Seduction Under Fire was sort of a #0.5 in the ICE: Black Ops Defenders series and a great romantic suspense story, it kicks off right away with the kidnapping of two people who hate each other to the core, and continues with their blossoming respect of each others special skill sets and big case of attraction under extreme circumstances."

Author: Melissa Cutler
Pages: 224 pages
Publisher: Harlequin on October 2012
Form: Paperback (from my personal library)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: ICE: Black Ops Defenders #0.5
Amazon: Buy / $4.39 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $4.34 (Nook)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Sworn enemies, too close for comfort

What's worse? Being held hostage by a Mexican drug cartel or being held hostage by that cartel with the one man you passionately hate? Camille Fisher, a brainy, tough-as-they-come cop, can't believe she's daring to escape with her too-hot nemesis, Aaron Montgomery. But once she outsmarts their brutal captors, the danger's just beginning.

Racing across the Mexican desert, Camille begins to glimpse the surprisingly decent man behind the boorish cad. With cartel hit men closing in, she tries hard to ignore her needful heart-and harder to resist the temptation threatening to do them both in...."  ~ From Goodreads

Seduction Under Fire is another Melissa Cutler success! She's as great a romance novelist as I've experienced before! Now Seduction Under Fire was sort of a #0.5 in the ICE: Black Ops Defenders series ( of which #1 Tempted by Danger is coming out in June, which is awesome if I may add ) and a great romantic suspense story, it kicks off right away with the kidnapping of two people who hate each other to the core, and continues with their blossoming respect of each others special skill sets and big case of attraction under extreme circumstances. Which was so entertaining and so fun to read!

Aaron was your typical playboy, good looks, tons of charm and attitude a mile wide - and when those didn't impress Camille they immediately didn't hit it off, in fact the hate is pretty much the third main character in this book. I did like Aaron in action, as did Camille, the rake was gone and you had an iron skilled operative, sexy as hell. But what I loved especially was Aaron falling head over heels with Camille and discovering his inner possessive caveman. ;)

Camille really couldn't catch a break, job wise, relationship wise just all around unlucky, which kinda had her turned into a martyr. She was happy to die to save a kidnapped child, take down the drug cartel or die trying. Camille definitely was a strong woman, skilled San Diego Special Forces operative before she got shot in the job and was but behind desk and got a good case of PTSD shakes. When Aaron starts showing attraction to her she's confused and when he begins to seduce her she about bolts, because how could anything go good in her life? We'll you'll just see.

I'm impressed by Melissa Cutler's writing ability, she knows how to write a tight package of suspense, lust and love, you'll never bore or wanna skip pages because you just have to see what happens next - be it action or seduction!

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