Exposed To You by Beth Kerry: This is a very good erotic romance with a closed-off heroine and a movie-star-all-around-dreamboat hero who has a serious fondness for tantric lovin'. I had a bit of a problem connecting emotionally to the story but, at this point, I think that's just how I react to Kery's writing. (A||GR)
Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey: Oh man, this is the Russian roofie book. That's really all you need to know. There is roofie-ing. And a caning. And lots and lots of general WTFery. (A||GR)
Breath On Embers by Anne Calhoun: A holiday novella that is both raw and emotional. The heroine is a widow still enveloped in a fog of grief and the hero is the man she's been seeing for almost a year who, with the help of his own experiences with grief, forces her out of her protective shell. Anne Calhoun does good work. Nothing sickly sweet to be found here. (A||GR)
On The Prowl by Christine Feehan: A modern-day arranged marriage between two tiger shifters. I loved the central couple. I didn't love the stock side characters and sometimes the sex scenes made me wonder whether or not I was reading a romance novel or watching animal planet. Lots of growling and purring and crouching and pouncing. (A||GR)
Gone Country [Rough Riders #14] by Lorelei James: Rough Riders in the house!!! This was a bit of a departure for James. It's a longer book, the protagonists are both over 40, and half of the story is from the P.O.V. of Gavin's teenaged daughter. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (A||GR)
The Duchess War [Brothers Sinister #1] - Courtney Milan: Holy Moses, this book. Love the role reversal in this one. Heroes in romance novels aren't often allowed to be as emotionally vulnerable as Robert Blaisdell is in this book. He had a terrible childhood, just wants to be loved and be able to love in return, and can't flirt with women for shit. He also thinks Wilhelmina Pursling is amazing. He ain't wrong. She's pragmatic and logical and sharp as a mother-effing-tack. She's also really good at stopping Robert from going too emo from time to time. I loved this damn book and I want to read the next one RIGHT NOW. (A||GR)
Defying The Prince - Sarah Morgan: It took about a third of this book for me to start buying into it. The hero's a dismissive ass. The heroine's a scatterbrain who seems to do things just to be quirky and to loosen the hero's stuffed shirt. For me, everything started to click once Izzy is revealed to be a legitimately talented singer/songwriter. Not my favorite Sarah Morgan, but it eventually won me over. (A||GR)
The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress - Lucy Monroe: So, I was having a shitty morning, saw this book in an email and thought "I want to read that right now." There's nothing revolutionary about it and I swear I've already read this exact story at least three times already but it definitely helped distract me from a shit day. I loved that hero gives good grovel and fully acknowledges that "mistakes were made" and that most of them were made by him but he also doesn't let the heroine get away with dismissing her mistakes either. (A||GR)
A Kiss For Midwinter [Brothers Sinister #1.5] - Courtney Milan: A special bonus novella following The Duchess War that follows Minnie's best friend Lydia, and the town doctor. It's also amazing. Even more so, I felt, than The Duchess War. Doctor Jonas Grantham, blunt and straightforward as can be, witnessed the worst moment in Lydia Charingford's life six years previously. He helps her work through the anger she's been doing her best to repress and a beautiful romance develops. Courtney Milan's novellas are the shit. How she packs so much in a tiny package, I have no idea. (A||GR)
Mystery Man [Dream Man #1] - Kristen Ashley: The heroine in this one had some sort of magical hooha that made every dude within a five mile radius want to get up in it. I did not see the appeal. The hero was closed off and completely unapproachable. I didn't get his appeal either. I did, however, like the switch-up at the end of this one. (A||GR)
Wild Man [Dream Man #2] - Kristen Ashley: My second favorite in this series (Motorcycle Man wins hands down). Tessa and Brock work their issues out pretty quickly and then go on to have a mature and loving relationship where they're constantly working together and supporting each other. I really enjoyed it. Also, I loved the hell out of the epilogue. (A||GR)
Law Man [Dream Man #3] - Kristen Ashley: The heroine had major self-esteem and self-worth issues. Also, more than once, she'd disagree with the hero, he'd order her to do what he wanted anyway, and she'd literally say "kay" and do it. Bah. (A||GR)
But My Boyfriend Is - K.A. Mitchell: If the main character of this book, Dylan, was a lady, he'd be termed a "difficult heroine." He's got lots of issues. He struggles with his place in his family and his relationships with his brothers. He struggles with his sexual orientation and his own acceptance of it. He struggles a lot. But I liked him, even when he was acting out and being a dick, and I wanted to see him come through the other side. Luckily, he had good-guy Mike and lots of hot sex to get him through. (A||GR)
Once And Again [Petal Georgia #1] - Lauren Dane: Very by-the-numbers young lovers reunited later in life story. I doubt it's one that will stick with me. (A||GR)
Up Next: Ringing the new year in with a quick Best of 2012 list.
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