RBL Book Reviews

RBLs DO REVIEWS

THE RBL/HUGHIE RATINGS
STORY RATING
1- Don't waste your money.
1 If you have it, it's worth the read but goes back to the ubs.
2 Good story, but probably goes to the ubs.
3 I like everything this author writes, but she has done better.
4 This is a keeper.
4+ Rare find, must find everything this author has written.
5 THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS BOOK!!!!!

SEX/LOVE SCENE RATING
Limp - Bad, little, or NO SEX AT ALL!
Erect - Good sex toward the end.
Boner - Good sex half-way through and thereafter.
STIFF - Good sexual tension throughout the book, so when it happens
you feel you've been there already.
HUGH - GREAT SEX in the first 1/4 of book and throughout the book.

UNLAWFUL CONTACT
Pamela Clare
2008
Reviewed by Linda
RBL Rating: 5 HUGH

From the book:
Journalist Sophie Alton is investigating the disappearance of a young mother named Megan, recently paroled and now running from the law with her baby daughter. Sophie's search leads her to Megan's brother, Marc, a convicted killer -- and the man she shared an unforgettable night with twelve years ago.

Condemned to life in prison, Marc uses Sophie to escape so he can find his sister and protect her from the monster who's pursuing her. Sophie knows she should fear Marc. But the heat and hunger of his touch still lingers in her mind -- and on her body -- after all this time.

After finishing this book, I had such strong emotions that I had to get a grip. It takes a GREAT WRITER to be able to make you feel and see the written word, and Pamela Clare IS such a writer.

I recommend this book to anyone who LOVES a mystery, young love, love recaptured, tortured heroes, and strong heroines! Marc and Sophie's story has all this and more.

No spoilers here -- just a STRONG recommendation that you READ IT!!!

SCIONS: INSURRECTION
Patrice Michelle
2008
Reviewed by Annette P
RBL Rating: 4+ STIFF

I very much enjoyed reading SCIONS: INSURRECTION. Although I hadn’t read the first novel of the trilogy, SCIONS: RESURRECTION, I didn’t have to read it in order to enjoy this story. It was entertaining and complete unto itself. But, after reading this one, I can’t wait to read about how the story began - and how it will end in the final novel, SCIONS: REVELATION.

Patrice Michelle drew me into the story with her first sentence and kept me captivated until the end. I hated to put the book down and couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. Romance, passion, and intrigue fill the pages. Before receiving the ARC, I visited her website (http://www.patricemichelle.net/novels/index.html), where she has excerpts from several novels available. These excerpts just made me eager to read more.

This book is definitely Landon’s Story, as the author refers to it. His thoughts, feelings, and point of view are used throughout the story. Patrice seamlessly transitions between the hero's and the heroine’s points of view.

The sexual tension between Kaitlyn and Landon began building even before they met face-to-face. They don’t consummate their relationship immediately, but the heat between them builds throughout the novel. Oh, and you will never believe the twists within the story.

This book is a great read.

50 WAYS TO HEX YOUR LOVER
Linda Wisdom
2008
Reviewed by Merry
RBL Rating: 4 Erect

A new publisher, Sourcebooks, is expanding into the romance genre – and doing quite a good job at it. This paranormal romantic suspense features Jasmine Tremaine, a witch who “can’t stay out of trouble,” and Nikolai Gregorivich, a drop-dead (you should pardon the expression) handsome vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer. Jazz works mostly as a driver for a limo service for paranormal creatures, with a little witchcraft on the side.

Jazz and Nick have been lovers, on and off, for nearly 300 years – and this case may bring that affair to a screeching halt if the killer has his way. He has powers that may overcome even the combination of a witch and a vampire – despite their allies’ aid. And the allies are truly different from the usual corps – Norma, a chain-smoking ghost who inhabits Jazz’s classic car; Dweezil, her ghoulish boss (although no one’s quite sure WHAT species Dweezil actually represents); and, best of all, Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers with fangs and tempers who’ll eat almost anything.

I found myself quickly pulled into this sizzling, funny, exciting story, and will be anxiously awaiting the sequel - on which I hope Linda’s working even as I speak.

THE CAT STAR CHRONICLES: SLAVE
Cheryl L. Brooks
April 2008
Reviewed by Merry
RBL Rating: 2 STIFF

I’d have to class this one as “erotica” – considering that the male character, Cat, is the last of a species envied galaxy-wide for their sexual talents (and we get to see those in some detail). He is purchased by Jacinth, an interstellar trader on the trail of her kidnapped sister. She needs a male to “represent” her on a planet where women are mere chattel, and offers him a deal – freedom for cooperation in the rescue.

As Jacinth and Cat trek across the stars, following the faint and fading trail of her sister’s kidnappers, they become more than business partners. They become lovers (wouldn’t be much of a romance if they didn’t, would it?) – and Jacinth makes some startling discoveries about Cat and his people.

He’s on a quest as well – to find and punish the races responsible for the holocaust which wiped out his whole planet. Someone is bent on genocide; and if they find out even one of Cat’s race still exists, both their lives will be forfeit.

I’d recommend this futuristic romance to anyone who enjoys strong characters and a compelling plot – and doesn’t mind the rather graphic sensual scenes portrayed. It kept me reading, despite my general preference for less-explicit fare!

HEART OF THE WOLF
Terry Spear
April 2008
Reviewed by Merry
RBL Rating: 2.5 Erect

Ahhh, werewolves! Not merely human, not merely wolf, but a combination of the two ... makes for a fascinating read. This book’s weres live much as real wolves do – alphas rule, and betas had better get out of the way.

Bella is a rare red werewolf, orphaned in cubhood and raised in a gray wolf clan ... until she’s forced on the run by the unwelcome attentions of the alpha wolf. She wants Devlyn, the wolf who saved her years ago – but will he be able to defy his pack leader to claim her as his own?

Bella’s been living on her own, a lone wolf; but now another red were has appeared and is killing humans left and right – she and Dev must find the other wolf and stop his death run before all the weres are endangered by vengeful humans.

Kept me reading – interesting characters in a dangerous situation, a serial killer AND a vicious alpha wolf ... our hero and heroine must keep on their toes to keep everything under control and bring about the desired ending.

CALL OF THE HIGHLAND MOON
Kendra Leigh Castle
May 2008
Reviewed by Merry
RBL Rating: 4 Erect

Gideon is a Scots werewolf who’s not sure he’s ready to become Alpha over the pack – so he takes off for America, upper New York State, to mull over his options and his destiny. Ferociously attacked by rogue weres, he collapses on the back steps of Carly’s romance bookstore. She drags the big “dog” home to doctor, and is somewhat surprised when she awakens in the morning to a naked man in her bedroom! Trapped together by a raging snowstorm, Gideon and Carly bond – and discover that Gideon’s enemies have tracked him to her place.

Forced by circumstance to take Carly and head home to Scotland to rescue his father, Gideon realizes that being Alpha is, indeed, his obligation and desire – and then the true enemy rears his head, threatening the existence of not only the Pack, but of humankind.

SEALed WITH A KISS
Mary Margaret Daughtridge
April 2008
Reviewed by Merry
RBL Rating: 2.5 Boner

Widowed SEAL Jax Graham is trying to re-connect with his five-year-old son Tyler, whom he barely knows. Getting trapped by a hurricane with family therapist Pickett Sessoms may just be the saving of the father-son duo. Jax was never home, thanks to his dedication as a Navy SEAL – it led to his divorce, and to the custody arrangements that left Tyler with his mom - and, after her death, Tyler was temporarily transferred to the custody of his grandmother. But now Jax needs to reacquaint himself with the needy, withdrawn little boy, as he tries to decide what will be best for his son. Pickett can see how much help the two need – they love each other, but don’t know how to communicate. It’s been a long time since Jax was five; Tyler has only seen his father a handful of times and doesn’t quite know how to react to this big, tough stranger.

I found the interactions fascinating – and the denouement, when Jax, Tyler and Picket all learn how to trust each other in a crisis, was very moving.

UNLAWFUL CONTACT
Pamela Clare
2008
Reviewed by Tammy2
RBL Rating: 5 HUGH

During high school, Marc and Sophie had one night of passion under the stars. Years later, they meet again when Sophie interviews Marc in prison about his sister Megan. Marc takes Sophie hostage and breaks out of prison. Even though he knows he will die or go back to prison, Marc goes on the run to find his sister. He will stop at nothing to protect Sophie and Megan from the men who would kill them.

The cat and mouse suspense in Pamela Clare's latest contemporary is intense. The love scenes are hot! The love that rekindles between Marc and Sophie is poignant and tender. You will be rooting for them to have a happily ever after.

STEALING CARMEN
Gail Faulkner
2008
Reviewed by BAM
RBL Rating: 4 HUGH

This is a deliciously erotic book about the beauty of dominance and submission between a loving man and woman. Our hero, Jack, a natural dom, meets Carmen, a natural submissive who is unaware of the power that can exist between two people when their emotions are involved.

Jack is a special agent required to be gone for months at a time working dangerous missions. Before he is called away on his next assignment, he overhears Carmen speak of her sexual desires, fantasizing that he is her dominant in the bedroom. He immediately acts on his two years of attraction to her, introducing her to the dom/submissive lifestyle for the first time. He has every intention of keeping her forever, BUT ... after a few glorious hours he must leave her for many months to work on his next dangerous mission.

I was very impressed and titillated learning how this man took care of his woman, not just physically, but also anticipating her needs mentally and emotionally. What woman wouldn’t want that???

Read Gail’s book from Ellora’s Cave coming in January to learn the sexy details of how a secret agent and a nurse combine their lives to make their own happily-ever-after.

This is NOT a book for the faint-of-heart. The sexual descriptions are detailed and leave nothing to the imagination (just as I like it). I give this book a HUGH rating for the scorching sex and knowledgeable voice of Gail Faulkner. She has done her homework! The story rating is a 4, definitely a keeper that I'll want to read again.

Thanks Gail!

SCIONS: RESURRECTION
Patrice Michelle
2007
Reviewed by Debbie D
RBL Rating: 4 Boner

SCIONS: RESURRECTION is the first book in a trilogy by Patrice Michelle for Silhouette’s Nocturne series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Patrice Michelle writes a fast-paced romance with complex characters and a wonderful plot. It is fun to watch the characters as they grow and learn about themselves and their destiny.

The story centers around timid writer Ariel Swanson, who is terrified of vampires, and Jachin Black, a vampire who hates humans. While they fight for their lives, they realize they can trust each other and learn to love. They learn that hatred and fear have no place in their future and work to restore peace in their home.

This was the first book by Patrice Michelle that I have read and I hated to put it down. It is the type of story that you can't stop thinking about, and I can not wait for the other two to come out. I highly recommend this to everyone, even if you don’t normally like paranormal romance. This one is a keeper!

SCIONS: RESURRECTION
Patrice Michelle
2007
Reviewed by BAM
RBL Rating:

This is the first book I've ever read by Patrice Michelle, and it is fantastic. It's not your usual soft and fluffy romance. This book has depth, grit and adventure that I didn't expect in a Silhouette novel.

I love the character development of the heroine, Ariel. She morphs from a quiet librarian into a (surprising to her) strong female who wears her bluster and bravado as a shield, even though she's shaking in her shoes.

The hero, Jachin, does an opposite metamorphosis, due only to his unwanted developing desire and grudging respect toward Ariel. He unashamedly detests humans and is forced to revise his opinion of the entire race from his experiences with a single tiny woman into whose company he is forced - Ariel. His love for her breaks down barriers and makes him vulnerable as never before.

The non-stop action/adventure in this book appealed to me greatly. The heart-tugging, seriously hot romance in this book hooked me completely. I'm going out to purchase all of Patrice Michelle's books!

Thanks for a great read, Ms. Michelle!

BEYOND THE DARK
Anthology by Angela Knight, Diane Whiteside,
Emma Holly and Lora Leigh
2007
Reviewed by Tammy
RBL Rating: 4 Boner

Let me say first that I loved this book. Emma's story rocked, and the others were good as well. It's unusual to find an anthology these days where all the stories are good, but this one is one of those. Don't miss this one folks - you'll kick yourself if you do.

The stories are:
"Dragon Dance" by Angela Knight - This is about a police officer that becomes something a little more than "normal". When a "routine" hostage call takes an unexpected turn, a policewoman/hostage negotiator comes up against the paranormal when the hostage taker is one who has been contaminated by a virus. The hostage situation is taken out of her hands by the hero, another who has abilities. This is an unusual virus, in that it doesn't make a person sick but instead expands their inherent psi abilities and allows them to become symbiotic to an alien race that gives them so much more.

"Caught by the Tides" by Diane Whiteside - This story is about mages in Victorian England and France. And about the lengths they go to, to either stop or start a war (depending on which side they're on). And about love, and how with the love of the right person, even a mage can become more powerful. And how, even if someone doesn't appear to have magical talent, you might be surprised at what they can actually do if they allow themselves to feel.

"Queen of All She Surveys" by our own Emma Holly - Emma again takes us into the magical world of the Yamma in this story. It's a story about love and betrayal, a king who not only betrays his people but also his own son ... a queen who has risen above her peasant-like beginnings and overcome great odds ... a prince and a queen, and the love that slowly comes through trust.

"In a Wolf's Embrace" by Lora Leigh - If you like the Breed series you'll like this one as well. A wolf breed has met his mate, but with just one slight problem. He's an assassin, and she witnessed his killing of her boss. Breed and human - can they overcome their differences enough to become true mates, or will he have to take that final step and eliminate the only witness - his mate?

I read "Dragon Dance" and thought this is an unusal idea, a virus that allows a person to become like a superhero - providing they don't go crazy while adjusting. Then to find out that the virus actually allows an alien race to inhabit your body and gives you your "powers". An unusual read but very well done, and I'm looking forward to seeing if Ms. Knight does any other stories in this line. To me, it was as good as her Mageverse series.

Ms. Whiteside's contribution seemed to start in a fairly normal way - if you're a mage, that is. Then to have the hero rescued by the heroine who really doesn't seem to have magical talents, only to discover she does, at first it seemed a little formulaic. But as the story goes on, you discover that while the heroine does have magical talent, it appears to be minor, but it's tied to the land, and when she finally opens herself to the land, her power allows the hero to help stop a war.

Emma Holly's story - what can I say? The story rocked! I didn't like the king from the get-go, and then when he "threw" his son to the queen as a gesture of peace, I liked him even less. But when I discovered just what the king had done in the past to the queen, and what he had planned for his son and the queen in the near future, I was ready to lead a war party myself against him.

I've followed Ms. Leigh's Breed series since I found them, and I still haven't read them all. This one is a typical Breed, albeit a wolf and not a feline, so there are some differences. An assassin and his mate, the witness. There was no doubt in my mind that he loves her and she loves him, but she won't stay unless he changes his ways. When he calls her "his sunshine," I cried. It was beautifully written, and kept me turning the pages even at 1:30 a.m.

SEX AND THE IMMORTAL BAD BOY
Stephanie Rowe
2007
Reviewed by Tammy
RBL Rating: 4- Erect

The title grabs your attention, doesn't it? Well, the story will too. How to describe it ...

This story is about Satan's former right-hand apprentice - Paige Darlington - and Satan Jr's shadow warrior/assassin - Jed Buchanan.

Paige Darlington has a "slight" problem - besides being a demon that is. She wants to love and feel emotions, but when Satan created her he added a little something. Anything Paige touches that's alive will die, and as more people/things die by her touch she starts becoming more and more evil. Paige really hates it, and will do whatever she can to stop it.

To keep his brother alive, Jed Buchanan works for Satan Jr., the heir to Hell and the most evil being in existence. Jed has been forced to do a lot of unsavory things during his time "on the job".

Do you think a demon and an assassin can find happiness before everything goes to hell?

::grinning:: I'm not saying - read the book. I think you'll enjoy it.

CREATION IN DEATH
JD Robb
2007
Reviewed by Tammy
RBL Rating: 4+ STIFF

I just finished CREATION IN DEATH by JD Robb! Yup, the next Eve and Roarke book - which actually comes out November 6th - I got lucky and got it early to review.

If I had to describe this book in one word that word would be RIVETING. It caught my attention within the first few pages and held it. LOL - so much so that the family got tired of waiting for me to fix supper and someone decided to bring home McD's.

The mystery is very skillfully woven through the story with hints popping up here and there, but you don't really get a sense of "who done it" until nearly the end. You get to see Eve and Roarke's relationship deepen even further, as does Eve's and Feeney's.

The killer ("The Groom") was actually one of the first cases Eve worked on as a detective, and he got away. Now he's back, and you could say he's back with a vengeance. Nine years and at least twenty kills later, he comes back to where he started/ ... but why? That's the question. And can Eve and crew stop him this time

ANTICIPATION
Patrice Michelle
October 2007
Reviewed by Aimee
RBL Rating: 4+ HUGH

Due to life circumstances ten years earlier, Deidre and Jonas were forced to ignore the intense attraction between them. Now Deidre has come home to help her parents by house sitting their bed and breakfast while they enjoy a cruise, only to find that circumstances regarding Jonas have indeed changed. Who says you can’t go back ... ?

A scorching read, with an achingly sweet plot, Patrice Michelle delivers another blazing, SEXY cowboy and proves yet again to be a Queen in the genre! Anticipation lives up to its title in a big way.