Your Coffin or Mine? By Kimberly Raye

Kimberly’s latest volume in the Dead End Dating series features another funny story about Lil Marchette, owner of a dating service for vampires and other creatures. This time the story revolves around Lil’s attempt to find new clients by going to auditions for Manhattan’s Most Wanted, a dating reality TV show. In addition to handing out her business cards, Lil finds herself on the show itself when all she wants is to spend time with the sexy vampire, Ty Bonner. Unfortunately danger abounds and if they’re not careful, they’ll be erased with the first daylight.

A worthwhile read and one that will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Details: Onyx, October 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Dead and Dateless Sexy by Kimberly Raye

Lil Marchette’s start up business, Dead End Dating, is just starting to become alive. Which is really saying something for a agency that specializes in finding mates for the undead. But Lil has her work cut out for her when a group of lady werewolves looking for the perfect one night stand. Then to make matters more complicated, the police believe she killed one of her clients and has the evidence to prove it. Her only hope to seek help from Ty Bonner, bounty hunter and hunk. But will Ty be able to find the real murder or will Lil die only to never wake up in the morning again.

This sequel to Dead End Dating brings back most of the characters, so rereading Dead End Dating to become reacquainted with the characters might be a good idea. The story is filled with humorous situations and characters with a slightly non-traditional chick-lit heroine. If you love humor with your paranormals, this story definitely for you.

Details: Temptation, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Yummy

A NASCAR Holiday by Kimberly Raye, Roxanne St. Claire, Debra Webb

In Ladies, Start Your Engines by Kimberly Raye, Savannah Calloway sets out to help NASCAR Cup driver Mackenzie Briggs win the New Year’s Eve charity race. But Mackenzie sets out to win Savannah’s heart instead. Now can Mackenzie finish first in both races or will Savannah be left on the pits?

In ‘Tis The Silly Season by Roxanne St. Claire, Lisa Mahoney a divorced mother of two is barely making ends meet as a waitress when NASCAR Busch racer Clay Slater hires Lisa to pose as his family at Christmas in order to land a spot with a NASCAR Cup team. But just how far will Lisa go in order to help Clay win?

In Unbreakable by Debra Webb, Dr. Maxine Gray’s research into athletics brings her to a NASCAR Cup team to answer the age old question: “Are race drivers real athletes?” Fortunately she has NASCAR Cup driver Rush Jackson at her disposal. But can Max wrap up her research before Christmas Eve or will she become another member of Rush’s team?

All three stories are very cute and full of emotion. They manage to keep things rated PG with no explicit sex described within. While I know that this is part of the style, I also think a peek inside the bedroom every now and then wouldn’t hurt ;) . The only flaw I found was some of the more esoteric details about the cars and the NASCAR circuit could have benefited from some more research. Unfortunately, Pamela Britton has set the bar very high for all NASCAR books with her devotion to detail. So unless you’re an auto mechanic or uber-NASCAR fan, you probably wouldn’t notice anything. This book is a must buy for anyone who enjoys NASCAR.

Details: HQN, November 2006

Bottom line: A very good book

Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye

Lil Marchette is a born vampire (as opposed to the made kind), whose reasons for living include Gucci, Christian Dior and Donna Karan. She’s rather die than wear the uniform of the family business – a lime green polo shirt with Midnight Moe’s stitched over the pocket and matching Dockers. Instead she decided to open her own business, Dead End Dating – a matchmaking service catering to both humans and vampires. But when a bounty hunter named Ty Bonner enters her life looking for a serial killer who seems to frequent dating services, Lil knows she’s in for a rough time. Even though he’s seriously hot, Lil knows dating him would be a major mistake, since he’s a made vampire and therefore can’t procreate. Still, Lil can’t help but wonder what he’d be like in bed. Now Lil finds that the serial killer is after some of her clients. Will she call for Ty’s help or will she face the killer alone, knowing that she might be his next victim?

It was bound to happen sooner or later, a real vampire chick-lit novel. Anyone who can create a character who loves Janet Evanovich is alright in my book. This is pretty funny book as you watch Lil and her obsession with designer fashions deal with all of the normal problems that anyone would face in starting a matchmaking service – providing that many of their customers only came out at night and drank blood instead of eating. This is definitely an interesting spin on the paranormal world and I can’t wait to see the next book in the series :) .

Details: Ballantine, September 2006

Bottom line: A great book

Boys of Summer by Julie Elizabeth Leto, Kimberly Raye and Leslie Kelly

All three stories are set in Louisville Kentucky, the home of one of the hottest Major League Baseball teams, the Slammers. Unfortunately a bad business deal may force the team to leave Louisville, which will really hurt the three businesses run by the three heroines that are closely coupled to the team. With the impending doom, each of the three young ladies vows to have one last fling before their world collapses around them.

In Fever Pitch by Julie Elizabeth Leto, Callie Andrews runs a high end restaurant that she created using the money from her divorce from the Slammer’s owner, Donovan Ross. But while Callie has put the divorce behind her, Donovan hasn’t. But when Callie offers Donovan, a safe place to stay after he’s attacked by some fans, who knows where things could lead.

In The Sweet Spot by Kimberly Raye, Babe Bannister runs a busy ice cream parlor featuring tempting dishes named after famous players. But when she sets her sights on the hunky shortstop, Brodie Jessup, the team’s coach stops the play. Babe is furious and turns her attention to Brodie, who’s more than willing to save her for himself.

In Sliding Home by Leslie Kelly, Janie Nolan runs her brother’s sports memorabilia store, while he’s serving in the national guard. Though Janie would much rather be working in a “community for the enlightened years”, with folks like her grandmother and her grandmother's boyfriend who often helps her identify valuable merchandise. Unfortunately, her grandmother’s boyfriend turns out to be Riley Kelleher, the team’s star pitcher, grandfather. Janie finds herself attracted to the hot looking player, and now she’s afraid that Riley is going to make a move and even more afraid that he won’t.

Three hot authors. Three hot stories. ‘nuff said.

Details: Blaze #264, July 2006

Bottom line: A very good book

Tall, Tanned & Texan by Kimberly Raye

Deanie Codge lost her mother shortly after her birth, and grew up on the family ranch with her father and five brothers. Anytime she tried to be a young lady, her brothers made fun of her until he changed back into her John Deere tee shirt and jeans. After living her life as a tomboy for the last twenty-nine years, Deenie made up her mind to become more feminine. So, she quit her job, found a new job managing a lingerie boutique in the big city and signed up for Camp E.D.E.N., to get a crash course in sexuality.

Rance McGraw just happened to be in town when her brothers found Deanie missing. He volunteered to find the little tomboy he knew in high school and bring her home. When he meets her for the first time in years, he’s amazed at the change. Deenie has grown up into a very hot sexy lady. Though Rance managed to get her off the plane one stop short of her destination, Deanie has her mind set on getting on the next plane. When she complains about missing the first day of camp, Rance volunteers his services as a teacher. Now Rance has just 24 hours to teach Deanie about how to love and be loved.

Kimberly does a good job with this book in terms of the conflict between the characters and painting the details of the story. She had some pretty interesting secondary characters, though I wish she did more with them. The sex isn’t as intense as some Blazes, though it’s definitely interesting. I think you’ll enjoy reading this book.

Details: Blaze #233, February 2006

Bottom line: A pretty good book