Private Confessions by Lori Borrill

Trisha Bains wants her boss, Logan Moore in a bad way. Unfortunately he’s the type that’s more likely to date a blonde bimbo with an over inflated chest and an under inflated mind rather than someone with brains and ambition like herself. But since every other man she meets pales into comparison, Trisha turns to a virtual sex web site to fulfill her fantasies. After suffering through a painful divorce, the last thing Logan wants is a smart girl. But after dating a string of airheads, he turns to the Internet for comfort. While he really likes his star employs Trisha, he’s afraid that starting a relationship with her would end in divorce just like his first wife. What neither Trisha, nor Logan realizes was that their online fantasy lover is really the same person they’re lusting over in real life. Now what happens when the truth is revealed and their fantasies become reality?

While reviewing this string of first books from Temptation/Blaze authors, it seemed fitting to review Lori Borrill’s first Blaze. Even for a Blaze this story is hot and I liked the story twist involving virtual sex over the Internet. This book shows Lori’s potential as a writer and I’m looking forward to her next book.

Details: Blaze, February 2007

Excellence Rating: Very Good

Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave

Untouched by Samantha Hunter

Raised in secret by the CIA, Risa Remington used her superhuman skills to read other people’s thoughts. Six months ago, an accident erased Risa’s abilities and then the CIA cast her aside like a broken piece of equipment. Risa was completely unprepared for life in the real world; she didn’t understand basic concepts like friendship and love. When CIA began to wonder if Risa had really lost her powers, they dispatched Daniel MacAlister to evaluate the situation. Unfortunately, the merest touch by Daniel triggers Risa’s powers for the first time since her accident. Now Daniel must decide where to love Risa or clean up the CIA’s problem – permanently.

This is perhaps Sam’s best book to date. I still don’t have a clear picture of what it takes to earn the Extreme label, as the paranormal aspect of this book ranges from very mild to non-existent. I do know that Sam created some powerful characters, which I’m certain you’ll enjoy when you read this book. The secondary characters also add a lot of charm to the story. If you’re a fan of Sam Hunter, you definitely need to read this book.

Details: Blaze #299, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave

My Nerdy Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson

The formula for the latest nerd book starts with one psychology student named Amanda Rykowsky whose life consists of work, school and more work. Then it adds one stockbroker named William Sloan, who’s a hunk of the first degree. It combines them with a lady psychologist specializing in extreme sex therapy and a villain who’s idea of romance involves leaving anonymous naughty Valentines, stalking Amanda at work and home, and using sleeping gas as preparation for making love. Then it simmers the mixture using the heat between Amanda and William as William pretends to be her boyfriend to catch the stalker. Assuming that Amanda survives her boss and the stalker, will she choose to make her pretend relationship, permanent?

While the story is a bit slow in the beginning, I loved the way the stalker slowly raised the stakes forcing Amanda and William together for some sizzling times. In many ways, this book reminds me of a classic Blaze only longer. The kind that was published two or three years ago. Though I do think she’s stretching the definition of a nerd to accommodate these characters, however. I’d prefer to see more engineering and computer nerds because after all techie nerds rule!

Details: St. Martins, January 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave

Lost Calling by Evelyn Vaughn

After falling into a hole opened up by an earthquake, Catrina Dauvergne, a curator for the Musée Cluny in Paris, finds a some old artifacts, including a mysterious key that she’s compelled to recover. With assistance from her associate, Rhys Pritchard, she manages to recover most of the artifacts, but soon she finds herself part of a ancient struggle. Driven to protect the artifacts, Catrina and Rhys begin their research and learn that the key is tied to the legacy of the Marian priestesses, also known as the Black Madonnas. The Black Madonnas represent an ancient force who’s power rivals anything available to mankind today. But the Black Madonnas have an enemy who craves that power and is willing stop at nothing to control it. Now can Catrina protect the Madonna legacy or is Paris and the world doomed to complete destruction.

After being forced to wait a month between each volume of the White Star books, I decided to collect all seven volumes of the Madonna Key series before I read the first one. This book is very powerful and reading it will definitely leave its mark on you for years to come. The amount of research is apparent from the high level of details left and the amount of planning is demonstrated through a plot where you’re never sure what’s going to happen next. If you like adventure on a larger than life scale and haven’t read this book yet, I’d suggest you start reading now.

Details: Bombshell #97, July 2006 (Madonna Key #1)
Excellence Rating: Great
Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave
Warning: Topics depicted in this book may offend members of some religions
Warning: This book deals with graphic violence and death

Bad Girls Don’t by Cathie Linz

Making a living by teaching yoga and belly dancing is nothing new to Skye Wright, who refused to take a normal job like her normal sister. In fact nothing about Skye’s life was normal, including her mother and four year old daughter. When Sheriff Nathan Thornton pulled Skye over for speeding, she was dressed in a harem costume and on her way to the local high school to teach a yoga class to the football team. Convinced she was going to teach the high schoolers more than just yoga, he takes her back to the station in handcuffs. While Skye finds Studly-Do-Right yummy and definitely worth a roll in the hay, he’s too uptight for anything long term. But when someone starts making threats against Skye, Nathan’s willing to do anything to protect Skye, even if it means he has to spend the night as her bodyguard. Now Nathan must decide whether to act on his feelings for Skye or lose the best bad-girl he ever met?

This is a worthy successor to Cathie’s previous book Good Girls Do. Many characters from that story appear in this one, as well as the same sense of humor. However, like the previous one some aspects of the story seemed to be a bit over the top, but it does work for these characters and story. If you loved the Good Girls Do, I think you’ll love this story too.

Details: Berkeley Sensation, November 2006
Excellence Rating: Very good
Steaminess Factor: Heat Wave

Good Girls Do by Cathie Linz

Julia Wright lives in a quiet small town, where she’s finally happy with her life. But when bad boy Luke Maguire rides into town on his Harley, librarian Julia Wright can’t help but notice. Though the last thing Julia wants in her life is an irresponsible guy. The only reason Luke returned to his childhood town was because someone needed to run his father’s bar after his death, but the hot looking librarian offered him a challenge he just couldn’t resist. Julia’s life then goes bad to worse when her mother and bad-girl sister arrive in town along with all of their problems, leaving Julia no place to turn for comfort other than Luke. Now can Julia finally get past her fear of bad-boys or will she find herself running away yet again?

I loved the wacky cast characters in this book, each more interesting than the next. And Cathie manages to throw so many challenges at Julia that you’re sure she’ll never survive. But that’s the charm of this story. The humor is tightly woven into the characters, but occasionally it does seem over to be a bit over the top. Still, I found it funny and enjoyable and definitely worth the time to read.

Score: Very good

Details: Berkeley Sensation, January 2006