Blind Love (Tilling Passions, Book 1), by Nina Pierce

Title: Blind Love (Tilling Passions, Book 1)

Author: Nina Pierce

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Suspense

Publisher: Self

Publication Date: April 11, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Vanessa

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Uptight CPA, Julie Tilling is tired of doing the right thing. When her friend from high school dies and Julie is the only one who believes he didn’t commit suicide, she takes it upon herself to explore the circumstances surrounding his death. When the investigation takes her into a world of sexy nightclubs and a one night stand that has her heart melting, Julie finds a naughty side of herself she didn’t know existed.

Damon Corey didn’t come to Maine to become a shock jock. But when his dream of becoming a concert pianist seems unobtainable, the radio station’s offer is too good to pass up. Unfortunately, the one night stands and empty relationships are getting old—that is until a mysterious brunette falls into his arms and wraps around his heart making him believe in love.

With their passion overheating and their sexual encounters exploding, Damon and Julie work to see beyond the masks that have protected them from the world. But will Damon’s enigmatic shock jock persona become Julie’s sexual undoing and reveal Damon as the missing piece that solves the puzzling questions surrounding her friend’s death?

Review:
What can I say about Julie Tilling? The middle child in a family of all girls, she is held responsible for everything. Being a sounding board for her sisters, a doormat for them to walk all over, the backbone of her family. This is who she is…at least that is what everyone sees. When her best friend, Jason, commits suicide she can’t believe it and is determined to find out the truth…no matter the cost. In a dank nightclub, she discovers more about herself than I think she ever could have imagined.

Damon, or Demon as he is known in the night scene, is your typical bad boy. Insulting, chauvinistic, and sexy as hell. This is his life…and he hates it. With dreams bigger than his small time radio and DJ gig, he longs for simple comforts in a job where he doesn’t have to leave himself at the door to step into the personality that the world loves to hate.

I loved Julie’s innocence and the fact that she grew so much in a short period of time. Completely coming out of her comfort zone with a few Long Island Iced Teas, a mystery needing to be solved, and a gorgeous man that she just can’t seem to resist was just the boost she needed to shed her doormat lifestyle and come into her own. She is the perfect example of what can happen when you just put yourself out there and let life take you over. She and Damon are a terrific match. Each able to teach each other about what they are missing in their lives.

This sweet story was a quick read. I loved it! The relationship between Julie and Damon was a perfect mix of heartwarming and steamy. Both had something new to offer the other. The fact that Damon had his secrets and still wanted to aid in helping Julie find out the truth of Jason’s death, even though he knew those secrets could come out…awesome. It says a lot about the type of man he really was. Oh…and did I mention steamy? Not your every day steamy either. A hot man who wants to do whatever to please you…all tied up and helpless? Oh yes.

I will definitely be looking for more from Nina Pierce in the future. Good things to come from her for sure!

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan #1), by Anita Clenney

Title: Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan #1)

Author: Anita Clenney

Sub-Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Scottish/Highlander, Suspense

Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.

Publication Date: May 1, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Vanessa

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

A man from another time...

Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She's more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he's not careful, she'll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect.

Could be the treasure she's been seeking all her life...

When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn't dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan's duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems.

Review:
Oh where do I begin? I can absolutely NOT pass up the chance to read a Highland book. There is something about these large, sweet, tough, and somewhat naïve men that I just can not get enough of! This book was no exception.

Bree is my hero! She is exactly what I love to see in a book. Strong, capable, modern, and independent. Definitely not your average damsel in distress. When she begins digging in her backyard, she thinks she has hit the jackpot in the form of a long, lost treasure…boy did she ever! Who would have thunk that there would have been a Highland Warrior buried in her yard? I would have dug him up sooner.

Faelan is hell-bent on catching the demon that captured him 150 years ago, but also realizes that the woman that saved him from his crypt is the one. He needs her but she is not from his time and he really has no idea what to do with her, especially since she is not the “follow whatever the man says” kind of girl. So…road trip!! Off they go to slay the demon. I love it!!

I loved every second I spent reading this book and was actually sad to see it end. It had all that you could ever want…great characters, hot male roles, Scottish accents, action, adventure, and enough attraction to make you need a cool shower. There is nothing sexier than a Scottish clan trying to kill the evil…except one that will lay his life down for the fiery love of his life. Sigh.

Debut novels are always hard but Anita blew this one out of the water!! I can not wait until the next in the series comes out. I want to find out more about this world and the clan involved in it. This is definitely a series to watch out for.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Dark Passions Rising (A Dark Breed Novel), by Shannan Albright

Title: Dark Passion Rising (A Dark Breed Novel)

Author: Shannan Albright

Sub-Genre(s): Paranormal

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Publication Date: March 23, 2011

ISBN #: 9781926950365

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Vanessa

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Tambra Ellis has just had her world turned upside down. Surviving a bite from a Lycan, attracted to one hot vampire and now she has to look forward to turning into something from some bad werewolf movie.

Marcus Valerian has enough on his plate without the added complication of Tambra Ellis. Fiery and independent? Sure. Beautiful with a body made for sin? Oh Yeah. She's also a human cop. Tambra is everything he needs to stay away from.

As leader of the Tribunal’s enforcers it’s up to him to find out why the Dark Breeds are going feral and killing humans in ever increasing numbers. Tambra’s life is in the balance as the secrets of her past place her in the middle of a battle that will change the world forever.

Will Marcus and Tambra’s love survive or will it too late?

Review:
Tambra is a human cop who accidentally stumbled upon the world of the Breeds. Vampires and werewolves were creepy bedtime stories for her until one fateful night she hunts down the wrong kind of criminal. In a dark alley, trying to save an innocent from being mauled to death by something right out of a horror movie, she gets bitten by a feral Lycan and finds herself against the clock for survival and mixed in a world that is way above her pay grade.

On the hunt to keep the peace between the Breeds, Marcus is the leader of the Tribunal’s Enforcers. Searching for the same Lycan who just gave Tambra a run for her money, he discovers her miraculously still semi-conscious but well worked over. Intrigued by her will of survival, he decides to take her under his wing to help her with her Rising…the transformation from human to Lycan…should she survive it.

Dark Passion Rising is a complex world with a lot going on in it. Somehow, though, it works. It had everything that you need. Fast paced, conflict, action, and some surprising turn of events make it a great afternoon read. It’s loaded with sexual tension and some great lip-bitingly steamy sex scenes. What more could you ask for?

The only thing that didn’t impress me is that, although the story does keep you guessing a little, it is surprisingly predictable. There were definitely a few points where the story lacked that shock value I love so much. That being said, there were also some parts that made me go “H’uh?”. I guess it kind evens itself out.

If you are a fan of action, “don’t mess with me” chicks, hot vampy men, and steamy sexiness, I totally recommend this book. It’s a quick read...but well worth it!

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.