Shelly Laurenston
Wolf with Benefits
Kensington / March 26, 2013 / $15.00 trade, $9.39 digital

Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?

Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…

Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series is known for its outrageous humor and its sexy shifters. Wolf with Benefits, the eighth book of the series, is no exception. With a crazy cast of characters and outrageous dialogue, Wolf with Benefits is laugh-out-loud funny—and that’s what makes this series so enjoyable.

[Talk funny to me...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Sons of Anarchy, including last night's Season 5 finale, “J'ai Obtenu Cette.”

With each season of Sons of Anarchy, the stakes get higher and the body count increases. The show wrapped its fifth season in typical SOA style: Shoot-outs, double-crossing, new allies, and betrayal. The buildup of the first 12 episodes came to a head in the season finale and it wasn’t pretty.

[No happily ever afters here...]

Sylvia Day
Reflected in You
Berkley / Oct. 2 (digital), Oct. 23 (print) / $ 9.99 digital, $15.00 print

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity. We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...

Reflected in You is the second book in Sylvia Day's Crossfire series, and the train wreck that is Gideon and Eva’s relationship continues to grab you by the throat and does not let you go. I’ve never read a story where two people who love each other make each other so dysfunctional. On one hand, you want Gideon and Eva to break up and just be done with it, but on the other hand, you wouldn’t want to put them on anyone else. Gideon and Eva are dysfunctional when they’re together—and even more dysfunctional when they are apart.

He was my drug, and I had no desire to kick the habit.

[Co-dependant and it feels so right...]

Tiffany Reisz
The Angel
Harlequin Mira / September 25, 2012 / $13.95 print, $9.99 digital

Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

It's not often that the second book in a series is just as good if not better than the first one, but author Tiffany Reisz completely outdid herself with The Angel. Like The Siren, The Angel pushed my comfort zone to its limit and took me on an incredible emotional journey.

[Buckle up, kids...]

Jaci Burton
Playing to Win (Play by Play #4)
Penguin Group / September 4, 2012 / $15.00 print, $9.99 digital

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields

In Playing to Win, the fourth book in Jaci Burton’s Play by Play series, Cole Riley hasn’t had any luck with longevity with his football teams. After being traded to his 3rd NFL Team, Cole needs to clean up his image. In comes Savannah Brooks, a Georgia Peach who’s an expert at making over an image. Cole doesn’t think that there’s anything wrong with his image. If his image is tainted, it’s because of the media, not him. Savannah’s job is to convince Cole to knock that chip off his shoulder and to play nice if he wants to have a long career with the Traders.

[In other words, falling in love was not in the game plan? And yet!...]

Jill Shalvis
At Last
Grand Central / June 26, 2012 / $7.99 digital and print

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

At Last is Jill Shalvis’s fifth book in her Lucky Harbor series. Amy is a waitress at Eat Me, Lucky Harbor’s local restaurant, and won’t let anyone get close to her. Matt is the local forest ranger, and he eats at Eat Me daily just to ogle Amy. Amy is attracted to Matt, but doesn’t want to get involved with the sexy ranger—but as much as she tries to fight it, her attraction to Matt isn’t going away any time soon. Both Matt and Amy don’t like letting anyone get close, but that might be the one thing that will bring them together.

[Bonding over Issues, huh? Right on!...]

Shannon Stacey
Slow Summer Kisses
Carina Press / $2.99 digital / June 4, 2012

Anna Frazier is used to living life at 100 mph, but being downsized out of a job in the financial industry has her permanently stalled. With nowhere to go, go, go, Anna hails a cab to her grandparents’ neglected New Hampshire camp to plan her next move. It seems like a good idea—until she realizes there’s no takeout to be had and the boy next door has grown into a sexy but surly recluse.

Cameron Mayfield knows he can kiss his peace and quiet goodbye when Hurricane Anna blows in. She was loud and bossy as a ten-year-old—and besides developing some attractive curves, she hasn’t changed. Cam’s not looking for a relationship, especially not with a woman like Anna. He nearly broke down on that road once before. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?

It’s not long before their sizzling attraction leads to smoking-hot kisses. But as the days get shorter, Anna must decide if she’s found a new road to happiness, or just taken a detour.

Reading a Shannon Stacey novel guarantees a great plot, wonderful characters and humorous banter. Slow Summer Kisses did not disappoint.

[So...you’d say that this summer lovin’ was a blast?]

Sylvia Day
Bared To You
Berkley / May 24, 2012 / $5.99

Our journey began in fire...

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart...

Bared to You is the first book in Sylvia Day’s new contemporary romance Crossfire series. Told in the first person by the heroine Eva Trammel, Eva is a recent college grad who moves to Manhattan with her male BFF, Cary, to start her life on her own two feet. Then Eva meets Gideon Cross, a handsome take-charge billionaire who sweeps her off her feet.

[Not a bad start...]

Roxanne St. Claire
Barefoot in the Sand (Barefoot Bay #1)
Grand Central Publishing / April 24, 2012 / $5.99

When a hurricane roars through Lacey Armstrong’s home on the coast of Barefoot Bay, she decides all that remains in the rubble is opportunity. A new hotel is just what Mimosa Key needs, and Lacey and her teenage daughter are due for a fresh start. And nothing, especially not a hot,younger architect, is going to distract Lacey from finally making her dreams a reality. 

Love has already cost Clay Walker everything. And if he’s going to have any chance of picking up the pieces of his life, he needs the job as Lacey Armstrong’s architect. What’s not in the plans is falling for the headstrong beauty. Her vision of the future is more appealing than anything he could have ever drafted for himself. Will Clay’s designs on Lacey’s heart be more than she can handle, or will she trust him to build something that will last forever?

Barefoot in the Sand is the first book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay series. Lacey is a single mom who has lost everything in a hurricane. Seeing the devastation to her home as an opportunity to pursue her dream, she decides that instead of rebuilding her home, she’s going to build a B&B. In walks Clay Walker, architect extraordinaire—or so Lacey thinks. But instead of getting the Clayton Walker, his son shows up instead. Clay is trying to get his career off the ground and thinks that building Lacey’s B&B is the perfect opportunity.

[If you build it, success—and love—will come...]

Shelly Laurenston
Bear Meets Girl (Pride #7)
Kensington/Mar. 27, 2012/$14.00 print, $9.59 digital 

He’s big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He’s also about to get trapped by own his game. . .

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that’s turning Crush’s lone-bear world upside down—and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .

As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she’s joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who’s got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn’t because Crush’s stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways.

Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series is known for its outrageous humor and its sexy shifters. Bear Meets Girl, the seventh book of the series, was no exception. I’ve only read the first book in the Pride series, and expected to have a few laughs while reading Bear Meets Girl, but I never thought it would be laugh-out-loud funny.

[When LOL really means just that!...]

It’s been years since I’ve read J.R. Ward’s Lover Eternal. Big mistake. Huge! What was I thinking? There was so much that I didn’t remember about the series but once I started reading Lover Eternal, it all started coming back to me.

When I first discovered the series, I was all about Wrath. He was my favorite Brother. There’s always a special place in your heart for your first. If someone had asked me a week ago who my favorite brother was, I would say Wrath without hesitation. Now that I’ve re-read Lover Eternal, my tune has changed; I’ve come to the conclusion that Rhage has to be the most underrated brother of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

When I hear BDB lovers squee over their favorite book of the series or their favorite brother, hands down, Zsadist always gets the love. Of course everyone loves Wrath because he’s the first brother to whom we were introduced. But I don’t hear much about Rhage and it’s a damn shame. Where’s the love for Hollywood?

[Rhage fans, report for duty!...]

Roni Loren

Crash Into You (Loving on the Edge, #1)

Berkley Trade, $15.00/$9.99 digital, January 3, 2012

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat-a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her, Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate-and so does the danger. Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

[Yikes!]

I love romance. I’ve been reading romance since I was 12 years old (don’t tell my mom!). And as an avid romance reader, there’s one thing I’ve noticed time and time again—despite having emotional flaws and a sordid past, which makes the hero in any romance “tortured and desirable,” the hero never suffers when it comes to his skills in the bedroom.

Maybe I was in a mood or I was reading too many contemporary romances back-to-back but I started noticing a trend that I could no longer ignore.

Why isn’t the hero ever an average guy in the sack? He can be an emotionally stunted commitment-phobic douchebag, but he is always amazing in bed.

Here is what I found to be the standard trope for the hero in a romance novel that sometimes makes my eyes roll.

[It’s our differences that make us great, right?...]

Zoe Archer
Devil’s Kiss (Hellraisers #1)
Zebra, $6.99/$4.79 digital, Dec. 6, 2011

James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger—and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends. Which was how Whit found himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey’s smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands - watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind. Zora can’t explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can’t stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts’ desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can’t save Whit, she still has to escape him.

[Hm...will she get away?]

Larissa Ione
Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2)
Grand Central Publishing, $7.99, Nov. 22, 2011

The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it.
They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army’s paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he’s spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn’t your average girl. She’s immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé’s wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

[Doesn’t anyone just lose their keys anymore?...]

Lilli Feisty
Deliciously Sinful
Forever, $7.99, November 22, 2011

Things are cooking in the kitchen...and the bedroom.

Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she’s positive she can whip him into shape.

But from the moment Nick Avalon roars into town in his Hummer, he makes her whole world sizzle. Now Phoebe has lost control of her kitchen, and Nick has taken over her mind and her body. His insatiable appetite for pleasure leaves her breathless with carnal cravings only he can satisfy. Yet can their hunger for each other be a recipe for a love that lasts?

[Give me some sugar!...]