Bare Confessions
By Lacey Thorn
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Contemporary
2007 Lacey Thorn
$5.95
ebook

Kate Daniels was looking forward to starting her career after graduation.  She happily relocates to a new town which moves her closer to her brother Gil and his fiancée.  She also doesn't mind that it puts her closer to her brother's best friend and partner on the police force. Things however do not go according to plan when she is forced to kill a psychotic serial killer to save her brother's fiancée.  When the news comes out in the media, the job offer she had lined up is rescinded.  Fortunately Gil’s fiancée gives her a position in her gym and she starts leading group therapy sessions for women in need. 

Detective Ben Marcum is hesitant about starting a relationship with his best friend's sister. Kate quickly overcomes his objections but he worries that the secrets of his past are going to catch up to him.  The more attached he becomes to Kate the more his nerves seem to fray as his past starts to intrude upon them.

Bare Confessions is the second book in the Bare Love series.  This is not the mystery suspense of the first book in the series.  Instead this book continues to tantalize us with intimate glimpses of the Daniels family and focuses more in-depth on family dynamics and interpersonal relationships.  Lacey Thorn is a master of infusing humor into those embarrassing family bloopers.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Daniels' family antics.  I'm still crossing my fingers and hoping for a book about Kate's brother, Griff.  I give this 4 out of 5 hearts.


©Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
June 2007
Bare Confessions
By Lacey Thorn
Ellora's Cave

Motor Mouth
By Janet Evanovich
Harper Collins Books

Sage
By Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave

Shara's Challenge
By Lorie O'Clare
Ellora's Cave

HardWind
By Charlotte Boyette-Compo
Ellora's Cave

Prime Reaper
By Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Ellora's Cave

Savage Legacy
By Lora Leigh
Ellora's Cave



page 2 of Michelle's Reviews
Janet Evanovich
Motor Mouth
Copyright 2006 by Evanovich
Harper Collins Books
Print

Alexandra Barnaby a.k.a. Barney is working as a spotter for her ex-lover, NASCAR driver, Sam Hooker.  When she suspects a rival driver of cheating they both do some undercover investigating.  Unfortunately, they discover a dead body during their investigation.  In true Murphy's Law fashion, whatever could go wrong does, and they have to get rid of the body without implicating themselves in the process. 

While trying to discover a murderer and if Sam's racing rival is doing some high-tech cheating, Barney tries to put the brakes on Hooker's amorous advances.  After all, he did cheat on her and she really shouldn't trust a thing he says.  Despite this, his charming ways and octopus arms make it hard for her to hold a grudge.

This book was hilarious and should be read with caution.  I couldn't help laughing out loud is some very public places.  Solving the mystery was intriguing and Barney and Hooker had a lot of sexual tension between them.  The circumstances they found themselves in just surprised one chuckle after another from me.  In addition, I enjoyed the very endearing secondary characters who acted as foils for Barnaby's adventures.  If you want an enjoyable, funny, quick-witted read then this is the book for you.  I give it 5 out of 5 flags.

©Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
July 5, 2007
Sage
By Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Futuristic
2006 Shiloh Walker
$5.20
ebook

There is a rebellion going on against the big brother government and Sage and Anni are foot soldiers in this underground war.  Both have wanted each other for a long time yet neither one of them has acknowledged their feelings.  While Anni is getting some R&R Sage is sent to retrieve her for a meeting with their boss Jax.  Things quickly heat up as their passion ignites and returning to reality is the last thing on their minds. 

When Sage senses that a young firewalker is in trouble he and Anni rush to her rescue.  During the rescue attempt Anni is kidnapped and Sage is determined to get her back.  Yet the kidnapping is more than it seems and Sage's need for revenge might have to go unsatisfied. 

Sage is the second book in the Firewalkers series.  Although this story can be read alone I recommend reading the previous book in the series first.  Shiloh Walker creates a world in which people are persecuted for being different.  The need for humans to be independent and not conformists is central to this book.  She explores the differences in effective leadership and the best ways to inspire and command loyalty.  To be an alpha male is fine but to be an alphamaniac breeds dissent.  Sage and Anni struggle to submerge their own needs for revenge against the greater good of the Rebel cause.  Shiloh Walker also introduces us to the possibility of a romance between Miguel and Sage's sister Kelly.  I hope these two get together and that their story is told soon.  I give this 3 out of five flames. 
 
©Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
July 5, 2007
Shara's Challenge
By Lorie O'Clare
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Futuristic
2006 Lorie O'Clare
$5.95
ebook

Shara Dar is the leader of South Passage a position she fought long and hard for. As a leader she has an impeccable reputation but she has many secret desires that conflict with the image she tries to maintain.  To release stress and fulfill her fantasies she often disguises herself and goes to clubs to have public sex anonymously with strangers.  She keeps this aspect of her life private until one day while in disguise her first and second in command recognize her at the exclusive Venezuela's Private Club. 

Romair Tosk is Shara's first in command and he has been by her side for years.  Though they have both been curious about each other they have never been tempted to cross the barrier of friendship until now.  With a hole in the ocean wall demanding their attention and the prospect of contact with their genetic forbearers becoming a possibility both are tense and in need of some relief.  Romair refuses to let Shara indulge in her dangerous liaisons and risk her hard fought leadership position.  Shara is concerned that once Romair controls her private life he'll take over her leadership position as well.

Shara's Challenge is the second edition in O'Clare's fantastic underwater world which starts with Dead World.  This is a well textured world that is fully articulated.  I loved the way O'Clare allowed us to see inside the heads of both the characters, but as in the real world, the characters didn't necessarily have the same insight we did.  As a strong female leader Shara was rightly concerned that a relationship with a dominating male could threaten her position.  For an alpha male Romair was very supportive of Shara's ambitions without trying to take over.  The chemistry between these two characters really heated up the pages.  4 out of 5 gills. 

©Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
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HardWind
By Charlotte Boyette-Compo
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Romantic Suspense
2006 Charlotte Boyette-Compo
$5.95
ebook

Dáire Cronin is a deadly assassin working for a secret government agency that doesn't officially exist.  He had a long term relationship with Star Kiernan, a successful restaurateur.  Unfortunately his inability to break away from his work and invest in his relationship causes Star to break it off with him.  They've been apart for over a year but Dáire is back from assignment and determined to win her over. 

Star has been hiding a secret from Dáire.  When he discovers her secret he is more determined than ever to stay by her side.  As they start to work on their relationship Dáire's job once again becomes an issue.  Soon it becomes obvious that some of the problems in their relationship are from an outside cause.  Tyndall Gentry, Dáire's boss, is hardcore.  She is determined to control every aspect of his life and becomes a deadly roadblock not only to their reconciliation but also to their health. 

HardWind was not your usual romantic suspense.  Things are not always perfect in the real world and HardWind reflected this.  The book did have some twists and turns but I was not on the edge of my seat.  The psychotic behavior of Dáire's boss wasn't really explained well and really didn't make a lot of sense.  What saved the book for me was that the main characters actually did the unexpected and did not have run of the mill responses. They weren't perfect people and they did not have perfect responses.  This realism earned it 3 out of 5 stars. 
 
©Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
July 5, 2007
Prime Reaper
By Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Futuristic
2007 Charlotte Boyett-Compo
$5.95
ebook


Prime Reaper

Arawn Gehdrin is the prime reaper.  After a brief honeymoon with his new wife he comes back to the command center to face a full blown crisis.  The Ceannus, evil creatures determined to enslave man-kind, have re-emerged and they are planning a deadly attack.  The stakes are raised even higher when the reapers learn that their sons are being held hostage as a food source to these evil beings.  With the responsibility of being prime he takes his duties seriously. 

Danielle is ecstatic that she has managed to capture Arawn.  Although she loves him she doesn't fully accept all of him.  She is not only afraid of what he is, but is filled with horror of becoming like him.  Unfortunately, she is also hiding a secret from him that could be potentially fatal. 

Prime Reaper is the third book in Boyett-Compo's WesternWind series.  This book continues to expand upon the intricate and complex universe Boyett-Campo has masterfully created.  Prime Reaper should not be read alone as the story is complex and might be difficult to follow without reading the books in order.  Although Arwan and Danielle were the main characters, other characters are prominently discussed as well.  The summary on the back of the book is a little misleading because this book is not about Arwan and Danielle meeting and getting to know one another, but rather about how Danielle, a newlywed, struggles to fully accept her man, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  There is also a good deal of time spent developing other characters which really enriches the story.  Many passionate love scenes make this a hot read while the subplots and a few twists keep the story engaging.  I definitely can't wait to see what happens next.  I give Prime Reaper 4 out of 5 stars.

(c) Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
July 2007
Savage Legacy
By Lora Leigh
Ellora's Cave Publishing
Paranormal
2004 Lora Leigh
$6.49
e-book


Savage Legacy

Ariel has spent her entire young life trying to prove that she isn't crazy.  She has the special ability to not only hear things on the wind but to command the winds themselves.  Since she was a child, her father has been determined to lock her away in a mental health facility and to break her spirit.  His constant attempts to prove her insane has her questioning her sanity.  Unfortunately, when she needs her powers most, her lack of belief in their existence and her fear for her sanity may put her in the clutches of her greatest enemy before she can learn to control the winds enough to protect herself. 

Shanar a.k.a Shane has waited a thousand years for his beloved to be reborn.  He has held himself chaste believing that one day he will reclaim his beloved.  Yet her memories of her past life are fragmented and unclear.  She can barely believe in her own powers let alone Shane's love.  In order for her to fully regain her powers she is going to have to trust in Shane and his abilities to protect her.  Until she can her fears will block her emerging powers.

Savage Legacy is the third book in the Legacies series.  It can be read alone but is richer if read in sequence. The core of this story is about learning to trust and believe in self.  Although Ariel was traumatized in both of her lifetimes, this story reflects her journey to overcome self doubt and become a strong and confident woman.  I give Savage Legacy three out of five stars. 

(c) Michelle Wells, gottawritenetwork.com
August 2007