The Ruby Kiss

The Ruby Kiss is book 3 in the Magic Knot Fairies series by Helen Scott Taylor. From the back cover.~

A POWERFUL NIGHTSTALKER

Nightshade hungers to bring the strong and beautiful to their knees beneath the ecstasy of his bite, but he has never known sexual lust--not until he meets Ruby McDonald, the curvy redhead who wields attitude and strength like an ax, and who would be the perfect mother of his children. Caught in a clash between the Seelie and Unseelie courts, he vows not only her survival but also to win her heart.

A MORTAL WITH A SECRET

Plagued by magic inherited from a father she never knew, Ruby wants answers. Nightshade has them. And when he crashes into her bedroom late one night, the fairy's silvery eyes, dark intensity, and striking black wings tempt her with a whole lot more: a mysterious world waiting to be explored, a dangerous love that binds her in body, mind, and spirit...and the children she thought she could never have. Ahead looms a choice between freedom and a power some would kill to possess. Should she deny her desires, or succumb to the seduction of...THE RUBY KISS.

I got an early copy of The Ruby Kiss from NetGalley. I was super excited to finally get Nightshade’s story. He’s been a favorite character of mine from the very first time he appeared in the series. I have to say I liked Ruby when we first met her, but loved her by the end of the book. I love strong characters and with Ruby, the reader is able to see her discover how strong she truly is. She doesn’t know what she is as the story begins, but she soon discovers she has the ability to have real power.

Nightshade is such a man. He originally only shows interest in Ruby because he wants her to give him a son. However, he quickly realizes he must fight to protect Ruby so they can be together. Like with any couple, Nightshade and Ruby have all sorts of roadblocks thrown in their path to happiness. Both Nightshade and Ruby have major issues with their fathers, and only by taking on said fathers can they each move forward with their lives. Luckily for each of them, there are many friends and family members willing to help them in their fights.

I did think The Ruby Kiss moved a little slow in the beginning. However, once it picked up, it was non-stop action. I loved the pairing of Nightshade and Ruby and look forward to more books from this series in the future. The release date for The Ruby Kiss is set for November 15, 2011. I can suggest this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal romances.

Winner(s), Winner(s) Chicken Dinner

Wanted to post the winner for each book. Since it is my birthday giveaway, I decided to give 1 copy of each of the 5 books. So instead of 4 winners there will be 5 winners.

Serendipity goes to buckeyegirl31
Cold Touch goes to Mama Kitty
Dragon Bound goes to Debbie B
A Night to Surrender goes to Mariee
In Bed with a Highlander goes to Jen(RomancingtheBook)

I'll email each of the winners today and you each have 7 days to contact me. Thanks for helping my 40th birthday be even more special!

My 40th Birthday...Gifts For You

I’m turning 40 on Saturday, October 29^th. My friends and I celebrated as a group, as we all 7 turn 40 within one calendar year, in Vegas at the first of the month. I decided that to celebrate turning 40, I would give away some of my favorite books that have been released this year. I’ll be giving away 4 books in some of my favorite romance genres (1 book for each decade). I will giveaway digital copies (1 in each genre), Kindle of course is the easiest since you can gift those books, but will email a gift card for cost of digital copy for Nook, Sony, or Kobo. Please let me know which book(s) you would like to win in the comment section, and why. Also, please tell me how you celebrated your favorite birthday. I’d love for you to follow my blog as well, but that is not required to enter. Please include email address if not listed in your profile. Giveaway will run from October 28 – November 2. I’ll use random.org to pick the winners for each category. I'll email all winners, as well as post all winners in a separate post. Winners will have 7 days to respond or new winner(s) will be drawn.

**As I know these books are not all new releases, if you have the book I’m giving away, I’ll be happy to buy a backlist book by the author or pre-order the next book in the series by that author.**

Contemporary Romance

My favorite contemporary romance I’ve read this year is Serendipity by Carly Phillips.

Romantic Suspense

My favorite romantic suspense book I’ve read this year is Cold Touch by Leslie Parrish.

Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

My favorite paranormal romance/urban fantasy book I’ve read this year is Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison.

Historical Romance

Ok, when it comes to historical romances, I had too much trouble picking one book. So I’m giving away any historical romance book by either Tessa Dare or Maya Banks. Please let me know which author and book you would like in the comments.

One Dance with a Duke

One Dance with a Duke is the 1^st book in Tessa Dare’s Stud Club series. From the back cover.~

A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members-yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing “Duke of Midnight.” Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke-until Lady Amelia d’Orsay tries her luck.

In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke’s dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother’s debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club’s founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?

I’ve said before, I buy books as soon as they come out, but don’t always get to read them right away.  I loved Tessa’s first trilogy and had high hopes for The Stud Club trilogy, and with One Dance with a Duke, the trilogy gets an amazing start.

I am a huge fan of Tessa Dare’s books. In fact, her books are what got me back to reading historical romances after going years without going near one. She writes some of the best characters ever, and Amelia and Spencer are among my favorites (yes I’ve said this about some of her other characters before). I liked how strong Amelia is, even though she really doesn’t see herself that way. I love strong female characters in historical romances. Amelia actually approaches Spencer at the ball so she can ask him to forgive her brother Jack’s debt. Spencer didn’t know what to expect when Amelia stepped up to take his one midnight waltz at the ball. In fact, she overwhelms him to the point that he has to carry her outside so he can catch his breath. Once outside, they soon learn that Leo Chatwick, founder of the Stud Club, has been murdered. When Spencer returns Amelia home the next morning he decides they will be married and it will happen within the next 24 hours.

Amelia is attracted to Spencer from the first, but wants to get to know him better before she will make love with him. Spencer has wanted Amelia from their very first dance together, but isn’t happy about having to tell her personal information. Amelia and Spencer have some of the best chemistry from the very first. Amelia is attracted to her husband and once they make love for the first time, she can’t get enough of him. I really love that she never felt the need to hide her desire for her husband. There are a few bumps in the road that keep their relationship from being too easy. One would be Amelia’s brother Jack and his gambling problems that seem to get between Spencer and Amelia. Two would be Spencer’s young ward, Claudia, who is ugly to Amelia from the beginning.  Three would be the murder of Leo and the other members of the Stud Club and the fact the 3 remaining members can’t seem to agree on anything.

Both Spencer and Amelia make a great couple. They are both strong, yet need one another to be stronger. They each find a way to put their relationship above any of the roadblocks that have been thrown at them. With each page, I found myself loving them more and more as a couple, and as individuals.

I have the next 2 books in The Stud Club series in my TBR pile and plan to read them soon. I really do love having an entire trilogy in my hands before I read the first book, since I hate having to wait for the next book to come out. I highly recommend Tessa Dare’s books to anyone who enjoys historical romances.

Too Wild to Hold and Too Wicked To Keep

Too Wild To Hold and Too Wicked To Keep are the 2^nd and 3^rd books in Julie Leto’s fabulous Legendary Lovers series. From the back covers.~

Too Wild to Hold

Hot nights in The Big Easy…

In the sultry heat of New Orleans, as masked man stalks his next prey…private investigator Claire LeCuyer. In order to protect her, FBI agent Michael Murrieta-the descendant of a real masked legend-must go undercover at her hiding place…as sensual retreat, where decadence and sin beckon from every room.

Once immersed in this world of pleasure, Claire and Michael find themselves teased by the languidly sexual environment-and their blazing attraction to each other. But even as they “mask” their true identities, it’s too late. Now Claire and Michael are caught up in the danger…and their desire. And the longer they stay in the sensuous world, the more dangerous it is!

Too Wicked to Keep

Revenge is a dish best served hot…

Can a bad boy change for the better? Thief Danny Burnett wonders if the heirloom ring in his possession-once owned by a legendary masked bandit-is as powerful as his brothers say it is. But when heiress Abby Albertini steps back into his life after five long years, Danny knows he’s about to find out…

Abby needs Danny’s help to retrieve something he stole from her. Besides her heart. But Abby’s not the naive girl she once was. She has a few naughty tricks up her sleeve. She’ll get Danny’s help, and teach him a lesson about payback that he won’t soon forget-one hot, wicked night at a time.

I really enjoyed both Too Wild To Hold and Too Wicked to Keep, but have to say Too Wicked to Keep is my favorite of the two books, actually the favorite of the series. Of course, since I wanted Danny’s book since we met him, I figured Too Wicked To Keep would be my favorite in the series.

Too Wild To Hold is Michael and Claire’s story. Michael was the toughest of the 3 brothers for me to connect with. I liked him, but he was more reserved than his brothers. Helps him to be an awesome FBI agent, but took a bit for me to connect with his character. I loved Claire from the moment she appeared on the page. She is a strong woman who is willing to do whatever it takes for her clients, even if that means signing on for a sensual weekend where she meets Michael. Michael shows up to keep Claire out of danger. Claire and Michael are attracted to one another from the moment they meet. They fight their attraction for a while, and when they finally do give into their passion, it is explosive. Of course, Claire is still in danger, and Michael will do anything to help keep her safe, even accept help from his brother, Danny.  Michael and Claire are good together both as a couple and as investigators.

Too Wicked To Keep is Danny and Abby’s story. I fell for Danny from the first time he appeared in Too Hot To Touch. Danny is such a scoundrel and yet there is something about him that just makes you want to give him a hug. Abby shows up in New Orleans to get Danny’s help in stealing back the painting he stole from her 5 years ago. Danny never really got over what he did to Abby 5 years ago. In fact, he has avoided all jobs in the Chicago area to insure he not see Abby again. However, Abby won’t take no for an answer this time. She knows Danny is the only man for this particular job. He knows the history of the painting, which would reflect negatively on her family if it is ever shown in public. Danny takes the job to help Abby out partially due to guilt, but mostly due to the fact he still has feelings for her.

Abby thought any attraction she had for Danny died 5 years ago when he used her to steal her painting. However, as she spends more time with Danny, Abby soon realizes she has never completely gotten past her attraction for him. Danny has never gotten over Abby in all the years they’ve been apart.  This time he is ready to keep his word, partially to show Abby he has changed, but mostly because he still loves her. Danny and Abby still have the same chemistry they had 5 years ago, only now there are no lies between them.

In the end, it turns out Danny can’t help Abby out without some outside help. For the first time in the series, we get to see Danny, Alex, and Michael all work together to fix the situation. One Murrieta man is good, so 3 are even better. I enjoyed watching Danny and his brothers. For 3 men who only met months ago, they really did act like they had been brothers for years. I loved the chemistry between the brothers every bit as much as I loved the chemistry between Danny and Abby.

I’m a huge fan of Julie Leto and have to say she gives her readers winners with her Legendary Lovers’ series. As all three books are from the Blaze line, at this point you will have to buy online to find this series in either print or digital. I know www.harlequin.com , www.amazon.com , and www.bn.com each should have copies still available.  I actually won the series from Julie on an auction from earlier this year. However, it didn’t keep me from ordering the books from www.amazon.com for my kindle.