Review: Make Mine Midnight - Annmarie McKenna

Description from Goodreads:

New Year-s resolutions have never looked so good.


New Year-s Eve. The party is rockin-, and Claire is in her usual spot holding up the wall. It-s all right. She-s much happier scribbling in her trusty little notebook than mingling. Especially since those notes turn into the sexy erotic romances she pens in secret. Those two gorgeous gods across the room are perfect hero material and-oh dear, are they headed her way?

Mason and Hunter know she won-t remember them as the scrawny geeks they were in high school. She also doesn't know they've been lusting after her for ten long years, waiting for her to meet a man and have a normal relationship. They-re through waiting. The time has come to make their move-and show her exactly how much they've changed.

One night in the middle of a Mason/Hunter manwich, and Claire has enough research material to fill a hundred notebooks. Good thing she-s got OfficeMax on speed dial to order more. Except suddenly her two hunks have this crazy idea that keeping her is selfish. Selfish? She may be mousy, but this mouse is about to roar-

Warning: Threesomes! Light bondage, blindfolds, breakfast made by two hot men who used to be geeks. Parades, cotton candy, more sex, and convincing said men they are WRONG and threesomes are RIGHT.

My Review:

Claire is an erotic writer and she's never experienced what she writes about.  Until now.

She's at a New Year's Eve party - not talking or dancing like other guests, but writing her New Year's resolutions.  Her number 5 resolution: "Sleep with first non-squicky, non-stalkerish, non-ew-type man to offer."

  At the party, she sees 2 hunky men who would make perfect heroes in her books, but little does she know is that these two men have been waiting ten years since school for their chance  to be with Claire and show her how much they have changed. 
  Mason and Hunter used to be total geeks, but not anymore.  They've bulked up and become the men that most women fantasize about.  Now is their chance to approach Claire and take her home and show her just what she's been missing out on all these years.
  They leave the party and head back to her apartment where they can all prepare to have the night of their lives.  What Claire doesn't know is that Mason and Hunter don't just want Claire for one night, but to be with her always - if she's willing.

This is a short story full of explicit sex, hot men, and fantasies being fulfilled.  It contains threesomes, which is something I've never read about before.  I found the flow of the story smooth and the characters were so hot they were making me melt.  I really enjoyed this and I think Annmarie should write a sequel to this so we can know what happens later.  If you act quickly, this is a freebie for the Kindle on Amazon.  Check it out- you have nothing to lose.

4 Stars

Review: Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Description from Goodreads:

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...


Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.



Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.



From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.



My Review:
 
Just after reading the first chapter, I knew this was gonna be a great story!
 
Camelia was in the school parking lot on the last day of school, when she has to squat down to search for an earring that slipped off.  Next thing she knows, there's a car heading straight for her and she is frozen like a deer in headlights.  All of a sudden she is pushed out to the curb and out of the way by a mysterious guy.  Camelia thinks this mysterious guy is incredibly handsome too.  He makes sure she's ok, touches her stomach, and then hops on his motorcycle and drives away.
  So who is this mystery guy you ask- Well Camelia is about to find out.  When school resumes three months later, she finds out about the new student- Ben Carter.  Ben is not welcomed with open arms like most new students- quite the opposite really.  There are already rumors going around that he is a killer and pushed his girlfriend of a cliff to her death, but Camelia won't believe the stories about him since she knows firsthand that he's a hero and saved her life personally.
  When she approaches Ben, he denies being the guy who saved her, but she knows she's not mistaken because she notices the same scar on his arm is the same one she saw when he saved her.
  When she gets home from school, she gets a photo of herself with a heart around it and realizes when she keeps getting mysterious gifts, photos and messages that someone is stalking her.  When they start, its as if she has a secret admirer but as they progress and come more often, she knows someone is out to hurt her.  Ben tells her that she's in danger but is she in danger from him or is someone else out to get her?  Is Ben the killer that everyone says he is?
 
  I've read this book twice now because its just that good!  Its full of mystery, humor, and romance that will make your toes curl. 
 
Camelia is my favorite character.  If I were her, I would have told my parents right away what was going on.  In my opinion, she was right to trust Ben when they first met cause she knew he was a real hero for saving her life.  Camelia is a brave character too.  She sticks with what she believes in and rides off with Ben in the middle of the night instead of believing the rumors.  Camelia also does pottery, which brings me to my favorite scene out of any books that I've ever read.  If you've seen the movie "Ghost" with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, then you  know about the love scene they do with the clay and the pottery wheel spinning.  Well, that is what happens in one of the scenes of this book between Camelia and a boy. I Absolutely loved that scene and being able to picture it while I was reading it.  It makes me want to learn pottery just so I can experience what Camelia does.
  I recommend this book to everyone.  Seriously, I do!  The characters are entertaining.  The settings are fun, romantic, and mysterious.  The plot flows easily from beginning to end and I wasn't bored for any of it.  Read this book cause I know you'll love it too!!!
 
5 Stars

Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon

Description from Goodreads:

A haunting love story about desire, danger, and destiny. After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California's Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, "crude sciences," and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It's here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can't seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee's life. Dante's not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own… Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why. Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

My Review:

  Renee Winters finds her parents in the woods dead.  The cause of death for both of her parents was identified as heart attacks.  Renee doesn't believe it cause they have gauze in their mouths and coins were scattered around the bodies.  Renee's new guardian- her grandfather- decides to send her to Maine to attend Gottfried Academy.  Gottfried Academy is like no other school and she will soon find out why when she starts digging into its history and the truth behind her parents' deaths. 
  Renee makes friends with Eleanor her roommate, right away and she is able to show Renee the routine and rules of Gottfried Academy.  She meets Dante Berlin there also and is immediately drawn to him.  She will learn why there seems to be a magnetic bond between them later.  He and Renee grow closer when they are paired together in class.  He also tutors her in Latin which is known as "Language of the Dead".  He's always cold and he won't kiss her on the mouth but he'll kiss her on the neck.  What can Dante be hiding and will Renee be able to dig into the school's past in time to save herself and her friends?
  Let's start off with the cover- I don't love the cover, but I like it.  It makes the story look a bit fairy taleish (is that even a word?)  and from an earlier period in time.  This was no fairy tale and it took place in the modern time period so I was thrown off a bit.  The cover is catching but just a little deceiving in my opinion.  The colors are a bit dark and she is wearing all black so I pretty much assumed that someone was gonna die eventually or it was gonna have to do with death without even reading the description.  Overall, it is an ok cover for the book.
  To be honest- I was a bit bored at the beginning, but after Dante entered the book, I was able to stay focused on the story and it was able to keep my attention.  I was a bit confused on why the students had to take Horticulture.  I just don't understand what plants and soil have to do with the story. I must have missed that somewhere in the book, but I do know it is popular among the Board of Monitors of the school.  Plants just don't interest me enough to really pay attention to all the details Yvonne gave.
  The school was very strict and I would not want to live by their rules.  They had a dress code obviously but the other rules are a bit too much.  There is to be no artificial light of any kind after dark.  They are to use candles only ( Well it sure would save on the electricity bill) but suck when it comes to reading and homework- talk about straining your eyes- the kids are gonna need glasses and that is more expensive than an electric bill.  They are not allowed to be in the opposite sex's dorms or date anyone from the school.  I think it would be impossible to ban people from liking each other if you sit with them everyday in class and grow close.  Feelings are eventually gonna develop among some of the students so they should just let it happen and keep an eye on them.  Oh well, that is just my opinion.
  I enjoyed being able to snoop and spy right along with Renee on her quest for answers.  Upon discovering their secrets, I was better able to understand the characters and their previous behavior which would clear up a lot of questions I had going on in my head.  In the end, everything starts piecing together and you won't believe the ending (If that's what you want to call it).  It's a cliffhanger ending that is gonna have you craving the next book, that is if there is one.  Please Yvonne, write a sequel so your readers don't go crazy wondering what happens next!!  

4 1/2 Stars

His Eyes - Renee Carter

Description From Goodreads:

Amy Turner's about to graduate from high school and all she wants is a job. Actually, all she wants is to find a way to pay for college. Amy certainly isn't looking for love when she answers an ad to baby-sit a boy-she just needs the cash. But the job has a catch: The boy is blind...and he's her age.

Tristan Edmund may be hot, but he doesn't want Amy's help. Or so he thinks. After being blinded in a horse show-jumping competition, Tristan spends his days in the dark, refusing to accept his disability. Much to his annoyance, Amy bursts into his life and drags him into the light. But just as the two begin to see something in each other, Tristan's beautiful ex-girlfriend shows up. Will the temptation be too much, or will Tristan choose the girl who really sees him?

My Review:

Amy Turner has gotten accepted into 2 schools.  Illinois University and Evanston.  She wants to be in journalism and Evanston would get her to her dream a lot quicker than the state college but the problem is that it will be very expensive without a scholarship.

  Amy decides to respond to an ad in the paper for a babysitter but the ad she responded to forgot to mention he was blind and that he was her age.  Since she is offered $20 per hour she decides to take it.  All she is gonna have to do is spend time with Tristan, get him out of the house, and try to get him to live a little instead of being hauled up in in room all day feeling sorry for himself.  She soon learns that it may be harder than she thought cause Tristan doesn't want her help or a "babysitter".

  Amy decides to take him to the stables where his horse currently resides and they are able to talk a bit before they leave and get to know each other.  They are both getting ready to graduate and she takes him to his rehearsal and his ceremony and they are able to start opening up to each other more and more as the time goes on.  Amy starts falling for Tristan and they kiss each other when he shows up unexpectedly to her graduation.  This is a perfect night for Amy but when she wakes up in the morning, her job takes a turn and Tristan's mom says she has to pick up Tristan's girlfriend (Who Amy calls "The Creature") from the airport.  Wait...What did she say?  Girlfriend???  Umm ok. This is where the story gets good.  Amy decides to continue working so she can earn her money that she needs for college but she also has to put up with all of "The Creature's" baggage - literally. Amy is not gonna let him go that easy and she is hoping that Tristan will see that she has been the one there for him and not "The Creature". 

I fell in love with this story!  Beautifully written and it really pulls you in and you get attached to the characters.  I found this to be a quick read since it only took me a few hours to finish.  I was able to devour this in one sitting, not wanting to put it down for a minute.  It was a surprise to me that I loved it as much as I did seeming how there are no vamps or wolves in it.  His Eyes was believable and left me genuinely happy after I finished the last page.  It was a pleasure reading about Amy and Tristan and I really started to feel for each of them and their current situations.  Renee Carter created emotions in the characters but not so many that they were overwhelming to the story.  I would love to read another of Renee's books cause I was hooked once I started and any author that does that to me, makes me want to continue to read their work.  If you get a chance to read this, do it cause it is awesome!!!

5 Stars