Extreme Exposure (I-Team #1) by Pamela Clare

Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance
Format Reviewed: E-Book, 298 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 2, 2005

Series: I-Team #1

Source: Personal purchase

It's been years since her child's father dumped her, and since then investigative reporter Kara McMillan has kept men at bay—although every day she aches more for a lover's touch. But to get that, the hard-boiled journalist must become vulnerable—a feeling she vowed never to have again.

With his dangerous good looks, charm, and power, Senator Reece Sheridan could have just about any woman he sets his piercing eyes on. But he’s intrigued by only one. This Kara, this gutsy investigative reporter, has a sensuality that arouses him to no end. If she’s a firebrand in print, he guesses, she must be just as fiery in bed…

But this is no fling. A sudden political scandal—and attempts on Kara's life—could very well drive them apart. Or maybe, just maybe, adversity could draw them into a bond even more intense than their steamy sexual embraces…

Why I read this book?: I downloaded this book onto my Nook many moons ago and I've decided that I'm going to try and read as many of my own books before I buy anymore.  I had read it once when I first downloaded it but I re-read it just to see if my feelings changed or not.

What I liked?: I really liked that Kara McMillian is a strong independent woman who is raising her four year old son, Connor, by herself.  She's worked her but off to earn the position that she's in on the I-Team at the Denver Independent.  She also doesn't take any crap off of anyone, especially her piggish boss Tom. Then she meets Senator Reece Sheridan at the Rio bar and what turns out to be a pretty intense relationship starts to blossom. Reece is the exact opposite of ALL politicians these days, he's your PERFECT fictional politician.  Then an employee at a local mining company blows the whistle on them to Kara and the story takes a dramatic turn.  The deeper Kara digs the more trouble she seems to find herself in.  Then she finds that the company that she is investigating has "bought" certain members of the state Senate. Is Reece included in those members?  I don't know, you'll have to read the book to find out.

What I disliked?: At times I felt that Kara was her own worst nightmare, not only in her professional life but also in her personal life.  Granted she's been abandoned by most of the men that have been in her life but I felt at times she lumped all men into the same category.

Overall Impression: I thought that this was a really good start to this series and I can hardly wait to read the other books that I have in this series.  It's chock full of romance and suspense and the timing and writing style I was really happy with overall.

Rating: Break the Bank!

Against the Wind (Raines of Wind Canyon #1) by Kat Martin

Against the Wind by Kat Martin

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format Reviewed:  Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: December 28, 2010

Series: Raines of Wind Canyon #1

Source: Swap

They were known as the "no-account Raines boys" but they've grown into successful, honorable men and everything they have, they've fought for tooth and nail. Now each of the three brothers has one last obstacle to overcome to claim what's eluding them: love.
 
Secrets don't stay buried long in cattle country. Sarah Allen, the beautiful girl who humiliated Jackson Raines in high school, is back in town. Not so long ago, she couldn't wait to leave Wind Canyon, Wyoming, in her dust. But, recently widowed, she has nowhere else to go and finds herself on Jackson's ranch. And despite everything, Jackson's finding himself reluctant to get rid of her.

Why I read this book?: I got this book in a swap on the former bookswap on Goodreads.  I wanted to read this series when it first came out and was able to get a copy of the first 3 books in the series.

What I liked?: I really liked all the suspense that was in this book.  It starts right away, basically on the first page and continues on full speed ahead through the course of the book. I really liked Sarah and Jackson as a couple.  They have history and it was nice to see them grow past their troubling pasts.  I also really enjoyed Jackson's little brothers, while they don't play a huge part in the first book the little bit that they were in the book they made things interesting. Sarah's little girl Holly was so cute too. What I really liked about this book was that the REAL bad guy wasn't obvious.  You think you know but then something happends that makes your assumption completely wrong.  LOVED that part.

What I disliked?: At times I felt that some of the things that Jackson and Sarah took part in were borderline vigliante.  I also disliked Detectiver Mercer AND Sarah's deceased husband Andrew.

Overall Impression: I think that this book was really good beginning to this series. I wish Jackson's brothers were in it a little more but they get their own stories, which I can hardly wait to read.

 

Rating: Break the Bank!

Recommendation:  I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense novel or anyone who enjoys a good Western romance.

Mini Review ~ Fatal Heat by Lisa Marie Rice

Title: Fatal Heat
Author: Lisa Marie Rice
Series: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Format: E-Book from personal library

Rating: Borrow

Synopsis:

Former Navy SEAL Max Wright is out of the SEAL Teams forever after being almost killed by an Afghani RPG. He retreats to his former XO's beach house to lick his wounds. He wants to snarl at the world but finds it hard to snarl at his new neighbor, his XO's beautiful goddaughter, Paige Waring, who also comes with a ridiculously likable, totally undisciplined dog.

As a plant geneticist, Paige has always been focused on her work, but when she and her dog run into Max, she recognizes the lonely, shattered man behind the rugged exterior. To her mind, sexiness always comes with a white lab coat, not with acres of tanned muscle and a tough mind-set.

When Paige's work becomes the target of criminals and she’s abducted, Max springs into action. Though still terribly wounded, this tough as nails SEAL goes on his last mission—stopping at nothing to save the woman he loves.

Review:

This was a pretty suspenseful novella written about another one of my favorite "subjects" Men in Uniform.  Paige Waring is a plant geneticist who is working on a project that ends up going VERY array.  Like bad things happen to good people array.  She lives in the apartment next to her Uncle Mel with her love able "obedience school dropout" k-9 Max, who provides a fair amount of humorous K-9 antics to the story.  Then she meets human Max, former Navy SEAL, who is temporarily living in her Uncle's place to rehab.  The two meet up and the attraction is combustible.

Overall, this was a pretty good read.  It was short (94 pages) but there was a lot of action, suspense and romance packed into those pages.  I guess the only thing I didn't really care for was the borderline Insta-Love.  Things progressed a little faster than I thought they would in that department and it was a slight turn off.