REVIEW: The Holiday Grouch by Beth D. Carter
Title: The Holiday Grouch
Author: Beth D. Carter
Genres: Contemporary romance, Holiday romance
TBR: Fiona
​Reece Greene had a terribly childhood. His mother left when he was very young, and his father was an alcoholic who never gave him any presents, despite his birthday being on Christmas Day. His dad never said he loved him, but did tell him he was lucky he wasn't being "thrown away," like people do with the unwanted gifts they get for Christmas. Grinch-award for that despicable man! Reece is now a very rich man in his early 50's, who makes his living designing homes for the very rich, who expect their smart-technology to control every aspect of their lives. He's never been married, and in the first chapter gets his ring back from the blonde gold-digger he'd proposed to. Life has been very unkind to this man, so it's no wonder he's such a grouch! Reece's partner convinces him to take some time off--both to forget his unfaithful ex-fiancée, and to scout out a new location for them to build luxury condos. Calliope Whobrey was divorced many years ago when her husband insisted she get plastic surgery to keep her looking younger and thinner. She escaped to lick her wounds to a bed and breakfast on the side of a mountain in Colorado, run by her grandmother, Martha Whobrey. They've made a comfortable living by hosting repeat customers year-after-year, for the different holidays. Christmas is their favorite time.
Of course, Reece and Calliope feel an instant attraction to each other, in this short romance. We get alternating chapters giving each one's point of view. Martha keeps inviting Reece over to enjoy the holiday season with them, and he's the grinch who tries to steal their holiday cheer and good will. Repeatedly. Until his heart starts to grow warmer, and he realizes the error of his ways. In the Dedication, the author says she is trying to write a Hallmark Romance. Since I've never seen one, I don't know if she succeeded but this is a cute love story that brings together two people who shouldn't have anything in common. Reece has a hole where his heart should be until Calliope and her grandmother fill that hole with love. Through them he learns to love himself, and Calliope finds a man who will stay with her because he loves the image of himself he sees reflected in her eyes. Her love makes him feel lovable, and she's the first and only person who has ever done that for him. He's a grouch no more!
REVIEW: Not Such an Innocent Angel by Beth D. Carter
Title: Not Such an Innocent Angel
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Menage, Erotica
​Eden works at a hospital and she knows a lot about the paranormal world around them. Jacob is brought in, dying. He's been cursed and there's nothing that could save him. Or is there? She enlists the help of a powerful vampire, Gideon to save this man's life, for a price…
This is such an interesting world. As soon as I read the blurb I was hooked. Vampires. Curses. It sounds like the start to a fantastic paranormal series! I liked Gideon and Jacob. They were each their own strong personalities that worked wonders on the page. Eden was a little demure for me, but she was still a great character. I had a wonderful time figuring the world out, the mystery of why Jacob was cursed. Honestly, I hope the author makes this into a series. Not such an innocent angel was a fun and sexy paranormal read!
REVIEW: Dreamland by Beth D. Carter
Title: Dreamland
Genre: Romance, Erotic, Time travel, Music
Heat: 4/5 - Smoking Hot
​Dicen's dream life has turned dark. He's all about sex, alcohol and losing control. A handful of pills lead him not to getting high but to the past? He must be dreaming! But the beautiful woman that takes him in seems very real and he's slowly falling for her.
This was silly and freaking fantastic. A rocker, Dicen is sent back in time, or is he? The descriptions of that time frame were lovely. I really felt like I was in that era. When he meets Juliet, she helps guide him through this foreign world. As time passes, they develop feelings for each other. I really loved their romance. It was a sweet, slow sizzle that really got the heat going. When he returns to the present day, he finds a spitting image of Juliet. Now a whole new dance begins and Dicen is determined not to screw this up. Dreamland is predictable and silly and I loved it! You should totally be reading this romance.
REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty by Beth D. Carter
Title: Sleeping Beauty
Author: Beth D Carter
Genre: Romance, Erotic, scifi, fairytale
Rating: 5 stars - Must Read!
​Passengers meets sleeping beauty in this unique, fun, must read story!
Ronan and Noah are space salvagers and they find a beautiful woman stuck in cyro. When they wake her, they find themselves drawn to her beauty and personality. But Alivia is a princess with trouble threatening their newfound romance…
This is such a fantastic read! I loved the twist on sleeping beauty by making is scifi. These two hunky men find a third in Alivia. However, nothing in life is ever that simple. Danger awaits their every move. The action is balanced really well with the romance. I flew through this book because I couldn't stop reading! Sex, romance, danger, spaceships, you really don't need anything else.
Sleeping Beauty by Beth Carter is a must read!
REVIEW: Lawless Anthology
Title: Lawless Anthology
Authors: Loralynne Summers, Nicola Cameron, Gwendolyn Casey, Amber Morgan, Sam Crescent, Maia Dylan, Sandra Bunino, Olivia Starke, Elyzabeth M. VaLey, Lila Shaw, Kait Gamble, Beth D. Carter
Genre: Contemporary, MC Romance, Erotica, Anthology,
​Heat: 4/5 - Smoking Hot!
​Dark, dirty, dangerous ... lawless.
This is a twelve story anthology about all the sexy lawless couples you could possibly dream of. The one thing they all have in common is a lot danger and a lot of sexiness. These would be great to read before some alone time with your other half or with them!
The King of South Side by Loralynne Summers
Gentleman Jackson by Nicola Cameron
Hungry Eyes (The Covenant) by Gwendolyn Casey
Vandal by Amber Morgan
Given to a Killer by Sam Crescent
Angel Mine by Maia Dylan
Kiss of Death (Dark Heart) by Sandra Bunino
Hitman's Seduction by Olivia Starke
Hitman's Angel by Elyzabeth M. VaLey
Eli Logan's Return by Lila Shaw
Trust by Kait Gamble
The Last DiLuca by Beth D. Carter
I can only say I had hard time picking just one story as my favorite. They each are perfect for romantic suspense readers such as myself. If I had to pick just one…damn I can't! It'd be a three-way tie between Angel Mine by Maia Dylan, Kiss of Death by Sandra Bunino and Hitman's Angel by Elyzabeth VaLey. They had the best stories that really packed a punch in such a short span. I wasn't so crazy about the MC stories. Maybe because lately they all seem to have the same plot? One thing all the stories did deliver on was the sexy factor! Yummy!
If you're looking to get a glimpse into some sexy stories but not commit to anything too long, Lawless should already be on your tbr list!
REVIEW: Owned by the Alpha Anthology
Title: Owned by the Alpha
Authors: Rose Wulf, Sam Crescent, Stacey Espino, Doris O'Connor, Lily Harlem, Maia Dylan, Michelle Graham, Elyzabeth M. VaLey, Wren Michaels, Beth D. Carter, Elena Kincaid, Roberta Winchester
Genre: romance, shifter, paranormal, anthology, erotic
​If you love shifters and the search for their mates then you have to read Owned by the Alpha. It's the newest anthology from Evernight Publishing and it's amazing! Seriously, I couldn't even begin to tell you which story is my favorite because all of them are tied for first.
Scent of Destiny by Rose Wulf
Taken Mate by Sam Crescent
Finders Keepers by Stacey Espino
The Hunt by Doris O'Connor
Alpha at Altitude by Lily Harlem
Fated to the Razorback Demon by Maia Dylan
Running Home by Michelle Graham
Alpha's Sunshine by Elyzabeth M. VaLey
Checkmate by Wren Michaels
Frozen Heart by Beth D. Carter
Wolf Hunter by Elena Kincaid
Returning to the Coyote by Roberta Winchester
It's like a buffet of hot men, sex and engaging plots! I'm totally in love with this anthology. I think Finders Keepers by Stacey Espino may have inched out in the amazing department. I've read it twice and still enjoy every second of the story. But don't discount the other stories! What an amazing bunch of sexy shifter tales.
Love anthologies? Read this! Love shifters? Read this! Love romance or drama or action....Basically, read Owned by the Alpha!
Purchase Here (Seriously, buy this!)
REVIEW: Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats Anthology
Title: Boots, Chaps, and Cowboy Hats
Author: Alysha Ellis, BA Tortuga, Nan Comargue, Wendi Zwaduk, Molly Ann Wishlade, Beth Carter
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Western
TBR Reviewer: Amy
Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy
​In this anthology you get six different stories by six authors. Each story is most definitely packed with steamy scenes with a lot of cowboy goodness. Since the stories are so short there isn't much more to them. They did a good job with describing and characterizing, especially the cowboys! I just wish there's more story and less sex. My favorite story is Tied and Taken by BA Tortuga. The mystery of these two and how they are brought together again by sheer luck is great!
REVIEW: When Dove Cries by Beth D. Carter
Title : When Dove Cries by Beth. D. Carter
Series: Red Wolves Motorcycle club
TBR Reviewer: Shyla
When Dove Cries was a fantastic blend of suspense, romance, and sensuality. I loved the unique details Ms. Carter added to the book. The characters were unforgettable, and the story was fast paced, and had plot twists I did not see coming. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. Dove was captured, tortured, and abandoned by a mad man who broke girls and traded them into a sex ring. Trapped in a hole, with her wrists bound, water from the cracks in the wall to drink, and a massive jar of peanut butter, she's terrified by the threats of harm if she attempts to leave the cave he's placed her in. When the food runs out and the captor goes awol, she takes a chance at escape, and lands at the feet of two very powerful men, Draven, and Cade.
Dove is sensitive, and tough at the same time. It's a combination that made it impossible not to love her. Raised by a father who was a lifer in the service she's learned to take care of herself and stay strong. But, she's also been incredibly sheltered. It adds a good bit of complexity, which I love in a heroine.The men she falls for are equally layered. John Draven, may be the Vice President of a motorcycle club, but he's got a soft spot for women and a sense of justice that overshadowed his rough lifestyle. The minute Dove latches onto his hand after her ordeal and begs him not to leave her, his commitment begins. He cares for her with a sweet ferocity that made my lady parts quiver. Is there anything sexier than a man who helps a woman heal, respects her boundaries, and doesn't ask for more until she's ready? Cade is an honorable man trapped by his duty. An undercover FBI agent in bed with the Red Wolves M.C. to bring down a ring of flesh peddlers, he walks a very careful line. Unable to share the truth about a situation Draven despises him for he struggles to keep their relationship functional, not only for his case, but for the sake of the vulnerable woman they've both laid claim to.
I loved the different aspects going on in this story. The mystery kept me guessing, and the pace was perfect. Each scene moved the story further ahead, and laid a new breadcrumb. In the end, the best part about the twist was the realization. Ms. Carter left hints about what was to come. I'd like to go into more detail, but I don't want to ruin the mystery. Who could resist one alpha male with a soft spot for his woman, let alone two? Not this girl.
REVIEW: True North by Beth D. Carter
Title: True North by Beth D. Carter
Series. Red Wolves Motorcycle Club
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary
Allison Evening is a woman caught up in a dangerous game of hide and seek with a maniac masquerading as the law. She ran from her hometown, only to be attacked by a creepy stalker and nearly killed. Now that's' what you call a strong woman. More than anything else. Allis was a survivor, and I admired that hell out of her for that. She also had the capacity to care when her past told her she shouldn't. I think we've all been hurt soul deep. The first instinct is to shut down, but Allis was willing to take a chance with the men who saved her, North, and Givon.
We're given two equally delicious males in this story. North is the President of the Red Wolves M.C. Raised in a violent household; he doesn't take the abuse of woman lightly, or back down when things are wrong. He's a contradiction in many ways. Hard when he needs to be, but gentle in a way you wouldn't expect him to be capable of. The way he handled the wounded Allis had me adding him to my list of book boyfriends. Once he vows to protect Allis and the sparks start up his course is set.
Givon is an officer and best friend to North. Yeah, it sounds off, the cop and the Outlaw biker, but the things they endured in their past have bonded them for life. It's that special connection that allows them to enter into a three-way relationship with Allis. I loved the way their past was a constant threat that linked them throughout the entire book. Strong, noble, and easy going, he balances out the trip. North has a tendency to be hot-headed, but Givon always breaks through and gets him to take a step back. I enjoyed his honesty, frankness, and intelligence.
It was the way the three characters worked together that made this so special. It was a puzzle with pieces that linked together into a perfect fit. It takes strong men to love a woman who's been hurt this badly. They have to make her feel safe and be patient as she recovers from her ordeal mentally and physically. That process made this romance story satisfying. They took the time to get to know her, reassure her, and fall for who she was at her core. Their progression felt natural and right.
I also like the way they brought the characters from the first book back into the picture, without taking away from Givon, North, and Allis. The villains were utterly despicable, and well thought out. They had an entire backstory, history and proved to be a real challenge. It made the story fuller and intriguing. I think an epic battle is only as good as your enemy. Ms. Carter delivered in spades on that one.
This is a book you won't want to put down until it's finished, and let me say, you may find yourself stunned at it's conclusion.
REVIEW: Along Came Merrie by Beth D. Carter
Along Came Merrie By Beth D. Carter
Series Red Wolves Motorcycle Club
Heat Rating: 4/5 - Smoking Hot
Along Came Merrie, is an action packed romance I read in one sitting. Merrie Walden is a sassy, independent woman who found herself in the wrong place at the worst possible time. Wth a car running on empty, a dead battery, and no sense of direction, she's forced to stop at the nearest building for help. Unfortunately for her, that place is a biker bar. Mistaken as a spy, she's beaten, kidnapped, and dragged toward certain death. Her strength, bravery, and good humor in the face of unimaginable horror was admirable. I'm a sucker for a strong heroine, so you can see why I took a liking to her instantly. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say she's had a lot to overcome in her life. It makes impossible not to root for her.
Merrie is discovered and nursed back to health by Leo and Braden, two brothers who're as different as night and day. A rancher with a gruff voice, kind heart, and painful past, Braden is the muscle. His stubbornness made me want to shake him at times, but it also matched his gritty cowboy image. Ms. Carter did a fantastic job of adding tension and uncertainty while keeping me sympathetic to his pain. That's something not everyone can do. On the other hand, Braden's brother is a handsome veterinarian with an easy smile and plentiful jokes. His light-hearted, spiritual persona added a calming, steadiness to the three-way relationship they would embark upon. I love his gentleness, insights and his ability to stand toe to toe with his brother Braden.
The dynamics between the three characters was phenomenal. They battled their way through the complexity of a polyamorous relationship in a realistic way that made me believe in their love. Each scene was carefully thought out and moved the story forward while revealing something important. She did a great job of weaving in important details; so casually, you almost missed them until they became important. That was one of the things I enjoyed most. It was a good balance of romance to suspense, but in the end I think the plot was focused on more than the romance, as it is with most Romantic Suspense.
Overall, I found the mixture of suspense and romance came together to form one emotional and intriguing read.