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Arrested By Love: A Loveswept Contemporary Erotic Romance by Virna DePaul

Publisher: Loveswept Contemporary (May 27, 2013)

Review copy provided by Net Galley

Virna DePaul's Arrested by Love features three novellas under one cover. The novellas are connected by the heroes who are police officers and two of the novellas include menage scenes.

"Copping to It" is the story of Claire and Ty who go some extremes to protect their undercover work. Claire is a journalist who has been profiling a gang while Ty is an undercover detective working within the gang. Claire and Ty had a previous relationship which she ended because she was afraid to reveal her naughtier side to Ty. In spite of danger from the gang, Claire and Ty can't keep their hands off each other. Ty even invites his partner Luke to join them in a menage.

"Cop Appeal" features Sarah and Luke who had previously been lovers. Sarah married another cop and divorced him when he showed how abusive he could be. His abuse even led to him stalking Sarah. Again, this story has a menage with Luke's colleague Noah.

"Copping Attitude" is about Jenna and Noah. Noah has wanted to know Jenna better for weeks but she is the survivor of a sexual assault and she wants revenge on her attacker. Noah is a compassionate lover who shows her that men can be tender.

The emotional connections between the lovers in each novella were clearly descrbied drawing me into each story. While I enjoyed all three novellas, it was Jenna and Noah's story which touched me th most. The care he took with her not to frighten her in their first sexual encounter made this a heart warming story.

The Last Kiss Goodbye

The Last Kiss Goodbye by Karen Robards

• Series: Charlotte Stone
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 13, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345535820
• ISBN-13: 978-0345535825
  Review copy provided by Netgalley

Dr. Charlotte Stone “Charlie” is a serial killer researcher who sees ghosts. As a girl she had her first encounter with a serial killer who murdered her friend's family. When a young woman escapes from a serial killer and ends up at Charlie's door she becomes involved with the investigation conducted by the FBI as the serial killer known as “The Gingerbread Man” is also after Charlie.

FBI agent Tony Bartoli and Charlie have been dating but there will be little time for dating as they try to capture “The Gingerbread Man” before he chooses his next victims.  Charlie has

 another complication because she sees ghosts.  She has her own personal ghost, Michael, 

who she  alternately pushes away and then pulls back to her. Michael was part of her research and he is  determined to stick around with Charlie.  He is jealous of the relationship developing between Charlie and Tony and makes no secret of it.

The FBI and Charlie must act quickly to locate the serial killer before he kills again.  Charlie's    emotional attachment to Michael continues to deepen even though her more rational mind tells her that Tony should be the one she chooses since he is a flesh blood man, not a ghost.  

I really liked Michael as he searched for a ways to assist Charlie with investigation.  There werealso some steamy scenes between Charlie and Michael.  The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat trying to determine who the serial killer might be.  I am hoping there will be a

third book as I would like to read more about Charlie and Michael.    

The Silver Chain

The Silver Chain (Unbreakable Trilogy, Book 1) by Primula Bond

Publisher: Mischief, (January 7, 2014)

ISBN-10: 000752417X

ISBN-13: 978-0007524174

Serena left the seaside town of Devon where she had grown up for a new life in London. Prior to arriving in London, she used inherited money from her abusive guardians to finance her new life of traveling from city to city, photographing people along the way. On her first night in London she meets powerful art gallery owner Gustav Levi. Gustav at first mistakes her for a boy until she reveals her hair hidden underneath a cap.

Gustav offers her a contract to display her photographs. To seal their contract, Gustav gives her a silver chain. While Serena wants a deeper emotional relationship with Gustav but he is still haunted by the memory of his ex wife who betrayed him. Gustav hasn't been attracted to any other woman since his ex-wife Margot left him, but Serena awakens his emotions.

This book was very wordy at times. It didn't keep my attention at first but I continued reading. It did improve and kept my attention. This book is labeled as BDSM but it is light. Also, the use of British terms sometimes made me pause in my reading to look up definitions. There is a cliffhanger.

Review copy provided by Netgalley.

A Vampire's Salvation

ebook

Publisher: Loveswept (April 22, 2013)
Review copy provided by www.netgalley.com

Jake Rios is the governor's head of security and a vampire who wants equal rights for vampires.  He recognized Francesca Stewart as his mate as soon as he saw her.  Jake has waited a long time for the woman who would become his mate.  He wants her to know that he is a trustworthy man but how can he when an unknown enemy seeks to destroy their fragile relationship.

Francesca Stewart has been attracted since she had first seen him.  She still suffered from the emotional and physical scars of a past relationship and was reluctant to become romantically involved with any man. 

Jake and Francesca were well-developed characters and  Jake certainly turned out to be a sigh worthy hero as protected Francesca from an unknown enemy.  I empathized with Francesca's ability to overcome the past and begin a relationship with Jake. I greatly enjoyed this novella and hope that Virna DePaul is writing the next installment

Carly Phillips giveaway!

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Unrealistic Expectations

I just watched a segment on The Doctors in which Fifty Shades was praised but other romance novels were put down as being too unrealistic because the characters don't use condoms and they give women unrealistic expectations.  I don't know what romance novels they have been reading but many of the contemporary romance novels that I read feature the use of condoms.  I have also read historical novels in which French letters were used.  I also have never experienced unrealistic expectations from reading romance novels.  

They gave credit to Fifty Shades of Gray for encouraging women to open up about what they want in bed.  How is this book realistic?  It's based on fan fiction which was based on the Twilight books.  Are sparkly vampires paired with whiny teenage girls realistic?  Is it realistic for a possessive  millionaire to buy the company for which his girlfriend works so he can keep tabs on her?  He is a control freak!!

Speaking of unrealistic! How are unrealistic are the James Bond movies?  Does every international dress daily in a tuxedo while sipping martinis and driving very expensive cars? James Bond is also sexism at it's finest.  He has a different voluptuous, beautiful woman as a love interest in every movie.  Even Dr. Ordon said James Bond wouldn't stop to put on a condom.  Romance novels end with Happily Ever After, but James Bond is a man slut who goes from woman to woman.  

I have enough reality living my life every day and I don't need it in my books which I read for escapism.  

It Started That Night by Virna DePaul

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harlequin Books 2012-04-17 (2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373277768
• ISBN-13: 978-0373277766

John Tyler returned to his hometown as a cop and he has never forgotten the beautiful young Lily Cantrell who had a crush on him as a teenager and she was his sister's best friend.  Lily was scarred by the murder of her mother fifteen years ago.  When John and Lily see each other again they soon realize the attraction of fifteen years ago is still there between them.  As John investigates a serial murder case he realizes that there are connections to the murder of Lily's mother.

 Virna DePaul kept me guessing until the end about the identity of the murderer.  I loved the sexual tension between John and Lily as they learned to know each other again and develop a closer relationship.