Fever

Fever by Maya Banks

My rating:

3 stars—I liked it.

My thoughts:

This is book two in Bank’s Breathless trilogy. I really like Jace. I thought book two was better than book one.  

This series is seriously steamy!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.

When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.

Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.”

Rush

Rush by Maya Banks

My rating:

3 stars—I liked it.

My thoughts:

This is first in the Breathless trilogy. Wow…this one is a lot steamy, maybe a bit too much! Maya Banks has quite the imagination.

I liked it, overall, but definitely not for the vanilla romance reader!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.”

Never Love a Highlander

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

My rating:

3 stars—I liked it.

My thoughts:

This was third in the McCabe trilogy. I thought it could have been better. There was a lot of nonsense thrown in. I really liked the characters but the plot was hard to get through.

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother’s jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father’s power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen’s touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna’s true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife’s love is too precious to lose.”

Seduction of a Highland Lass

Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

My rating:

3 stars—I liked it.

My thoughts:

This was the second book in the McCabe trilogy. This trilogy is a recommend for the Scottish historical crowd. I have a soft spot for this genre!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.

An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?”

In Bed With a Highlander

In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

My rating (out of 5 stars):

4 stars—I really liked it.

My Thoughts:

This is a good one! For those who enjoy Scottish historical romances…this is first in a series. I have a soft spot for these type of books.

 Strong characters and steaminess!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan's clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin's strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.”

The Tycoon's Rebel Bride

The Tycoon’s Rebel Bride by Maya Banks

I am currently going through Maya Banks bibliography. This one is a typical grocery store romance. Silly…but still gave me the warm fuzzies.

Brazen

Brazen by Maya Banks

Notice...this book is not for the faint of heart. To set the scene—I am blushing profusely while I write this post, just remembering what I read.

I had previously tagged Banks as an author to read more of. The previous book I read was a romantic suspense and the love scenes were pretty intense, but overall the book was more suspense than sex. Picking this one up, I had no idea what I was getting into.

Lesson learned: I should have read the entire back cover before diving right in. I did read the description; it says “One woman’s campaign to win the hearts of the two men she loves. ….She wants them both, but Seth has no intention of sharing his woman.” I glanced over that, thinking it would be a book about a girl who thinks she is in love with two guys, but realizes she really only loves one of them. This Seth guy would set her straight!

I skipped the smaller blurb entirely (my comments upon reading later in parentheses)—“Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex (ok), graphic language (ok), menage a trios (oh dear), handcuffs (so), a committed menage relationship (what?!?)”

I was reading along thinking…surely she will realize soon that she only loves Seth in that way, not Zane too, right?  Then BAM! Naughtiness with Zane in his truck…well, that’s going to be an issue to get over before she can be with Seth...I'm still thinking...but no, it just got crazier from there. She really DID want to be with both guys (at the same time, even)!

Basically, this was not really my cup of tea, but none the less it was interesting! I’m still a little flabbergasted about it, honestly. I hadn’t really considered this type of rrelationship being about love or permanency before...seems messy.

No Place to Run

No Place to Run by Maya Banks

Alpha male/steamy series alert! This book is part of the KGI series by Maya Banks. This is not the first book in series, so I will need to backtrack.

My thoughts: Wow…starts right out with quite a naughty interlude! You know it can't go wrong when it starts out like that! I thought the characters were strong and passionate. The story line was a bit contrived, but the steaminess made up for it!!