Dragon Bones (Hurog, #1) by Patricia Briggs

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated-Slightly Hot


Riding into a war that's heating up on the border, Ward, the new lord of Herzog, is sure he's on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Keep. The bones could prove to be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them.



I will start by saying this is not my favorite series by Ms. Briggs. I enjoyed this book and thought it was worth reading if you have nothing else to read. Our hero is a strong and competent young man but due to some bad choices his home is stripped away from him. Due to a survival instinct taken to far our hero has to prove himself to earn back what is his already. I personally did not like the relationships of the king and queen as we dealt with adultery and homosexuality. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a historical highlander book with lots of mystic tales and magic.

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated-Hot


Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?



**Strong Language - multiple "GD" and "F" words**



We start of with the shock that ended the last book. Rose has murdered the Queen... Or at least that's what it looks like. This book has many different trails to follow before we get to the end. While we end up with a HEA, the journey is rough. There were multiple times while reading that I couldn't help but question "Why is he doing that?" "Why would he say that?" "How are they going to get out of this?"


There was a sex scene with no details and had the language been better I would have given this a 5 star rating! It's a shame

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff - Heated


How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?



** 2 uses of "GD" and 2 "F" words **

 
         Rose gets into a lot in this book. She travels half way around the world set on a mission. There were so many up and downs in this book and I couldn't help but think "How will she be able to get through this mission" ... It was heartbreaking but at the same time I could see there was no way she could leave without completing it... Hold on to your seats because the last 2 chapters have some big twists!

          While the cursing was improved I was disappointed with the cursing because once again it was completely unnecessary. I felt like the author did a great job on avoiding too much intimacy but enough to break with Rose...

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa-the last Dragomir princess-must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri, some rules are meant to be broken...

But since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling right. Something dark has begun to grow in her mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy's iron gates. And now that Lissa and Rose's sworn enemy, Victor Dashkov, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing but suddenly there's way more than friendship at stake. The immortal undead are on the prowl, and they want vengeance for the lives that Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmare, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most..but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

***Mild Language- This book was MUCH improved on the cursing compared to previous books in the series and that makes me happy! There was one sex scene but it didn't go into details other than to say they had sex.

Book 3 did not disappoint. I was shocked with the ending and must start book 4 ASAP. The relationship between Rose and Lissa is becoming more and more strained as they are growing up and making more decisions without the other considered. I felt like Lissa was a bit selfish in the last two books and I can see that Rose really isn't as much of a best friend as she claims. WHY wouldn't Rose tell her about the feelings she has for Dimitri? That's what best friends do...

*There was one sex scene but it didn't go into details other than to say they had sex and that is why it is 3 stars.

This book did not end in a HEA but I have been assured that it gets better so I will continue the series.

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality: Heated


Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
 
It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…



**The unfortunate part is that this is a YA novel but the language is rated R and the sexual content is between PG-13.


The second in the series did not disappoint. While Rose is continually trying to cope with her feelings for Dimitri.. While Rose is dealing with the possibility that a happy ending may not be possible for her, learning all she can to protect Lissa and deal with her issues and trying to move on, you are pulled in for a gripping story. The language was major for YA novel and would have earned itself 5 stars had it not been in there. The sex scene was minor and not needed but didn't take away or add to the story.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.



**Adult language in a YA Novel!



The beginning of the Vampire Academy series sets a stage with two runaway high school students being dragged back to boarding school. As the reasons for their departure unfold I had to refer back to others in the series to be sure I was reading the 1st book. Rest assured that all is explained eventually and you end up in a world filled with Royal events and a love that appears doomed from the start. What will happen next? I can't wait to find out.

There was an ALMOST sex scene that was brought through a charm but the characters stopped before anything MAJOR happened. Throughout the book there were innuendos.

Marrying The Captain by Carla Kelly

Marrying The Captain (Channel Fleet, #1) by Carla Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated



Ever since her father tried to sell her as a mistress to the highest bidder, Eleanor Massie has chosen to live in poverty. Her world changes overnight when Captain Oliver Worthy shows up at her struggling inn. Despite herself, Nana is drawn to her handsome guest....

Oliver planned to stay in Plymouth only long enough to report back to Lord Ratliffe--about Nana. But he soon senses that Lord Ratliffe is up to something, and Oliver will do anything to keep this courageous, beautiful woman safe--even marry her!



What a sweet book, I truly enjoyed it and look forward to Ms. Kelly's next book. Marrying The Captain was a breath of fresh air for an adult romance. While I cannot claim it is clean due to a few love scenes, the H/H were married and I am always able to personally get over those when they are not explicit. I was so glad that Nana and Oliver held true to their own moral convictions. While it was touched on that the Captain is not a virgin Nana was.  Had she been a promiscuous woman this story could have been taken down an entirely different road.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sensuality Rating: Heated (due to the Heroines life changing experiences)



Best-selling author Francine Rivers skillfully retells the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. The heroine, Angel, is a young woman who was sold into prostitution as a child. Michael Hosea is a godly man sent into Angel's life to draw her into the Savior's redeeming love. This remarkable novel has sold over a million copies globally and has been a fixture on the CBA bestsellers list for nearly a decade. A six-part reading guide, suitable for individual use or group discussion, is included in this best-selling novel.



This was a really good book. It was a deep read and at times you felt really sad for Angle and other times you just wanted to smack her and tell her to wake up. This was a good parallel to God's love for His people and while it was definitely a Christian book it wasn't all roses and censored life experiences. It wasn't a preachy book and I would recommend it to any and everyone that loves a good clean romance that has a marriage that is Christ based.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Now Briggs begins an extraordinary new series set in Mercy Thompson's world but with rules of its own.

INTRODUCING THE ALPHA AND OMEGA NOVELS...

Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf; an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member;and as his mate.



     Great Series!! I enjoyed this book! I love that it is was in two person perspective because I enjoy "knowing" what the H/H are thinking about each other! This is something I wished the Mercy Thompson books had in them. Briggs is one of my new authors that I will follow all of her series! Highly recommended.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Determined to secure another London season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation. She must infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy, the Black Tulip, before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness and for the Black Tulip that weakness is beautiful black-haired women—his “petals” of the Tulip. A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easily catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipated that his own heart would be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in a treacherous garden of lies.



And as our modern-day heroine, Eloise Kelly, digs deeper into England's Napoleonic-era espionage, she becomes even more entwined with Colin Selwick, the descendant of her spy subjects.



Our hero, Lord Vaughn, was darker and more sinister than previous hero's in Willig's book. While this was not my favorite in the series I still enjoyed it and will continue to read the series.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


The Barnes & Noble Review

Lauren Willig follows up her two earlier engaging romances with a third rollicking historical about British spies and romance in the early 19th century, set against the background of a possible Irish uprising. It stars the trustworthy Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale, determined to woo the beauteous Mary Alsworthy, and her younger sister, Letty, who is equally determined to break up an elopement that would mar the family's good name. As a result, Geoff and Letty wind up in the same carriage at midnight, which means, in 1803, that they are very much compromised -- and forced to marry immediately. Nonplussed by marrying the wrong sister, Geoff sets off to Ireland on a mysterious voyage; secretly, he is a spy, high up in the League of the Purple Gentian. Letty decides to track him down, falling right in the middle of his secret life, with wonderful comic and romantic results. Once again, this is set as a story-within-a-story, with a contemporary romance slowly blossoming between historian Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, whose family papers star in The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. Ginger Curwen



This one had some cute humor in it and only one sex scene. Letti had a cute way about her and Geoff balanced her out.

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


The Pink Carnation, history's most elusive spy and England's only hope for preventing a Napoleonic invasion, returns in Lauren Willig's dazzling imaginative new historical romance. The Masque of the Black Tulip opens with the murder of a courier from the London War Office, his confidential dispatch for the Pink Carnation stolen. Meanwhile, the Black Tulip, France's deadliest spy, is in England with instructions to track down and kill the Pink Carnation. Only Henrietta Uppington and Miles Dorrington know where the Pink Carnation is stationed. Using a secret code book, Henrietta has deciphered a message detailing the threat of the Black Tulip. Meanwhile, the War Office has enlisted Miles to track down the notorious French spy before he (or she) can finish the deadly mission. But what Henrietta and Miles don't know is that while they are trying to find the Black Tulip (and possibly falling in love), the Black Tulip is watching them.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


When mechanic and shape shifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...



A great book!! I would have to compare these with the Twilight Series because I loved them so. It's like a more adult version but with Fae. At the same time not too adult that there is sex through the whole book... I am truly impressed with Briggs.

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

****Hints at Spoilers****

Once again, an excellent book! I LOVE the walking stick... it's just a very creative object Briggs added and I can't help but enjoy it's presence.

I must admit that I am starting to feel quite worried about Mercy because she keep getting in trouble and it's always when she is cut off from everyone that can help her! It's frustrating that Adam can never truly be her knight in shining armor because he has so many other responsibilities and she is so resourceful.

Mild Language
Some Disturbing Violence