Hot Alphas

Wounded Warriors #3 (Erin's Kiss)

by Lora Leigh

In Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh, ex-Marine Turk has become Erin’s sworn protector. The consistent target of her CIA-operative brother’s deadly foes, Turk is the only port Erin has to cling to in a storm. He promised her brother long ago never to touch her—but how can he resist a woman who aches to be with him as much as he burns for her?

In misTaken by Laurelin McGee, Jaylene Kim is a strong independent woman whose feminist values run deep. Even though attractive men are her weakness the last thing she wants is one telling her what to do. Until she meets her mysterious new neighbor. He makes her realize that you can still be strong and relinquish control . . . in the bedroom. But as their passion consumes them both Jaylene isn't so sure he is who he says he is.

In Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker, Tate longs to spend his nights with Ali, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations. Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with his mother right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Tate's unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with . . . but the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all?

In Tangled by Kate Douglas, Nate shows up to work at Tangled Vineyards ready to do all the things he loves best—work with his hands, grow the grapes, and craft award-winning, full-bodied wines. But when something better comes along in the form of Cassie, the winemaker and former owner of the vineyard, Nate becomes completely love-drunk. Getting involved with Tangled’s number-one mixologist is a bad way to start off a new job, but with Cassie as a constant temptation, Nate doesn’t stand a chance…

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Military Fiction, Erotica

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Lora Leigh is a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance novels. Leigh started publishing with electronic publisher Ellora's Cave in 2003. Leigh's longest-running series is The Breeds. She won the 2009 RT Award for erotica. Leigh was born in Ohio and raised in Martin County, Kentucky, US.


https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...

Reviews

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read 3 of the 4 novellas in this book. So those are the 3 that I will be rating.

Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh- 2 Stars

I used to be a huge fan of this author. She was the one that first introduced me to erotic romance with Wild Card. But it's like she just stopped trying lately. The stories have become regurgitated drivel. They all sound the same. You've read one, you've read them all. Change the characters' names, rinse, lather and repeat. Another undercover operative with commitment issues and a sassy heroine that wakes him up? Been there. Read that. As this is an ARC, I'm hoping that the heroine's eye color changing 3 times in the book will be fixed before publication. The writing? Made me roll my eyes so many times I thought they'd permanently get stuck that way...

That pleasure was immediately followed by a pulse of arousal so sharp it clenched her womb. The sensitive flesh between her thighs grew more sensitive...

and not 2 lines after

Her breasts pressed into the heated width of his chest, her nipples hardening to immediate, painful sensitivity as her breasts began to ache for touch.

Honest to gawd, if I read that his quivering member quivered, I may have thrown my kindle across the room.

Having read most of this author's backlist, I've also noticed every single one of her characters lately sounds the same. That same "Damn you. Damn you, you witch" line makes an appearance in practically each book. At this point, I'm just over it.

misTaken by Laurelin McGee-1 star

Never has a book infuriated me as much as this one did. And I consider myself a fairly laid back person. I don't take my fiction too seriously, because it's just that...fiction. Let's look past the writing style that didn't work for me at all. Let's also forget that the dialogue between the characters read like something out of a YA novel. Let's also overlook the fact that the hero is supposed to be an alpha, and yet he actually stumbles over his thoughts as to whether or not to hug the heroine after walking her home when he first meets her. YES, you read that right. HUG.

But then the nail on the coffin was this...

...you won't catch me dead with a romance novel." She shivered again, but this time in mock-horror.

"What's wrong with romance novels?" He looked genuinely puzzled.

What the hell? It wasn't obvious?

"They're completely ridiculous. Hot alpha male with a broken past and massive bank account is healed by the golden vagina of a naive girl he meets under completely contrived circumstances. No thank you. That's just smutty fairy tale for the Basic Bitch. It's demeaning, and unrealistic. Besides, the sex in those books is always weirdly dominant and controlling.

I only have 2 questions here

This is a conversation between the hero and heroine within a ROMANCE NOVEL


Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker- 3 stars
This was the saving grace of the anthology for me. I love Shiloh Walker. This is a novella that has been previously published, Burn For Me and is the first in what was 3 prequel novellas. The story gives a HEA for the couple introduced, but the story ARC continues throughout the next 2 books.

I read Erin’s Kiss, then Burn for Me, and misTaken next. Sadly misTaken managed to totally kill the vibe of the book for me and I just couldn't find it in me to read the next novella, Tangled by Kate Douglas. I may come back to it on a later date.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

For more reviews visit

[Jen]

DNF at 45%

Sooooo..,I really did try. A bunch of authors I don't love, but I definitely like. I just can't seem to get into any of it and I'm calling a truce! Sorry book gods :)

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry to say that I didn’t really find much Alpha in Hot Alphas. Being that these are four short stories I will piggy back off of the write up of each for this review, with my first thoughts after reading each.

Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh
I’m little perplexed. Is this part of an ongoing series? I felt completely out of the loop and because of that I became disinterested in these two. (3 STARS)

misTaken by Laurelin McGee
Okay, don’t dis romance novels with a snarky attitude and then expect the reader to then enjoy yours. Total turn off. It made me extremely dislike this character. There’s nothing Alpha about the guy either.
(1 STAR)

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker
I am a Shiloh Walker fan, but damn it all. You screw this single mom for three years and then won’t commit because your parents would fight when you were a kid? Grow a pair and be a better man. Alpha my ass. (2 STARS)

Tangled by Kate Douglas
The saving grace of this book was the final story. Fun, sweet and sexy. I wish there was more, or that it was a full length book. (4 STARS)


*ARC provided by Netgalley


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[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to wait and give feedback on this anthology until I finished all the stories, but it won't be for a while before I can get to Lora Leigh's Erin's Kiss, so I shall go ahead and review the other stories ....

misTaken by Laurelin McGee: OK, I don't know what the author was trying to accomplish with this story line, but creating a lead that basically puts down your reading audience is never gonna turn out well. That's just my opinion. It made it really hard to actually like the story itself. SO I kinda just skimmed it .... It wasn't badly written, It wasn't lacking in literary form, but the leads weren't likeable in the least so .....

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker: I'm not gonna lie, I'm a Shiloh fangirl. She's not always perfect, but I've never not liked her books or ever found them grossly lacking. This was no exception. There was passion and chemistry, deep emotion and pain and a little mystery thrown in. She captivated me from beginning to end. It's a really sexy read.

Tangled by Kate Douglas:This was pretty good for a short story. The only thing I found weird was the whole mystery part of the story with our heroine's father ... I'm not even sure why it was even part of the story...maybe i missed a page LOL

Bottom line is this ... When it comes to anthologies, not everyone is going to like or enjoy every story. If you liked one or two, you're doing good. It's a good way to try new authors. It's also useful during those times when you just can't quite figure out what you want to read next from your TBR, so you need something short and quick. And this anthology hit the mark for me on all those things. Maybe it will for you, maybe not, I don't know. But you won't know until you try! :)

ARC kindly provided by ST Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Overall, the stories didn't really work separately or together as their feeling and themes didn't mesh well under the title Hot Alphas. The first story probably fits the bill the best for what you're looking for when you pick up such a titled collection, plenty of boners and wet panties. Shiloh Walker's contribution was the best written and most interesting with the rest barely making a blip on the radar.

Erin's Kiss by Lora Leigh
2 stars

This story is obviously supposed to be part of a series and if you haven't read the other books you are going to be lost, like I was. Our heroine is working undercover for her stepfather in his undercover security business and suppose to spy on his employees to find a leak. Our hero also works for this undercover security company and has the hots for our leading lady. There were a plethora of characters bobbing and weaving in and out but as I had no reference point, they were mostly a jumbled mass of people who I kept getting confused in my mind (J.D. is the name of the stepfather and John D. is his son, come on help me out a little bit to help keep people separate!). The purpose of the heroine's job made little sense without a greater context and our hero was a very one dimensional, well, alpha. They were zipper bulging, wet panty hot for each other, banged, were in danger, can't possibly be together, and finally in luv together forever. I finished the story having more questions than answers and no steamed up glasses.

MisTaken by Laurelin McGee
2 stars

In this story we have a feminist finding herself attracted to a Dominate male who writes erotica. I see what the authors were trying to do here, an overall commentary on how women who read erotica and identify as submissive can be viewed harshly by society and other women, unfortunately, it didn't work. Our feminist heroine comes across as an aggressive stereotype of a feminist and quite judgmental. Now, our hero is suppose to act as the mirror that reflects our heroine's negative judgments back to her but without the depth and breadth afforded to short stories in collections like this, there was not enough follow through. We don't get to see a realistic and sometimes any, growth from our heroine. In the end, it seems she only accepts the validity of D/s relationship because she has found out she likes it, therefore, it's acceptable. There were also a couple moments where the heroine calls a group of women Basic Bitches and the hero author remarks about how readers review books. I know all about irony/satire/meta or what have you, these points came off like neither and instead left a bad taste in my mouth. Our alpha from the story was mostly hidden and their romance felt forced.

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker
3.5 stars

As I said, Burn for Me was the best addition to this collection and the first book (.5) in the Shadows and Secrets series by Shiloh Walker. The story centers on Ali, a single mother of two and Tate, a man still tormented by his mother's disappearance from more than a decade ago. For three years Ali and Tate have had a friend with benefits relationship but lately Ali has begun to feel too attached to Tate and wants and needs more from him. As Tate can't escape the dark voices in his head while reliving the night his mother disappeared and the thought that his father killed her, he's scared to fully give himself to Ali, least he turn out to be too much like his father. It's a tormented and dark read that didn't feel like it fit in with the rest of the stories but sets the reader up nicely if they want to continue on in the Shadows and Secrets series. (I've read the second book in Shadows and Secrets and if you're looking for an incredibly, seriously, INCREDIBLY dark small town mystery series this would be a go to) The first half of the story focuses more on Ali and her desire for more from Tate, the middle is Tate being scared and trying to work through his issues, then a little bit of Ali and Tate coming together, and finally Tate coming to a reconciliation with his past and father. It's a heavier read with the romantic relationship taking more of a backseat to Tate's emotional issues.

Tangled by Kate Douglas
2 stars

For a story included in a collection titled "Hot Alphas" I'm not sure there was one to be found here, unless you say it was the heroine's father and that just seems wrong (he is former Secret Service and takes out the bad guy in the end) . Cassie had to sell her vineyard after her father's dementia becomes too much and they are in danger of going bankrupt. Fortunately, the new owner allows Cassie to stay on and run things. When Nate, the new wine manager arrives, sparks fly immediately, like say hello and jump into the sack immediately. Cassie and Nate's romance was rushed and felt more like two characters who just had sex and discovered each other to be the others one true bang. I didn't feel or believe their chemistry, which could definitely be laid at the feet of this being a little over 50pg story. Cassie's father and his shady secret service past was the most interesting aspect of this story but the fall out of his super secrets buried in a brief case and the danger it put Cassie in felt very tagged on, there just weren’t enough pages to work with here. Our couple knows each other a total of two months before the all important question is popped and forever happiness reigns; rushed and not very investing.

[Stephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stories where staying single doesn’t stand a chance against a love that is determined to conquer all objections in these riveting contemporary romances.

Strong, compelling characters grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning of each story and while the writing styles are different, readers can’t help but enjoy each story as fiery passion, emotional turmoil and romance claims each couple. In all four stories, attractions burns hot and the sex scenes are scorching but that where the similarities end and the differences begin because each hero and heroine are special in their own way. Each story is fast paced with smooth flowing plots that keeps expectations high and the emotional turmoil adds depth to the story as reaches out and captures the reader’s heart.

In Erin’s Kiss, Turk is supposed to protect her but finds that he burns for Erin with an intensity that he can’t resist. Jaylan is an independent woman who doesn’t need a man telling her what to do until the fiery passion between her and her neighbor consume them both in misTaken. Tata and Ali will discover if love really can conquer all when the heat that blazes between them becomes undeniable in Burns for You and in Tangled, Nate knows he shouldn’t start his new job by getting involved with Cassie but when he becomes love drunk – Nate doesn’t stand a chance.
 
The authors bring their stories to life with will written scenes and great attention to detail that makes it easy for the readers to become completely caught up in each one, or at least I certainly did. Individually each story in this entertaining anthology rated between three and five, so sit back relax and enjoy!
- Eva

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why are alpha males so attractive? Four talented authors show us why romance readers are attracted to them. I picked up this book specifically because of two authors: Lora Leigh and Shiloh Walker. Both are marvelous authors who write steamy romances.

In Erin's Kiss, those familiar with Ms. Leigh's trope will find this one to be a bit of a letdown. When I first started reading Ms. Leigh, she created a very erotic series, Bound Hearts. The kinky stories in there pulled me in and captivated me. This one, it seems as if Ms. Leigh has lost her erotic mojo. The characters Turk and Erin are cookie cutter and forgettable. The chemistry between the two characters is lackluster. It is disheartening to see a talented writer recycling an old and worn trope.

In Mistaken by Ms. McGee, I thought I'd stop this anthology and graciously decline reviewing the book. I'm so disgusted with Jaylene Kim in this book. She's not a feminist. She's a femi-nazi who gives women a bad name. The chip on her should is the size of a boulder. Her deprecating sneer about erotic books is annoying. Everything about this character makes her unappetizing and honestly, it's a mystery as to why any man, let alone an erotic man writer would want to date her. Her lack of self-esteem and crazed repressed sexual desires screams "WARNING! Back away slowly". She's not worth it. Any alpha male with a lick of sense would ignore her and walk away. For me, if I can't stand the lead character, the book is not enjoyable at all. At the end of this story, I'm close to a do not finish for this book.

Between the first two stories, I'm hovering over a 1.5 star review and I'm distressed. I had such high hopes for this anthology. My eagerness to read this book wanes. Since I'm not a quitter, I pick this collection back up. The last two stories pulls the anthology up.

In Burn for Me by Ms. Walker, it's an angsty story about a pigheaded alpha male who has daddy issues. It's sad and I can't help but feel bad for Tate. He let one event in time completely destroy his present and future. This is not to diminish the event. It's tragic and painful. His avoidance to deal with his pain and trauma makes him not qualify as an alpha male. Instead, in this story, it's an alpha female. Ali is what saves this story. I'm moved to tears with her pain and love. Ms. Walker excels at pulling the emotion out of me so that by the end of the book, I'm exhausted. This one, she does in a loving way. The chemistry between Tate and Ali is so good. The conflict is believable and it seems insurmountable. Yet when Tate finally comes to terms with his past, it becomes incredibly apparent that Tate has only been hurting himself and others. The evil villain in Tate's mind is not who he's been accusing all these years. Tate is the one causing all the hurt. And this is what makes the story so tragically angst filled. Loved it.

The surprise story which caught my attention is Tangled by Ms. Douglas. This one is a moving story about a strong woman who seems to have lost so much and yet she continues to truck on. Again this is an alpha female story rather than an alpha male. Cassie is a woman who expected to inherit the winery her father created with her mother. This small family business is her father's legacy. When they lose it to bad financial decisions, it breaks both father and daughter's hearts.

The sex in this story is good. The sexual tension between Cassie and Nate is delicious. These two characters are admirable and easy to relate to. Even the mysterious new owner who is absent throughout most of the story is a nice guy. This is an all-around feel good tale with suspense, love and redemption. Ms. Douglas does a good job of writing a tightly focus story which captivates my attention from beginning to end. Best story in this quartet.

*provided by NetGalley

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh
I think what amused me most about this one was how Erin seemed to control all the men. She was so subtle with things, yet everything went her way. Of course JD thinks Erin did what he wanted, but we know better.

misTaken by Laurelin McGee
Both Jaylene and Noah surprised me. I wasn't sure if I would like Jay at first, she was a bit overbearing, but when she interacted with Noah she was cute. I guessed Noah's secret early on and wondered how Jay would take that. I was glad it didn't really seem to phase her.

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker
I liked the journey that Tate went on through this book, that he was able to let go of the past, reconnect with his family, and grab the best thing that is in his life. I especially loved that Ali called Tate on his crap, forcing him make the changes.

Tangled by Kate Douglas
While I found this one pretty predictable, I still enjoyed reading it. I loved the connection that Cassie and Nate had from the start and loved that they didn't shy away from what happened that first night. Things with Cassie's dad happened the way I though they would, but I loved the conversation that he had with Nate. I loved the gift at the end, it was a way for Marc to keep his employees very happy.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoy anthologies as a whole. It either gives you a taste of each author's writing style and/or whets you appetite for a series or author you already follow. In Hot Alphas, I was very familiar with three of the authors and found a new one that I will be checking out in the near future.

Of course with anthologies, you must be able to overlook the insta-love and don't get you hopes up for in depth character development. There is a little bit of development in both the relationships and character depth but not as much as you'd expect to find in a full length novel.

Bottom line, these novella length plots provided fast, easy and enjoyable reads, the perfect reading material for when you don't have a lot of time to invest but want to find some hot and steamy romance. 3.5 Stars

I received this ARC copy of Hot Alphas from St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication May 19, 2015.

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 3 out of 5]

NG invitation sent from publicist...

Ehhhh...average in every way. Not one story stood out. This was like a compilation of second and third rate stories thrown together and put out based on the supposed strength of the author names. LL's addition was repetitive and lazy writing, and she used to be pretty good.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Four short stories of love, lust and strong men!

Opening Sentence: “The night had finally wound down, the last customer urged out the door and the Broken Bar was closed up for the night.”

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Erin’s Kiss: Turk has the job of protecting Erin, but can he stay out of her bed? Erin is drawn to the wounded warrior and she can’t resist him, but with her life on the line is it too dangerous for them to be in love? Erin and Turk are hot, and this short story is just enough to draw you and leave you wanting more. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

misTaken: Jaylene and Noah are neighbors, but can she learn to let someone else be in charge? Jaylene is a strong woman, too strong in some cases. She has turned off plenty of men by her actions of their own inadequacies. Noah brings her into a whole new world of bondage. I liked Jaylene and was glad that she met Noah, because she was dating some real winners in the beginning of this story. Well not dating, gone out on a date with a guy that made me want to vomit. Noah, however, was a breath of fresh air.

Burn for Me: Ali and Tate are damaged and unwilling to be with each other. However, as their passion grows hotter it becomes harder and harder for them to resist each other. Once they finally give in it is all or nothing. I really liked how open the two of them are with each other and the relationship is on fire once they give into each other.

Tangled: Nate and Cassie have a working relationship, so a relationship has the potential to cause major problems for them. Initially when they get together it is a no strings attached type relationship, but soon they find themselves falling in love. Will they be able to work together and be in a relationship? I always enjoy stories that involve a hookup turned into something more.

I must admit I just don’t like anthologies, I find that these days I like to know my characters in order to enjoy a short story, so I usually find one I really like and then the others are just okay for me. Don’t let my personal dislikes deter you, these were good, quick, and steamy reads.

Notable Scene:

“He loved the feel of her in his arms, but he had to admit, having that little “no promises, no commitments” clause int he conversation left him feeling enormously relieved. He had no time for commitments beyond the the one that had brought him here. Not when he still had to prove himself capable of the job he’d be starting tomorrow. He didn’t have any concerns about proving himself to Cassie tonight. It should have felt awkward, carrying a woman he barely knew into her bedroom, but nothing had ever felt quite this right before.”

FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Paperback/Macmillan provided me with a copy of Hot Alphas. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always think an anthology is a great way to sample new authors or even catch up with favourite ones who have short stories to share. I've read quite a few books by Lora Leigh , Kate Douglas and have recently discovered Shiloh Walker but Laurelin McGee is a new name to me so discovering this assortment of stories with a Hot Alpha theme picqued my interest .
The first story is Ms Leighs offering of Erin's Kiss and is probably the only one that truly seems to offer an Alpha male as the hero. I felt a little lost at times as it's clearly part of an ongoing series with several interesting characters but as a short sexy read it worked well and the ending with Turk the hero proving just how much he loved Erin, sigh!
MisTaken is my first read by Ms McGee ( a writing duo I believe ) but sadly it felt a little disjointed and the dialogue didn't quite work for me. Alpha? Er that would be no because Noah whilst enjoying orchestrating what happened in the bedroom felt quite hesitant at times and indeed it was Jaylene who felt more dominant . I've read a similar plot recently with the hero having the same secret occupation and that brings me nicely to the next story.
Shiloh Walker writes stories with heart and Burn for Me is no exception. Ali has found the man of her dreams in Tate but he keeps pulling away and won't commit. Sizzling chemistry is no match for love though and Ali throws him a curve ball that leaves him reeling. I didn't expect much character development in such a short story but Ms Walker truly came up with a very satisfying read.
Tangled by Kate Douglas was a quick and steamy romance that let the couple connect instantly and although it's not exactly instant love there's enough hot loving to keep the reader entertained . Sadly I didn't really feel that Nate was particularly Alpha but the story was interesting if a little predictable although the intruigue added to it immensely .
So a great way to try new authors but I don't feel the title is terribly appropriate . The saving grace though was each offered a happy ending and that satisfies the romantic in me!
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
3 and a half from me

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. The only one I remotely liked was Shiloh Walker's story, which I had read before. Lora Leigh's story was awful. I read Cooper's Fall too long ago to remember any back story so I had no real idea what was going on. I couldn't get into the other two.

[Shauni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed For: Tea and Book

In this fun little anthology, authors, Lora Leigh, Larelin McGee, Shiloh Walker and Kate Douglas, give us a bit of sensual delight. Each story tells it's own tale and brings us closer to characters that we might just want to read more about.

Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh:

What a delightful story. Ex Marine wait is that the right term? Former Marine Turk (is that a great name or what) leaped at the chance to join a covert organization that works behind the scenes to save the world. But it's been 10 years of rage and revenge and his personal walls are crumbling. What is it about sexy Erin that captures his attention and makes him dream of more?

Erin has been sent undercover to spy on the spies.. and she's actually on the same team. Step daughter to their boss. She's only been there three months but she's learned one thing, Turk is the man for her. Can she get him to lower his walls and take a chance on her?

It's hard enough having a romance with someone you work with, even someone who is fighting the connection but add in super spy and people out there with a grudge and life just gets crazy. For such a short story this packed a powerful punch and left me wanting more.

misTaken by Laurelin McGee:

A sweet and simple story about a woman discovering her sexuality.

Jaylene Kim is strong, independent and a total feminist but like many feminists today her attitude is based on what she's been told. Learning that sexual submission does not make you weak or an anti feminist was a hard lesson but fortunately for Jay, she has sexy neighbor Noah to help her along the way.

Noah is strong, determined and oh so sexy. He's also Jay's new neighbor. While his brain is what initially attracts Jay *smirk* his body isn't far behind. And his strong sense of self works high on her list. He's a nice guy, who runs, likes books and is interesting. Oh and he's a sexual dominant who writes erotica...

This one was fun but sometimes seemed to drag on. Trying to fit an entire story in this short story made it seemed forced and lacking chemistry at times.. if I were reviewing this alone, it would rate probably a 2.5

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker:

This was a poignant story about letting go of the past and living for the future. For forgiving and accepting. For learning how to live and love. It was sad yes but it also made me cheer a bit when the Hero finally grew up and accepted that bad things happen in life and sometimes they couldn't be explained.

Growing up in a small town has to be a unique experience. Both Ali and Tate did so and both of their lives are pretty much fodder for the gossip mill. Ali had a pretty decent life but got pregnant and married her HS boyfriend.. Two kids later and she left him in the dust. For the past three years she's had a Friends with benefits relationship with Tate.. only it's not enough. She loves him but she needs all of him not just the parts he is willing to give her.

Tate's world fell apart one night when he was 14. After a brutal fight (verbal) between his parents his mom walked out and was never seen again. Tate always blamed his father, even to the point of believing he murdered her. He's never really been able to accept that life isn't always that cut and dried. He's also never been able to completely love again, or trust in any relationship. But his refusal to let the past go is destroying what he could have with Ali. Now Tate needs to decide, a tortured past or a future worth living?

Shiloh Walker wrote a beautiful Short Story. It wasn't action packed but it was emotion packed. It was a story the resonates and makes you believe that if you let it, love really will conquer all.

Tangled by Kate Douglas:

In Tangled Kate Douglas takes us to the vineyards. Ann aging father, caught in the beginning stages of alzheimer's looses the family vineyard. Now Cassie is working for the man who purchased her heritage. A nice man, a good man but not her father. After hiring a manager for the Vineyards he is off.

Nate is the perfect man. Charming, sexy, interested in the Vineyards (good thing since he's managing it) and falling fast for Cassie.

Ms. Douglas is known for her steamy sexy shifter books but Tangled is more of a romance, a love story. Two people who fall for each other and manage to create a life on the ashes of Cassie's family's dreams.

An excellent secondary story when Col Mac's past comes to find him. Not only did he own the vineyard but he worked amongst the nation's leaders and knew too many secrets. And someone wanted those secrets destroyed..

There was a lot packed into this story and it was well written. Not rushed or over manipulated.

Four good stories working between 2.5 stars and 3.5 so I give this book a solid 3 star rating

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Hot Alphas, provided by netgalley.

[Heather / Obsessed With Myshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology, which means that you get four awesomely hot & delicious stories for the price of one book. It’s a pretty genius concept, right? I devour novellas like candy, so it’s no surprise that these types of books call to me. And when there was the promise of dominant alpha men, there was zero chance of me turning down the opportunity to read this collection. I was not dissapointed!

The first two novellas have male heroes who are decidedly more dominant than the last two. But I am NOT complaining. I loved each story in their own right.

In Erin’s Kiss, Turk and Erin have a serious case of instalove. If there’s a cure, don’t give it to them. I was a-ok with their passionate kisses and near nakedness in public places. Once they turned that switch on, there was no off. Carry on.

misTaken made me want to punch Jaylene in the cunt. You’ll probably understand when you read it, because she spouts every misconception about romance readers that I hate. We’re all smutty idiots who have never read a literary book in our lives, have zero self respect, and just want to be degraded. OH FUCK ALL. I totally understand why the authors did this – it was necessary for her character – but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t get all ragey and that my fists didn’t ball. It’s a damn good thing that there was a substantial amount of awesome sex in this one. It calmed me. There’s also a love of adorableness that made me smile excessively. Overall, it’s good. I really liked it – you’ll just have to deal with your rage. ;)

Burn for Me melted every inch of ice that may have surrounded my heart. I was a puddle of heather at the end of this one. Tate’s broken, hurt, confused and angry – but when he’s with Ali, none of that matters. But can he give her more? Can he give her what she so desperately needs? I loved these two and will gladly read anything with them in it. Lots of emotion & sizzlingly chemistry made me fall for this story.

Tangled is last, but definitely not least. I don’t think I could have loved Nate any harder. He’s like the cherry on the sundae that you leave for last because you know you’re going to want that one last taste of deliciousness. He charmed the pants off of Cassie in about two seconds flat, but he’s not “that guy” and it’s evident. He skirts around the awkwardness and shows Cassie that what she thinks she wants and what she needs are two very different things. Cassie is one strong, awesome chick and it’s no surprise that Nate falls in love with her. There’s lots of drama, a major case of instalove that I welcomed with open arms, and sweet kisses that had me swooning.

Each story complimented the last and I tore through these with delight. LOVED!

[I received an ARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review]
This review looks prettier on my blog: http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com/2015/0...

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Hot Alphas is a collection of novellas from some pretty hot erotica authors and well I liked half of it.

Erin's Kiss
I always used to read Lora Leigh and I think I just burned myself out on her, I don't enjoy reading her writing anymore. I thought maybe reading something new and not from her Breed series would be nice I couldn't get into it and quite honestly even though I just read it last week I don't remember it.

MisTaken
Laurelin McGee is new to me, I don't think I have ever read anything from her and what I did read did not impress me. I just could not like the characters; normally I like the overly opinionated and more then likely "Bitchy" female this one how ever is a judgey narrow minded twat that does a complete 180 at the flip of a switch. I can understand what the author was trying to do, to not to judge or assume a book solely on what you think when you haven't read anything from the genre. (Like what so many people did with 50 Shades of Grey). But I think this novella was ill fitting in for this anthology.

Burn for Me
Shiloh Walker I love, everything she has written is an immediate winner for me. This is a side story for the very emotional and dark series Secrets & Shadows, this takes place almost simultaneously as the first book in the series. Tate is and has always loved Ali, even if he didn't realize it and he has just kept Ali at a distance. Ali loves Tate and understands his past and his feelings but she can't take it anymore it hurts too much not to have all of him. Tate keeps her at arm's length because he fervently believes his father killed his mother and got away with it and because of that he is afraid he might snap and do the same. Ali is a hard working single mom and Tate is a tormented mechanic. Tate must come to terms or lose the woman of his dreams forever.

Tangled
Kate Douglas is another one I really like she has a fun and quirky way of writing. This novella is I believe a stand-alone story about Tangled Vineyards. Nate is probably one of the least "alpha" heros in this set but he is one of my favorite. Nate has a new job and he is looking forward to managing the vineyard he never expected to fall head over heals for the winemaker. Cassie is resentful that the new owner has hired a new manager but also thankful for saving the place after her father fell ill and almost ran the place to the ground. Cassie likes Nate but is hesitant about mixing business with pleasure. When Cassie's father's past rears it ugly head Nate proves himself beyond measure

[Alima Livzletlivz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sexy and hot set penned together by some of my favorite writers, “Hot Alphas” will leave you melting and panting for more!

Erin’s Kiss leaves ex-marine Tate wanting more and possess Erin forever. Working undercover, CIA operative Erin is on dangerous ground from an unknown enemy and very close to losing her heart to Tate. Intense, passionate and sizzling, Lora Leigh keeps her readers on the edge and captivated.

Jaylene is an independent and feminist, refusing to be commanded by a man. Yet when she meets her hot and nerdy neighbor Noah, her very soul craves the demands and dominance of her guy. misTaken by Laurelin McGee takes Jaylene on a path of discovery of herself and the secrets that may end the relationship between her and Noah. Interesting read.

Shiloh Walker is one of my all time favorites and her stories are always intense, dark and seeping in emotions of pain and passion. Ali loves Turk and has forever and she wants more than been friends with benefits. Turk is battling past demons that stop him from committing to Ali and her sons. When Ali puts a break in their relationship, Turk has to decide if Ali’s love is worth letting go of his past pain and forgiveness may be his only salvation. Another story sizzling with deep pain, love, acceptance and forgiveness.

Kate Douglas in Tangled leaves Nate and Cassie tangled in a web of instant attraction that burns the sheets, and danger that threatens Cassie’s life. Taking over Tangled Vineyards from Cassie, Nate wants to keep the former wine-maker and owner close to his heart. Kate Douglas weaves a sweet love story with a hint of mystery to keep her readers charmed and captivated.

This set is a definite worthy read.

Received an ARC from St. Martin’ Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of anthologies unless i read all the authors included and/or follow the series the novellas are connected to. Now sometimes anthologies are good to find new authors. This only works if the novella's included are written with enough info for you to get a good picture of what's going on. For me Hot Alphas was difficult to read and enjoy. I have only previously read two of the authors included but liked what i have heard of the other two authors so thought it would be ok. The first three stories just did not grab me the way i had hoped. They were good in some ways but lacked enough detail to give me that clear picture i mentioned earlier. I ended up spending time wondering about certain details and back ground information. I actually almost gave up and didn't read the last novella by Kate Douglas. I'm so glad i didn't stop. Even though this is obviously a short novella there is enough detail to tell a fairly complete story. It's fast paced (pretty much has to be) but Nate and Cassie make a connection right away. It's believable and there is more story than the two of them getting together. There is some suspense and mystery mixed in. I was really glad i stuck it out and finished the book. Kate Douglas totally made it worth while for me. Overall the book was okay and i realize it's hard to write a novella length book and pack in enough detail and tell a story at the same time but it definitely can be done. Those are the kind that make me want to find out more about the author and what else they have to offer.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erin’s Kiss - Lora Leigh - 2 Stars - Erin Masters, Turk Rogan - It pains me to say this but I don’t get it. I feel like there is tons of back story missing. I don’t know why this bar has CIA level security. I get that this villain guy wants Erin to get info from JD and I get Erin and Turk’s passion for each other (though it seems kinda forced) but I just don’t know why they are there to begin with. I also don’t really get the rescue. It all just seems so… unconnected. And this whole mysterious betrayer/watcher thing apparently over my head.

After I bit more looking around I realized this is a 3rd part in a series no wonder I’m so confused. Apparently I need to catch up. *sigh*


So I started misTAKEN and I'm just so bored. Then I realized I really wasn't all that engaged in Lora Leigh's story so I'm officially marking this DNF. Too many books to read for me to be pushing this hard to get through one.

*DNF so no rating

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received for review

Hot alphas - not so much except for Turk.

Erin's Kiss - 4 stars - Turk was definitely what I consider a hot alpha especially to Erin. This one feels like it could be the start of a great series.

MisTaken - 2 stars - Noah was yum but not an alpha and Jay just annoyed me. Then that ending stunk big time.

Burn for Me - 3 stars - I've read most of this series by Ms. Walker. I've wanted to read this one, but Tate as an alpha...nah. But it is a good start for the series.

Tangled - 3 stars - Nate and Cassie insta-connection to love plus a nice little bit of intrigue thrown in.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were pretty good, like the first and the last one, the second was great and the third not my favorite but still enjoyable so in the end this book is worth the time and the price, IMHO.

Alcune storie erano carine, come la prima e l'ultima, la seconda é geniale e la terza non é la mia preferita, ma comunque resta un piacere da leggere, quindi direi che alla fine questa raccolta vale la pena di spenderci tempo e soldi, secondo me ovviamente.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW!

[NomdePlumePress · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a lot of alphas in this anthology, which was the strangest thing of all. misTaken was the novella I enjoyed the most, and I was angry for most of it, so that's not saying much. Yes, I get that the heroine learns that romances aren't so bad after all, but she does a lot of damage along the way that she doesn't entirely make up for. But the characters and the premise stood out, while the other three novellas were pretty forgettable. And only the Lora Leigh one had what I would consider an actual alpha. Maybe. Perhaps I need a definition.

[Eva Millien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stories where staying single doesn’t stand a chance against a love that is determined to conquer all objections in these riveting contemporary romances. The authors bring their stories to life with will written scenes and great attention to detail that makes it easy for the readers to become completely caught up in each one, or at least I certainly did. Individually each story in this entertaining anthology rated between three and five, so sit back relax and enjoy!

See my full review at:
http://paranormalhaven.com/2015/05/re...

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm writing this review for Tangled, a contemporary romance written by Kate Douglas, bestselling author of shape shifters and paranormal erotic romance. This is the first book in a new series of romantic suspense set in the wine country of California. It is a sizzling romance with beautiful locations and old secrets that threaten the lives of Cassie Phillips the winemaker and Nate Dunagan the vineyard manager. Exciting preview for the series. Full review to follow on November 16 on http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspo....

[Artemiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, after I had read enough history, horror, drama books, I just needed to read some simple romance with a lot of sex. So I choose Hot Alphas, since it had waiting it's time for a long enough time. Boy did I chose wrong. :(

Yes all the four novellas - Erin's Kiss, misTake, Burn for Me and Tangled - had some romance and some sex, but the rest around it .... All the stories have logical mistakes in them, all of them feel rushed and they are not hot. My rating is more 2 than 3, but still in between since some things saved the whole disaster.

[Frankie Ness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read the last two shorties.

4stars for SWalker. Happy it was a shorty otherwise the angst would've killed me.

2stars for KDouglas. This shorty is all insta: love, death, conflict. Like wtf just happened?!

[Vashti · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*** read only the Lora Leigh book,don't know what I read,but the sex scenes were good :)

[Zita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice anthology…

This anthology has a diverse group of stories with no common themes. There is suspense, humor, darkness, and sweetness amongst them. I do question the title for not all of the heroes would I classify as “alphas”. Overall rating 3.5 stars

Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh – 3 stars, They completed each other…

Being related to two directors of the Covert Information Network (CIN) doesn’t make life easy for Erin Masters. They are overprotective to an extreme. She’s bartending at one of the network’s nightclubs, monitoring the owner and the efficiency of his personnel in obtaining intel from various suspects. Her family relationships are unknown to the staff. She’s assigned a man to protect her who works club security, a very sexy man that she’s strongly drawn to.

Turk Rogan is a former Ranger who’s now an agent of the CIN working as Erin’s security. It’s been a strain watching over her for months, wanting what he can’t and shouldn’t have since the death of his family has made him shy about wanting to care that much for someone again. It was only a matter of time before they both gave in to the sizzling attraction between them and it does not go unnoticed.

This was an intriguing novella with two likable leads who had definite brewing chemistry that inevitably erupted. I liked how things progressed between them and how Turk fought for her at the end, he’d go rogue if necessary. This was a tale of two lone souls finally meeting the one who completed them.

More backstory about the covert network was needed. This reader was left in confusion when Erin was targeted and there were no conversations or speculations as to why she was attacked, what was being done while she was hidden. The points of view weren’t clear, sometimes narration, at other times that of Erin or Turk and an unknown presence who’s observing events. I felt that this needed to be longer. The epilogue left you feeling that this was a prequel or a piece in the middle of a larger work.

misTaken by Laurelin McGee – 3 stars, The dominant and the feminist…

Jaylene (Jay) Kim, an English teacher and a staunch feminist hasn’t had much luck in relationships and is starting to wonder if she is the reason why. She meets the sexy new neighbor and is astonished to find so many things in common with him. They share the love of books, music, and running. He’s also a man who believes in women’s rights. He’s too good to be true and her imagination runs wild trying to figure out the mystery of his profession which he doesn’t share.

Noah Harrison is a private man who’s secretive about what he does for a living because experience has taught him that most people don’t understand it. This reader correctly guessed his job, there are enough hints. He’s intelligent and well versed in many subjects. He’s a dominant in the bedroom and doesn’t have a problem with a feminist outside of the bedroom. He is surprised to be so drawn to his new neighbor since he tends to avoid people.

As a couple Noah and Jay were very cute together. Their relationship was sexy yet sweet and amusing. The story though felt like an advertisement for extreme feminism and the writing of erotica.

The feminist views of the heroine were excessive and she had a tendency to be very judgmental which she recognized as a truth of her personality when it was mentioned to her. This reader really wanted to know what made this character so extremely feminist, there must be a reason. In the all the years I have never met a woman with such ingrained and inflexible beliefs. It was impressive that she questioned herself because of Noah, opening herself up to looking at things differently showed growth.

Burn For Me by Shiloh Walker – 4.5 stars, An intense, emotional novella…

Ali Holmes has been involved in a “friends with benefits” relationship with Tate Bell for years. She deeply loves him but yearns for more. She understands that he suffered greatly from the disappearance of his mother when he was young but things need to change for herself and for her children. If only he would share with her it would make a difference but he lives behind strong walls through which no one can reach.

Tate Bell is tormented by the night his mother disappeared 15 years ago. He blames his father. He loves Ali but doesn’t believe he has anything to offer her but his nightmares and fears and that scares him. Ali is a breath of fresh air to him; he finds peace in her arms. He struggles with what he wants and what he is able to give until the choice is made for him. Sometimes you have to lose what you love and need to gain the strength to really fight for it.

This was an intense, well-written, emotional novella. The story of a man forced to face his demons to keep what he loves and it is not always easy to move on from devastating tragedy even years afterwards. For a short work there was much depth. The main characters were likable and you could feel the chemistry between them. The supporting characters were interesting. This is the prequel novella to a new series. The town is intriguing and there are mysteries alluded to that need to be solved.

Tangled by Kate Douglas – 3.5 stars, Love and intrigue at a winery…

After working for a factory sized winery, Nate Dunagan has the opportunity to do what he really wants, to work a small vineyard and be involved with everything in the process from beginning to end. It was an easy decision for him to accept the position of manager at Tangled Vineyards. He arrives late one night to find himself locked out of the property so he jumps the fence and runs into the mixologist who lets him in. She is not what he expected and he can’t help but be drawn to her, they are kindred spirits in their love of the land and working it and she is smart, sexy and cute.

Even though her family vineyard was sold to new owners due to poor business decisions made by her father, Cassie Phillips remains as the mixologist. She’s the one who produces the award winning wines and the new owner wants to keep her. Seeing her father lose his home and his mind to Alzheimer’s has been hard for her. When the new vineyard manager arrives she’s pleasantly surprised. Besides being downright sexy and good-looking, he’s a nice man who loves the work and has dreams like her own. It’s been a long time since someone grabbed her attention and for one night she allows herself to let go and enjoy more than his companionship.

Two very compatible souls meet and give in to the physical attraction and connection that has been building over dinner and hours of conversation. One night of no commitments is agreed upon for in the morning they begin working together. But it’s never that simple and one night creates an awkwardness and a desire for repetition. This story was instant lust that grew to more, the emotions were heightened by someone targeting Cassie for an unknown reason so there was suspense and a mystery to be solved.

Nate and Cassie were two very likable characters used to being on their own who had a connection in more than the physical sense. They dived in too soon and that created problems that they had to work through but when you meet that someone that touches your soul and accepts you and supports you it’s really just a matter of time before you inevitably open yourself up to love, which these two did. This was an enjoyable sweet read with a nice dose of suspense.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOT ALPHAS is a four part anthology of contemporary, adult romance storylines. Each short story has a little romance, $ex, and a happily ever after while a couple stories have mystery, intrigue and suspense. Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh, and Burn For Me by Shiloh Walker are each part of an existing series by the respective authors, while misTaken by Laurelin McGee is the introduction to a new series co authored by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 19, 2015


In Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh, ex-Marine Turk has become Erin’s sworn protector. The consistent target of her CIA-operative brother’s deadly foes, Turk is the only port Erin has to cling to in a storm. He promised her brother long ago never to touch her—but how can he resist a woman who aches to be with him as much as he burns for her?

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--ERIN’S KISS is part of the Wound Warriors Series by Lora Leigh focusing on a group of former military operatives who work for the CIN-Covert Information Network. This is ex Marine Turk Rogan and Erin Masters romantic/suspense storyline.

The novella follows Turk and Erin as both work undercover at the Broken Bar Saloon keeping an eye on the thugs, politicians and people connected to the mob. The Broken Bar is home to a number of CIN operatives and when Erin becomes the target of an unknown assailant, the CIN and Turk move into action. The secondary and supporting characters include several CIN agents, Erin’s step brother and step father, as well as the ‘regulars’ at the bar.

ERIN’S KISS is a quick erotic read about two people who have lusted after one another for a number of months. The $ex scenes are erotic and provocative. The background and world building is limited but followers of the series may be more in tune with what has happened than new readers to the series. The novella does not end with a cliff hanger but a bit of a ‘wait and see’ what is going to happen next.


•••••••••

In misTaken by Laurelin McGee, Jaylene Kim is a strong independent woman whose feminist values run deep. Even though attractive men are her weakness the last thing she wants is one telling her what to do. Until she meets her mysterious new neighbor. He makes her realize that you can still be strong and relinquish control . . . in the bedroom. But as their passion consumes them both Jaylene isn't so sure he is who he says he is.

REVIEW: 3 stars--MISTAKEN is the introductory novella to Laurelin McGee (aka Laurelin Paige/ Kayti McGee) new romance series focusing on the world of modern matchmaking. This is high school English teacher Jaylene Kim and Noah Harrison’s storyline. With her rigid feminist ideals and preconceived notions Jaylene is having difficulty adjusting to other people’s (both men and women) view of life. Enter Noah Harrison, a man with too many secrets that Jaylene is dying to uncover and a man who makes Jaylene question her feminist ways.

The $ex scenes are exploratory but Jaylene has a difficult time giving up control. Throughout the storyline our heroine’s rigid feminist views leave something to be desired both in and out of the bedroom; I question the couple’s attraction to one another as I did not feel the sexual chemistry or burning need.

As this is the introductory storyline to Laurelin McGee’s new series, I am hoping with the future installments the heroines are not so uncompromising or mired in such strict feminist beliefs. The overriding premise of feminism was too much for a romance storyline. I am all for equal rights, but I don’t like the ideals of radical feminism to be pounded into me from my romance heroines. I have a degree in sociology and took several courses in women’s studies but there are times when the idealists need to consider the target of their attacks and romance readers are not the ideal targets.


•••••••••

In Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker, Tate longs to spend his nights with Ali, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations. Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with his mother right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Tate's unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with . . . but the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all?

REVIEW: 4 stars--BURN FOR ME is the introductory novella in Shiloh Walker’s Secrets and Shadows romantic, suspense series (Originally released April 1, 2014) focusing on the Bell family. This is car restoration expert Tate Bell, and single mother and part owner of a pizza cafe Ali Holmes storyline- a friends with benefits relationship where Ali wants something more.

The storyline follows the back and forth between Tate and Ali; Tate’s inability to let go of the past; the disappearance of his mother fifteen years earlier; and the introduction of Tate’s younger sister Chrissie, their sister Detective Jensen Bell, as well as Noah Benningfield and Trinity Ewing. While Tate struggles with issues of betrayal and hurt, Ali makes a heartbreaking decision about her future. The novella ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-looking towards a resolution of a fifteen year mystery.

Shiloh Walker does an amazing job in a short period of time with the world and character building. I was never confused or concerned about the direction of the story; the information revealed was just enough to spark my interest in the series.



••••••••••••

In Tangled by Kate Douglas, Nate shows up to work at Tangled Vineyards ready to do all the things he loves best—work with his hands, grow the grapes, and craft award-winning, full-bodied wines. But when something better comes along in the form of Cassie, the winemaker and former owner of the vineyard, Nate becomes completely love-drunk. Getting involved with Tangled’s number-one mixologist is a bad way to start off a new job, but with Cassie as a constant temptation, Nate doesn’t stand a chance…

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--TANGLED is a quick story of insta-love between Nate Dunagan and Cassie Phillips. Cassie’s family once owned the Tangled Vines vineyard, where Cassie and Nate now work and manage. As Cassie’s father’s increasing dementia forced the family to sell the winery, Cassie remains behind as the leading wine maker for Tangled Vines vineyard. What ensues is a building relationship between our leading couple that eventually leads to a happily ever after…but in between Cassie and Nate become the victims of someone hoping to bury the past.

TANGLED is a storyline with a little bit of romance, $ex and intrigue. As our couple struggle with the daily business of operating a vineyard, Cassie and Nate also struggle with their building attraction. The $ex scenes are intimate and romantic without the over the top erotic factor. If you like a storyline of insta-love and a promise of forever, than TANGLED is the perfect read.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangled by Kate Douglas was the best short story. The winemaker at a vineyard had hoped to inherit the vineyard but her father made bad investment decisions and they lost the vineyard. She is still the winemaker but the new owner hired a new manager. She thought to dislike him but they fall in love. Someone is trying to break into the wine cave and has accosted Cassie but what does the man want? They have to try and find out.

Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker is the next best story. It is about a man who heard his parents fighting and heard ugly words his father slung at his wife and told her to leave. She disappeared and the man thought his father killed his wife. A policeman friend tells him that his father is not the killer type and he would know since he saw his own father beat his wife to death. The man then goes and talks to his father and asks for forgiveness. It's time for him to live his life with the woman he loves. She wanted more than just a friend with benefits and now it is time for them.

MisTaken by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee is about a man who writes women's sexual romances with a dominating hero. He met a neighbor and both are attracted to the other. She finds a book wrapped in paper in his closet and thought he was a drug dealer at first. When the book is unwrapped, she finds it is the book they talked about in the bookstore. He is the writer and introduces her to his dominating ways.

Erin's Kiss by Lora Leigh was confusing. It seems to be a few chapters taken out of one of her books. Something is said about The Watcher. Who is this? Then there is talk about someone called Giovanni. The female bartender and the ex-military security fall in love. The whole story did not make any sense.