WHATEVER HE WANTS by Eve Vaughn

Description: When the shy, sensitive, and damaged artist, Noelle Greene, collides with the handsome, commanding, and also-damaged alpha male, James Rothschild, sparks fly, but dignity gets destroyed. The Good: What an intense novel and what a crazy and tumultuous relationship. I ripped through this book and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It was like reading a paso doble. As someone with natural hair and anxiety issues, who ended up in a different field than what I studied in college, the character of Noelle and her journey to self-realization really resonated with me. But this also made reading this novel a little upsetting. Noelle reminded me so much of myself, that I had a very visceral reaction to her — I don’t think I’ve ever...

THEY SAY LOVE IS BLIND by Pepper Pace

Description: When plus-sized Tory meets blind Floresian hottie, Lee, on the bus, she has no idea that she’s in for the romance of a lifetime. The Good: Ms. Pace has created yet another compelling couple in Lee and Tory. Loved the details of Lee’s day-to-day life as a blind man, and especially loved learning about Flores, an island country I had never heard of before reading this book. I appreciated that they were both insecure about things the other didn’t mind, size for Tory, sight for Lee. Lee is an excellent hero, and his big family really makes this lovable story shine. The Bad: The main characters fall in love very quickly, which rings false, considering how insecure they are. Also, the story treads water for a bit in the middle. The...

SHIRA by Tressie Lockwood

Description: Shira narrowly escapes an abusive relationship, only to find herself in the lair of much more dangerous, not to mention grumpy, predator — a leopard shifter named Max. But could this strange relationship eventually turn into love? The Good: I respected Shira’s desire to get out of her abusive relationship, and cheered for her to do so. Also, I liked that she had an even better relationship with Max’s leopard than the hero himself. The Bad: Great obstacles are set up, only to be somewhat clumsily surmounted. Max’s initial resistance to a relationship with Shira is overcome with an unexplained change of heart, and the final showdown with the main villain is a little too neat. The Naughty: Erotic.  Editing issues: Minor...

LAID BEAR by Eve Vaughn

Description: After a near-fatal collision, Zora Calloway wakes up in the cabin of three sexy bear-shifter cousins determined to claim her as their mate. Goldilocks and the three bears, indeed! The Good: This is a really sexy take on a beloved fairytale. Ms. Vaughn is a master of old-school erotic romance structure, and the sex really drives the story. But she also gives us a really interesting and well-executed mystery — it provides just the right amount of plot. I also loved that the level-headed, somewhat beta bear was in charge, and this word pairing: “awesomely serious.” The Bad: The relationship-building gets a little lost in the fray of thick sexual tension during the first half of the book. And Heath and Logan often read as alike, as...

ON CALL: AFTERNOON by P.D. Singer

Description: When Keith, the new single doctor in town, meets sexy black veterinarian, Dante, he’s way to shy to make a first move. Can his cat, Harpo, bring them together? The Good: I adore vets in real life and wish they’d be used more in romance. Ms. Singer does a good job of making Dante vulnerable (he’s got cat scratch fever), while keeping him attractive in the opening scenes. The romantic build up to sex is sweet and awkward, and the couple is very well-matched. Also, the cat at the center of the story is quite a character. If you love cats, you will love this story. The Bad: Ms. Singer doesn’t manage to overcome the curse of short stories. The characters are too good for the story length, and many readers will come out of this...