Tag: Jill Myles

Review: Wicked Games by Jill Myles

Posted March 5, 2012 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Holly‘s review of Wicked Games by Jill Myles

Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. She’s just not the survival type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant. Once in the game, though, it’s clear that Abby’s in over her head.

No one’s more competitive than sexy, delicious and arrogant Dean Woodall. Sure, he’s clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. That’s fine with her; she’ll just ignore the jerk.

But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up & alone on the beach. It’s either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one’s company but their own, they learn they might just make a good team after all. And Abby learns that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion.

This book features enemies, lovers, enemies who become lovers, and lots and lots of tropical heat.

This was a free Nook download. I’ve been wanting to read Myles and this seemed like a good place to start. I’m glad I did. This is an exciting, fast-paced novel I couldn’t put down. I devoured it in one sitting.

Abby got suckered into joining a reality show al la Survivor. She gets tossed onto an island for a chance to win two million dollars. Only she isn’t after the money. She’s after the book deal she’s been promised for being on the show. Dean is there to win. When he gets paired up with Abby, he isn’t too thrilled. She’s definitely a weak link. But as the days go by and they’re forced to work together, a deep attraction blooms between them. And so does an emotional connection. 

How well do you know a person after a few weeks on a survival game? Can they work together to win the prize? And what will happen when the show is over?

I’m not a fan of reality tv. I didn’t watch survivor when it first came on. I don’t watch any of the other reality shows either. So going into this I was a little worried. Turns out I had no reason to be. The pace of the novel is pretty fast. It just zipped right along. Was Survivor this awesome? If so I might have watched it….

Dean and Abby were great together. They got off to a rather rocky start, but it wasn’t long before they were on the same side. I liked that they didn’t immediately fall into lust with one another. Sure, Dean thought Abby was kind of hot and vice verse, but their mutual hatred trumped any lustful feelings.

Since this is written in the first person from Abby’s point of view, it was hard to know sometimes what Dean was feeling. This worked both for and against the story. I think it flowed better coming from one POV, rather than several. The suspense of waiting to see how things played out was edgier, because Abby herself was edgy about it. But it was also frustrating at times. As the reader we could see Abby was headed in the wrong direction on a personal level and we didn’t get a break from her thoughts. I actually cringed for her a couple times, something I hate when I’m reading.

As a whole, Abby was a very likable character. She’s sarcastic and witty, if a little on the naive side. Dean was a good counterpoint, I think. He was strong and a little cocky in the beginning, but he really opened up as the novel wore on. They were both characters I felt I knew, despite this being written in the first person.

 The jumping to conclusions at the end was tiresome, but I loved all the action on the island. And I loved Dean and Abby.

4.5 out of 5

This book is available from Jill Myles. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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What I Read Last Week

Posted August 29, 2011 by Tracy in Features | 11 Comments

Howdoo!
How are you this fine Monday? I’m doing well. It’s been hot like the sun here this past week (it’s gotten as high as 111 F) and it doesn’t look like there’s an end to it so I’m just trying to stay indoors as much as possible.
The kids had a good week as school and they both like their teachers and their classes which is a bonus! Hopefully the teacher love will continue! lol
I still didn’t get a picture of my oldest – she’s always in such a hurry in the mornings that she can’t be bothered to stand still for two second so that dear old mom can click. Soon – I swear I’ll tie her down if I have too. lol
Update: I finally got her picture this morning. You can tell how thrilled she was! lol  

 

The fam headed to a friends house for a get together this weekend. Judy used to live a few houses down from me for years but then moved to Iowa. She stayed there a year or so and when she moved back she moved about 2 hours away. Much closer than Iowa but still not as close as on the same street! I’ve hardly seen her since she’s been back, which sucks. We went and had a great time on Saturday night. Where she lives is considered living in the country but it’s gorgeous there. Rolling hills and open land and it was lovely. We were on her back deck when we got to see a mama deer and her 2 babies. We went for a walk about an hour or so after I took the picture and we ended up seeing the whole family – mama, daddy and 4 babies – so pretty!  The whole family had a great time and hopefully we’ll head there again soon.
I read a bit this week. I’m really behind on my netgalley and Book Binge reading and need to get my butt in gear. There are just too many distractions! lol Also, I know the month isn’t over yet but I realized that I’ve only bought 3 books the whole month and I spent very little money – one book was .99, one was 1.99 and the other 5.95 – bargain! Yay me! I’ve really been trying to read from my TBR and get those books read – it’s not easy holding myself back lol.
So what did I read?
First for the week was One Night in London: The Truth About the Duke by Caroline Linden. This was (kind of) an attached book to the novella I Love the Earl. The story is about a 3rd son who has stood by his father’s side through thick and thin – even when his two older brothers were off doing their own thing. The brothers find out after their father’s death that he may have been a polygamist. He was married before and never actually got a divorce – so will the sons inherit and will Edward’s oldest brother really become a Duke? That’s what starts the story off but not really the whole focus of the book. The focus is on Edward as he tries to quell the horrible (yet true) rumors going around London and helping a woman try to find her niece who has disappeared. I liked the romance quite a lot but I have to say that I was disappointed in not getting more info about the Duke and what exactly happened. So yes, some the truth about the Duke comes out, but not all. It was a cute book and I’ll read the next when it’s released to see if the truth comes out in that book…but I have a feeling we’ll have to wait until book 3 to discover it. 3 out of 5
Next was Jennifer’s Garden by Dianne Venetta. The story about a woman who is trying to get married before her mother dies and is creating a beautiful garden to get married in. But she finds herself doubting her decision to marry Aurelio when she starts falling for the Landscape architect, Jackson. You can read my review here. 3 out of 5
Changeling Moon by Dani Harper was a book I read for the Book Binge. It’s about Connor Macleod who is a changeling aka shapeshifter who is a vet in Alberta, Canada. He ends up saving Zoey’s life one night when she is attacked by a rabid changeling. The story is about their romance as well as keeping Zoey from harm when the wolf comes back to finish what he started. 3 out of 5
Changeling Dream by Dani Harper is the next book in the Changeling series. This book was about James Macleod who survived the shooting that killed his pregnant wife. He turns to a wolf and stays that way for 30 years. Now he’s back in Alberta and learning how to be a human again – but he’s only doing it because he’s so drawn to his brother Connor’s new Vet that he has on staff. He tries to stay away so that he doesn’t put her in danger but eventually the pair come together. I liked this book much more than book one. I love scarred heroes (emotionally scarred) and this one was good. The pair was apart for a lot of the book but it was still really good. 4 out of 5 (also read for The Book Binge)  
Am I the only one that was freaked out by this cover? I thought at first that the woman was turning herself inside out until I realized that she just had her necklace hanging down her back! lol Freaky!
Annabelle, the American by Lavinia Kent was my next read. This is book 3 in the Real Duchesses of London series and I’m loving it. The newest cartoon comes out and shows Annabelle’s husband, Thomas, standing with a second family. The story has Thomas revealing secrets and the couple falling in love. The novella’s in this series are all connected so I recommend starting with book 1. This story, like the others had a great little romance in it and it was a great read. 4 out of 5
My Tracy’s TBR Challenge read for the week was Betweens Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton. This story was about a bartender who had worked at the same place for 10 years. The work included bartending but it also allowed the bartenders to have sex trysts in the back storage room. Levi loved his work and the fact that he was satisfied sexually so many times a weekend. His family HATES his job and his sexual exploits and aren’t afraid to let him know. Levi grew up Mormon and though he loves his family he hates meeting for holidays as they seem to attack him every time. The thought is that they understand that he’s gay but they want him to live a celibate life as acting on his sexual urges is a sin. Levi meets Jaime when he goes for a massage to help a muscle problem he’s been having. Jaime was sexually abused as a child and can’t even stand to be touched. The story revolves around Levi and Jaime falling in love, Jaime coming to terms with his past and also falling in love and Levi’s family pseudo acceptance of Levi’s relationship with Jaime. It was a great book! I really hated the way that Levi’s family treated his homosexuality but it was understandable given their Mormon upbringing. The romance with Levi and Jaime was slow and steady and in my mind that’s exactly how it should have been given Jaime’s past. I definitely recommend this one. 4.5 out of 5
Wild & Steamy by Meljean Brook, Jill Myles and Carolyn Crane was my last read of the week.
Meljean’s story, The Blushing Bounder, was set in the steampunk world of her Iron Seas novels. This was Edward Newberry’s story (you’ll remember he was Mina Wentworth’s constable assistant) and was about him and his wife, who hates him. It takes a murder outside the couple’s flat to get the two together. As usual Meljean’s world was awesome and the romance was good too.
Vixen was Jill Myles’s story about a were-fox who is being protected from hunters by two cat shifters. Miko wants them both but doesn’t want to choose between them. The men, Jeremiah and Sam have no problem working together however. The story was cute – more a happy for now than a true HEA.
Kitten-tiger and the Monk by Carolyn Crane was a story set in her Disillusionist world. Sophia is searching for the Monk so that he can zing her and disillusion her and save her from herself. She can erase peoples memory (only going back a day) and when searching for the Monk runs into her old love who she betrayed and abandoned. The pair have many issues but they still love each other and decide to stay together. Sophia and Robert were messed up, both of them but really they were perfect for each other. Definitely a sign of a good writer when they can make me want an HEA for two people I don’t really care for. lol
The book as a whole 4 out of 5
My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
Happy Reading!

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Guest Review: My Fair Succubi by Jill Myles

Posted January 3, 2011 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Paranormal Romance


Tracy’s review of My Fair Succubi (Succubus Diaries #3) by Jill Myles.

IT SUCKS TO BE HER.


Living as a succubus has a bit of a learning curve, but with sexy fallen angel Noah to scratch her sensual Itch, Jackie Brighton is finally starting to feel ahead of the game. She almost doesn’t miss her gorgeous vampire master Zane—or his sinful, teasing mouth. She’s trying to convince herself of that, anyway.

But Jackie’s past mistakes catch up with her, spinning her life out of control once more. Just as her friend Remy’s inner demon comes out to play, Noah and Jackie are arrested by the angelic Serim Council. When Jackie seizes the chance to escape, she falls right into Zane’s waiting arms. As she’s pulled into a game of cat and mouse between vampires and angels, she finds she must also choose between the two men in her life. Can she decide between Noah and Zane, or will she lose everything she’s ever wanted? Because there’s more at stake than just her heart. . . .

While on an archeological dig in Mexico Noah and Jackie are arrested by the Serim council. Jackie gets a jacked up trial but manages to make a deal with Archangel Gabriel. She is to get the Halo – which is basically an archangel’s power that is currently residing in her friend Remy. If she gets the power then she can ask for whatever she wants. She’s all over that deal because not only does she want to get rid of the Halo, she wants to set her friend free.

While going about trying to fulfill her part of the deal she has to figure out what to do with Noah. The angel wants eternity. He wants a commitment that she will be his, and only his, forever. Jackie’s just not sure she can make that decision. Then there’s Zane who is helping her find the Halo but is under restraint from the vampire queen and has to wear a collar that burns him when he touches Jackie. Things are crazy in her life!

This was a great book. It was fun and funny and I really couldn’t put it down. Jackie is finding her way as a succubus and she’s not quite as nutty as she was in the first couple of books, which I appreciated. Noah and Zane are completely, undeniably sexy as usual and they were perfect counterparts for Jackie. Secondary characters Remy and the Nephilim Ethan were hilarious as well and I’m looking forward to reading more about them in future books.

This series, imho, has gotten better with every book. This one had me laughing a lot and I’m one who loves humor in with my action. A great read that I definitely recommend.

Rating 4.25 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

This book is available from Pocket Star. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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What I Read Last Week

Posted December 28, 2010 by Tracy in Features | 8 Comments

Wow I’m really behind!  I swear the day has totally gotten away from me. I just played Mario Kart on the Wii with my youngest for about an hour and I swear the thumb on my right hand won’t stop twitching! lol

First of all I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas – if you celebrate it. If not, I hope you enjoyed having the day off! lol  It was fun around here.  The kids were very good so they got good stuff from Santa.  We went to my parents house about 1/2 hour away and met up with family there. We ate enough for a small country and then played games that were loud and raucous.  A good time was had by all.

My oldest daughter had a rough week after her fall but managed to muddle through (thank you all so much for your well wishes).  Her back is much better – hardly even a twinge any longer but she was down and out for a few days – then the poor thing got the flu and was throwing up profusely.  I swear, when it rains it pours – not a good week for her.  But it ended well with all the gifts!  And her 13th birthday is this Thursday so there’ll be more gifts!  (Yes, it’s hell on the pocketbook!)

So what did I read this past week?

I started with How to Marry A Duke by Vicky Dreiling.  I read this one for The Book Binge so I’ll let you know when my review posts.  The story was about a Duke who was finally ready to take a bride in order to get an heir but he had specific things he needed in a bride.  How did he know who to choose?  And if he courted a woman to find out if she fit the bill then the scandal sheets would think he’s going to marry her.  So he enlists the help of a matchmaker who basically starts an episode of The Bachelor.  It ended up being a good book.  4.25 out of 5 (releases 1/3/11)

Next up was Two is Twice as Nice by Emily Cale – another book for The Book Binge.  This one didn’t really work for me.  The woman meets a great guy.  She’s hesitant to start anything because she’s been scarred inside and out by an auto accident and her fiance dumping her.  He gets past her defenses though and it seems pretty good.  Then the man introduces her to his twin brother who she had had sex with already, unknowingly.  Her acceptance of the whole sitch just turned me off. 2 out of 5

Next was Kindling Fire with Snow by Kate McMurray.  This was the story of two men who were in love with each other when they were in high school and meet up again.  Due to a snow storm they stay together in one of the men’s apartments and the time they spend together help them see they belong together.  It was a really great book and one I’d recommend.  4 out of 5

Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart was next.  This was an intense book about a woman who is carjacked and when she has the opportunity to escape she doesn’t take it and allows herself to be kidnapped.  It was a really great book with Hart’s typical wonderful writing.  You can read my review here.  4.5 out of 5

Next was My Fair Succubi by Jill Myles.  This is book 3 in the Succubus Diaries and it’s a good one!  All the same players are in it, Jackie, Noah, uber-hottie Zane (love him!), Remy and a few other newer players as well.  Jackie is trying to save her friend Remy from being possessed while trying to help the angels and keep her love life from falling apart.  It’s crazy but it’s good!  I read this one for The Book Binge as well so I’ll keep you posted on the review. 4.25 out of 5 

I won Tooth and Nail by Mary Calmes from Stumbling Over Chaos (and I didn’t even have to provide sexual favors for Randy to win!).  This is book 2 in Calmes’s Warder series.  I didn’t read book 1, His Hearth, but didn’t feel like I was missing anything but not having read it.  Malic is a warder (demon hunter/fighter) but is taking unnecessary risks. His sentinel, the man in charge of him and he thinks that Malic wouldn’t take such risks if he found his Hearth, the one man or woman who holds his heart and he won’t hurt. You see when he has sex with someone they age. Yes, they eventually return to normal and feel like they’ve had a horrible flu but his hearth won’t be like that.  Malic, who’s 30, meets Dylan, who’s 19 and though Malic is very attracted to him he won’t do anything about it because Dylan is too young.  But Dylan isn’t about to give up on the man he immediately thought of as “his” when he first saw him.  A really great book that I just was a joy to read.  4 out of 5

Last up was Must Love Kilts by Allie Mackay.  Yet another book I read for The Book Binge – can you tell I’m trying to catch myself up again? lol  This was about a woman who loved Scotland and then got to time-travel to there only she lands in the 13th century. It was a good book but the romance wasn’t all that great, imho.  The cover of this one – I love. Big strapping kilted Scottish hottie?  Lemme at him! 3.5 out of 5 (releases 1/4/11)

My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
crickets chirping lol

Happy Reading!!

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Guest Review: Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles

Posted September 1, 2010 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Paranormal Romance


Judith’s review of Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles.

With a hot new figure, her dream job as an archeaologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive itch–an angel and a vampire–Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus. Then she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great–she’s cursed. After striking a deal to get the curse lifted by a crafty demon, Jackie and her best friend Remy take a road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation’s oldest succubus. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is talking to her right now, and due to the curse, she’s desperate to get her itch scratched more often than ever. Their journey gets weirder with every mile–demonic possession, a charming stalker, a cryptic warning–and when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead–again. Can a brainy vixen in a miniskirt outsmart the forces of evil?

Jill Myles is at it again! Funny, zaney, brainy, and mouthy Jackie Brighton is again in trouble, but this time she has no idea how she has been cursed or why or by whom. All she knows is that a low-level demon affirms her cursed state and directs her to a succubus/voodoo priestess in New Orleans on the condition that she give Delilah a message. but inexperienced and naive Jackie doesn’t know that there is always a hidden catch with a demon. Add to her troubles, her two lovers are jealous of her involvement with them both, even though they had agreed originally that they could tolerate each other in Jackie’s life. It would seem that tolerant spirit is gone. Noah refuses to have anything more to do with her as long as Zane is in her life. Zane agrees to travel with her and Remy to New Orleans until he finds out that she is cursed and then he abandons her. Now Remy is also possessed with the spirit of the original fallen angel Joachim, so now Jackie is on her own, dealing with Remy/Joachim, being sought in the murder of Remy’s companion, seduced by a stalker, and so it goes with new challenges and dangers along the way.

Ms Myles has passed a critical test for writers: writing a second novel that maintains the energy and integrity of the first novel. Jackie’s hilarious adventures just never grow old because there are always new twists, new challenges, new people and beings that complicate her life. The plot is very creative and the story line progresses so well. Character development is quite astute–I think it is hard enough to write about humans much less concoct these characters out of snipets of history and legend.

I hope that fantasy/paranormal/romance fans will welcome this novel and enjoy it as much as I did. It will be well worth the time and effort to read. I give this novel a rating of 4.75 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket Star. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.

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