Eileen Griffin

In the Raw by Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin is a wonderful first installment in their In the Kitchen miniseries. This first novel in the series introduces culinary students Ethan Martin and James "Jamie" Lassiter and the rather tumultuous beginning of their romance. It is a sweet, sexy and sometimes exasperating read, but the growth of the characters makes all of the frustration worthwhile.

Jamie and Ethan are locked in a fierce battle for a cooking scholarship but this does not lessen their attraction to one another. Ethan has the edge when it comes to regular cooking but baking is definitely not his forte. Jamie is good at both cooking and baking, but he does not have the creative flair that makes Ethan stand out from the other chefs-in-training. When Ethan reluctantly accepts Jamie's offer to help tutor him in baking, the two are quickly cooking up more than just éclairs but will their insecurities derail their fledgling romance?

Jamie and Ethan are from completely different backgrounds which is more of a problem for Ethan than Jamie. Ethan is working class and he is working hard to pay for not only his tuition, but his sister Claire's as well. He is used to taking care of others and he is proud of all that he has accomplished. He is confident of his cooking abilities, but he is also temperamental and a tad judgmental. But Ethan's biggest weaknesses are his stubbornness and his inability to ask for or accept help.

Since Jamie's family is wealthy, he does not have any financial worries. Unfortunately, his parents are very conservative, quite controlling and they have his future all mapped out for him. Jamie is under increasing pressure to abandon his degree, join the family business and settle down with a woman of their choosing. When Jamie is forced to admit his sexuality, his parents issue him an ultimatum but will Jamie follow his heart and his dreams?

In the Raw is a rollercoaster of emotions as Jamie and Ethan work through their respective baggage. They are quick to make assumptions about one another and lack of communication is one of their biggest obstacles. Ethan finds it easier to avoid problems than face them head on, but thankfully his sister Claire calls him on it. Ethan and Jamie's road to happily ever after takes a lot of detours and Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin throw yet another roadblock in their path with a cliffhanger-y ending that will leave readers very anxious for the next book in the In the Kitchen miniseries.… (lisätietoja)

This is a really cute story about a somewhat depressed geek, who was recently dumped, and an ER nurse, who has a rule about not dating patients after his ex came to the hospital to make a scene and out him to everyone. These two men have every reason to be hesitant, if not downright averse, to ever trying to date again yet when they meet, it is as if they don’t have a choice. They may both valiantly fight their attraction, but neither of them is very successful…

Chase is basically a nice guy but he is shy. He loves working at home as a web designer, and even though his friends try to get him out of his apartment to socialize, he successfully resists those attempts. All he wants is a quiet night in, but fate has other ideas. His elderly neighbor needs help, and when Chase falls of the rickety stepladder and hurts his wrist, he almost loses it. He shows remarkable control, I think, even after two and a half hours waiting for treatment in the ER and sending his neighbor home. The description of the treatment scene, including the nurses' banter, was really funny. And the nurse who finally treats him is too good-looking to resist.

Matt, said nurse, is exhausted after a double shift but somehow dealing with Chase is not so bad. He is very professional, to the point that Chase has no idea how interested Matt really is, but his actions after his shift has finally ended speak for themselves. I loved that he ends up breaking his own rule of seeing a patient! The resulting encounter with Chase, splinted wrist and all, is super hot!

If you like stories about hesitant men, if you enjoy reading abut geeks who finally manage to find the one for them, and if you're looking for a short, hot read with a high sweetness rating, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (lisätietoja)

This is a cat shifter story set in 2014, but within an alternate reality; there is some reference to awful pogroms in the past, with shifters being hunted almost to extinction, and how history is repeating itself now. It wasn't very clear to me exactly what or why this had happened, or who was really behind the new flareup of violence, but then again, when do these things ever make sense?

The story starts of fairly bleak with one of the main characters being hunted because he is a shifter and a member of the "wrong shifter clan". His group is on the losing end of the battle between two such clans fighting for supremacy, and Tanner has to run for his life if he doesn't want to get shot on sight. He ends up n a shelter of a safe territory, run by another shifter clan, but his nightmares keep haunting him and he needs more than the shelter can offer.

In come Bram and Ryder, a loving couple who have been together for eight years. The clan's queen asks them to take care of Tanner, and over a few weeks, they do their best. Although they have never considered adding a third to their relationship, apparently Tanner is enough of a temptation for them to change their minds. Some very hot menage activities prove just the thing to help Tanner adjust to his new life.

If you're looking for an entertaining story with a sense of adventure, a touch of other-worldliness, and some shifting activity, then you will probably like this free novella.… (lisätietoja)

Couples in trouble, worn down through too much stress and everyday worries, are not all that unusual. What they do about it ranges from trying to rescue the relationship in different ways to giving up and getting divorced. Of course much depends on how serious the problems are. Donovan and Nate are definitely in trouble, but there is no animosity. After five years together, and both having stressful jobs, they are more distant than they would like, and their sex life could use some sprucing up. Leave it to Donovan to come up with “the solution” for them—a weekend at a remote B&B. But not just any B&B. This one offers BDSM lessons.

Donovan definitely likes to be in control, and the few times he and Nate have experimented with rougher sex, Nate has liked being held down. So Donovan figures what the heck, and makes a reservation for them to learn more during a long weekend. It’s a good thing Nate loves and trusts him. Not many men would deal so well with having sprung “let’s learn more about D/s” on them.

Nate regrets not being as close to Donovan as he used to be, and he hates making decisions outside of his job. His students keep him on his toes when he is their teacher, but when it comes to the bedroom, Nate wants to let go. He definitely gets his wish, and as soon as they start experimenting, he decides he wants more.

If you like stories about men who are very much in love but want to add a little kink to their lives, if a “BDSM for Beginners” story sounds interesting, and if you’re looking for a very sexy read with some kinky fun and lots of loving, then you will probably like this novella. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the Cooper Mountain B&B!


NOTE: This book was provided by Evernight Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (lisätietoja)