REVIEW: "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn

Why this book?: I had the chance to review the first book in the series "Up a Dry Creek" and loved it! I jumped at the chance to review the second book as well. =)

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a review.

Type: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Series, "You're my little sisters best friend!", Steamy

About the book:  Dry Creek County Sheriff Hank Layton is the stuff of dreams. Nasty, steamy, delicious fantasies that leave Beth Martinez weak-kneed and desperately wanting the man she can never have.

Hank can’t stop thinking about Beth to the point where he’s afraid of becoming permanently bowlegged. And even though the sexual tension between them is thick enough to trip over, she runs every time he chases.

But when a mysterious developer forces her neighbors off their land, Beth becomes the one person standing between the scoundrel and millions of dollars. Only Hank can help her uncover the truth. Together they risk their lives exposing decades-old secrets and learn that everything is not as it seems in their rural Nebraska town.

My Review: "A Dry Creek Bed" is somewhere between a novella and a full novel. My question is - how does Avery Flynn manage to pack so much awesome into such a small(ish) space?! The second book in this series, I felt similar at the end of this one as I did at the end of the first, just wow-ed by how good it was. I really get into the characters, and I desperately hope they get their happy ending. Sure, I know they will.. but the odds just seem stacked so highly against them that for a while there, you believe maybe it isn't possible. And frankly, that's the sign of a truly good romance, especially romantic suspense.

Long-time readers of this blog will know my love of couples that have known each other forever, and that maybe in the past things didn't work out, but they still hold a candle for one another. "A Dry Creek Bed" really delivers a perfect example of this sort of relationship. Hank and Beth are practically like siblings - Hank's sister is Beth's best friend, but they have a spark that is just too hard for them to ignore. The story drew me in almost instantly, and it nearly killed me to put the book down and return to work when my break was over. Truly another excellent novel by author Avery Flynn!

Cover Lovin': Good cover. Not exactly how I pictured Hank.. but uh, this guy is definitely good looking, so I'm not complaining!

Recommendation: If you love your romance with a little (or a lot) of suspense, definitely check out the Dry Creek series by Avery Flynn. Reading book one, "Up A Dry Creek," is not required.. but it's so good you'll want to pick that one up too. Definitely an author to watch!

Final Rating: FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE (4.5/5). Another excellent book in the "Dry Creek" series by Avery Flynn. Desperately hoping for more.

Have you read "A Dry Creek Bed" or "Up A Dry Creek" by Avery Flynn? If so, tell me your thoughts in the comments! Want to get a copy? Get it from Amazon.com!

 

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda~!~

REVIEW: "Covet" by Felicity Heaton

Why this book?: I'm a fan of Felicity Heaton on Facebook, and she started talking about this one.. I knew it was going to be a scorcher! So I jumped at the chance to review it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Type: Erotic, Vampires, Series, Forbidden Love

About the Book: They've burned for each other for two years, the forbidden attraction between them growing each night. Now resisting the sinful desires of their hearts is becoming impossible.

Javier knows better than to succumb to his hunger for Lilah. The mortal female belongs to a powerful aristocrat patron of Vampirerotique, the theatre he runs with three other vampires. A single touch is all it would take to break the sacred law of his kind, sentencing himself to death, but his passion for her has become too fierce to ignore and he will risk everything to make Lilah his.

Lilah has fought her desire for Javier since arriving at his theatre as a servant but each glance he has stolen, his eyes promising pleasure that will satisfy her longing for him, has chipped away at her defences and she can no longer deny her need and her forbidden feelings for the powerful vampire male.

When they find themselves alone in a private box during one of the erotic performances, will they surrender to their passion and live out their wildest fantasies in a night of wicked pleasure or will the threat of Lilah's master keep them apart forever?

Adults only--highly erotic vampire romance novella, contains light bondage

Review: I decided to read on my lunch break, which isn't uncommon, and I just picked one of my review books at random. I'm not sure this was the best choice, for two reasons. One, I didn't want to put it down when it was time to return, and two.. it made going back to work pretty awkward. I knew this author wrote some steamy scenes, but I never guessed they would be so hot. Javier and Lilah got me worked up more than a time or two, that's for sure. I've read a fair amount of erotica in my day, and Felicity is definitely one of the better ones - excellent description, never over the top, and it certainly hits the spot.

There is something so sweet about the forbidden fruit - and Lilah is just that. "Covet" is a truly alluring example of the forbidden love story between a vampire and a human owned by another. The characters are very well written, and the story moves with a good pace. Having met the other owners of the Vampire Erotic Theatre, I absolutely cannot wait to read their stories. "Covet" is the start of an excellent new series for this author, and I eagerly anticipate being able to read more from her.

Cover Lovin': Oh my yes. Excellent cover. And it shows up so well on my Kindle, too!

Recommendation: This books is *very* erotic, so definitely for readers 18+! If you love your vampires on the steamy side, this is definitely for you!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Very good, erotic read. There was more than a few times I had to fan myself while reading about Javier and Lilah's uh.. activities.

Coming up in the series:
"Crave" - coming March 10, 2012
"Seduce" - coming June 23rd, 2012
"Enslave" - coming August 4th, 2012

Have you read "Covet" or any other book by Felicity Heaton? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! If not, pick up your copy from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~