Synopsis

There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit. Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra--near desperation and maybe a little tipsy--gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.

Knitting in the City Series

About the Author

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SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read 

• Open to a random page 

• Share two (2) or a few more “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

• Be careful not the include spoilers!

This my 50th Teaser Tuesday and I just want to share with you how much fun I have with this meme! I've come across some great new books, discovered some interesting blogs and made new friends by joining in the Teaser Tuesday book meme!

Today's teaser comes from Love Irresistibly by Julies James. It's the fourth book in her FBI/US Attorney romantic suspense series. The next book, It Happened One Wedding, is coming out in May 2014.

Because to get in with a woman like Brooke, he would need to let her in, too. And that was something her ... just didn't do. Wasn't sure he knew how to do, even if he wanted to.

A former football star and one of Chicago’s top prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator, which means he needs Brooke Parker’s help. As general counsel for a restaurant company, she can get a bug to the senator’s table at one of her five-star restaurants so the FBI can eavesdrop on him. All Cade has to do is convince Brooke to cooperate—and he’s not afraid to use a little charm, or the power of his office, to do just that.

A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke is determined to keep things casual. Cade agrees—until a surprising turn of events throws his life into turmoil, and he realizes that he wants more than just a good time from the one woman with whom he could fall terrifyingly, irresistibly in love . . .

Synopsis

I will be continuing with this series, trying to read a book or two of them a month. I've already finished the next one, Visions of Heat, which I loved even more, and I'll be posting my mini review soon.

In the meantime, Ms Singh just released a novella in this series, Whisper of Sin, which features Lucas' human assistant Ria and the leopard soldier Emmett. 

Title: Dash of Peril (Love Undercover #4) 

Author: Lori Foster
Date of publication: 25 March 2014
Genre: Romantic suspense

Author's links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 4 stars

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster... 

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6'4" of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

Review 

This is my first book by Lori Foster and I really enjoyed it. It's the fourth book in the Love Undercover series and tells the story of Lieutenant Margaret Peterson and Dashiel Riske who is Logan's (Run the Risk) brother. The book can be read as a standalone as it focuses on the new couple though most of the characters from the previous books have significant roles here as well. 

The story has a strong suspense element which at times overtakes the romance completely. It worked well for me since it gave more background to the relationship between Dash and Margo. It showed their story as part of the bigger picture which is nice since often in romance novels the whole focus is on the couple and the characters are presented as living in their own bubble, detached from everybody and everything else. I'm really glad this was not the case here and we got much more than the love story of two complex and intriguing people.

The novel explores the journey of Margo to finding and accepting love in her life. She undergoes a gradual transition from the cold-hearted professional police officer everybody sees in her to embracing her softer feminine side. She had tried to hide it believing it was wrong to show weakness and the need for care and love. It was Dash's gentle, yet persistent loving and caring and supporting that made her feel comfortable enough with it to let herself show it more often.

Dash was the perfect man - caring and considerate, yet sure of himself, confident and determined in his desires. He knew from the start what his feelings for Margo were and what she needed from him. He was very open about his feeling and went after what he wanted with singular focus and determination. In a way he was just too perfect - always knew and did the right thing, never experienced any doubt and uncertainty. As attractive confidence was,  real people have their weak moments, they experience insecurities and indecision and he lacked any of it. 

For all her faults Margo felt so much more real. Her struggles with her desire, self-image, family expectations and upbringing were very realistic and they were convincingly portrayed. She was a complex character with strengths and weakness. She made mistakes but she had the strength to try and change things. Margo's family background and her professional standing made it difficult for her to find happiness or to be herself in her personal life.

I liked how patient Dash was with her. I loved that he respected her professionalism, and admired  her for it. She was feminine and gentle with him but she was strong and commanding as a lieutenant.

My main concern with this book was the Dom/sub element thrown in the story. It felt just like the words were spoken but the actions of the characters didn't really back them up. Both Margo and Dash enjoyed taking control and giving it up in their relationship. She liked to let him lead in the bedroom and he enjoyed being in control there. At times though, it was her who took the initiative and he relished all control to her.

The suspense/crime plot line was also well developed though it was a bit predictable. It was focused on the issue of violence against women and how it affects them. The supporting characters, Cannon and Yvette's family had a strong role there. 

I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to readers who enjoy romantic suspense with strong complex characters. I hope that the next book will be about Cannon, whom I grew to like a lot and I'd love to read his story. 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read 

• Open to a random page 

• Share two (2) or a few more “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

• Be careful not the include spoilers!

Today's teaser comes from Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance by Penny Reid. It's her third book in the Knitting in the City series - smart and funny contemporary romances with unique/awkward/good weird characters written with a lot of ingenuity and humour. You can read my 50-star review of the book here.

I have highlighted so many passages on Kindle that it was extremely difficult to choose just two sentences for this post and finally I decided to go with the most intriguing ones, so here we go:

In that moment I was absolutely certain of one thing. Alex did not disdain social norms. rather, it was simply that, on some fundamental level, he did not know how to behave.

Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance

Synopsis

There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra--near desperation and maybe a little tipsy--gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.