Havoc Retreat is an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud story about two people put to the test by the outdoors. I loved the unexpected problems that kept coming between them and a good camping trip. Katie and Matthew are realistic characters with a fun, loving approach to dealing with the situations they are faced with. They click well together and the sexual side of the story is nicely woven in. This is a good story for someone looking for a light, entertaining read.

The Executioner by Maggie Nash
Madeleine Smith is invited to participate in a team building exercise at the request of her new employer. She is given few details and not allowed to know where the remote location is. Nicholas Garabaldi is Madeleine's former lover who hopes to win her back. To do this, he goes to great lengths to have her hired into the company he owns and arranges the team building exercise in hopes of having a second chance to prove he loves her. When team members start dying, Nicolas and Madeleine must put their trust to the test and hope they can find out who or what is killing off people in the group.

The Executioner is a heart thumping good read! Madeleine and Nicholas have great chemistry and it is felt from the moment they are back together. The paranormal aspect keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending is a twist that most won't see coming. I would recommend this story to anyone looking for an enjoyable, edgy read. It makes me want to know Madeleine and Nicholas's story from the beginning!

Hooked by Sarah Dickson
Madeline is a shape-shifter who would love to find someone who will accept her for what she is. Instead, she settles on one night stands to satisfy the humanly sexual side of her. Luke is on a diving trip trying to come to terms with a failed relationship. When they meet sparks fly, but they are both hesitant to hope for anything more. Madeline fears revealing her true self to Luke since all other men fled with fear once they knew the truth about her. When Luke finds out about Madeline's true nature will he be willing to accept her for what she is or will he leave her with a broken heart?

Hooked really does pull you in. You feel sympathy for Madeline and her inability to find true love. Luke is carrying around a scarred heart and it shows. When these two characters meet you feel the attraction right down to your toes! At the same time you can't help but understand the hesitation on both their parts to go further with the relationship. The draw of this story is seeing how Madeline and Luke reveal themselves to each other. Personally, I would love to read more about these two!

Visiting Paradise by Jessica Dee
Beth Brown is a burnt out, single legal secretary who has won a sailing vacation compliments of the firm she works for. She has hidden an attraction to one of the partners, Joe Connor, for a long time, choosing to focus on her career and home life instead. Unbeknownst to her, Joe has fallen in love with Beth and is the one taking her on the trip. In order for this relationship to work, both must be willing to reveal secrets about themselves that may make the other hesitant to jump in all the way. Will love prevail or will this trip to paradise end up in trouble?

Visiting Paradise is an enjoyable read. Beth and Joe are full of secrets about their past that threaten to destroy the possibility of happily ever after for them. Trust and love are a major theme in this story. The determination of both characters to go after what they want is felt strongly. I couldn't help wanting love to prevail and all to be right in Beth and Joe's world. Ms. Dee writes a story that leaves one with a happy, light feeling.

Operation Seduction by Angela Verdenius
Nurse Reg and medic Digby are United Air Medics who provide a valuable service to the people in the outback. They go to cities to administer medical help to those who can't reach it. One this voyage, Reg and Digby dig up old hurts and end up challenging each other to a game of seduction. Digby has one week to prove to Reg that she is the woman for him, curves and all. The all-out private war between the two heats up as the week goes on, but will it be enough to convince Reg that Digby is the man for her?

Operation Seduction is one sizzling story! The characters, Digby and Reg, are great together and turn a medical transport ship into a sexual playground. The past comes alive as Digby and Reg confront each other about hurt left over from their teenage years. I liked the fact that Reg is a realistically sized woman and Digby is a man who appreciates that. His entire acceptance of Reg and her hang-ups about her body are refreshing to read about. Ms. Verdenius pens a realistic story with plenty of sexual tension and love between the characters.

Boys Down Under is a well written, enjoyable anthology about love presented in five moving stories. From the great outdoors, eerie remote locations, a shape-shifting woman, a boat on it's way to paradise and the skies filled with hot seduction, this book is full of believable characters that make for a satisfying read. I would highly recommend it!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Tj
May 9, 2007