Two New Concepts Publishing books.... QC #224

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Alicia Sparks, New Concept Publishing, 2006

The Gladiator by Marianne LaCroix, New Concept Publishing, 2007

Between a Rock and a Hard Place- Stacey Daniels's brother has loaned out the recording studio for the summer in the house where they live to up and coming country artist Shanon Gentry. Stacey doesn't like country but she'd recognize those blue eyes anywhere. Those same blue eyes that stared back at her from the CD case were also the same blue eyes of the cowboy she had a one night stand with in Nashville when her plane was delayed, 3 years ago. The attraction still burned. She remembered it was him and even though he remembered the night three years ago he didn't remember it was Stacey right away. Plus his manager thought an engagement to an actress was good publicity, so he found himself engaged to an actress he had never met and one he felt no attraction to. In each other they find kindred spirits, both seem lonely. Can The Porn Queen (she runs an amateur porn site, where couples submit tapes and she turns them into DVDs) and the country singer find their way to each other even though he is engaged and her career can't be good for his image?

Even for a shorter story, this story was wonderful. The story was hot and sexy with a storyline behind it. It wasn't just about the sex. But I felt that the story ended very abruptly.

Excellence Rating- Good+ ~ Steaminess Rating- Heat Wave

*******************************************************************************************

The Gladiator- After translating and reading aloud an old ancient Roman scroll, Julia Williamson is transported back in time, where her uncle is Julius Caesar. To a time where she has picked gladiator, Marcus Magunnus to pleasure her. What a strange twist of fate for him, the woman he has longed to be with for three years, the woman that had enslaved to the fate of a gladiator is now the one who he is summoned to pleasure. One night of passion and they could not deny their feelings for each other. But Julius Caesar was not pleased and plotted Marcus's death. Why did Julius Caesar hate Marcus so much? Could death and time keep these two lovers apart?

This was an incredible story. These two had such passion. And with so many things threatening to tear them apart, there still bloomed love. It always saddens me when I start reading a time travel book because I always think "How can these two have a HEA" Not only did I read a wonderful story but also got a nice history refresher.

Excellence Rating- Very Good ~ Steaminess Rating- Combustible

********************************************************************************************** 

Personal total- 110 ~ harl/sil- 87 ~ other- 23

Ratio of TBR/ new- Totals since Jan 1= 39/71 ~ June= 0/10

Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Challenge Blog
My Shelfari Page