Book ~ "Hidden Away" (2011) Maya Banks

From MayaBanks.com ~ Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it … and the ultimate moving target. But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life.

I'd read the first book in this series (this is the third one) in July and liked it.

This one focuses on Garrett and the mission he takes on ... to get close to Sarah so he can get to her brother, Marcus,who is wanted by the CIA and had shot Garrett and killed two of his men six years ago. But what Garrett hadn't counted on was falling for Sarah.

There's lots of action and violence in this book. But like The Darkest Hour, it turns into a sappy romance at times, especially at the end.

I enjoyed it and it should be interesting to see what stories will be written about the remaining three brothers.

Book ~ "Billionaire's Contract Engagement" (2010) Maya Banks

From Amazon ~ He'd wanted her for six months. And the opportunity had finally arrived to make Celia Taylor his--at least temporarily. Billionaire businessman Evan Reese knew she was desperate to get him to sign with Maddox Communications. Perhaps he would. But first Celia needed to accompany him to beautiful Catalina for a family wedding. There he would wine, dine and seduce the stunning ad executive ... for he knew she desired him, as well. Yet would she still want him when Evan told her she'd be playing the role of his fake fiancée?

This is the fourth book by this author I've read in the last couple weeks ... I'd downloaded them from the library. These last three have been fast reads.

For a Silhouette Romance, this wasn't too bad. The hero was rich and arrogant but he wasn't an overbearing A-hole. And given the nature of the book, it all happened in about a week or so, of course..

The story was plausible. The characters were likeable. And we ended up with a happy ending.

It seemed like there was one loose end left, though. Someone leaked info towards the end but we never find out who. It causes a lot of problems but the story ended without finding out who it was. Plus I thought one of our heroine's co-workers acted suspicious but no one seemed to pay any attention to them so I guess I'm wrong. Maybe that person was the one who leaked info? Maybe not?

Book ~ "Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress" (2009) Maya Banks

From Amazon ~ Greek hotel magnate Chrysander Anetakis's former mistress was pregnant? And had amnesia? That meant Marley Jameson didn’t remember betraying him by selling company secrets. Or that he’d thrown her out of his life. So he told her a little white lie: they were engaged. Then he swept her away to his Greek island to await the birth of his baby and enjoy her sudden devotion ... before tossing her out.

But he didn’t count on Marley regaining her memory so soon.

This is the first book in the "Tycoon" series with the Anetakis brothers ... this one is about the oldest brother, Chrysander. I'd read the one focusing on Theron yesterday (they are quick reads) and thought it was pretty dumb. But I'd already downloaded this one from the library so thought I'd give it a shot.

It's not a great book but I enjoyed it more than the first one and the author seemed to be more in touch with reality.

I know it's a Silhouette Romance but there were some flaws that I had to shake my head at:

• Marley was kidnapped for three months and no one even missed her (it's always convenient that most heroines are only children whose parents are dead). After she is found, Chysander waltzed into the hospital, announced that he was her fiancé and was able to take her home. Considering the kidnappers are still out there, you'd think someone would have used some diligence to ensure that Chysander was indeed her fiancé (he wasn't).
  
• Marley spent about a half hour online looking for info about Chrysander's and that's it. The first thing I would have done was Google my own name (that's all she can remember) and see what pops up to see who I was. Instead she took Chrysander's word about everything.
• They fly to from New York to Greece a couple times on a private jet but there doesn't seem to be any issue about going through security, passports, etc.
• When Chrysander discovered the "clue" that led him to believe Marley was selling company secrets, he threw her out five minutes later without even giving her a chance to explain. Who would want a guy like?!
• If you based your opinion of Greek men on this series, you'd think they are rich, arrogant, manipulative, cold A-holes who, once they realize they love you, become putty in your hand.
  
• I figured out "whodunnit" on page 2!
  

It is reminiscent of The Darkest Hour with its storyline of the heroine having amnesia and our hero lamenting on and on about what will happen when she gets her memory back.

I think the titles of this series are so lame ... The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress, The Tycoon's Rebel Bride, etc.

Book ~ "The Tycoon's Rebel Bride" (2009) Maya Banks

From Amazon ~ Tycoon Theron Anetakis had only one problem--and she just walked through his door. With his business takeover complete, he'd intended to arrange a marriage for himself to further secure his future. However ...

Little Isabella Caplan had blossomed into a voluptuous vixen with plans of her own and they didn't include letting the executor of her father's estate also arrange a marriage for her to another man! She had pined for Theron long enough. Now it was time to seduce her hotblooded hotel tycoon and bring him to one bended knee.

I'd read The Darkest Hour by Banks last week and enjoyed the writing style so I reserved some of her ebooks from the library.

One of my comments about The Darkest Hour was that at times it seemed to want to be a Harlequin Romance. This book is a Silhouette Romance ... same difference.

Our hero is Greek, in his mid 30s, living in New York City and about to take a docile bland Greek wife so he can complete his life and have children. Our heroine has loved our hero for ten years, since she was about 14. She has one goal and that is to marry our hero.

I found the story very naive. In this day and age, it was hard for me to believe that Bella, who has tons of money and was getting educated in California, has carried a torch all these years for Theron, even though the last time she saw him she had braces and he barely remembers her. Plus she had been saving herself for him ... and then gave it up after a week to him. Of course, Theron, is tormented by his thoughts of her as he is trying to find her a husband (cuz that's what custodians do in the 21st century!!!!!!). And how archaic is it of him to "do the right thing" and want to marry her just because he has taken her virginity and didn't use protection?

There's a weird side story of Bella's friend, Sadie, who works in the strip club. Why? I dunno.

So I can't say I'd recommend this book. It was really dumb and not with the times.

Book ~ "The Darkest Hour" (2010) Maya Banks

From MayaBanks.com ~ It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone. His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he's built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond … until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive. To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

I found this book to be a weird combination of an action thriller and a Harlequin Romance. It's like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be so it went with both. And the cover tends to think it's a Harlequin Romance.

The beginning of the book deals with Ethan discovering his wife is not actually dead but held captive in South America. He and his brothers (who coincidentally do missions like this for a living) go in and rescue her with guns blasting. There's blood and some tense moments but they make it home with Rachel safely. Sounds like an action thriller, right?

Rachel has lost most of her memories so the middle of the book deals with Rachel falling back in love with Ethan and his family helping Rachel heal. During this, Ethan is concerned that Rachel will learn his secret and leave him ... he dwells on this a lot (seriously, a lot!!). Sounds like a Harlequin Romance, right?

Then it's back to the action thriller again as the book winds up and we find out why Rachel was held captive, "whodunnit", etc. It's gory in parts which, to me, contrasts with the lovey-dovey middle.

I've never read any of Banks' books before (never heard of her) and I enjoyed it. This is apparently the first in a series featuring the Kelly brothers. I liked the writing style and found that it was fairly fast-paced and I was buying the story. The characters were likeable, though I don't see the point in having Rusty (a teenager Ethan's mom takes in) in the story as her character isn't very well developed. Her actions set off the chain of events that lead to the ending but this could have been accomplished otherwise.

I'll check out other books by this author.