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Gracie

Gracie

My name is Gracie C. McKeever and I'm a multi-published, cross-genre erotic romance author from the Bronx. Aside from several side trips along the way I've lived and worked my entire life in the New York City area (currently two train stops away from the famed house that Ruth built...Go Yankees!). I've been writing since the ripe old age of...more »
  • Bronx, NY, USA
  • member since Tuesday, July 17 2007

Profile: Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 209 reviews
  • Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)
    • Rated 5 stars

    “(c) August 2008 Gracie C. McKeever

    Where to begin, where to begin? There is so much pain and strife and angst in Acheron's life from an early age that I feel incapable of encapsulating the 700+ pages of this book in several paragraphs of a review, but here goes.

    Acheron is saved from his father, Archon's death sentence by his determined mother, the Goddess Apollymi. However, her solution to keep her beloved unborn son safe from his father is a temporary solution and destined to fail.

    From the moment of his birth to a Greek Queen, Acheron--first born son and older twin of Styxx--is cursed to live a life of degradation, humiliation, and untold emotional and physical torture.

    Scorned by his entire family, all except his tender-hearted older sister Ryssa, Acheron is sent away at seven to live in Atlantis with his Uncle Estes.

    For years he communicates with letters to his sister telling her that he is well before the letters suddenly stop. Ryssa, however, one day receives a mysterious letter from an anonymous source in Estes household. Driven to find out exactly what is going on with her brother, she ventures to the house of her uncle with a servant and bodyguard. What she does when she discovers the life her little brother has been leading will set the course of not only Acheron's life, but that of mankind for centuries to come.

    Flash-foward eleven thousand years to present day America where Acheron attends a lecture helmed by one Soteria "Tory" Kafieri, determined to discredit the young professor for her theories on the existence of Atlantis. It seems that Tory has discovered one of Ryssa's diaries, and if the information about Acheron's early life is ever revealed, his life and reputation as he knows it will be ruined.

    Of course Tory and Ash butt heads from the very beginning with Ash humiliating the young professor in front of her colleagues and making her a laughingstock of the historical community much as her father and uncle were made laughingstocks. Tory wants to prove that her father and uncle were not fruitcakes and is determined to prove her and their theories about Atlantis, even if she has to go through a 6"8, gorgeous Goth ass-hole to do it.

    Acheron is the ultimate larger-than-life, tortured hero, his life as a young man in the human realm before his rebirth as a god so fraught with abuse, conflict and sadness that he is easily a sympathetic and universal character the reader can identify with for the course of the book. His relationships with his siblings, parents and later his lover the goddess Artemis are so emotionally wrenching, revealing and graphic that the reader is left breathless and wondering at the end of every chapter what the human realm can do to Acheron next before he finally breaks for good.

    Tory for all her daring and independence does not at first seem nearly woman enough to handle a man with the history that Acheron has. She, however, grows on the reader (as she grows on Acheron), gradually turning out to be the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, adorably clumsy and nervous, but hard as nails when she needs to be. Her loyalty and passion prove more than enough to override her innocence and inexperience. But the most important thing of all is her unbridled non-judgmental acceptance of Ash once she discovers the painful secrets of his past. That alone, makes her the perfect match for Acheron.

    I loved the scenes with Tory and Ash, especially when they finally consummated their relationship (the scene where he gets drunk off of Sprite is hilarious!). Kenyon's trademark sarcasm and humor is still here, present more in the second half of the book than the first half, and all your favorite characters from previous Dark Hunter books make appearances throughout the second half (yes, including the LOL and irrepressible Simi).

    By comparison the second half of the book where Tory and Ash meet doesn't seem nearly long enough. But since they had instant chemistry and their relationship is entertaining and intense, I don't believe it suffered from any lack of quality.

    Ultimately, this is Ash's book and the early story of his life, as dark and brutal is it was, lays the foundation for a revealing and bird's-eye view into a perpetual enigma's life and the undying love of a mother willing to move heaven and earth to protect and save her son.

    For me, this was definitely worth the wait!”

    Gracie wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • My Booty Novel
    • Rated 3 stars

    “(c) August 2008 Gracie C. McKeever


    Damien Rene Cross is a sci-fi writer who has just returned from a disastrous book-signing tour only to be dumped by his fiancee and girlfriend of seven years. His best and long-time friend, a moderately successful jazz musician and a lady's man, Kevin, adivses Damien to write a booty novel--basically to sell out. What's a self-respecting, blocked writer to do?

    If you're one Damien Cross you slowly but surely get back on the dating and relationship horse, reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones while your cousin and friends play matchmaker and you try to finish your second novel.

    Damien is a colorful and compelling character, simultaneously exasperating and sympathetic as the reader gradually gets beneath the surface of his twisted sense of humor, irreverence and non-chalant facade to learn he has some serious and painful demons in his past, much more emotionally damaging and serious than a fiancee who has left him with a case of clap and his self-esteem battered almost beyond repair.

    Though Campbell had a tendency to go off on tangents that I didn't always find that interesting (I have to admit I skipped over these parts to get back to the meat-and-potatoes story and characters, especially in the first part of the book), for the most part the story was absorbing, humorous and entertaining. Campbell has a gift for fresh and snappy dialogue and seemed to hit his stride with a sharper, focused and smooth-flowing narrative in the second half of the book.

    Overall, I enjoyed My Booty Novel. The main and secondary characters were charmingly flawed, quirky, multi-dimensional and full of depth, all the driving forces behind this mainstream read full of the minefields and controversies of trying to navigate through contemporary relationships and the modern dating world.

    For a romance fan like myself, the ending was especially satisfactory and sweet without being too sappy and unrealistic.”

    Gracie wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Skintight (MIRA)
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Jax Gallagher has made an amateur's mistake and wagered away a valuable baseball in a poker game. Problem is, the ball does not belong to him but to his father's widow.
    Jax has a plan to get the ball and it involves a lot of charm and a lot of lying.


    Treena McCall is a showgirl with dreams of opening up her own dance studio once her career as a Las Vegas showgirl/dancer is through. The baseball in her possession could easily pay for the downpayment on a studio with plenty to spare, but Treena cannot bear to part with it for it was meant for her husband's son. And no matter how no-good Treena thinks the stepson she has yet to meet is, she wants to abide by her dead husband's wishes.


    Jax's plans soon go awry when he meets and gradually falls into the very beautiful showgirl's good graces and discovers that she is not the selfish and gold-digging younger wife that he had Treena originally pegged for. Now his heart is involved and he doesn't know how to come clean to Treena before his time runs out and his debtor comes to collect what belongs to him.


    Jax and Treena make a great, combustible couple, their love scenes off-the-chart sizzling and flowing.


    Andersen's narrative is smooth and fast-paced with natural, witty dialogue and great characterizations--both main and secondary (there's an engaging subplot and romance involving two of Treena's older neighbors--Mack and Ellen--that I really enjoyed following).


    This was an old-fashioned, boy-meets-girl contemporary romance that was well-written and rose above the cliches.


    I look forward to reading the sequel with Carly and Wolfgang.”

    Gracie wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Jacob (The Nightwalkers, Book 1)
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Jacob is an Enforcer of his race, and has the unenviable duty to protect humans from his kind when moon madness takes their minds and turns them into the worst kind of demon imaginable--a mindless, hungry beast in search of just one thing.


    Isabella is an unassuming librarian living an unassuming life in the Bronx and who has an uncanny affinity for the moon. She takes a tumble out of her fifth-floor apartment window and is miraculously caught by Jacob before she can fall to her death. From here the pair are thrust into an adventure and nightmare that neither will soon wake up from. But along the road of self-discovery and danger, there is also love for the Enforcer and his tiny human and an ancient Prophecy to be fulfilled.


    I love the world-building in this and the complex, intricate culture that Frank has built for her Nightwalkers. Isabella and Jacob are an engaging couple with a wonderful rapport and sizzling chemstry that lends itself to even more sizzling, sensual love scenes.


    This is an excellent book to kick off a series I am looking forward to following. ”

    Gracie wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Once Upon A Project
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Elyse, Susan and Grace are all succesful women nearing their fifties when an invitation for a special reunion comes in the mail.




    Elyse is happily married to an older man with two children in college and a home in the pricey suburbs of Chicago. She wants to enjoy her twilight years spending time with and going out with her husband, but Franklin comes up with excuses at the last minut to get out of going anywhere with Elyse. She starts to take it personally untl she discovers the real reason behind Franklin's rejections and realizes she--and her husband--are in for the fight of their lives.




    Susan is a breast cancer survivor who has kept the secret of her disease from everyone but immediate family. Her husband has not come to terms with the consequent, physical changes of her body and Susan is unloved and is desperately unhappy. She knows Bruce is cheating on her, but doesn't know what to do about it. When the invitation comes along and reunites her with an old flame, she begins to believe that her life is not over and there is still hope for love and romance.




    Grace is twice married and divorced and is on the lookout for husband number three. Problem is she's finding it difficult to meet a successful Black man who meets all her exacting requirements and who isn't married. Her friend Pat has tried to match her with a judge who find her attractive, but Grace finds the judge too rotund for her and settles for the attentions of a younger man she reunites with at the Dreiser Project reunion.




    Pat, the organizer and brains behind the reunion has never been married and is lovelorn since allowing her parents to break up her engagement to her first and only love almost thirty years ago. None of her ensuing relationships has lasted more than a few weeks and Pat has pretty much given up on finding love until an old acquaintance from law school reconnects with her when his firm moves from L.A. to Chicago.




    Similar to Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale in that the protagonists are four women striving to find and keep love, Once Upon a Time is unique by virtue of the author's intersting perspectives and colorful way with words and drawing her characters. The women are all true-to-life, their trials and tribulations relatable and inspiring.




    This was a well-writeen story and a very enjoyable read.”

    Gracie wrote this review Tuesday, August 5 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)
    • Rated 5 stars

    “(c) July 2008 Gracie C. McKeever


    The saga continues with Phury son of Ahgony, twin brother of Zsadist as he tries to reconcile himself with the duty of being the race's savior and Primale all while also dealing with his own inner demons escaping in red smoke and avoiding his Chosen First Mate Cormia. The later is hard to do since he has taken Cormia into the Brotherhood's mansion under his protection and while he figures out what to do about their future, or even if they have one.

    Cormia is a babe in the woods, living away from Sanctuary and her Chosen Sisters for the first time in her life and being exposed to the colorful, violent and passionate world of the Brotherhood. She assimilates quickly, enjoying movies, M&M's and reality TV with her new "family", but most of all enjoying the sight and company of the Primale, Phury. To Cormia, Phury is a noble male worthy of his Primale position, a male she selfishly wants all to herself. But the very nature of his position as Primale dictates that she share him with all the Chosen as he tries to repopulate the dwindling Brotherhood ranks--something she neither wants to do nor feels herself capable, no matter how noble the sacrifice.

    As usual, there is a lot going on outside of the core romance and drama between the h/h of the story, and here we see three young warriors--John, Quinn and Blay--come into their own as they join the war between the vampires and the Lessening Society, and learn potential damaging secrets about each other. Also, as in previous books, there is lots of action, adventure, personal loss and tragedy as well as emotional struggles, reunions, devastating catastrophes, but most importantly, an evil is reborn that could spell the death of the entire vampire race if left unchecked.

    Wow, wow, wow! What else can I say that I haven't said about this series already except WOW and I LOVE it!

    Bring on Rehvenge's story!!!”

    Gracie wrote this review Sunday, July 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Kept Woman
    • Rated 5 stars

    “(c) 2008 Gracie C. McKeever


    This is a new-to-me author and I would happily read another of Donovan's books after reading this one.


    Jack Tolliver is an ex-pro football player who suffered a career ending injury and has turned to the only other acceptable livelihood for his rich family: politics. However, his skirt-chasing, bad-boy ways have gotten into his way to obtaining a position as a state senator for Indiana thus far. His friend and political advisor Kara DeMarinis comes up with the perfect plan to improve his image--rent him a fiance--and she has the perfect woman in mind.


    Samantha Monroe is a divorced mother of three whose husband deserted her and disappeared before their third child was born and after revealing that he is gay. Sam has it hard making ends meet on her hairstylist's salary, so it's a Godsend and a curse when friend and customer Kara approaches her with an offer she can't refuse.


    The device to get and keep the h/h together wasn't necessarily original, but Donovan's handling of it--humor, fast-pace narrative, realistic situations, and characterization--was excellent. Not to mention the h/h were sympathetic, down-to-earth, true-to-life and uniquely suited to each other with sizzling chemistry. The secondary characters were well-rounded, equally colorful and added great layers to the overall story.


    This is a contemporary romance I'd highly recommend!”

    Gracie wrote this review Tuesday, July 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Orientation
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Read my review at Paranormal Romance here: http://www.paranormalromance.org/reviews/review.php?id=28615 ”

    Gracie wrote this review Monday, July 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • A Date with the Other Side
    • Rated 3 stars

    “This one has the trademark engaging characterization and humor of all of Erin McCarthy's books, but didn't have the substance.




    An overall enjoyable read, however, with the typical opposites attract plot (small town, unglamorous tomboy ingenue heroine and ambitious city slicker hero who comes to love the small town life along with the heroine, with a few ghosts and paranormal sightings thrown in for good measure), and McCarthy's fast-paced narrative.”

    Gracie wrote this review Monday, July 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • CORPORATE SEDUCTION by Bridget Midway
    • Rated 5 stars

    “May Davenport is an intelligent and ambitious young sister in a job that is stifling her and working for a boss who doesn't appreciate her. She's recently gotten her degree in English and is eager to move up the corporate ladder so that she can better take care of her mother and sick grandmother. Things wouldn't be so bad if she could get a raise, but her boss won't even grant her this, lamenting that it's not the right time and things being tight at the company.




    Winston Biggers appreciates Maybelline more than she could ever know. He appreciates her so much that he's been having hot and sexy fantasies of taking her on his desk ever since she's been working for him. He doesn't want to lose her and rather than sending her college information to Human Resources when he receives it, he holds it back with the hopes of taking her with him when he moves up the corporate ladder.




    May needs extra money and she needs it yesterday. Her friend Princess gives her an option that May knows she should refuse but that is wildly appealing in its inappropriateness. Princess introduces May to Madame Z, proprietor of The Oh Club where Princess works as a dominatrix.




    May doesn't think she can do the things that she sees Princess do at the club to her subs, but Madame Z convinces her that she won't have to. May won't be asked to do anything outside of her comfort zone. The only thing Madame Z asks of her is to "own her sexuality", recognize her power and use them.




    Meanwhile, Winston is introduced to The Oh Club by a guy at his health club who recognizes a kindred spirit. Winston is in denial, but this doesn't stop him from visiting the club out of curiosity. When he gets a look at a masked dominatrix who viscerally reminds him of his sexy and strong assistant, Winston jumps on the chance to have her despite Madame Z telling him that she is new and inexperienced.




    Whether topping or bottoming May and Winston are absolutely explosive together, each bringing to the table a sense of vulnerability and strength that balances and rounds out the other.




    The BDSM scenes are emotionally and physically compelling, teaching both May and Winston things about themselves and each other's worlds that they never knew, bringing to light uncomfortable truths while letting them know that there's nothing wrong with loving the way they do.




    Seperately and together, Winston and May are engaging and multifaceted characters that drive a fast-paced and well-rounded story of desires denied and realized.




    Great story! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Corporate Desires!”

    Gracie wrote this review Tuesday, July 1 2008. ( reply | permalink )
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Displaying 1-10 of 209 reviews


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