Monday, December 5, 2016

ARC Review: Legend of Love

I'm really enjoying Lisa Kessler's The Muse Chronicles series. Check out my review of the second book below!

Title: Legend of Love
Series: The Muse Chronicles, #2
Author: Lisa Kessler
Publisher: Lisa's Lair
Release Date: December 5, 2016
Pages: 256
Buy Links: Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | BN | ARe

Blurb:

Callie O'Connor's life has never been the same since the Muse of Epic Poetry came alive inside of her. Now she's on the other side of the country, working as civilian psychologist for the Navy, and leading her Muse sisters in their quest to reopen the Theater of the Muses.

But nothing could have prepared her for Hunter Armstrong. He's a Navy SEAL, driven, confident, and dangerous. And he plans to do more than just protect her.

The gods couldn't have picked a better Guardian. But as Hunter soon discovers, Callie has some skeletons of her own in the closet, and loving her could lead to his destruction.
 


I had a book hungover days after I finished this book. 

Right from the very start, I was hooked. Hunter and Callie already had an epic banter, and it was literally not even ten pages in. This book was such a page turner. I loved the amount of action, romance, and depth in this book. There wasn't a dull moment at all.

Hunter was a great guy overall. He was noble, kind, and protective. I was really impressed when he used his Navy SEAL skills during some difficult times. I thought it was so hot; I could clearly picture him in my head, dripping from being in the water. *fans self*

Callie was headstrong and a bit misled by her own self. She had the biggest fear of hurting the people she most cared about, so she kept pushing Hunter away. I was glad to know that Hunter was totally into doing all the things that were considered a bad idea by saner people.

I loved the cameo of the main characters from the first book, Lure of Obsession. Being able to work together was cool, and a little foreshadowing of a future hero was awesome. I'm sure you'll figure it out when you read the book. 

That said, I highly recommend you pick up this book. It can stand alone, but of course, it's better to read in order. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

ARC Review: Tied to His Betrayal

You all probably know by now that I love Stacey Kennedy. So when the second book in her Dirty Little Secrets series became available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Check out my review below.

Title: Tied to His Betrayal
Series: Dirty Little Secrets, #2
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Pages: 229
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Kobo | Books-A-Million | Google Play

Blurb:

Darius Bennett can’t live without supreme control. A self-made billionaire, he’s rich enough to get anything—and any woman—he wants, yet he’s still haunted by a broken relationship. Five years ago, Darius let Taylor Erikson go because he knew he could never give her what she truly wanted: his heart. But the moment Taylor walks back into his life, bruised and beaten, Darius blames himself. To make good on his betrayal, he vows to help her heal—in and out of the sheets.
Once upon a time, Darius was Taylor’s world. Now his fierce embrace is exactly what she needs to get back on her feet. But Taylor pays a heavy price for her sizzling nights with Darius. As the emotional ties become stronger than ever and the paparazzi hunt her down for their next juicy story, Taylor must face some hard truths. They can’t go back. And to move forward, the key to loving Darius isn’t about keeping his secrets—it’s about exposing them.

Passionately hot, Stacey Kennedy hits it home again!

There was something about a powerful billionaire that was simply attractive. But what made Darius desirable was his habit to provide and to protect for those people he cared about. No matter that he thought it was his duty, the people who received his "help" probably took it as him being kind and generous.

One flaw that Darius had was that I thought he was self-centered. He thought the world revolved around him and whatever conflict other people had must have been because they were associated with him. Sometimes I wanted to smack some sense into him.

Darius loves lace; he always has. Lace belongs on your body, he once told me. He steps behind me and tightens the mask around my face, and I realize I can still see quite a bit. And that's when I know the lace is for him--his kink--not to hinder my eyesight.

On the other hand, Taylor somehow ended up worse than when she was with Darius. You see, Darius being the protector that he was, broke Taylor's heart thinking she was better off without him. Well then, she ended up in worse situations. Thanks, Darius. One thing I loved about Taylor, however, was her drive. No matter how bad things got, she was logical and didn't let her emotions get the best of her. She also saw the best in people, even when the same people would hurt her in return. Last thing I loved about Taylor was her love of books. A woman after my own heart!

Together, these two broken pieces became whole when they finally accepted that they belonged with each other. But of course, it didn't come without challenges. There was a mole among them, and I couldn't wait to read the next one in hopes that they'd finally find the culprit.

Before I spoil this book, I would end this review and implore you to buy this book. You would most definitely not regret it. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

ARC Review: Necessary Evil

The first time I read a Jamie K. Schmidt book, I was scorched. When an opportunity presented itself to read another book from this author, I took the chance. Check out my review below.

Title: Necessary Evil
Series: Sentinels of Babylon, #1
Author: Jamie K. Schmidt
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Pages: 234
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:

Lucy Simmons comes from a rough family, but she’s a damn good public defender. Even though she hates to see criminals walk due to sloppy police work, the law’s there to make sure everyone gets a fair trial, and Lucy certainly doesn’t believe in the kind of justice meted out by the leather-clad ex-cop they call “Evil.” He’s stubborn, cynical, and out of control—but he plays her body like no man ever has. For once, both Lucy’s boss and her brother agree: The biker is trouble.
 
Evan Villiers took a sacred vow to let no killer, rapist, or pedophile go unpunished. When scumbags fall through the system, the Sentinels of Babylon clean up the garbage. Although the SOBs and their methods may not be to Lucy’s liking, the beautiful lawyer has become Evan’s light in the dark. But his next hit is Lucy’s own brother—a murderer who got off on a technicality. Now, with his loyalties split, Evan must turn his back on his sworn duties . . . or lose the woman who has claimed his reckless heart.


Desperate passion met justice served. 

This book had so many facets and I enjoyed all of them. For some reason, this book seemed a bit long, but I think that was only because the characters and their stories were really well-developed. The author did an amazing job crafting a story and still making the book a reasonable length. The sexy scenes were also scorching but not excessive. 

Evan "Evil" Villiers was a retired cop who became someone who dealt justice when the system couldn't provide it. He had three friends and I honestly loved the way their characters were molded in this story. I couldn't wait to read the rest of the series to see what happened with the rest of the characters.

He looked like a hot fudge sin sundae with a cherry on top.

But first, it was Evil's turn and he needed to make Lucy his own. He was quite possessive in an alpha kind of way that he preferred to show Lucy he cared for her in his actions rather than in words. He skirted around facts whether it had something to do with possibly killing people or how he truly felt about Lucy.

"I am a man. You are my woman. Nothing hurts what's mine."

Of course, something had to be said about the dirty talk in this book. It was always welcome in my book. The chemistry between them was so hot and always desperate to explode.

If you're looking for an intense read with a lot of action whether on the streets or in the bedroom, I'd highly recommend you check out this book. You won't regret it.


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

ARC Review: Pull Me Close

I've enjoyed every single Sidney Halston book I've read so far, so when I saw she had a new release up for review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. Check out my review below!

Title: Pull Me Close
Series: Panic, #1
Author: Sidney Halston
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Pages: 247
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Kobo

Blurb:

Welcome to Panic, a sultry Miami nightclub where bodies and hearts move to a beat that doesn’t stop at sunrise—the setting for “a magnificent story full of deep emotion” (Sawyer Bennett).
 
Katherine: I thought I could enjoy a night out like a normal person. I thought I could handle the flashing lights, the pulsing music, the crowded dance floor. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After having an anxiety attack and passing out during my sister’s engagement party at Panic, I wake up in the arms of the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Nick Moreno’s no gentleman. But he might just be the man I need to help me take control of my life.
 
Nick: When I hear there’s some random girl passed out in the back room of my family’s South Beach nightclub, I’m pissed. My dad’s already behind bars and we can’t afford any more bad press. But after giving her a lift—literally—back to her apartment, I stop seeing Katherine Wilson as some random girl. She’s gorgeous, vulnerable, and braver than she knows. And when we kiss, all I want to do is pull her close and promise that she’ll always be safe in my arms.


Emotionally charged from beginning to end!

This book literally started with a panic...attack. Right then, I knew this book was something I would love. Nico was such a jerk in the beginning that I wanted to smack him a hundred times over. He had a bad experience with drugs, and so he assumed everyone acting strange were high on some sort of illegal substance. 

Poor Katherine was just another junkie to Nico. I wanted to yell at him that she wasn't high. I empathized with her throughout the whole book...because I knew just what it was like to have anxiety. I might not have panic attacks like Katherine, but anxiety attacks could be just as exhausting. I knew what it was like to be afraid and to feel so weak because of a mental illness.

Katherine was such an admirable character because she fought for a life she used to have, where she went out with friends and had fun instead of holing up in her apartment in fear of dying if she left the safety of her home. Nico was a jerk, but when he opened his eyes, he was able to understand and even became supportive...up to a certain point. This book wouldn't be so interesting if there wasn't any conflict ;) I would say, however, that I was fangirling for most of the book, totally in love with the characters. And then, towards the end, I was literally crying for a while...

I was so thankful that the author wrote this book and I hope it would somehow educate people that anxiety and other mental disorders were not something people chose to have, just like cancer or any other disease. 

Anyway, I loved the irony that the club Nico co-owned with his brother Matt was named Panic. By the way, Matt was such a lovely character! He was so fun to read. Now I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Pull Me Close is a must-read, but be forewarned that this book was so emotional and might affect empaths more than others.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

ARC Review: Cowboy Karma

I've met Mia Hopkins a few times, but this would be my first time reading one of her books. Check out my thoughts below!

Title: Cowboy Karma
Series: Cowboy Cocktail, #4
Author: Mia Hopkins
Publisher: Little Stone Press
Release Date: October 18, 2016
Pages: 101
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:

Who needs luck when you can get Lucky?

When Harmony Santos’s boyfriend dumps her on her birthday, she doesn’t get mad. She gets lucky…with a mysterious cowboy whose bedroom eyes and rough edges bring out her inner bad girl. But when their one-night rodeo turns into more than a rebound, Harmony worries her heart hasn’t healed enough to take on someone new—even if that someone is as sweet as he is sexy. 

Tie-down roper Lucky Garcia can’t believe his good fortune. A shot at national finals and now this—his longtime crush, in his arms at last. The more time he spends with Harmony, the harder he falls for her. But financial demands and family responsibilities take him further and further away from her—as does his secret fear she hasn’t quite gotten over her dickhead ex. 

Behind closed doors, Lucky and Harmony are filthy perfection. But when reality comes knocking, the star-crossed lovers must decide: walk away intact, or risk it all for a chance at happiness. 

Get ready for rope tricks, spanking, self-pleasure, and a smoking-hot cowboy who puts the big D in Dominant.


Easy bedtime read...until you get to the sexy parts, then it gets intense...

Lucky and Harmony reunited on the dance floor and the sexual tension was thick. Lucky was described as the hottest sex on a stick, to be fair, and Harmony needed a bit of a distraction.

Their chemistry was fiery and I loved reading their sexy scenes. There was a time when they dipped their toes in a bit of BDSM, and though the safe words were cliche, I still liked it. It was sweet and full of passion, that was for sure. 

One of my favorite things were Lucky's way of communication. Since English wasn't his first language, it was so adorable how he would try to clarify things with Harmony. I literally tweeted the author as I read because I just had to share the joy of reading the conversation between the two.

Lucky: "Just to be clear, that's it? That's it between you two?"
Harmony: "That's it."
Lucky: "So."
Harmony: "So."
Lucky: "Back to this 'you and me' idea."
Harmony: "What about it?"
Lucky: "I think we should look into it a little more."

This book was short, but it had a lot of heart. So, if you want an easy, light read, with a sprinkle of spice, this would be the book for you. 

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

ARC Review: Bound to Submit

Laura Kaye is one of my absolute favorite authors for a reason... When she releases new books and offers them for review, I'm always at the front of the line to sign up. Check out my review below of her latest new release.

Title: Bound to Submit
Series: Blasphemy, #1
Author: Laura Kaye
Self-Published
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Pages: 154
Buy Links: Amazon Paperback | Kindle
BN | iBooks | Kobo

Blurb:

From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He thinks he caused her pain, but she knows he’s the only one who can heal her…

Kenna Sloane lost her career and her arm in the Marines, and now she feels like she’s losing herself. Submission is the only thing that ever freed her from pain and made her feel secure, and Kenna needs to serve again. Bad. The only problem is the Dom she wants once refused her submission and broke her heart, but, scarred on the inside and out, she’s not looking for love this time. She’s not even sure she’s capable.

Griffin Hudson is haunted by the mistakes that cost him the only woman he ever loved. Now she’s back at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, and more beautiful than ever, and she’s asking for his help with the pain he knows he caused. Even though he’s scared to hurt her again, he can’t refuse her, because he’d give anything to earn a second chance. And this time, he’ll hold on forever.


Intricately hot and emotional!

Master Griffin and Kenna Sloane both had something to feel guilty about. Together, they faced their fears and battled their demons, and it was so beautiful. I was crying towards the end of this book and the damn tears just wouldn't stop!

Kenna felt self-conscious about her arm; she felt like people would be put off by it, but the one opinion she really cared about was Griffin's. His reaction to her insecurities was so passionate that I was overwhelmed with admiration for his character.

"Are you under the impression that your amputation in any way detracts from my attraction to you? Because if you are, I'm telling you right fucking now that you're the most beautiful woman I've ever known in my whole goddamned life and nothing--nothing--could ever change that."

The way that Griffin embraced all of Kenna, even as she thought she was incomplete or undeserving, was so inspiring. His feelings for her helped him show Kenna that he wasn't going anywhere.

Kenna: "It can't exactly cut me, Griffin."
Griffin: "That's not fucking funny, Kenna."

There was one really intense scene that brought so much tears in my eyes. I just couldn't wait for you all to read it. It was so amazing and heart wrenching at the same time. Especially when Griffin had to text '911' to one of the other Doms. Just brilliant how they were all there for each other whenever assistance was needed.

One of my favorite parts was finding out Griffin drove an Audi A7. What a sexy car for a sexy man. Can every sexy man just drive an Audi, please?

There were two things I wanted to mention though. First, it seemed that in any BDSM situation that took place in someone's personal abode, there was always a wash cloth in the bathroom for someone to use. I mean, I don't even own a wash cloth. How do these characters just always happen to have a wash cloth at the ready? (lol)

Second, the ending felt a bit incomplete. There was one scene I was hoping to see, but when I saw "the end" and didn't read about the scene, I was a bit disappointed. Well, I guess when Griffin thought "it was private", I guess that meant the reader couldn't read about it either. Darn it! 

Overall, though, this book was so good. I have always devoured Laura's books and this was no different. I would highly recommend it. 

Saturday, September 24, 2016

ARC Review: Not Quite Perfect

It'd been a while, but I was so happy to finally read another Catherine Bybee book! Check out my thoughts below...

Title: Catherine Bybee
Series: Not Quite, #5
Author: Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Pages: 332
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | Books-A-Million | Book Depository

Blurb:

Mary Kildare knows how to read people. It’s both why she makes a great therapist and why she refuses to trust the average bachelor. Staying fiercely independent has been her primary relationship strategy—until wealthy playboy pilot (and commitmentphobe) Glen Fairchild reappears in her life. After a yearlong teasing tug-of-war, Mary and Glen test the waters of attraction, only to find that their physical chemistry runs deeper than flirtation.
At first, a bicoastal romance suits them both—especially since Glen can swoop in and whisk Mary away on one of his company’s planes. But no matter how close they get, they’re still three thousand miles apart. And when Mary’s life is threatened, Glen realizes the one luxury he doesn’t have is time. Can he close the distance between them before it’s too late?

From the very start, this book was a total hit! I love it when a book catches my attention right from the very first page.

Mary and Glen argued like an old married couple and it was the cutest thing ever! All Glen needed was a little nudge. I loved that there were no heartaches in this book, but there were suspense and thrilling scenes!

I also enjoyed the humor in the story when it was appropriate.

Mary: I like the coat, not the price. I'll be fine.
Glen: I'm all about chivalry, but it's butt cold out there, and I like my coat.

Everything went on smoothly, except for the minor detail of Mary's house and safety. No big deal, right? It was awesome seeing Glen fly all over the country and even overseas just to get to Mary. What a dream!

The cameos of the other characters made me want to read the rest of the books. Not Quite Perfect was just well-written and full of feel-good pages. I remember when Glen told Mary the reason why he chose to stay with her. I just about swooned to the moon and back.

The last few chapters were the absolute best. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish it and I was beyond satisfied. Books like this are the reason why I'm so thankful to be a bookworm. Books like this are the reason why I continue to smile each and every day. Thank you, Ms. Bybee :)

This was definitely a must-read!

Monday, September 19, 2016

ARC Review: Southern Nights and Secrets

I met Robin Covington at the RWA Conference last July. I'd previously read her books before and I really enjoyed them. So, when I saw that her new release was up on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Check out my thoughts below!

Title: Southern Nights and Secrets
Series: The Boys Are Back In Town, #4
Author: Robin Covington
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence
Release Date: September 19, 2016
Pages: 208
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Blurb:

Being a doctor is everything to me, but I’m not going to let bureaucrats tell me how to practice medicine. It’s about saving lives no matter what, screw them and their paperwork.
When the one woman I could never forget, Ginger Crawford, shows up as my boss all bets are off. The heat between us is tough to ignore but I have to if I want a future at this hospital. It isn’t easy. Every time we argue, I want her even more.
But I’ve got secrets she can never know, and she’s always going to be way too good for me. So it’s best if she hates me…at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

I love, love, love this book! From the very beginning, it was action-packed, and frankly, that was how you properly start a story. Well done, Ms. Covington!

"These are people. Patients. Not outcomes."

Dr. Beckett Sutherland... Gee, where to start? Oh, let's start with the cover. One thing I noticed was the model's lips. How appropriate were those lips to represent Dr. Sutherland? So sexy. Anyway, Beck was a complicated character, but he had the biggest heart. It might not have been obvious, however, because he chose to hide his true self. He didn't think his actions were enough to atone for his mistakes when he hadn't a choice as a kid. 

"Dr. Sutherland. Didn't your mama ever tell you that you get more flies with honey than vinegar?"
"My mama didn't stick around long enough to teach me shit, and you know my tongue can be mighty sweet when I want it to be."

Virginia, aka Ginger, was a force to be reckoned with. Being the daughter of a NAVY Seal, she learned many skills including the ability to shut off her emotions most of the time. To be honest, I found that very admirable. Her character was fiery when she wasn't hiding behind a mask. She was a firecracker when Beck was able to push her boundaries. Their chemistry was explosive!

Ginger had always spent a ridiculous amount of money on underwear that barely covered the fun parts.

Who could resists Beck's charms? He had the ability to even charm some men, but I bet that had something to do with his pure heart rather than him actually trying. I'd say he was probably one of my favorite book boyfriends this year. 

The serpent in the Garden of Good and Evil had nothing on Beckett.

The cameos of the other boys from this series made me want to read the previous books. Where had I been living? A rock?! I totally missed out!

Want some more? Check out the sexy snippet below by clicking on the button... if you dare. 




Monday, September 12, 2016

ARC Review: Claiming the Enemy

When I read the blurb of this book, I wanted to read it right away. I didn't realize that it was part of the Pulse series, in which I reviewed Seducing the Boss by Mari Carr previously. Check out my thoughts of the story below!

Title: Claiming the Enemy
Series: Pulse, #3
Author: Lauren Hawkeye
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Release: September 12, 2016
Pages: 144
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Blurb:

Piper Dawson has spent a lifetime living by other people’s rules.
She’s worked hard to get what she wants—a residency at her first choice hospital—and no one will ever tie her down again, not even her severe yet incredibly sexy supervisor, Dr. Alexander “Ace” Lennox.
Ace is done with love. He’s had his heart shattered, and he never wants to go there again. But when he’s inexplicably enticed by the sexy, tattooed woman with blue streaks in her hair and a perpetual smile on her lips, he figures that maybe he can keep it to just sex.
The problem? He thrives on control, and Piper dances just around the edges of it.
But when they're together, control is the first thing to go...

This book was explosive, there were times when I was afraid I'd explode while reading it!

Ace and Piper didn't like each other. They always butted heads; Ace thought Piper was crazy, and Piper thought Ace was a jerk. Ah well, opposites attract, right?

I really liked that Piper was a smart ass in the beginning. She enjoyed messing with Ace for the most part, and reeling him into pretending to be with her was just the cherry on top.

Once Ace was on board with the game, he was proven a great player. Oh, and did you know Ace was a dirty talker? Oh boy, he was good. No wonder Piper was all over him. He also had weird little things that he liked about Piper like her tan lines and her back. Sheesh, he was gone before he even knew it.

"Piper had an orgasm over her dessert."

Piper was just a joy in all kinds of ways. She was open and confident, though she did feel insecure at times about how she looked. See, Piper wasn't rich, but Ace was. I couldn't blame her if she felt intimidated sometimes.

I recently developed a thing for men dipping their women. Ace clearly knew what was good because in one of the scenes, he dipped Piper just to say something sexy to her. Piper's reaction was: "Holy. Shit."  Yep, exactly.

There were so many other delicious surprises in this book, but I wouldn't spoil it. Let me just say that Ace couldn't keep his hands to himself as a result. 

Lastly, I really enjoyed that Kellan from Seducing the Boss made a cameo. He was such a great man, and funny as well!

Kellan: "Fill these (sexual harassment forms) out while I go check on Dr. Alvarado." He was halfway out the door before he hesitated and turned back. "Do not have sex on my desk."

So, what are you waiting for? Get this book now!

Monday, September 5, 2016

ARC Review: Full Exposure

It's finally here: the last book of the Hands On series! Read my review below to see what I thought!

Title: Full Exposure
Series: Hands On, #3
Author: Cathryn Fox
Publisher: Entangled: Scorched
Release Date: September 5, 2016
Pages: 86
Buy Links: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | BN | Kobo

Blurb:

I’ve just had the best two weeks of my life! Who’d have guessed that a big part of my rehab would involve giving a gorgeous psychologist private lessons in sex? The problem? I’m hooked. I want more and that wasn’t part of the deal. But I have a job to go back to, and she’s already pushing me away. So what the hell am I going to do? Still, as a quarterback, I know some things need a playbook and I’m used to winning. So before I walk away from this incredible thing between us, I’m going to use every strategy I know to convince her that the only hands she needs are mine…

This is the final book and it was amazing!

Danielle was even bolder and more honest with Jack like never before. She flirted openly with him and made him want her like he'd never want anyone in his life. The chemistry was even more explosive than the last two books, if that was even possible.

Jack: "Dessert?" 
Danielle: "Yes, and I already know what I'm having."
Jack: "Don't you want to see the menu first?"
Danielle: "I don't need to. I'm looking at what I want."

I also appreciated that Violet was in more scenes than in the first two books. I really hoped that she would get her own little series or one full novella. I wanted to see just how naughty she could be, but I also wanted her to find love. I thought she deserved it as much as Danielle did.

Violet: "Ohmigod, it's Thor."
Danielle: "Thor? Actually, I think it's Luke."
Violet: "As in Jack's brother Luke?"
Danielle: "Yeah, I mentioned something about bringing him by today."
Violet: "You do love me."
Danielle: "Go easy on him."
Violet: "Not a chance. Besides, he doesn't strike me as the kind of man who'd want anything easy."
Danielle: "He co-owns a service bay with Sam, and he's also an MMA fighter."
Violet: "He's got trouble written all over him."

I also got to see Danielle surrounded by Jack's family and it was so beautiful. They enveloped her in their familial love and I would bet that Danielle never wanted to leave. They were so sweet and sometimes rowdy, but so perfect. There was also the relationship between Jack and Jamie, his best friend. I loved nothing more than two best friends being able to communicate with just the look in their eyes. Okay, now I wish Jack's brothers AND Jamie would have their own books. That would be a mini dream come true. 

This serial is definitely a must-read. It's also now available in print as a boxed set so you could devour it all in one sitting if you so desire. Go, go, go!

Want to see my review of the first two books?


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Review: Once Should Be Enough

Once again, I was super lucky to edit another interesting book. Just the same, I read the story, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Title: Once Should Be Enough
Author: Nikky Kaye
Self-Published
Release Date: August 17, 2016
Pages: 92
Buy Links: Amazon

Blurb:

Are friends with benefits worth the cost?

My cocky friend Will doesn't believe that I'm frigid, but what does he know? His promises might make me shiver but it doesn't mean he can give me a happy. He's so confident he's betting me money on it, and a thousand bucks is a lot of money to a poor college student.

Once should be enough to taunt him with "I told you so," right?

But I didn't know he meant trying everything once...

Humorous and sexy at the same time. Was it actually possible?

The simple answer? Yes. I couldn't actually believe how much I enjoyed reading and editing this book. The characters were so likeable and well-developed even for a short book. Though there was a bit of hesitance on Will's part at first, his true desire wouldn't let him hold back for too long.

It was also a good thing that the friendship wasn't on any deeper level so the "friends with benefits" thing wasn't that big of a deal. I really enjoyed the fact that Will cared so much about his friend that he wanted to make sure that she didn't surrender to her insecurities. Talk about a great friend.

The steamy scenes were really hot, as well as funny, which what I really enjoyed the most. Usually, when I read about friends getting together, I felt a bit uneasy because there was no going back when the line between friendship and sexual relationship had been crossed. Thankfully, this book didn't give me such an uneasy feeling. Very interesting, indeed.

One of my favorite reads this year, for sure!

Monday, August 15, 2016

ARC Review: Body Contact

If you missed it, I reviewed the first book of this series called Hands On. If you've seen that review, you knew how much I wanted the second book to be released right away. The day had come and I couldn't be more excited!

Title: Body Contact
Series: Hands On, #2
Author: Cathryn Fox
Publisher: Entangled: Scorched
Release: August 15, 2016
Pages: 72
Buy Links: Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Blurb:

Asking pro football player Jack Rider to teach me everything he knows about sex might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure I can handle a guy like him. I thought he'd just straight up do me, ridding me of my pesky virginity sooner rather than later. But no, he had his own ideas about bringing me up to speed on sex. His two weeks of slow seduction might just be the death of me, but since he's the one in charge, I have to play the game his way. Not that I'm not enjoying it. I am. Who wouldn't, right? I guess I just can't help but wonder how I'll ever let another man touch me after him.

Danielle learned sexy things in this book.

First things first, I was glad that we got to meet Jack's family briefly in this book. I loved the banter between his brothers and hoped that there would be more in the final book of this series. The connection was unmistakable, and I'd love to see how Danielle would respond to such a bond.

The other thing I loved about this book was the mention of Jack's best friend Jamie. There was a time when Jack was considering asking his best friend to tag team if Danielle wanted a threesome. Well, I sure hope that she would want one so I could read about it in book 3 ;)

As with the first book, Danielle's innocence was still so cute. No wonder Jack was hooked like an addict to drugs. He couldn't get her out of his mind, and she was getting under his skin. I smell romance.

Danielle: "Are we going to have sex?"
Jack: "If you consider my mouth, hands, and tongue on your body, touching and tasting you everywhere--and I mean everywhere--sex, then yes, we're having sex."

In this book, we also met Jack's physical therapist. I thought she was a good, professional woman, until she propositioned Jack. Not cool, missy. Next!

Besides Danielle's innocence, it was also cute how eager she was at learning the art of sex (ahem). She was reading about it, and honestly telling Jack about it. Clearly, she had no idea that telling him would probably turn him on. I loved how effective the author was in making Danielle likeable while being innocent.

"You know what happens to naughty girls who overstep boundaries?"

Unfortunately, I'd have to wait for the final book in September to come out before I found out what happened. Darn it! Book 3, come quick, please ;)


Wednesday, August 10, 2016

ARC Review: Burn Down the Night

I wanted to read this book because I liked the blurb. Check out my review below to see if I ended up liking it. This was the first book I read from this author.

Title: Burn Down the Night
Author: M. O'Keefe
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: August 9, 2016
Pages: 334
Buy Links: Amazon | iBooks | BN | Kobo | Books A Million

Blurb:

The only thing that matters to me is rescuing my sister from the drug-cooking cult that once enslaved us both. I’ve run cons my whole life, and I’ll use my body to get whatever I need. Max Daniels is the last connection I have to that world, the one person reckless enough to get involved. Besides, now that his brothers have turned on him, he needs me too.
 
The deal was supposed to be simple: a place to hide in exchange for rescuing my sister. Now he’s my prisoner. Totally at my mercy. But I’m the one captivated. Enthralled. Doing everything he asks of me until I’m not sure who’s in control.
 
We both crave the heat. The more it hurts, the better. But what if Max wants a different life now, to leave the game . . . to love me? I thought I knew better than to get burned. Now I’m in too deep to pull away. And the crazy thing is . . . I don’t want to.


Dark, gritty, and so steamy.

When I started this book, my first reaction was that it was hilarious. I loved how funny it was, so much that I went to work and told my coworker about it and showed her some quotes I highlighted in my kindle app. My favorite part was the daydreams about a boat.

Me and Joan--we were a scene just breathing.

Beyond the humor, however, was something quite dark. When reading this book, I felt like I was surrounded with the darkness that always had the characters in its tight embrace. The self-loathing was strong, though softened by the humor.

All I wanted was my sister back and somehow I adopted a biker.

Another thing to mention about this book was the heat level of the sex scenes. The characters weren't even touching, but it was so hot all the same. That was quite an achievement, I'd say. 

This book had three parts, and it seemed like a really long book. It only let me get attached to the characters some more, though. The first part was all the darkness. The second part was when light was starting to creep through the darkness. And finally, the third part was when the darkness had been conquered. 

I knew that I was getting an ARC of the book from Netgalley. However, the amount of typos I encountered were a bit much. I had read many books from Netgalley and the typos were pretty minimal, except for this book. I still enjoyed the story, but I did hope that the final copy would be polished well.

Would I recommend this book? Sure, if you like dark, humorous, sexy romance. :)

Check out the quotes below:
J: "Hey, Max. How you doing? Rise and shine!"
M: "Fuck off."
J: "And hello to you too. Do you know what year it is?"
M: "Let me sleep."
J: "Can't do that. I need you to answer some questions. Do you know what day it is?"
M: "Wednesday."
J: "Do you know your name?"
M: "Max Daniels."
J: "My name?"
M: "Joan-the-crazy-fucking-bitch."
J: "Good enough. How are your ribs?"
M: "Hurts...to breathe."

"You're not so tough," I whispered, because it was funny. Because he was a murderous son of a bitch. But at the moment he was my murderous son of a bitch.

J: "I forgot about those burritos."
F: "You ate so many, I thought you were going to turn into one."

"Save your act for other people. The lies and the show--I don't want it. I want you. Fucked up and crazy. I want you." It was poetry.

M: "What's good?"
J: "The peach pancakes."
M: "Do I look like a guy who eats peach pancakes?"
(A little later on, the waitress came over to ask for their order)
J: "I'll have the pulled pork eggs benedict."
M: "I'll have the peach pancakes."