Review: More Than Words by Mia Sheridan

June 20, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

MORE THAN WORDS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Mia Sheridan
Release Date: June 12, 2018

No one lays open the heart and soul quite like New York Times bestselling author Mia Sheridan.
The moment she met Callen Hayes, eleven-year-old Jessica Creswell knew he was a broken prince. Her prince. They became each other’s refuge, a safe and magical place far from their troubled lives. Until the day Callen kissed her—Jessica’s first real, dreamy kiss—and then disappeared from her life without a word.
Years later, everyone knows who Callen Hayes is. Famous composer. Infamous bad boy. What no one knows is that Callen’s music is now locked deep inside, trapped behind his own inner demons. It’s only when he withdraws to France to drink his way through the darkness that Callen stumbles into the one person who makes the music return. Jessica. His Jessie. And she still tastes of fresh, sweet innocence . . . even as she sets his blood on fire.
But they don’t belong in each other’s worlds anymore. There are too many mistakes. Too many secrets. Too many lies. All they have is that instinctive longing, that need—and something that looks dangerously like love.

Sometimes the beginning of love is just a simple matter of proximity.

More Than Words was a wonderfully swoony and emotional story of fated meetings and second chances. I was enamored with the book from the prologue.

I’m here to save you.

As a little girl, Jessica Creswell finds Callen Hayes when he needs her the most. Inside an abandoned boxcar they forge a friendship and a bond of young innocence and painful childhoods. Both of them have their own family issues, but that’s what ultimately forms the bond between them. Only after a friendship of make believe games and fairy tales, Callen disappears from her life as suddenly as he entered it.

Years later, fate brings them together once more. But Callen is no longer that sweet boy that gave her her first kiss. He’s a famous composer, jaded by life, and a man that uses countless faceless women and alcohol to dull his hidden pain.

Callen was a character that my heart absolutely bled for. He’s so devastatingly broken and yearning for everything that Jessica means to him all these years later, but he knows that he doesn’t deserve her. Jessica was almost a little too pure for my particular taste, but she did balance Callen. Although admittedly, at times I found her a little too much of a naive dreamer for everything that she’s been through. She almost felt like a martyr for Callen at times for all the risks she takes for him and how quick to overlook some of his issues she is. But it also fit her character, so it didn’t bother me too much.

The story is very emotionally charged and character driven. Allen has a lot of issues that he has to face and work through, and I was glued to the pages to see how it all comes together. I really loved the way he was with Jessica. There’s just something so pure and innocent in their connection, even all those years later that I couldn’t get enough of.

There’s a bit of a historical mystery that unravels parallel to the story as Jessica works through the translations for the museum that she works for. While I can see how it connected to the story, I wasn’t as invested in that particular part and it was more of a distraction from the main story for me. The connection between Jessie and Callen stood on it’s own, and I personally didn’t feel that added storyline added anything to the dynamic. But that’s just my own personal bias.

All in all, this was a beautiful and emotional story that I connected with. Sure there were some parts that didn’t work for me, but the story was solid enough for me to overlook that and truly enjoy it.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

#DGRFave & Geri’s Review: Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis

June 19, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

RAINY DAY FRIENDS
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: June 19, 2018

Following the USA Today bestselling author of Lost and Found Sisters comes Jill Shalvis’ moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife.

Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person?  Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan.

Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Brown changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build.

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

Jill Shalvis new Wildstone series have been all winners for me starting with Lost and Found Sisters, followed by Good Luck Sister, and now Rainy Day Friends.


I’ve learned that life is a crapshoot, and at any moment someone can walk into it and change it forever.” 

 

I loved this book. I loved it more than I expected I would. That sounds like a backhanded compliment but let me explain. This book was marketed as Women’s Fiction, a genre that I read but not exactly my go-to genre. There’s always a risk of WF to fall short on the romance aspect. Not so with this book. Yes, this book is definitely about Lanie dealing about the death of her husband and the fallout of his infidelities. But what really gave this book its emotional weight was the romance between Lanie and Mark Capriotti.

Their romance made me swoon! It was definitely a huge part of the book, and I’m so happy for that. I need a healthy dose of romance in my WF and Rainy Day Friends delivered. The romance between Lanie and Mark is mature, passionate and emotional. In other words, it has ALL THE FEELS! And you guys know I’m all about the FEELS!

And now he had her in his arms, this amazing, prickly, suspicious, hardheaded woman that he was falling for in spite of himself because she was also sweet and kind and had the biggest heart of anyone he’d ever met.”

Lanie is prickly and suspicious. She’s not there to become part of the Capriotti clan no matter how friendly and inclusive they are. She’s there to do her job and escape dealing with the mess her husband left her with. I love LOVE prickly heroines and Lanie is fits the description to a tee. She’s also hiding a very soft center underneath prickly exterior. I’ve always enjoyed Jill’s uber competent and complex heroines, but Lanie just might be my favorite Shalvis heroine yet. I LOVE HER! I related to her so much. I understood her motivations and her reaction to her husband’s betrayal and other things made sense to me.

Not only did Jill hit it out of the park with her heroine, she also hit a homerun with the hero, Mark. If you love single parent heroes, then you will love Mark! He’s a devoted family man who loves his twin daughters. And while he did the whole, “I’m not looking for love and can’t offer you anything,” shtick for a while, he changed his tune very quickly when he realized his feelings for Lanie might be deeper than he originally thought. His interactions with his twin daughters are some of the highlights in the book for me. So pure and so heart-wrenching, I shed a tear or two.

The chemistry between these two are off the charts. I realize I sound like a broken record but I love how their romance developed. Theirs enhanced Lanie’s journey and the conflict she’s facing, and honestly, it’s the perfect balance between family drama and romance.

He hadn’t seen it coming, he hadn’t seen her coming, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t recognize a good thing when he saw it.”

There’s also a secondary romance here, which I really liked but won’t get into. It’s there and it has its own charm but it didn’t overpower the main romance between Lanie and Mark.

One aspect that I loved about this book was the Capriotti family. I fell in love with the whole lot of them! They love as passionately as they fight. They’re not perfect which made them all the more interesting to read. I really hope Jill Shalvis will continue to write about their family in future books because they got me like they did Lanie. They were that irresistible.

This book also has one of the most emotionally intense confrontation I’ve read in a Jill Shalvis book. I cried for Lanie. My heart broke for her. And what I really liked about it is that it didn’t feel like I was manipulated. The conflict and the road to that confrontation was so well written that it really hits you when it happened. And it’s not just that one moment in particular, it’s the way Lanie processed her emotions when confronted with that something that got to me. That, in my opinion, is great writing.

This is one of the best I’ve read this year so far. Rainy Day Friends delivered on the romance and I’m so happy it did. I highly recommend this book. If you loved Jill Shalvis, then this is a must read. If you’re just starting out reading her books, this is a great book to start. And even though this is technically the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

Her life had been a train in a dark tunnel for a very long time. But it was like she’d somehow changed course and now she could see a little bit of light.” 

 

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, DGR Favorites, Women's Fiction · Tagged With: , , ,

#DGRFave & Lana’s Review: The Kiss Quotient by @HHoangWrites

June 17, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

THE KISS QUOTIENT
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Helen Hoang
Release Date: June 5, 2018

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases–a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice–with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.

The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan–from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel.

Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

AMAZON | B&N

I don’t want just a night or a week or a month with you. I want you all the time. I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe.”


There’s only one way to summarize my feelings for this book, and that’s to tell you that it’s an ABSOLUTE FREAKING MUST READ. The Kiss Quotient was quite possibly the most charming, addictingly satisfying romance I’ve read all year! It was everything. ALL OF THE THINGS. And I’m on cloud 9 after finishing it! I don’t even know what I’ll do with myself now because nothing could ever compare to the ultimate perfection that was this unique and wonderful story full feels and steam. Nothing I could say could possibly do it justice, but I’ll try.

The heroine: Stella Lane
How I loved her. Here’s a female that’s the very antithesis of your typical romance heroine and she was PHENOMENAL. When I first read the blurb and saw that Stella has Asperger, I was so curious to see how the author would depict her. And I can tell you that I couldn’t be more satisfied. There’s just something so incredibly endearing and ultimately just…real, about Stella. She’s full of quirks, but she’s also vibrant in her own way. She has a fulfilling and successful career, but relationships and sex are such a foreign subject to her, that she continually suffers through terrible dates and unsatisfying sexual encounters. With her family’s constant pressure for her to finally settle down, she knows that she needs help. And so she gets that, when she hires an escort to guide her through the art of dating and relationships.

The hero: Michael Phan
Gah! JUST GAH! This man. I can’t even begin to describe all of the ways I adored him. Forced to work as an escort in order to help his family, Michael doesn’t exactly brag about being an escort. As a matter of fact, it’s more of his shameful secret. Used to women seeing him for just his looks, he’s almost jaded on relationships….until he meets beautiful and sexually clueless Stella. There’s just something about her that makes him question everything he thought he knew. Their connection is instant and so potent, I felt the energy of it sizzle on the pages. Here’s a man that’s not a playboy (escort aside), he’s not an a-hole either. There was also something so real about Michael to me. I adored his relationship with his quirky and colorful family. But I absolutely loved the way he was with Stella. He’s the perfect gentleman with a filthy mouth. God but I loved him. I loved him so freaking hard.

This book was simply amazing. It was unique and fresh and full of heart. It was unlike any other romance I’ve read and I couldn’t get enough of it. Helen Hoang has got an instant mega fan in this reader. I will blindly read ANYTHING she writes, no blurb required. She’s a talent that EVERYONE needs to discover and this book one that EVERYONE needs to fall in love with. Because that’s exactly what will happen when you meet Michael and Stella; you’ll fall head over heels for them same as I did. This romance will stay with you, it will engrain itself into your memory and make your heart feel full with it’s emotion. In a nutshell; read it, read it, JUST READ IT!!

_____________________________________________________________

ICYMI: You can check out Geri’s review of Kiss Quotient here: https://wp.me/p6sEtE-8m3

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Geri’s Review: Ocean Light by Nalini Singh

June 15, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

OCEAN LIGHT
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 12, 2018

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love…

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there’s a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment–taking his brain along with it.

With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he’s at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling…

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won’t hide the facts of Bo’s condition from him or herself. She’s suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine…

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back–even if it means striking a devil’s bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy…

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tautly plotted with dynamic characters and contains of the highest stakes—both romantic and plot-wise—in the series, Ocean Light will engage not just your mind but your heart as well.

Tonight was their impossible dream.

This book picks up not far from where the last book ended. Bowen Knight survived his assassination attempt but the chip in his brain is still degenerating and with time running out, his sister agrees to a deal with the Blacksea changeling clan to take Bo deep underwater to undergo an experiment that could save his life or end it.

I am so happy that this Nalini continued to build on this universe. We’ve only heard about the BlackSea changelings in previous books but in Ocean Light, they finally take the center stage. And what a fascinating world it is. Ms. Singh’s clever world building continues to fascinate and entranced. The BlackSea changelings have their own quirks that separate them from other changelings but what remains constant is their sense of belonging to a family, a pack, or a clan. This theme has been a constant from the very first Psy-Changeling book and continues with the Trinity series. It is again a huge theme here.

As I mentioned, this book has one of the highest stakes in the series. Don’t get me wrong. The stakes in these books are always high but in Ocean Light it is even more so. With Bo’s life on the line and the Trinity Accord being attacked from the inside, not to mention Kaia dealing with trauma and mental health issues, the characters are in constant state of peril in this book. There’s a sense of urgency and doom that I wasn’t exactly sure how the author was going to resolve everything but she did and did it wonderfully.

The romance between Bo and Kaia was just as satisfying as the mystery and intrigue. Singh is one of the masters of crafting a strong romantic conflict. Bowen is a human, a leader of the Alliance that wasn’t always trustworthy in the eyes of the changelings. He’s made errors in the past but his heart is always in the right place.

Promise me.” He grabbed her hand, pressed it to his cutting-edge mechanical heart that would keep going long after he fell. “If it goes wrong, you’ll walk away. Promise me.”

Kaia on the other hand is a changeling whose past made her distrustful of humans. She sees humans and the land as forces of destruction and loss. Bowen’s presence and her peculiar reaction to him puts Kaia in a very vulnerable position.

I love how the romance developed between them. There’s playfulness to their relationship that I found endearing to read. Their HEA was EARNED and it was SATISFYING.

Ocean Light delivers on the romance along with healthy sprinkling of mystery and intrigue that will hold your attention from beginning to end. This is another win for Nalini Singh, and I highly recommend that you start from the very beginning with Slave to Sensation. Yes, it’s a lot of books and you can probably start with Silver Silence and still enjoy or even love the books but I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with the original Psy-Changeling series.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: ,

Review: Captivated by Tessa Bailey & Eve Dangerfield

June 9, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

CAPTIVATED
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey & Eve Dangerfield
Release Date: June 11, 2018

Secret aspiring comedian Autumn Reynolds is a girl gone…not wild exactly. More like lazy. Since her boyfriend abandoned her in New York City for a bunch of improv groupies she’s had two priorities; sucking the nitrous out of whipped cream cans and making sex comics about her mysterious landlord.

Blake hates people—and sunlight—with good reason. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself lusting after his upstairs tenant, a sunny, Australian people pleaser down on her luck. Turns out his ability to terrify with a single scowl comes with an advantage. Autumn seems to like it. A lot. As evidenced by the prisoner-captive comic Blake was never meant to see.

As they embark on a three-date arrangement the rules are clear; filthy, ground breaking sex, no feelings or commitment required. When chemistry is this strong, though, attachment follows. As Blake and Autumn attempt to negotiate their New York romance, their prior histories and secret dreams come to the foreground. How long can these polar opposites remain Captivated, when all signs point to disaster?

AMAZON

What did he have? A cave on the first floor, heaps of books and an aversion to sunlight. No. He had one more thing. The ability to make her his captive.

Sweet mother of all ovaries. I can’t even right now. This book…it was FILTHY. SO deliciously filthy. It was also quirky and fun, with a dose of feels. But it was sooooooo filthy. Bailey and Dangerfield are a powerhouse duo that have created an addict in me. I demand more of their dual writing magic. DEMAND IT. Can’t live without it. It didn’t event take me long to see their individual styles in this book. Eve is the queen of quirky heroines. They’re always funny, unconventional, and female’s you’d love for your BFF. They’re a breath of fresh air. And Tessa Bailey? The woman is the QUEEN of PMBs, and she may have just created her poutiest man bear ever with Blake. GAH!

Autumn Reynolds is a vet, secretly aspiring comedian, and a woman that just found out her boyfriend of 7 years had cheated on her. Numerously. The man that she gave up everything for to come to America with is now gone and she’s left all on her lonesome. Harboring injured pigeons in her bathroom and trying to hide it from her broody and grumpy landlord.

Firstly, let me tell you that the Beauty and the Beast tones in this story was fantastic. It was just the right touch of emotion that this dirty story needed. And boy was it dirty. Because sweet little Autumn has a secret fantasy. One where she’s captured, bound, and taken by one bearded and mean landlord. And when said landlord finds out that the woman he’s secretly been attracted to all this time wants him back? All bets are off.

Who’s bigger, Autumn? In every goddamn way?”
“You.”
“My fucking name, Blondie.
Who will drop a grand on your dinner and still fuck you like a slut? Say the name.”
“Blake!”

Oh yeah. Eve and Tessa brought the big guns out for this story. No holds barred. And it was AWESOME.

But this book was so much more than just sweet filthy loving. I loved watching Autumn break Blake out of his grumpy shell. This is a man with some wounds from his past, and years later, he’s still nursing them. Autumn was the light to his dark and they were so dynamic together, I simply couldn’t get enough of them. I loved Blake break out of his broody shell and I loved watching Autumn come into her own. And the chemistry between them? Incendiary!!!

I’m all for the kinky taboo fantasies, and Captivated definitely had that. But it was also a story with fantastic banter, wonderful secondary characters, and plenty of emotional moments. It put a smile on my face even while it made my ovaries feel like they were about to combust. I hope that this will be the first of many books these two co-author together, because they’re a dirty duo of pure awesome.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: , ,

Review: I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting

June 7, 2018 by ·

I FLIPPING LOVE YOU
Series: Shacking Up #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Helena Hunting
Release Date: May 29, 2018

A new kind of love story about flipping houses, taking risks, and landing that special someone who’s move-in ready…

SHE’S GOT CURB APPEAL

Rian Sutter grew up with the finer things in life. Spending summers in The Hamptons was a normal occurrence for her until her parents lost everything years ago. Now Rian and her sister are getting their life, and finances, back on track through real estate. Not only do they buy and sell houses to the rich and famous, but they finally have the capital to flip their very own beachfront property. But when she inadvertently catches the attention of a sexy stranger who snaps up every house from under her, all bets are off…

HE’S A FIXER UPPER

Pierce Whitfield doesn’t normally demo kitchens, install dry wall, or tear apart a beautiful woman’s dreams. He’s just a down-on-his-luck lawyer who needed a break from the city and agreed to help his brother work on a few homes in the Hamptons. When he first meets Rian, the attraction is undeniable. But when they start competing for the same pieces of prime real estate, the early sparks turn into full-blown fireworks. Can these passionate rivals turn up the heat on their budding romance — without burning down the house?

I FLIPPING LOVE YOU, set in the Shacking Up world, follows two people, both working in real estate, who find themselves vying for the same properties in the Hamptons, leading to a sometimes-not-so-friendly competition.

AMAZON

That is what wanting someone is. This is the pinnacle of desperate attraction. This is the chemical reaction that ignites and burns until there’s nothing left but ash.

*dreamy sigh and googly eyes*

This book was so flipping cute. I have an newly found obsession with all things Helena Hunting, but most especially her Shacking Up series. It’s the perfect blend of rom-com, steam, and feels. It’s just one of those easy, feel-good sort of romances that will leave you with a big ole’ goofy and satisfied grins on your face when you’re finished. And it had quite possibly one of the best meet-cutes I’ve read in quite a while. I mean, how funny when the gorgeous man staring at you in the grocery aisle is actually mistaken you for your fraternal twin sister that scratched his car and drove off? Well, Rian doesn’t find it very funny, but I did. And the sparks were immediate between her and Pierce!

We’re having a sleepover. We’re going to do this all night, and I’m going to cuddle you like a motherfucker after I finishing sexing every last orgasm out of you.”
“Okay.” I mean, what else can I really say to that?

I loved Pierce’s slow and thorough persistence in going after skittish Rian. Rian is done with gorgeous man and their defined bodies. She needs a 9/10 match, and that seems to set her up with boring but safe man that she has zero chemistry with. And of course it would figure that Pierce’s mere presence makes her entire body tingle. But he’s everything that shouldn’t give into. She’s focusing on getting her life back together, her real estate endeavors with her sister, and the gorgeous man that tempts her beyond reason doesn’t fit in that picture. Unfortunately for her, he refuses to take no for an answer.

Did you do that math in your head?”
“Yes.” He crowds me.
“You need to stop that.” I have to tip my head up so I can meet his serious gaze.
“I need to stop doing mental math?”
“In public places, yes.” I bite my cheek to keep my smile in check.
“Do I want to ask why?”
“Because I find it sexy, and it makes me want to do inappropriate things to you in this aisle.

Pierce was absolutely delicious. I loved his unrelenting pursuit of Rian almost as much as I loved to see her unsuccessfully fight the connection between them only to inevitably give in to the explosive fireworks. Pierce was the steady force to Rian’s somewhat indecisive and skittish nature, and it was the perfect balance.

Everything about this book worked for me; the chemistry, the pacing, the character development. It was funny and steamy and absolute romcom perfection. I enjoyed it thoroughly and cannot recommend it enough. I’m also hoping to get a bit of redemption for Lawson with the next book, because he drove me crazy with his mood swings in this one and I’m itching for the details of why.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Verona Blood by Lili St. Germain

June 6, 2018 by · 1 Comment

VERONA BLOOD
Series: California Blood #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Lili St. Germain
Release Date: May 29, 2018

An arranged marriage. A brutal abduction.

And a love so forbidden, it might destroy them both.

San Francisco is going to burn if the coveted princess of California’s criminal underworld isn’t returned to her family in one piece …

Avery Capulet is missing.

Taken by a madman. Kept in the dark.

She might not survive.

He’ll use her body. Destroy her mind. All before he ever lays a hand on her.

Rome Montague is a drug dealer. A criminal. A thief.

And he needs the secrets Avery and her family are keeping – even if it means cutting them out of her pretty Capulet flesh.

Rome Montague is missing – but nobody will miss him.

Not that it matters; After the things he’s done to this girl, he doesn’t deserve to be found.

Prepare to step into the dark and bloody underworld of California, as Lili St. Germain brings you a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, in the same vein as her bestselling Gypsy brothers series.

Verona Blood, set in the criminal underbelly of San Francisco, follows two warring families who are ruled by blood, power and twisted desire.

AMAZON

She was second-in-line for a throne that her older sister had already been molded to fit. I was the ruins of a family legacy that had soared too high, and crashed spectacularly, the sole survivor of a broken dynasty.

Well…hell. That was certainly…something.

If you’ve read St. Germain’s Gypsy Brothers series, then you already know that her mind can take you to some dark places. The woman’s brain is downright devious, and she writes dark and depraved like no one else. Verona Blood may be a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet, and while it certainly focuses on two star-crossed lovers, there’s not much love that shines through in this story just yet.

The first in the series throws you deep into the underbelly of organized crime and the sacrifices made for family in blood. It’s gritty as hell. It’s violent and spares no detail. If you’ve read ANY book this author has written before, you’ll know that she’s not afraid to go there. And boy does she in this book.

Verona Blood introduces Avery Capulet, as she faces the ultimate reality of being forced to marry a man that she doesn’t love for the good of her family and the order of her father. Avery is headstrong and willful, but she’s not about to say no to her father. But a sick twist of fate lands her in the sights of a psychopath, and then her nightmare truly begins.

In my wildest dreams —or my most terrifying nightmares —never once did I think that I’d be trapped in hell with him.>

I’ll admit, there were parts of this book that were extremely difficult to read. And I’ve read some dark books. But what I truly appreciate about Germain’s writing, is she doesn’t do it for shock value. The depravity and violence truly serves to drive the plot forward, and as dark as it may be, it fits. This book is no walk in the park. It’s damn disturbing. But color me officially hooked.

In the style of her Gypsy Brothers, this is more of a novella length. I read it in 2.5 hrs and was left with my jaw on the floor by the end. It was long enough to hook you, yet short enough to leave you craving more. I’m equally curious and terrified to see what the next book in this series will reveal.

1 Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark · Tagged With: , ,

DGR Fave & Geri’s Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

June 6, 2018 by ·

THE KISS QUOTIENT
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Helen Hoang
Release Date: June 5, 2018

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases–a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice–with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.

The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan–from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel.

Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

AMAZON | B&N

All the things that make you different make you perfect.”

Oh my gosh, this book!

I’ve seen my friends gush about Helen Hoang’s debut for a month or so, and being a contrarian that I am, I tried to temper my expectations. I’ve been here before. Everyone I know loved a book and I’m like, ‘meh’. But that’s not the case here.

The Kiss Quotient not only met my expectations, IT EXCEEDED IT!

I finished this book with a huge grin on my face (always a good sign) and full heart. These characters that Hoang brought to life in the pages of her book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with them.

You’re very good at the talking part.”
“I’ve had sex. There isn’t a talking part.”
A spark danced in his eyes. “There’s definitely a talking part.”

Stella Lane is magnificent as Hoang’s heroine. She’s beautiful, smart, and kind. Her motivations were so wonderfully written and explored by the author that there’s really nothing I can say except, WOW. I just fell in love with her character just like Michael did.

And speaking Michael? Oh man, easily one of the best romance heroes ever. And I don’t say this lightly. Michael Larsen is a cinnamon roll. Sweet and gooey and perfect for Stella! He might be the sweetest and softest hero but he also owns one of the dirtiest mouth out there. In other words, he’s perfect.

Love, he found, was a jail. It trapped, and it clipped wings. It dragged you down, forced you to places you didn’t want to go.

In all seriousness though, this book is definitely one of the best I’ve read this year. Everything about it worked for me. The romance was excellent. The characters were multi-dimensional, even the secondary ones (please give us Quan’s book, please?), were interesting and had motivations you can relate to.  And lastly, don’t let the pretty pastel cover fool you ’cause this book is super steamy in the best way possible.

So yeah, I dig everything about this book and I hope you would read it and dig it too.

 

· Filed Under: All Reviews, By Star Rating, DGR Favorites, Dirty Talkers · Tagged With: , , ,

Review: Order of Protection by Lexi Blake

June 5, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

ORDER OF PROTECTION
Series: Courting Justice #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: June 5, 2018

A sexy and suspenseful new contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake where love and law entwine for a conviction of the heart.

To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes—born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This trial could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win’s entire life is upended, she must look to the people she’s closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…

AMAZON

Win had done that for him, too. Win had done all those things, and just like the fucking alcohol, she’d turned out to be one more addiction he couldn’t afford.

You know what I truly love about this author? Her ability to create new characters while also tying in all previous favorites. If you’ve read her Masters & Mercenaries series as well as her Lawless trilogy, then you’re in for a treat with the cameos that will appear in her brand new Courting Justice series.

In Order of Protection, we’re introduced to the Monster of Manhattan, Henry Garrison, as he picks up the pieces of his life after he hits rock bottom following a bitter divorce from his famous actress wife and the ensuing scandal of it that almost cost him his career as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in NY. He’s done with women, and he’s officially done with the rich and spoiled famous ones.

Taylor Winston Hughes is no stranger to the limelight. As the infamous Billion Dollar Baby, the heiress is used to being in the scrutiny of the public eye. At one point, it almost cost her her life. She meets Henry at a time when they need each other the most. But while she knows right away who he is, Henry has no idea that Win isn’t just a gorgeous woman that he has a weeklong affair with. And when she’s framed for the murder of her best friend, he’s the only one that she can count on.

Henry and Win’s relationship was tumultuous at best. Both of them have been burned in the past. But where Win is more realistic about it and isn’t afraid to own her feelings, Henry runs from them at all costs. He goes hot and cold often, and when he finds out Win’s true identity, he turns downright ice cold. There were times where I wanted to slap him, but I also understood the whys of it. The character development was truly on point here, and it helped sympathize with both characters easily.

I really loved Win. She’s not a naive and spoiled little rich girl. This is a woman that knows what she wants and is a survivor. She’s not afraid to stand up to Henry and his mood swings. I enjoyed her quite a bit.

There’s quite a bit happening with the story between the romance and the suspense of who done it that leaves you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the suspense element immensely, especially since it really did leave me reeling once the truth of everything came out. The romance was great, even if it ran hot and cold at times. I loved the angst between this couple, though I’ll admit that I wanted Win to make Henry work for it at times and not give into him as easily as she did at times.

I LOVE that we get more Noah Lawless and I’m practically salivating for his book. I’ll settle for David’s next since Lexi does like to save the best for last and I’ll take what I can get.

Order of Protection was a romance full of suspense and deeply buried secrets. It was had a bit of a slow start, but when it picked up steam around the 40% mark, it was unputdownable. Lexi Blake can really do no wrong with me, and I can’t wait for more in this series.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: , ,

Review: In Bed With The Beast by Tara Sivec

June 4, 2018 by · Leave a Comment


IN BED WITH THE BEAST
Series: The Naughty Princess Club #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Tara Sivec
Release Date: June 5, 2018

A tale as old as time: she needs a place to stay, he’s a grump with a secret and an extra room…can love find a way?

Meet the Naughty Princess Club, a series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that brings readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after.

Living in her overprotective dad’s basement, shy Belle lives her life through books. Being a part of the Naughty Princess Club is the first adventure she’s ever had, plus she desperately needs the money to save one of her favorite places – the local library.

But when her new friends and new business gets her kicked out of her dad’s house, Belle is rescued by the surly Vincent “Beast” Adams who invites her to be his house guest until she gets back on her feet. Despite his attitude problem and long list of rules, Belle finds herself warming to the muscled man with a penchant for growling and starts seeing a gentle side to him that wasn’t there before.

Yet there’s a room that Beast keeps locked and Belle keeps getting hints that Beast is hiding something…can a nerdy librarian tame the beast or will their romance be over before it has a chance to blossom?

AMAZON | iBOOKS

“Oh, my God,” I whisper, my thighs clenching…
“My name’s Vincent. But you can yell whatever you want tonight.”


Oh beast. *heart eyes emoji*

Man do I love me those broody bearded types. And it just doesn’t get any broodier than beast aka Vincent. The silent and grumpy security guard at Charming. If you’ve already read At the Stroke of Midnight, then you’ve already seen the awkwardly hilarious first encounter between him and Belle. And if you haven’t, no worries, because you won’t have any trouble reading this as a standalone. However, I still highly recommend book one simply because it’s freaking AWESOME! But I digress.

Belle is the shy and awkward one of the three girlfriends. She has a tendency to sprout random weird facts when she feels awkward, and that’s quite common. I also couldn’t get enough of her adorably quirky personality. After living in her father’s basement for far too long, this shy librarian is finally ready to take life by the horns. First thing? Book her first stripper event so she can help save her financially struggling beloved library in which she works. Too bad her experience with men of the non fictional variety is entirely too limited. So what’s a girl to do? Enlist the help of the silent, broody one that seems to be hounding her every step lately.

One of my favorite things about this series is most definitely the banter and the friendship that Belle shares with Ariel and Cindy. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Cindy’s loud mouth and balls to the wall personality. That girl brings each page she appears on to life. She’s truly my spirit animal.

I usually pair this dress with a colorful cardigan sweater and a pair of ballet flats in the same color as the sweater,” I complain, shifting from foot to foot in the heels she made me put on.
“If you ever put a cardigan on again I will punch you in the throat. Also, if you ever use a safety pin to close the neckline of one of your dresses again, I’ll stab you in the eye with it.”

Vincent was deliciously broody. With a painful history, he’s withdrawn completely into himself. But little does he know that a quirky librarian will help him see the light of things.

In Bed With The Beast was a delicious slow burn full of heart and humor. I absolutely adored Belle and Beast together. Watching his heart slowly melt and as he unwillingly falls harder and harder for Belle was entirely satisfying. I’m seriously hooked on this series, but I’m pretty sure I’d part with an ovary to get my hands on Ariel’s book. That set up screams awesome and I absolutely cannot wait to read her book!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,
Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: