Review: ★His To Take★ by Katee Robert

Review-HtTHis To Take
Series: Out of Uniform #3.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: December 7, 2015
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Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent—something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Review3 starsThis was a steamy little number that took me a little under two hours to finish. At just under 80 pages it’s definitely a shorty but it also packs some heat. A sexy Marine and a sassy heroine who have been having an on again off again fling for years are now both back in the small town they grew up in. But this time, Warren wants more than just a hot secret hook-up. He wants something more, he just has to convince the skittish Erin that it’s what she wants too.

Erin has always had a thing for Warren. But she also knows that she can’t have anything with him either. He’s a Marine that may be deployed any day, and she’s a failed broadway actress that’s back home living with her mom and dad to lick her wounds. But what started with a sexy game of truth-or-dare, may also lead to something much more when Warren gives her a dare she has no hope of backing down from.

His to Take was a quick read that I read in one sitting. I love Katee’s writing and I’m a big fan of her Out of Uniform series. Unfortunately, as my thing with most short novellas, it just didn’t offer enough for me to truly be satisfying. It was a nice little appetizer, but I would have loved a full meal if you catch my drift. I have a hard time with short novellas as they just don’t grab be as much as a longer book may. It’s not long enough for me to truly get invested in the characters. But I do have to say, I was invested enough in Erin and Warren’s story. It was an enjoyable read, albeit a short one. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy read for the holidays, His To Take is the perfect contender.

Review: ★Crashed Out★ by Tessa Bailey

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Title: Crashed Out
Series: Made in Jersey #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: August 7, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She’s the fuel for every song he’s ever written—each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this “kid” turned into every inch the man she’s always needed…

Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey…until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks—or rather storms—into Jasmine’s life. Sarge’s return shouldn’t affect her this way. He’s her best friend’s much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

 

Review3 starsCrashed Out-DGR

 

Ride me, use me, come on me. God knows I’ve used the thought of you to come for a fucking decade.”

When I heard that Tessa Bailey will be starting a new Brazen series, to say I was thrilled would be a mild understatement. Her dirty talkers are my crack of choice and I’ll never get enough. Seriously. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Tessa Bailey books make my ovaries happy. I absolutely loved the setup for this series, and I already know the next books in it will be on my auto buy list. Now about Crashed out…

I’m not typically of the younger man, older woman scenario…but if Tessa writes it, I’ll try it. And if said younger guy happens to be a super sexy rock god with a penchant for dirty talk, who am I to say no? Sarge Purcell has had a thing for Jasmine since he was just a teenager. As the best friend of his older sister and seven years his senior, he’s certainly had his share of dirty fantasies about her. Too bad that she never viewed him that way. Now he’s back on a hiatus from his band’s touring and when opportunity knocks…he’ll take it to tear down all her walls and convince her that she needs to take a chance on him.

So you’re probably wondering why I only rated this three stars, aren’t you? Well, see now here’s the thing; as a reader for me there’s a fine line between sexy dirty talk and plain crudeness and this book crossed it several times. Tessa Bailey has the midas touch when it comes to her heroes, the dirty talk just flows effortlessly in her previous books. But in the case of this one it felt forced and just way OTT.

That’s it, you tight little thing. Working my dick like a goddamn stripper pole…”

Tell me your fucking legs are up in the air because you want my come. Pout for it. Let me see that little pout.”

“I want to fuck you like a beast in heat…”

I’m all for dirty talk as much as the next pervert, but the above just did nothing for me. It didn’t feel natural, it was just too much and it took me out of the story quite a bit. I wanted to love it and there were parts and scenes that I certainly enjoyed the heck out of, but it just lacked that natural ease that Tessa’s writing usually has.

Having have said that, I’m still definitely hooked on the series. I loved the set up for Sarge’s sister, that just sounds all sorts of delicious. And of course there’s his band’s drummer and the manager that I’m itching to get my hands on. As much as I love Tessa’s books, you can’t love them all, so I’m writing this off as a fluke and I’m eagerly anticipating what else she has in store for the next books in this series.

Review: ★Vindicate★ by Beth Yarnall

Review-VindicateVindicate
Series: Recovered Innocence #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Beth Yarnall
Release Date: November 17, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Beth Yarnall kicks off a steamy new series—perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot and Emma Chase—featuring a San Diego investigative team with a soft spot for lost causes and a passion for redemption.

Cora. . . . I got my driver’s license on my sixteenth birthday so I could visit my brother in prison. Five and a half years later, he’s still locked up for a murder he didn’t commit and I’m still trying to find a way to set him free. Then I hear about Nash Security and Investigation, a private detective agency that helped exonerate a wrongfully convicted man after thirty-nine years in prison. The problem? They’ve already taken on the one pro-bono case they’ll accept this year.

Leo. . . . I’m this close to finishing law school—and never working another day at my dad’s P.I. office—when Cora Hollis walks through the door. She’s got a box of files, a handful of leads, and an independent streak a mile wide. She fascinates me and I can’t say no. Suddenly I’m volunteering to help her find a missing witness who could be the key to her brother’s case. But nothing is what it seems and giving in to the attraction between us could be more dangerous than finding the real murderer.

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks

Review3 stars

I’m not gonna lie and say that cover isn’t what first drew me to this book, but it was the synopsis that ultimately sealed the deal. I was intrigued enough to give a new to me author a chance, and I’m glad that I did. Don’t let my three star rating fool you. I enjoyed the book for the most part and I’m certainly hooked enough on this series to continue with the next book. There were just a few things that kept this being from a four star for me, and most of these happen to be reader preference. I tend to be on the pickier end, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.

The premise is intriguing enough. All Cora has known for the past five and half years is determination to get her brother free from prison. After the brutal rape and murder of his girlfriend, all signs pointed to him and that got him life in prison. But Cora knows he’s innocent and she’s give up everything and do anything to prove it. She’s spent the past five and a half years building a case. She’s given up school, secluded herself from her parents, all with a single minded intent to exonerate her beloved brother. When she hears a commercial on the radio for Nash Security and Investigation that just freed an innocent man that spend thirty nine years behind bars, she knows she may have the answer to her problems.

Leo Nash is a law student who has no intention of staying on to take over his father’s investigation business. He’s also quite the bit of a manwhore. But when he lays eyes on Cora and hears about her brother’s case, he knows that he wants to help. Sounds interesting, right? And it was.

So what didn’t quite work for me?

I’m not a fan of the instal-anything angle. And unfortunately for me, Vindicate had it in spades. Leo has no interest in long term relationships, he’s already managed to have sex with their office secretary and piss her off when he wants nothing more to do with her. Yet all it takes is for him to lay eyes on Cora, and all of a sudden he’s smitten. I just didn’t buy this connection. It was too sudden, there wasn’t enough buildup to it for me.

I also found the dialogue and writing to be a bit stilted at parts. It just didn’t have a flow to it.

Experimentally, she runs her thumb across the tip. It slides in my pre-cum, which seems to delight her, so she does it again and again. I groan. Her fascination with it is killing me. She wraps both hands about my dick and gives it a squeeze. I put my hand on hers and show her how to stroke me. She picks up my rhythm. I’m dying. She’s torturing me.

I felt like I was reading separate sentences put together but there was nothing tying them together, if that makes sense. It just didn’t sound natural or have a flow to it. This was especially true during most of their internal dialogues.

I also felt extremely underwhelmed with the ending. The mystery behind who the true killer was was the one thing that kept me turning the pages. And considering it lasted well into the last pages of the book, I expected something a little bit more from it, I suppose. It was wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking. Considering the way the book ends, I’m assuming some of it will carry into the next book.

My quibbles aside, this was still an enjoyable read and I definitely plan on reading the next book in the series. i love me those tortured alpha males, and it just doesn’t get much more tortured then Beau. Hopefully the next book will be a little stronger than this one.

Review: ★Raze★ by Tillie Cole

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Series: Scarred Souls #1
Genre: Dark, Erotic Romance
Author: Tillie Cole
Release Date: December 29, 2014add-to-goodreads-button-2

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To take back life, one must first face death…

One man stripped of his freedom, his morals…his life.

Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unremorseful, unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. Death and brutality are the masters of his fate.

After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge…bloody, slow and violent revenge.

Revenge on the man who lied.

Revenge on the man who wronged him.

Revenge on the man who condemned him and turned him into this: a rage-fueled killing machine. A monster void of humanity; a monster filled with hate.

And no one will stand in the way of getting what he wants.

One woman stripped of her freedom, her morals…her life.

Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill ‘The Silencer’ Volkov, head of the infamous ‘Triad’ bosses of New York’s Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it’s a virtual prison. Her father’s savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring—The Dungeon—ensures too many enemies lurk at their door.

She dreams to be set free.

Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. As manager of her father’s death match enterprise, only grief and pain fill her days. Her mafia boss father, in her world, rules absolute. And her fiancé, Alik Durov, is no better; the Dungeon’s five-time champion, a stone-cold killer, the treasured son of her father’s best friend, and her very own—and much resented—personal guard. Unrivaled in both strength and social standing, Alik controls every facet of Kisa’s life, dominates her every move; keeps her subdued and dead inside…then one night changes everything.

While working for her church—the only reprieve in her constant surveillance—Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with anyone. He’s a man beyond saving, and a man she must quickly forget…for both their sakes.

But when weeks later, out of the blue and to her complete surprise, he’s announced as the replacement fighter in The Dungeon, Kisa knows she’s in a whole lot of trouble. He’s built, ripped and lethally unforgiving to his opponents, leaving fear in his wake and the look of death in his eyes.

Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man…this man they call Raze.

Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains explicit sexual situations, excessive violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up.

Buy LinksAmazon / iTunes

Review3 starsRaze-DGR

He was as cold as an arctic winter… but he was a beautiful monster…

After so many friends raved to me about how amazing this book was, I was beyond excited to be finally reading it. Given that I’ve also spent quite a few months avoiding it. Why? Because my picky Russian ass has yet to read a book with the MCs being Russian and not having it be butchered to hell and back. So I get a little touchy.

I have to say, I was very impressed with the way the author accurately portrayed the Bratva and the true brutal underbelly of it. The concept and the story were intriguing, violent, intense, and gripping. The book kept my attention the entire time reading it. But unfortunately there were too many issues that I had along with it that ultimately killed my buzz.
Be warned….nitpicking galore to follow…

The character’s names.
First we have Kisa. But here’s the thing; I’ve never heard of a name like this in Russian. Ever. It is a very common term of endearment however. It loosely translates to “pussy cat” or “kitten”. Whatever your fancy. But here’s the issue, Kisa’s fiance likes to call her “Myshka”, which translates to little mouse.

The writing.
OK look, I know I’m picky here but this just didn’t work for me in the least. I found some parts of the book to be choppy. It goes from incredibly emotional and gritty to borderline cheesy.
Like this phrase here:
“Please, sit, papas.”
Why on earth would someone say, “Please, sit, fathers”? Unless you’re in church. But again, that’s neither here nor there. My main issue came with the dialogue, internal and external. The repetitive terminology, especially within the character’s dialogue managed to frustrate me enough to take me out of the story at times.
The overuse of endearments and names within one paragraph being my main issue.
Also, in Russian culture it’s com

The heroine Nothing about Kisa worked for me. She was bland to the point of blending in with the furniture. There was nothing about her that grabbed me as a reader or endeared me. She was weak and her simple acceptance of things just being what they are and such is life did nothing for me either. Don’t get me started on her vagina’s pavlov response to the mere presence of Raze. The woman would walk into a room, see his back without knowing it’s him, and already she’s raring to go?
Taking into consideration her borderline abusive psycho of a fiancé and their relationship, I’m shocked she had no emotional or mental scars. This is especially true towards the end. She moves on from all of it without so much as a bat of a eye lash. No lingering emotional trauma…just is what it is.

The overuse of the word “channel
Perhaps this is just me, but I have never once referred to my southern region as a “channel” during internal monologue during sex. So the fact the Kisa thinks how her clenching channel wrapped around his cock made me wonder if perhaps she was a victorian maiden in her past life.

The overuse of endearments
Considering the gritty and brutal subject matter of this song, I can understand why the author would want to dilute that with a beautiful love story. However, I just can’t picture any person in their late 20s referring to the other as “my love” on a constant and consistent basis. I’m talking about multiple times during one sex scene. Perhaps it’s my inner cynic kicking in, but this was just too much cheese for me.

The graphic sex scenes with Kisa’s fiance
I’m not a reader that has an issue of a graphic sex scene with a person that’s not the main love interest in a romance. Especially not when it fits the plot as it did here. That being said, it didn’t need to be as often or as graphic as it was here. After the first time, I didn’t see a reason for it. Yes, I get it, Alik is brutal and sadisctic. He feels that Kisa is his property and he goes absolutely batshit at another man so much as looking at her. I do NOT want to be reading about this more than I need to which was for basically (view spoiler). Did it fit the plot? Sure. Could it have been toned down? Absolutely.
It could have easily been fade to black or just loosely mentioned. It simply didn’t need to be as graphic as it was past the first 2 times.

Having said all that, the story itself was unique and gripping enough to have me turning the pages. Sure it was a little predictable in places but I don’t think it was ever really meant to be a huge secret. I didn’t see a good part of the ending coming, so in terms of suspense and grit, it certainly fit the bill. Raze was the star of the book. I couldn’t help but fall for him right away. The violence was graphic and at times extremely difficult to read. But at the same time, it just didn’t effect me as much as some of the other gritty and dark books I read. While this may not have completely worked for me, I’m intrigued enough to continue with the series. Hopefully with the next book being traditionally published, some of the issues I had here may be ironed out.

Review: ★Pretty When You Cry★ by Skye Warren

Review-PWYCPretty When You Cry
Series: Stripped #3
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance
Author: Skye Warren
Release Date: October 16, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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A new dark romance novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Prisoner…

I came from a place of dirt floors and holy scriptures. They told me the world outside was full of sin, and the first night I escape, I find out it’s true. Ivan saves me, but he does more than that. He takes me. He makes me his own girl.

My conditioning runs too deep. Ivan sees what I am.

That’s the thing about showing a mouse to a cat. He wants to play. And it’s terrifying, even for me. Because the only thing darker than my past is his.

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Author’s Note: Pretty When You Cry is a STANDALONE dark romance novel. It’s set in the sexy Stripped series world but can be read alone. Not intended for those uncomfortable with the subject matter or under eighteen.

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks


Review3 starsPretty When You Cry-DGR

I never wanted to be pretty. I never wanted to drive men to sin- until that was all I had left.

Let’s talk dark erotic taboo. This depraved pervert can’t get enough of it. Take a look at my read shelves and you’ll see what I mean. I loves me some kink. But here’s the thing, even my perviness has it’s limit, and it doesn’t matter who writes it or how amazing the book is, it is guaranteed to deflate my enjoyment quicker than whisky dick: The “Daddy/Little One” kink. Can I look past it to finish a book where I’m loving the story, as was the case here? Absolutely. Does it tickle my particular fancy?
True story.

Having not read the previous books in this series (yet), I had no issues at all reading this as a standalone even though it’s book 4. I am planning on going back and rectifying this immediately though because I do Skye Warren’s writing. The story is intense, captivating, deliciously depraved, and with Skye’s signature grit added into the mix. As a matter of fact, I read the book cover to cover in one sitting. So that really goes to show you that the story alone is worth it.

Ivan wants to put me in a cage, but what I really want is to fly.

Now I would not classify this as dark romance, but really dark erotica with a touch of taboo. Why? While Ivan and Candy have one intense relationship, this is not a story where I felt their undying devotion to one another. It was a depraved relationship; one of mutual need and kinks. Ivan needs to control and dominate, while Candy may be more take-charge in her life but is completely subservient with Ivan.

That’s how we are together- depraved and beautiful.

Candice met Ivan when she had nothing. Leaving behind everyone she knows and everything she has, she was running and desperate. Ivan fed on her need but not in a sexual way. At least not at first. After all, when they first meet she’s only 16 years old. The sexual aspect of their relationship only comes into play three years later. I never did pick up on Ivan’s age. Perhaps this was mentioned in the previous books, but I’m left to believe that he was considerably older and so the Daddy thing icked me out even more.
There’s the added element of suspense that weaved into the plot flawlessly and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. Unfortunately as much as I loved Ivan and Candy individually, together they were just OK for me and I blame that entirely on the “daddy” thing.

Please, Ivan. Please…Daddy. I’m sorry I ran away. I won’t do it again.”
“Don’t lie to me, little one.”
“Please let me come. I…I need to. It hurts in my private place.”

Hurts in your private place?
Honestly, between Candy’s inexperience, Ivan’s domineering personality and need to “take care” of her, the sexual aspect of this book did absolutely nothing for me. At all. I didn’t find it hot or erotic. It just was.

What kept me turning the pages was the suspense element, and I was highly underwhelmed with how everything resolved. I got almost no answers for anything. Except for one minor resolution everything else was left hanging in the air. I’m not sure if this is something that will be addressed in the future books, but I was disappointed with it in this one. It felt like a very quick resolution to a slow build up.

Skye Warren’s writing is captivating enough to carry the book for me even though the daddy thing fizzled it, so it wasn’t a dislike. While I can’t say I loved it, I can’t tell you I hated it either. I’m definitely hooked enough to read the rest of the series; previous and future books. Hopefully there will be no more Daddys in the next ones for my ovaries’ sake anyway.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


Tough Love
Stripped #0.5

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Love The Way You Lie
Stripped #1

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Better When It Hurts
Stripped #2

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Even Better
Stripped #2.5

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Review: ★The Billionaire Takes a Bride★ by Jessica Clare

Review- TBTABThe Billionaire Takes a Bride
Series: Billionaires and Bridesmaids #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jessica Clare
Release Date: October 20, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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A lie turns to love in the latest novel from the New York Timesbestselling author of The Taming of the Billionaire.

Billionaire Sebastian Cabral loves his family, he just doesn’t love their reality TV show, The Cabral Empire. So when his ex-girlfriend tries to rekindle their relationship on camera, Sebastian decides that drastic measures are in order.

By day, Chelsea Hall is a happy-go-lucky, rough and tumble roller derby skater. By night, she’s still living in fear of her past. Most of all, she just doesn’t want to be alone. And she really, really doesn’t want to date.

So when their mutual friends’ upcoming wedding turns Chelsea and Sebastian into fast friends, they realize they can solve both of their problems with one life-changing lie: a quick trip down the aisle.

But with one kiss, Chelsea and Sebastian suddenly realize that their pretend relationship is more real than either of them expected…

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks


Review3 starsTBTaB-DGR

Fans of sweet romance with a sexy kick and beta heroes will adore this latest from the fabulous Jessica Clare.
This was my first book in the series by this author, and I had absolutely no issues picking this up 3 books in. I immediately grew a liking to the heroine, Chelsea Hall. This is clearly a woman with some cracks, but she’s by no means broken. At least not in my opinion. She was strong in her own right, but I also absolutely loved her vulnerable side. This is someone that’s been through something tragic and that’s evident from the very first chapter.

Sebastian Cabral is a wonderful hero. I simply loved the way that he was with Chelsea; patient, understanding and kind. This is not your average brooding, manwhore billionaire with issues. That’s not to say he’s without any, but a kooky family and the issues that ensues from their popular television show just made him more endearing. In an effort to avoid a crazy ex intent on being famous, and for Chelsea to avoid men hitting on her, they come to a mutually beneficial arrangement; marriage…without the benefits. They become each other’s safety nets, though it’s not long before the sexual chemistry brewing between them begins to take hold.

Now you’re probably thinking why only three stars. Well, as much as I hate to say it but this book was just too sweet for me.
Now now, don’t judge me here! It’s fair to say that this had absolutely nothing to do with the book and absolutely everything to do with reader preference. I prefer my heroes alphas, and a more unassuming beta hero doesn’t tickle my fancy as much. While Sebastian is a great hero, he’s just not what I prefer in my books. If you’re looking for a story with a hero that’s as rich as he is nice, then Sebastian is definitely your guy.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


The Billionaire and the Virgin
Billionaires and Bridesmaids, #1

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The Taming of the Billionaire
Billionaires and Bridesmaids, #2

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The Billionaire Takes a Bride
Billionaires and Bridesmaids, #3

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Review: ★Love Burns★ by Mandi Beck

Review- Love BurnsLove Burns
Series: Caged Love #2
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Mandi Beck
Release Date: September 21, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

LOVE BURNS COVER

Love.

It’s my name. It’s what I fight for. It’s Frankie.

I’m a fighter. Trained to always keep my cover. To anticipate, see the next hit coming. I never expected her past to come at us swinging like it has.

I’m about to take on two of the most important fights of my life. My girl and the belt. I know that I can handle it. That I’ll never stop fighting. But, what do you do when your life, your love is threatened and you can’t take the hits – she has to? You shut your eyes and fucking pray like hell that she’s strong enough, fierce enough to come out on top.

I went to war for her. Now it’s her turn.

****THIS BOOK CONCLUDES DEACON’S STORY. THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME IN THE SERIES, BUT LOVE BURNS WILL COMPLETE DEACON AND FRANKIE’S JOURNEY****

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks

Review3 starsLove Burns- DirtyGirlRomance

I went to war for her. Now it’s her turn

I fell hard for Deacon “The Hitman” Love when I first met him in Love Hurts while Frankie took me a bit of warming up to. In Love Burns, the tables turn and I found myself struggling with some of Deacon’s decisions while I loved seeing Frankie come into her own and find her inner strength and voice.

One thing that soured my enjoyment was this (I’ll spoiler tag even though it is something that’s revealed in the first chapter just in case you want to go in completely blind)(HIGHLIGHT TO VIEW SPOILER) [While separated from Frankie, Deacon sleeps with two models while on a drunken bender and doesn’t remember anything when he wakes up. The whole time before he’s pinning for Frankie and the whole time after he’s jealous of any man that looks her way and professes his undying love and declares that he’ll fight for her. Now I don’t have a problem with the hero sleeping around….if it fist the story. Here, while it may or may not have fit, I found that it cheapened his feelings for her. All this talk of love this and love that, and then his internal thought is “if I can’t remember, it’s like it didn’t happen, right?” Don’t get me wrong, he acknowledges that what he did is wrong, but it still left a sour taste in my mouth](END SPOILER)

The majority of the book is spent with Deacon and Frankie continuing to deal with the threat on her life from her ex fiance and the mystery surrounding the case he has that led to all the trouble. All the while they’re working through their issues. I hate to say that I found parts of the book to be slightly cliche and dragging, to a point where I found myself skimming the sex scenes. Deacon simply wasn’t as endearing to me as he was in the first book, but he was no less intense.

There was something that happened at the end that should have garnered some emotion from me, and yet I found myself questioning the shock factor of it and why it needed to happen. On the one hand, it drove the plot somewhat….on the other hand, it almost felt like it wasn’t needed. I also absolutely hated the way that Deacon dealt with it in respect to Frankie. After everything they’ve already went through, I wanted something more from him. Frankie was beyond understanding, and I found her to be too understanding with this considering the circumstances.

My issues aside, it was still an enjoyable read. I suppose in my months of waiting after the crazy cliffhanger in book 1, I may have built my hopes up too high. As you can clearly see, most people really enjoyed this one. Perhaps I’m too critical and just wasn’t in the right mood for it? Perhaps my issue was that I forgot a few details from the first book in the wait and maybe that would have helped me connect more? Whatever the case may be, while this book wasn’t a total winner for me, I’m still a fan of this author and would gladly read any of her books in the future.

 


Don’t miss book 1!

23367669Goodreads / Amazon / My Review

Review: ★Wicked Lies★ by Lora Leigh

Review Wicked Lies Wicked Lies
Series: Men Of Summer #2
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Lora Leigh
Release Date: September 1, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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Jazz has never been known as a good boy.

A good drinker. A good partier. A damned good builder, and a hell of a good liar. Those are all descriptions that come to mind when the citizens of Loudon, Tennessee think of the tall, muscular, laughter-filled charmer they know as Jazz. And Jazz will admit to all of them: he likes to play; he likes to tease. And a little white lie surely never hurt anyone.

Until the sexy, too-shy kindergarten teacher, Annie. Annie sets fire to his lusts as well as to his heart. But Annie has a past he wasn’t aware of. A past that will draw Jazz into the heart of a conflict he had never expected to face. His little Annie is under the protection of the United States Marshal Service for her testimony that has a high profile, very wealthy businessman facing death by lethal injection. A man that will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Now, Jazz has to pull in some serious favors, just as he finds himself fighting not just an overprotective Marshal that he believed was the new school principal, but also a woman determined to save the charming liar that has never been serious. One that has never faced reality. A man that has always sworn himself a bachelor. A man that now is telling the most wicked lies of his life to steal the heart of the woman that has stolen his soul.

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Review3 starsWicked Lies- DirtyGirlRomance

God help him, he’d never wanted anyone…anything…like he wanted this woman.

Here’s the thing, you’re pretty much know exactly what you’re going to get with a Lora Leigh novel. No deviation. Lather, rinse and repeat, all her books follow practically the same formula. But there’s just something about her alphas; those crazy possessive and jealous, dirty talking and revenues heroes that just do it for me and keeps me coming back for more. Even if the story falls flat, I still enjoy the read for that reason alone. She’s my go-to when I need a good dose of uber alphas. Plus considering she was the very first erotic romance I had ever read, I suppose I have a a little nostalgia with her romances. Yes the formula is always the same; uber alpha and a sassy heroine that fights her obvious attraction to him at every corner, but in the case here…it worked for me.
Wicked Lies is book two in her Men of Summer series but it can easily be read as a standalone. I read book one years ago and remember a sum all of nothing and had no problem following the story here. Though I had a little trouble getting into the book in the first 25%, it did flow very well after that.

Jazz has never had trouble getting any woman he wanted, but a ghost from his past that he never recovered from prevents him from giving any part of his heart along the way. So why does the town’s new kindergarten teacher tempt him beyond reason?

Annie is back in the town she grew up in for answers. Hiding her identity from everyone, she’s determined to find those answers once and for all, even if she knows how dangerous it is for her to be back. The one man that she knows she should stay away from is also the man that’s determined to get her in his bed.

As far as the romance in Wicked Lies; that was absolutely sizzling hot. I loved the back and forth between the H/h and the chemistry between them was absolutely smoking. Jazz was every bit the uber alpha that I’ve come to expect from Leigh and Annie was definitely not the shy little mouse that she’s described as in the synopsis. Unfortunately I found the suspense part of the story to be fairly week. The biggest aspect of that being Annie’s past.

Annie grew up in the town she’s back in and left when she was 16. Now she’s back 10 years later and the only thing that she uses to disguise herself is different hair color and colored contact lenses and NO ONE recognizes her? Not her brothers? Not the friends she grew up with? Oh but when they see her without the lenses, they recognize her right away because she has extremely distinctive green eyes. Seriously?

That was just so weak, I couldn’t wrap my head around that, especially in a romantic suspense. I don’t usually have trouble suspending my disbelief slightly, but this was just laughable.

As for the rest, it was an enjoyable and super sexy read. I got what I expected; no more, no less, and I’m not even a little sorry. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series although I saw that it’s not the character I had hoped it’ll be, so hopefully she’ll be getting a book soon as well. If you’re looking for a incredibly erotic romantic suspense with an uber possessive alpha and a heroine that brings him to his knees, well you can’t really go wrong with this one.


Book 1 in the MEN OF SUMMER series

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Review: ★Anything But Broken★ by Joelle Knox

Review- ABB

ANYTHING BUT BROKEN
Series: Hurricane Creek #1
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Joelle Knox
Release Date: August 25, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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After five years, tragedy brings Hannah Casey back to Hurricane Creek to bury what’s left of her family. She’s flunking out of college, haunted by scandal, and the only person who cares is Sean Whitlow, an irresistible bad boy with a soft spot for her. The problem? He’s her dead sister’s ex.

Sean doesn’t bleed red, he bleeds motor oil. During the week, he struggles to turn his auto repair shop into a profitable business. But when Saturday night rolls around, he’s the reigning stock-car king of the local race track. He doesn’t know how to lose–or how to walk away and leave Hannah alone with her grief.

Between her grades and her wealthy family’s dark secrets, Hannah’s barely holding her life together. And the last thing Sean needs is to get tangled up with another Casey girl. As the attraction between them spins out of control, they’ll either find a love with no limits–or go up in flames.

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Review3 starsAnything But Broken- Dirty Girl Romance

I’m the girl who always stands in someone else’s shadow. The eternal third wheel. It takes two drinks to loosen my tongue, and no amount of alcohol can thaw me below the neck.

Truth be told, I’ve been waffling over my rating for this book for over a week now. While I enjoyed the concept of the book, the secondary characters and I’m certainly hooked on the series itself, I honestly can’t say that I loved this book. I was bored and found myself skimming the majority of the story.

When I first saw the synopsis for Anything But Broken, I knew I had to read it. It sounded oh so deliciously angsty. Add into it the fact that I’ve heard amazing things about the authors’ other series under a different pen name (Kit Rocha) and I was so excited to get my hands on this. Unfortunately when I started reading it, the only thing that was running through my head was
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything that grabbed me either…ever. It started out slow and for me the first half felt very dragging. I kept reading in hopes that it’ll pick up soon and perhaps the first 60% is just the build up, but that never happened. I find that NA usually has different types of angst, and being the angst whore that I am, I enjoy it each and every single time. However, as I’ve come to find here, there can also be a boring type of angst.

The synopsis made it sound like there will be some deep dark secrets and I was waiting for them to be revealed. But when they were? I didn’t find them shocking or sinister, but anticlimactic at best. The plot had so much going for it; it just never went anywhere. It was stagnant and dragging. There was nothing to drive the plot. At least not for me. I never connected to either of the MCs. I did like Sean for the most part, but found the heroine fell completely flat for me. The romance between them was lukewarm. I’m not sure why. Perhaps because of Sean’s connection to Hannah’s sister? For whatever reason, I just didn’t feel that strong of a connection between them. It also felt, dare I say it, settling.

The one thing that I did love was the set up for the series and the secondary characters; particularly Evie and Gibb. I can’t wait to get my hands on their story because that definitely sounds like it would be exactly up my alley. I’m writing this book off as a fluke in the series or maybe just the mood I’m in? I suppose it’s one of those books that you’ll either like or be mostly indifferent about. I by no means hated it. Like I said, it just never grabbed me.

Review: ★Blurred Lines★ by Lauren Layne

Review Blurred LinesBlurred Lines
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Lauren Layne
Release Date: August 25, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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In a novel that’s perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Jessica Sorensen, USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne delivers a sexy take on the timeless question: Can a guy and a girl really be “just friends”?

When Parker Blanton meets Ben Olsen during her freshman year of college, the connection is immediate—and platonic. Six years later, they’re still best friends, sharing an apartment in Portland’s trendy Northwest District as they happily settle into adult life. But when Parker’s boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, she starts to wonder about Ben’s no-strings-attached approach to dating. The trouble is, even with Ben as her wingman, Parker can’t seem to get the hang of casual sex—until she tries it with him.

The arrangement works perfectly . . . at first. The sex is mind-blowing, and their friendship remains as solid as ever, without any of the usual messy romantic entanglements. But when Parker’s ex decides he wants her back, Ben is shocked by a fierce stab of possessiveness. And when Ben starts seeing a girl from work, Parker finds herself plagued by unfamiliar jealousy. With their friendship on the rocks for the first time, Parker and Ben face an alarming truth: Maybe they can’t go back. And maybe, deep down, they never want to.

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Review

3 starsBlurred Lines-DirtyGirlRomance

Ben and my no strings attached relationship?
Yeah. Turns out that there are suddenly strings after all.
And I’m completely tangled in them.

I adore all things Lauren Layne, so it was an absolute no brainer decision when I saw she was coming out with a book for one of my favorite tropes; friends to lovers, to dive right in. Lauren is my go-to author whenever I need a light and easy read filled with swoony romance and endearing characters. Blurred Lines certainly fit that and then some. It was the perfect afternoon read. I simply adored Parker and Ben together. I always seem to have a weakness for the manwhores, and Ben definitely hit the spot for that. Their friendship had a solid foundation, which I really appreciated. I loved their banter the most

I think we should hook up.”
I would just like to state- for the record- that I should win a goddamned medal for not laughing, fainting, or straight up walking out of the room.

While the chemistry was definitely present between these two, they spent so much of the book denying and not seeing what was happening between them, that it became difficult even for me to see it. I struggled to see beyond their friendship to the romantic entanglements. Sure they burn up the sheets together, but I just didn’t get that butterflies in the stomach kind of connection. Usually in a friends-to-lovers book, I always sense the undercurrent of romance and sexual chemistry between the couple even when they don’t, but that wasn’t the case here. I can understand given the many years of solid friendship they had how they may fail to see it, but it just lasted too long for my tastes. Perhaps if both of them began to noticed it at least in the middle of the book than towards the end of it? For whatever reason, I just didn’t get that sense of crackling chemistry I usually get with a Lauren Layne novel.

Don’t get me wrong, this was still a lovely romance and one I’d recommend for any lover of a good friends-to-lovers trope, it just wasn’t my favorite by this author. Then again, considering I’ve absolutely loved all her other books, that’s not exactly a rough criticism. Blurred Lines was an enjoyable and steamy romance that’s easy on the angst, had great character development, but just fell a little flat on the all-encompassing romance for me.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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