Lana – Page 144

Jennifer’s Review: ★Reckless Hearts★ by Melody Grace

July 9, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

RECKLESS HEARTS
Series: Oak Harbor #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Melody Grace
Release Date: June 27, 2016

“When you’re ready for a real man to show you what it feels like, you just let me know.”

It should be the offer of a lifetime: sexy craftsman Will Montgomery wants to rock my world, and boy, does he know what to do with his hands – and that filthy, delicious mouth of his…

Only problem is, I don’t believe in relationships. And Will has ‘boyfriend material’ written all over his chiseled, hunky abs. He was supposed to be an impulse fling, but now he’s shown up in Oak Harbor, NC, to put down roots, and he’s determined to make me com…mit.

Love always ends in tears and tequila, but Will seems different. He’s charming, and funny, and did I mention that miraculous mouth of his? Despite all my better judgment, I’m falling. Hard. But can something this good turn out to be true? Or will old scars keep us from building a future together? For the first time ever, maybe I want to be proven wrong…

The new heartfelt, sexy stand-alone with a happy ending from New York Times bestselling author, Melody Grace.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

2.5 a-little-less-gentlemanly Stars

This book is super sweet. Like, my teeth hurt, sweet. It was a little too much sugar for me (2 cubes, please), but a lot of people will probably love this story. If you’re looking for a cute beach read, this book is for you.
Will & Delilah….

Delilah & Will….

They were cute. Their meet-cute was cute. Their conversation was cute. Ok, I will admit that he has some dirty talk going on, so that was niiiiice.

Will was an adorable, sexy, gentleman….I just prefer my men a little less….gentlemanly.
I would still recommend this book to readers who love a sweet story. There is nothing wrong with it. There just wasn’t anything that stood out to me.

It just wasn’t my cuppa tea.

Review: ★Falling In Deeper★ by Shayla Black

July 8, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

FALLING IN DEEPER
Series: Wicked Lovers #11
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Shayla Black
Release Date: July 5, 2016

A tragic past threatens to destroy a passionate future in this dangerously sexy new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked for You.

After a violent tragedy nearly destroyed her, Lily Taylor ran away, changed her name, and started over. When her deadly nemesis resurfaces to eliminate his loose end, she turns to the last man she should trust—a stranger with a history of violence and an intoxicating sexuality she can’t refuse…

Though strong-armed into locating Lily to help put away a drug lord, ex-con Stone Sutter isn’t anyone’s snitch. When he finds the terrified beauty, he vows to keep her safe—but he isn’t sure he has the strength to shield her from his own desires.

As an unquenchable fire sparks between them, Lily’s tormentor stalks ever closer, and she must overcome her darkest fear to survive. Can she trust the bond she and Stone have formed as they’re falling in deeper?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

Why are you so patient with me?”
“Because you’re worth it.”

Swoon.
I just knew I’d end up falling hard for Stone Sutter, and I was definitely not wrong. He’s definitely going up there with my top favorite heroes of the series (though admittedly Logan Edgington is still my #1). But I digress…

It’s hard to believe that this is now book 11 in the series and it’s still just as good if not getting better with each book. Stone, definitely caught my attention in Wicked for You. There’s just something about this ex-con that piqued my interest and I knew that his book was going to be a good one. When I realized that his heroine will be none other than “Sweet Pea” aka Lily Taylor, I knew it was going to be even better than I thought. And again, I was not wrong.

Lily has a long standing history with Axel, but now that Axel is engaged to the woman he loves, she finds herself with a Dom she so desperately needs. But Lily is also hiding a devastating past. Going under a false name and running for her life, she doesn’t think anyone at Dominion is on to her, but she’s wrong. The men know who she is, and they know the danger she’s running from. Stone has been intrigued by the shy beauty from the very moment he saw her, and he’s not above using her dire situation to get closer to her and to protect her at the same time.

I don’t want you any way except willing, panting, and begging.”

This book packs quite an emotional punch compared to the last few in the series. Lily has been through so much devastation in her young life it’s a wonder how she’s even functional. She’s been through so much, but there’s still this inner core of strength beneath. She’s a survivor, not a victim and that certainly comes out more and more as the story progresses. This is not a woman that blinks and is suddenly healed by the magic penis like you’d find in so many others. Her issues are deep rooted and take a while to work through. But man oh man did I love the way that Sutter works though them.

You might have a hundred ways to fool yourself, but I don’t bother with that shit. I know better. You’re it for me, and what we just did in that bed together proved it. I’m smitten. Gone. And I can’t stand that you don’t trust me.

I adored Stone. Simply adored him. He’s not perfect but the way he pursues Lily gave me too many swoons to count. He was this perfect balance of sweet yet edgy. Everything that came out of the man’s mouth was pure perfection.

You just got out of prison. I’m not worth you risking your freedom.”
“You are to me. I would move mountains to give you happiness and peace.”

The story itself was definitely an enticing one. There’s a bit of everything intrigue, suspense, a little action and certainly a whole lot of steam. It wouldn’t be a Wicked Lovers book if there wasn’t. But it was so much more than that too. It’s a deeply emotional love story about healing and moving on. It’s about finding your own strength and fighting back. It has that signature sexiness that I’ve come to except from a Shayla Black book, but it was more than just a sexy romance. The ending was a bit a bit predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This series is a long running guilty pleasure of mine that I hope never ends. I can’t wait for the next installment.

WICKED LOVERS SERIES

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, BDSM, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: BDSM, Book Reviews: 4 stars, Shayla Black

Review: ★Steadfast★ by @SarinaBowen

July 7, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

STEADFAST
Series: The True North #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release Date: July 12, 2016

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie’s police chief father. But it’s a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

When I was seventeen, I thought Jude was sent to me from heaven. When I was eighteen, I let him take me there. When I was nineteen, he broke both my heart and my family.

From the very second that Jude was introduced in Bittersweet, I knew that I needed his book. There’s just something about the broken and tortured heroes, and it doesn’t get more tortured than the man who let his addiction take away not only his freedom but the love of his life. Three years ago, Jude made a mistake that cost him everything. He’s always been able to hide his drug addiction from his beloved Sophie, but when he crashes into a tree and sent to prison for the death of his car’s passenger, all his darkest secrets tear wide open. Now after serving three years, the last place Jude wants to come back to is the town where everyone knows him as an ex-con, but there’s not much choice for him while he gets back on his feet again. So back to his father’s house he goes to work in his auto-shop and hopefully save up enough to get himself a second chance elsewhere.

My name is Jude Nickel, and I am an addict. Also, I’m a big fucking idiot.

Sophie Haines was the love of his life. Letting her go was the hardest thing he’s ever done, but she was always too good for him and meant for greater things. He expects Sophie to be living her dream on Broadway and not stuck with her life in shambles in their small town with a mother that’s a shell of a person and an abusive, jaded father.

It’s inevitable that they run into each other and the love that neither of them ever forgot or got over soon brews to the surface once more.

We’d ended up exactly where I hadn’t wanted us to land, slotting ourselves right into position in both my bed and my memory.

Steadfast packed quite an emotional punch. I loved the realism with which Sarina wrote Jude. This is not a man that suddenly forgets he’s an addict once he detoxed. His struggle is daily and your heart breaks for him experiencing all of it with him. His love for Sophie was easily one of my favorite things about this book. It’s just so unwavering and pure. His inner struggle of loving her but knowing he can’t be with her was heart-wrenching.

The first time I ever kissed Sophie was in a car in the rain. That kiss had made my blood surge with lust and hope. But this one made me ache with impossible longing.

But reading how supportive Sophie was with everything about him and his past made it that much better. Sophie was an amazing heroine. She’s been through so much herself and her family life leaves something to be desired, but you truly understand what draws her to Jude and why she never really blamed him for what happened three years ago.

An addiction is when you can’t keep away from something that’s bad for you. Maybe Jude was a drug addict, but I was a Jude addict.

I absolutely loved the two of them together. The story is highly emotional, angsty and with a touch of forbidden. It broke my heart and melted it. It shattered me into a million pieces and then slowly put me back together.

You own me. You always have.”
“Even when you’re not perfect, you’re still mine.”

The love between Sophie and Jude was a palpable thing. I couldn’t get enough of them. It was beautiful in a tragic way. My heart was aching reading their road to a second chance together. I’ve been a huge fan of all things Sarina Bowen for a while now, but Steadfast put her on a whole different level to me. It was easily one of my favorite second chance romances I’ve read in a long while and certainly the most memorable. It was beautiful and emotional. It was everything I had hoped it would be and so, SO much more.

TRUE NORTH SERIES

BITTERSWEET (True North #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

STEADFAST (True North #2)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

KEEPSAKE (True North #3) – releasing October 2016
GOODREADS

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4.5 stars, Sarina Bowen, Second-chance-romance

Review: ★Into The Blue★ by Chanel Cleeton

July 6, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

INTO THE BLUE
Series: Wild Aces #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 5, 2016

From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series.

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

It seemed like my entire adult life had been spent either running from or to this one girl.

Confession time: I’m an angst addict. OK, so that’s probably not that big a secret, but I’m going somewhere with this so bear with me. Now if I told you this was a sweet and sexy second chance romance that had no stupid misunderstandings, miscommunication, and light on the angst and yet I still read it in one sitting; would you believe me? Because that’s exactly what happened with Into The Blue. It was perfect! A fighter pilot with the call sign, Thor, the woman he walked away from but never got over, and a second chance romance that will have you rooting for both characters…intrigued yet? You should be.

Maybe I was a fool. I probably was. But the thing with love was that once you felt it, it was impossible to turn off.

Ten years ago, Eric “Thor” Jansen walked away from his fiancé and their life together in South Carolina. He was young and torn between his career as a fighter pilot and the woman he loves. He made the choice that’s haunted him since. Now after a tragic accident, he needs to get his head together, and so he comes back to the town he left behind and the woman he’s never forgotten.

Becca Madison was never the same after Eric left. Ten years and she’s still not over the man who broke her heart. But she had her career as a lawyer to think about and she wasn’t ready to give that up for a man. Now a successful attorney for the solicitor’s office, she has everything but a man who owns her heart the way Eric once did.

This was a decade of pent-up unrequited whatever-we-were, and we kissed like we couldn’t get enough of each other.

Their road to a second chance was a slow burn but a steady one. There was no unnecessary distractions like stupid drama or crazy angst. It was essentially one long grovel and I absolutely loved it. If you’re looking for swoons, it just doesn’t get better than Thor.

Holy hell, in this moment, his call sign seemed totally apropos. He looked like the god of thunder and lightning, like a warrior who commanded and men followed.

He was this perfect combination of endearingly sweet but with an edge. I wasn’t sure if I’d accept his reason for leaving at first, but man, he proved me so wrong. This is a man that’s determined to right his wrongs and I loved the way he went after Becca. He’s not pushy or a possessive Neanderthal. Just a man that’s wizened up through the years and knows what he’s been missing.

On our first date. I told you I spent half the night fantasizing about you. You didn’t ask me what I was doing the other half.”
“Do I really want to know?”
“I was falling in love with you.”

This was such a sweet and sexy second chance romance! It reminded me all over again why I love Chanel Cleeton books. I loved her Capital Confessions series and I can’t get enough of her Wild Aces. What can I say? The woman gives good alpha and I simply can’t wait for more. With Easy’s story next, I’m not sure there’s enough ‘wants’ in the world to describe the amount of need I have for that book. Because I seriously NEED it.

WILD ACES SERIES

FLY WITH ME (Wild Aces #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

INTO THE BLUE (Wild Aces #2)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

ON BROKEN WINGS (Wild Aces #3) – releasing Jan
GOODREADS | AMAZON

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Chanel Cleeton, Military-men

Review: ★Broken Prince★ by @authorerinwatt

July 5, 2016 by Lana · 1 Comment

BROKEN PRINCE
Series: The Royals #2
Genre: NA/YA Romance
Author: Erin Watt
Release Date: July 25, 2016

These Royals will ruin you…

From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself.

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

She might be right.

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy.

PRE-ORDER
AMAZON SPOILER FREE

My instincts had screamed at me that she was trouble. My instincts were wrong. She wasn’t trouble. I was. Still Am.
Reed, the destroyer.

Oh my god.
Oh my god.
Oh mylanta!

I swear to all that is holy, that cliffhanger gave me heartburn, anxiety, and a massive case of the eye ticks. How the hell am I supposed to keep sane until OCTOBER? HOW I ASK YOU?!!!!! *babbles incoherently*

He told me to stay away. He told me I didn’t belong. If only I’d listened to him.

This trilogy is the worst sort of book crack and I hope it never ends. And this is coming from a self professed trilogy avoider….because attention span of a rodent! But I am beyond hooked and can’t wait for more! Since this review will be entirely spoiler free, allow me to sum it up in the only way I can…an imaginary conversation I had with Erin Watt in my head as I was reading this. That’s the best I got and I’m not sorry. You’re lucky my brain is working enough for even this….

Me: So Erin, you left readers on quite the cliffy last time. Are you even a little sorry for making us all suffer the way that you have?

Erin:

Me: Right then. Moving on. So Broken Prince picks up immediately where Paper Princess ended. Ella is on the run and Reed is dealing with the fallout. Speaking of Reed and what took place at the end of Paper Princes…

Erin:

Me: Ah. Ok. *backs away slowly* We won’t talk about that then…

Let’s talk about the Royals. There’s quite a few revelations that happen with this family in the book and my mind is still reeling from it. Who knew there were that many skeletons hidden in their closets. The Royal men are all kinds of screwed up and I love it!

Erin:

Me: True. True. Though not for lack of trying, eh? Especially Easton…

Erin: Whatever girl takes on Easton is going to have to hold a whip in one hand and a pistol in the other.

Me: Well look at you, quoting from your own book. Yeah, Easton really did go off the rails in this one, didn’t he? *pervy sigh* But I digress. Can I at least tell readers if Reed grovels for everything that happened?

Erin:

Me: OK! OK! No spoilers! Sheesh! No need to get violent! And will you put that shot gun away already? I swear I won’t say anything.

But admit it. You’re actually a closet sadist and get off on making your readers suffer in such a way?

Erin:

Me: I’ll take that as a yes then. Now Broken Prince is told in dual POVs from Ella and Reed, any hints what Twisted Palace will bring?

Erin:

Me: And the long answer?

Erin:

Me: I really should have seen that coming.

Anyway, let’s talk about Brooke because that woman is one twisted little b-

Erin:

Me: Sure. Right. I supposed anything goes in her world and trying to get what she wants.

Now onto the important business, if I offer up both my ovaries and my first born, any chance I can get my hands on Twisted Palace now?

Erin:

Me: Well, can’t blame a girl for trying.

There’s one crazy as heck cliffy here that I never saw coming in a million years. I’m talking soap opera proportion sort of cliffy. Holy hell it was utterly delicious! Will you take mercy and give us just one teenie tiny clue about what it is?

Erin:

Me: That’s rough. You really are a sadist. I think I already knew that about you after Paper Princess.

Well, thanks for chatting with me while I rock myself in a dark corner at the institution that I was quickly rolled away to after finishing reading. I should have seen the fallout coming considering the state of drooling anticipation you left me with the first book, but alas it is what it is. I’m gonna go babble incoherently some more.
*************************

And there you have it, folks. Broken Prince in a nutshell.
But if you are curious about spoilers and what happened with Reed, I’ll take pity on you…
[su_spoiler title=”Click to view spoiler” style=”fancy” icon=”chevron”] Psych!!! I’m just bluffin with my muffin. You’ll get no spoilers outta me, so don’t even try.[/su_spoiler]

Broken Prince is everything I had hoped it would be and so much more! I love the way the authors develop each and every character throughout these books. Ella is coming into her own more and more. I absolutely love the backbone on the girl. And who thought it was possible for me to fall even harder for Reed? Because holy hell did! SO. FREAKING. HARD. This is one twisted tale filled with secrets, betrayals and redemption and I’m loving every single addicting page of it! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rock myself back in my corner until Twisted Palace releases.

THE ROYALS SERIES

Paper Princess (The Royals, #1) AMAZON | MY REVIEW

BROKEN PRINCE (THE ROYALS #2)– Releasing July 25, 2016

TWISTED PALACE (THE ROYALS #3)– Releasing October 17, 2016

1 Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, New Adult · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Erin Watt, NA, YA

Jennifer’s Review: ★Friction★ by Sawyer Bennett

July 4, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

FRICTION
Series: Legal Affairs #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: October 27, 2015

At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.

AMAZON

FLOVED THIS!!!!! This book has everything I flove….

Love/Hate relationship…Check.

“Now that would just be a bit unethical, don’t you think?”
“You just had your hand on my dick,” I point out courteously. “I think we crossed that line already.”

Laugh my ass off…Check.

“Good, we’ve just entered fuck buddy-dom. May the odds be ever in our favor.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Nothing,” she says with a snicker.

Hottest-on-the-planet Sex…Check.

When my face is in front of his straining, cloth-covered erection, his hand goes back to grasping my hair again. He gives me another gentle shake and repeats in a much quieter but no less threatening tone, “Fix it, Leary.”
God, I want to fix it. I want to take him in my mouth, suck him hard until he’s begging me to stop. But I’m also enjoying this display of alpha power he’s unleashing. I want to see how far I can push him.

Swoon-until-my-panties-fly-off…Check.

“I adore you.”

My Reeve:

My Leary:

…she has some metaphorical balls forged of steel and lined with platinum.

I love your books, Sawyer Bennett. Don’t ever stop writing them.

Is Ford’s book next?! Please say yes 🙂

THE LEGAL BRIEFS SERIES

Legal Affairs Boxed Set: Volumes 1-6AMAZON

Confessions of a Litigation God
(Legal Affairs, #7)
AMAZON

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Jennifer Reviews

Upcoming Releases: July 5

July 4, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

Happy 4th of July to all my American dirty birds! I hope you all had a fabulous three day weekend with lots of good books. And now the new week brings us some amazing new releases to look forward to! All of these are releasing July 5

MOONSHOT by Alessandra Torre

Baseball shouldn’t be a game of life and death…

The summer that Chase Stern entered my life, I was seventeen. The daughter of a legend, the Yankees were my family, their stadium my home, their dugout my workplace. My focus was on the game. Chase…he started out a distraction. A distraction with sex appeal poured into every inch of his six foot frame. A distraction who played like a God yet partied like a Devil.

I tried to stay away. I couldn’t.
Then, the team started losing.
Women started dying.
And everything in my perfect world broke apart.

INTO THE BLUE by Chanel Cleeton

From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series.

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE by Lauren Stewart

Sara has a kick-ass life—loyal friends, a house in San Francisco, and an amazing job as a virtual assistant. It’s perfect…except that Sara doesn’t actually exist. She’s just a borrowed name that Andi Clark hides behind. Using a fake identity lets Andi stay safely shielded behind the screen of her computer and concealed from the real world. With her history, pretending to be someone she’s not is the only way Andi can make up for the mistakes of her past. Not exactly ideal, but hey, no one’s life is perfect.

Actually…

Hayden Bennett’s life is pretty damn perfect. He’s married to a beautiful woman, lives in a luxury apartment, and is prepped to take over the multi-million dollar company his father built. Perfect…except that his wife is madly in love with someone else, his career is meaningless, and he’s forgotten how to live, let alone be happy. But when Hayden hires a new virtual assistant named Sara, her sharp wit and intelligence leaves him wanting something more. Something real. Something incredible.

Two people need to wake up to understand how perfect they are…for each other. If they can’t, any chance either of them have of finding a happily ever after will be virtually impossible.

~~~~~

This highly-anticipated sequel to DARKER WATER is a standalone contemporary romance inspired by Sleeping Beauty. VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE is Hayden and Andi’s story, and this is how their fairytale begins:

Once upon a time there was a woman who made the mistake of trusting the wrong man. And that mistake led to another. And another and another, each more damaging than the last. But the woman was as ignorant of her mistakes as she was of the damage they caused. Until she was punished for them.

Around the same time, but in a totally separate part of the city, lived a noble man and his beautiful wife. Though their castle was the envy of all, its empty halls echoed of loneliness and regret. For the man had lived his entire life asleep, and both of them remained silent of who they truly were and what they truly wanted.

And then one day, the woman entered the man’s life and forced him to awaken…

FALLING IN DEEPER by Shayla Black

A tragic past threatens to destroy a passionate future in this dangerously sexy new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked for You.

After a violent tragedy nearly destroyed her, Lily Taylor ran away, changed her name, and started over. When her deadly nemesis resurfaces to eliminate his loose end, she turns to the last man she should trust—a stranger with a history of violence and an intoxicating sexuality she can’t refuse…

Though strong-armed into locating Lily to help put away a drug lord, ex-con Stone Sutter isn’t anyone’s snitch. When he finds the terrified beauty, he vows to keep her safe—but he isn’t sure he has the strength to shield her from his own desires.

As an unquenchable fire sparks between them, Lily’s tormentor stalks ever closer, and she must overcome her darkest fear to survive. Can she trust the bond she and Stone have formed as they’re falling in deeper?

HITCHED by Kendall Ryan

Marry the girl I’ve had a crush on my whole life? Check.

Inherit a hundred-billion-dollar company? Check.

Produce an heir… Wait, what?

I have ninety days to knock up my brand-new fake wife. There’s only one problem—she hates my guts.

And in the fine print of the contract? The requirement that we produce an heir.

She can’t stand to be in the same room with me. Says she’ll never be in my bed. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’m not about to start now.

Mark my words—I’ll have her begging for me, and it won’t take ninety days.

A hot and hilarious romp not to miss!

Say “I DO” to your next book ~~boyfriend~~ husband. (He totally wants to put a bun in her oven.)

On the heels of her smash hit and New York Times bestselling SCREWED series, Kendall Ryan brings you HITCHED, a romantic comedy that delivers heart and heat. A NYC playboy turned business mogul has ninety days to win over the woman he’s always desired in order to save his father’s company. One tiny problem: She hates his guts.

REASON TO BELIEVE by Gina Gordon

Grace: I thought that reinventing myself as a corporate go-getter would be easy compared to my old life as an escort, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. After taking a full-time office job, my past has come back to haunt me, my love life is nonexistent, and I miss sex—even with the lying cheats who used to be my clients. The trouble is, the closest thing to a man in my life is Ben Lockwood. After pushing me away, that jerk has the nerve to ask a favor—so why is he so hard to resist?

Ben: Working my way up from cameraman to vice president of an adult media company has been . . . interesting. To focus on my career, I swear off all distractions—especially sex—and turn to Grace Nolan, the most poised and polished woman I know, for help cleaning up. But after my little vow of celibacy, spending time with Grace is pure torture. I can’t touch her, and yet I can’t stop thinking about her. And deep down, I know the reason why.

EDGE OF CONTROL by Megan Crane

It’s the End of the World and We Feel Fine Because
Hot Sex + Hard Vikings = Mind. Blown.

Book 3 in the Edge series!

This brotherhood of raider warriors is alpha, dominant, unforgiving…and they keep what they take.

Riordan is a ruthless warrior whose foes tremble before him in his drowned and ruined world. The last thing he wants to do is go undercover as a weakling to spy on his clan’s enemies. Much less with Eiryn— a fierce warrior in her own right and the only woman Riordan’s never been able to forget. He knows that a single touch will throw them straight back into that same old uncontrollable fire. But this time, he might just let them burn.

Eiryn has been betrayed too many times. An escape into a dangerous mission where she can pretend to be the soft, biddable female she’s not seems like the perfect solution. She’s sure she can control the fiery passion that simmers between her and Riordan, the man she’s spent years pretending to hate. After all, the unquenchable lust that flares between them now is all for show… isn’t it?

Wulf’s book, Edge of Power, is coming soon!

BAD BITCH by Christina Saunders

They call me the Bad Bitch. A lesser woman might get her panties in a twist over it, but me? I’m the one who does the twisting. Whether it’s in the courtroom or in the bedroom, I’ve never let anyone – much less a man – get the upper hand.

Except for that jerk attorney Lincoln Granade. He’s dark, mysterious, smoking hot and sexy as hell. He’s nothing but a bad, bad boy playing the part of an up and coming premiere attorney. I’m not worried about losing in a head to head battle with this guy. But he gets me all hot and bothered in a way no man has ever done before. I don’t like a person being under my skin this much. It makes me want to let go of all control, makes me want to give in. This dangerous man makes me want to submit to him completely, again, and again, and again…

TOTAL D*CK by Christina Saunders

I’m your classic skirt chaser. A womanizer. A total d*ck. My reputation is dirtier than a New Orleans street after a Mardi Gras parade. I take unwinnable cases and win them. Where people see defeat, I see a big fat paycheck. And when most men see rejection, it’s because the sexiest woman at the bar has already promised to go home with me.

But Scarlett Carmichael is the one person I can’t seem to conquer. This too-cool former debutante has it all—class, attitude, and a body that begs to be worshipped. I’ve never worked with a person like her before—hell, I’ve never played nice with anyone before in my life, and I’m not about to start with her. This woman wasn’t meant to be played nicely with. It’s going to be dirty. It’s going to be hot. She’s about to spend a lot of time with the biggest d*ck in town. And she’s going to love every minute of it…

HARDASS by Christina Saunders

I cave in to no one. My hardass exterior is what makes me one of the hottest defense lawyers around. It’s why I’m the perfect guy to defend the notorious Bayou Butcher serial killer – and why I’ll come out on top.

Except this new associate I’ve hired is unnaturally skilled at putting chinks in my well-constructed armor. Her brazen talk and fiery attitude make me want to take control of her and silence her – in ways that will keep both of us busy till dawn. She drives me absolutely 100% crazy, but I need her for this case. I need her in my bed. I need her to let loose the man within me who fights with rage and loves with scorching desire…

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★DGR’S Ultimate List of Angsty Romance★

July 2, 2016 by Lana · 12 Comments

Let’s talk angst.

angst

äNG(k)st/

noun

a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.

“adolescent angst”

synonyms: anxiety, fear, apprehension, worry, foreboding, trepidation, malaise,
disquiet, disquietude, unease, uneasiness

ANGST just so happens to be pure catnip for this reader. I gobble it up like the starved addict that I am, and love every hair pulling second of it. If a book can make me feel like I want to throttle someone, scream at the ceiling and rip my hair out by the roots, I know I got myself a winner. What? Like you don’t have your vices? Sheesh. Judgy much?

This month you all voted for my Ultimate List of Angsty Romance, and that’s what I’m giving you. Fair warning, this will quite possibly be my longest list ever! We always chat about these lists in my FB group, so if you haven’t yet, join in on the inappropriate fun HERE.

Since this list will be ridiculously long if I let it, I decided to limit my choices to the uber angsty book picks. These are some of my all time favorites and my go-to recs.

And if you’re new to my blog, this a monthly feature I do on the last Saturday of each month! Check out the previous features here:

★ULTIMATE LIST OF DIRTY TALKERS★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF ROCK STARS★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF FIGHTERS★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF ANTI-HEROES★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF HATE TO LOVE ROMANCE★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE★

★ULTIMATE LIST OF MAFIA ROMANCE★

As always, I’d love to hear from you all in comments if you don’t see one of your favorites listed. You know I love me some book recs 😉

You’ll notice I’ll list some of these by author because I loved several of their books, some I’ll list by series, and some will be simply individual books. Now let’s do this thing!

THOUGHTLESS by S.C. Stephens
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“What if I don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?”
He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Kiera. I’ll leave, and you and Denny can have your happily ever after.” He looked back at me. “You wouldn’t even need to tell him about me. Eventually, the two of you…” his voice broke and another tear fell on his cheek, “the two of you would get married, and have children, and have a great life.”
I fought back a sob. “And you? What happens to you in that scenario?”
“I…get by. And I miss you, every day,” he whispered.”

Sweet mother of hair pulling, wanting to run the heroine over with my car, while rocking myself in a corner somewhere ANGST. GAH! GAH I tells ya! This freaking book. I don’t know how I even survived it. It put me off life triangles for years. And yet when I think of angst, this is the first one that pops into my head. Clearly it left an impression. And let’s be real here for a hot second, because it just doesn’t get much better than Kellan fucking Kyle *pervy sigh*

THE THOUGHTLESS SERIES
THOUGHTLESS | EFFORTLESS | RECKLESS | THOUGHTFUL | UNTAMED

TRISTAN & DANIKA trilogy by R.K. Lilley
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I knew we were going to be a dangerous combination. Bad things were going to happen if we spent too much time around each other.

First I read book one, and thought, well this isn’t so bad. Then I read book two and thought I’d been hit with a two by four full of feels, and then I barely BARELY survived book three because holy hell!!! I LOVED this trilogy. Absolutely loved it. It spans years and had one of the most memorable love stories I’ve read. The angst was in apoplectic proportions and I loved every single painful second of it. It was utterly delicious!

I convinced myself that it had all been passion, not true love. True love was a myth, a misdirection from the solid things in life. What I’d felt for Tristan had been big and all consuming, but I told myself, like a mantra in my head, that it had never been solid. Even so, every little thing brought him to mind. We’d had too much together, been through too much, felt too much, and every feeling had a memory.

THE TRISTAN & DANIKA SERIES
BAD THINGS | ROCK BOTTOM | LOVELY TRIGGER

CAROLINE & WEST duet by Robin York
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I want you, and I don’t know how to stop wanting you. I want to get deep inside you, and then deeper, until I’m so deep I don’t even know what’s me anymore and what’s you.

What’s better than angst? New Adult kind of angst. Yum yum yum. This is one of my all time favorite duets. These books took me through the emotional wringer and I don’t regret it even a little. I adored the heroine and I loved to hate the hero. But who am I even kidding? I mostly loved him even when I wanted to hate him!

“I could tell you how much I’m hurting, or I could get out of the car, slam the door, hitchhike to the airport because fuck you, fuck you, West, how could you do this to me? How?

What I can’t do is pretend I don’t know what you did,” I say. “Or pretend I don’t still care about you.”

THE CAROLINE & WEST DUET
DEEPER | HARDER

BULLY by Penelope Douglas
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“You were my tempest, my thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all of those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”

If you haven’t at least heard of this phenomenal series, odds are you’ve been living under a rock. Well climb on out from under there my friend, because you are seriously missing out. This is easily of my top favorite NA series and the angst is utterly delicious. I have a motto when it comes to books by Penelope Douglas; she writes them, I read them. Period. No exception.

Becoming hard at heart isn’t an intersection in your brain where you have a choice to turn left or right. It’s coming to a dead end, and you just keep going, over the cliff, unable to stop the inevitable, because the truth is you just don’t want to.
There is freedom in the fall.

THE FALL AWAY SERIES
BULLY | UNTIL YOU | RIVAL | FALLING AWAY | AFLAME

THE VINCENT BOYS by Abbi Glines
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“ If I’d ever taken the time to wonder about my soul being as black as this town seemed to believe, I knew the moment Ashton stepped out of her little white Jetta looking like an angel from Heaven that my soul was damned to Hell. ”

I have a love hate relationship with Abbi Glines books. No really. See I love to hate them. No I don’t mean that in a hater sort of way. What I mean, is she’s a guilty pleasure author for me. I may not always love every book, I may want to throttle most of the heroines, and yet I still enjoy the ride. Kind sick saying it out loud lol. I’ve read her entire backlist, and I absolutely ADORED her Sea Breeze series. To date, that’s my favorite series by her.

But what began the obsession was this book. The Vincent Boys. And to be clear, I’m referring to the uncut edition, because let’s be real, if I’m forced to endure YA angst, I need steam to dilute it. I devour her books in one sitting. I adore every hero she’s written. What can I say? The struggle is real with this addiction I have and I’m not even sorry. Even when I hate the heroines, the heroes more than make up for it.

AN ORDINARY GIRL by Barbara Elsborg
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“I can’t believe I’ve found someone that’s more fucked up than me.”

I don’t remember why I read this book exactly. I think I stumbled on it by pure chance actually. Something about that synopsis just hooked me. I ended up devouring it in one sitting! This author has a signature blend of angst and dry wit and humor that just calls to me. I love it! She’ll add a bit of OTT drama that also somehow just works and at times a dash of suspense and voila! Instant addiction. I went on a Barbara Elsborg binge right after this and the addiction still continues. Not only does she write great angst, but the steam level is through the roof! She writes amazing MM, scorching MMF, and deliciously dirty MF. I can’t recommend her enough!

DGR’S BARBARA ELSBORG FAVORITES (all angsty perfection)
STRANGERS (MF erotic) | TO KISS A FALLING STAR (MF erotic) | FALLING (MM) | BREAKING (MM)

THE UNWANTED WIFE
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“I’m your husband…”
“No. You are not my husband,” she interrupted in a voice thickened with hatred and tears. “You have never been my husband. A husband loves, honours and cherishes! A husband is a lover and a champion….Look into the next room if you want to see what a real husband is, because you are no such thing!”

What would happen if you combined Harlequin presents with some crazy angst? This. Book. Holy mother! I loved it! I loved it so freaking much! Natasha Anders definitely has a signature style to her romance. I love watching her heroines grow into their own and stand up for themselves. I love seeing her royal alphaholes of heroes realize their mistakes and perform some epic kind of groveling. All of it just speaks to me and I can’t get enough!

DGR’S NATASHA ANDERS FAVORITES (all standalones and all angsty, of course)
A HUSBAND’S REGRET | A RUTHLESS PROPOSITION

THIS HEART OF MINE by Brenda Novak
GOODREADS | AMAZON

She’d wanted him so badly seventeen years ago. And now that he wanted her, regardless of what anyone said, she wouldn’t come near him.

This was the first book I had read by this author and boy was I kicking myself for it after. Hard. If you love second chance romance and redemption stories, this is an absolute must read. It’s emotional, heart breaking, beautifully written, and completely unforgettable. While it is a part of a long-standing series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

No it’s not exactly the smutty smut that I normally gravitate to so if you’re expecting lots of steam, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But this book was not lacking it for me. Not even a little. The story was so emotionally powerful and the romance was so beautiful with just the right amount of tasteful love scenes, that I fell head over heels for This Heart of Mine.

THIS MUCH IS TRUE by Katherine Owen
GOODREADS | AMAZON

LIFE CAN CHANGE in as little of fifteen seconds. I know this.
Fifteen seconds.
An SUV clips my car, kills my sister, and changes me and my life forever.

Thirty seconds.
The time it takes for a stranger to lift me up and carry me away and save me from the burning wreckage.
Thirty seconds.

One night.
The time it takes to fall in love with Lincoln Presley and forge promises that neither of us can keep.
One night.

Thirty seconds.
In thirty seconds, a heart can break.

If you like your angst to feel like you’ve been run over by the mac truck of feels, boy do I have a rec for you. Because this book? It will actually physically drain you. I’m not even a little kidding. It was fucking painful, people! I still have no idea how I survived it but I feel like I needed a cookie, a hug, a medal and all of the alcohol after it. In that exact order. This does end on a cliffhanger and I recommend reading the full trilogy to get a much deserved HEA.

THE TRUTH IN LIES TRILOGY
THIS MUCH IS TRUE | THE TRUTH ABOUT AIR & WATER | TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE

IF YOU LEAVE by Courtney Cole
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“That day, that one day, changed me forever. It taught me that everything you love, everyone you love, even if you love them and hate them at the same time, can be taken away in a moment and there isn’t anything you can do to change it.”

The Beautifully Broken is a series of 4 books, but it wasn’t until this book, IF YOU LEAVE (book 2 in the series), that I fell in love with the series. If You Leave deals with many heart wrenching issues; the biggest being the hero, Gabriel’s, PTSD from his Army Ranger days. It’s an emotional romance filled with angst, feels, and enough steam to keep you panting.

I loved every book in this series, but 2 and 4 have to be my all time favorites. If you haven’t read these yet, I strongly recommend you check them out.

THE BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN SERIES
IF YOU STAY | IF YOU LEAVE | BEFORE WE FALL | UNTIL WE FLY

THE EDUCATION Series by Jane Harvey-Berrick
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“What do you think I’ve got here that I wouldn’t give up in a heartbeat to be with you? There’s nothing to keep me here: I’ll go anywhere, do anything to be with you.”

What happens when a 30-year-old woman stuck in a loveless marriage has an affair with her 17, soon to be 18-year-old neighbor? One of the most gripping, emotional and powerful romances that I have ever read. Book one is The Education of Sebastian and tells the heart wrenching story of how these two fell in love. The Education of Caroline takes place ten years later, when these two lovers finally reunite. If you haven’t read this series, it’s seriously an absolute must read.

“Be happy, Caro, because that’s what you deserve.
I love you, I have always loved you, and where I go after this world, I will always love you.
Sempre e per sempre.”

THE EDUCATION OF SERIES
THE EDUCATION OF SEBASTIAN | THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE | SEMPER FI

UNBEAUTIFULLY by Madeline Sheehan
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Baby,” he said gruffly. “Man like me got no business with a girl like you. You’re nothin’ but a fuckin’ beauty and I’m a while lot of fuckin’ ugly who’s already halfway to hell.”

You want angst? You want grit with a big chunk of dark MC romance? Welcome to your next addiction! While I enjoyed every single book in this series, I have to say that UnBeautifully is easily my absolute favorite. There was just something so powerful about this beauty-and-the-beast romance that just spoke to me. It wasn’t an easy read and far from a light one. But it was an unforgettable ride from beginning to finish.

THE UNDENIABLE SERIES
UNDENIABLE | UNBEAUTIFULLY | UNATTAINABLE | UNBELOVED

ROCK CHICK REGRET by Kristen Ashley
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“No really,” I whispered, letting the sweet, peaceful feeling steal over me. “It only matters if there’s someone to care if you don’t wake up. It’s okay if I don’t wake up because there’s no one to care.”

I have three words for you: Hector OMG Chavez. That is all. No really. That’s all. If you’ve read this book, you know exactly what I mean. And if you haven’t? You need to get to reading it right freaking meow because MAN! So. Good.

This was probably the heaviest and most powerful book in the series for me (right up there with Stella and Mace in ROCK CHICK RECKONING, which is also a HUGE angsty rec). But there was just something about RCR that stayed with me for all these years. Maybe it’s what the heroine went through and watching her grow? Maybe it’s the story as a whole. Whatever the case may be, I simply adored it.

DREW + FABLE series by Monica Murphy
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Maybe it was a mistake leaving you.
And I don’t know how to make it right.
Regret fills me every single day.
So much of it builds up I
Hate myself for
Missing you. Hurting you.
And I want you to know i…
Long for you
Love you
Others may come and go in our lives but…
We belong together”

New Adult angst? This has it. In spades. This was the book that made me fall in love with Monica Murphy’s writing. It was the first book that I read by her and I was hooked. I recommend reading them back to back because the cliffhanger in OWG will leave you so ragey, it’ll make you want to slap someone.

THE ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND SERIES (these need to be read in order)
ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND | SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES but with new characters
THREE BROKEN PROMISES | FOUR YEARS LATER

DESTROYED by Pepper Winters
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“I was obsessed with finding redemption. Destroyed by love. Possessed by hope. Consumed by a past I couldn’t shake.”

So Pepper Winters advertises this as her “gray romance” but please don’t let that fool you. While this is certainly not quite on her usual dark scale it still packs a mean punch….straight to the mother effin feels. My. God. This book tore my heart to shreds and put it back together…barely. I was a damn mess reading it. I don’t remember the last time I cried that hard in a book but DAMN. Just DAMN.

This is a full standalone.

WICKED HEART by Leisa Reyven
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Heartache doesn’t teach you to be resilient. It teaches you to protect your fragility. It teaches you to fear love. And it draws a bright red circle around all the ways you’ve failed as a person and laughs while you cry.”

Ah…sweet sweet second chance romance angst. How I love thee. Let me count the ways….Liam, Liam, Liam…wait. That’s not right.

While a lot of my friends loved the first two books in this series, I struggled a little with them. But I continued with the series because not only did I love the writing style, but I saw where it was going and I knew it was only a matter of meeting the right characters for me to fall in love with the story. And Wicked Heart? It was exactly that book for me.

THE STAR-CROSSED SERIES
BAD ROMEO | BROKEN JULIET | WICKED HEARTS

UNFORGIVEN by Elizabeth Finn
GOODREADS | AMAZON

You don’t fall in love with the person responsible for your greatest loss. And God help you if you do.

God help you indeed. This book was a crazy rollercoaster of emotion. It was almost physically painful to read at times. But man. MAN. What an incredibly powerful and angsty romance. To date, this is my favorite book by this author. And Elizabeth Finn happens to be one of my go to’s for angst, so I don’t make that statement lightly.

I’ll list some other notable favorites below. All are full standalones.

WORTH IT by Linda Kage
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I craved every little second I got to see her, but I knew I should stay away. It was torment, the two cravings rivaling and constantly churning in me, playing tug-of-war between what my heart wanted and what I knew was best.

I’m seriously obsessed with this New Adult series and can’t recommend every book in it enough. I love it that much. Worth It had some darker undertones to it that the others didn’t. It wasn’t dark, just more emotional and a touch heavier if that makes sense. The whole series packs a good amount of angst and if sexy NA romance is your thing, prepare to binge.

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Francette Phal
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Nicholas Grayson wasn’t a nice person. In fact one could call him an asshole and he wouldn’t dispute it. He was as jaded as they come, eighteen years old, with a moral compass fixed permanently on diabolical. … His goals in life were to piss off his parents, break a few laws and generally screw his way through life.”

Cruel Intention meets Soap Opera in this deliciously angsty YA romance and I gobbled up each page like the addict that I am. Holy crap, people! This book HURT. Complete with a mother of all cliffhangers. But no worries, because you do get a much deserved HEA in the conclusion, REDEMPTION.

FACADE by Nyrae Dawn
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I don’t see the future; I just notice shit. When you’re seven years old and scared of your own shadow, too scared to get close to anyone like I used to be, you learn to pay attention. To study people’s loves because it’s the only way to feel like you’re living and to think about how differently you’d be doing if you had the balls to man up. Or, hell, if you hadn’t been given such a shitty hand to begin with.

While I loved the entire Games series, Facade was easily my favorite. I couldn’t even tell you why exactly. It just was. Something about a broken boy finding love in the girl he least expected. I just loved it.

THE GAMES SERIES
CHARADE | FACADE | MASQUARADE

A LUSH BETRAYAL by Selena Laurence
GOODREDS | AMAZON

I know almost instantly- this is it- I’m done. This woman will either be my salvation or the death of me. There is no question. I’ve lost control now that I’ve touched her. There’s no going back, and she’s the most spectacular thing I’ve ever experienced.

Rockstars. Betrayals. Redemptions. Second chances. This book had it all. This was my first book by Selena and I was hooked. A Lush Betrayal is still free on amazon, so if you like the sounds of this one, you need to grab it quick!

THE LUSH ROCKSTAR SERIES
A LUSH BETRAYAL | LOVING A LUSH | LOWDOWN & LUSH | A LUSH REUNION

Twisted by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
GOODREADS | AMAZON

He could do anything, survive anything, but he couldn’t turn away from Jazz. She would sustain him where every other drug had failed.

It’s no secret that I love everything these authors write. I first fell in love with their Love In Oblivion series when I stumbled on ROCKED by pure chance. And from then, it was as they say, history. While each book focuses on a different member of the band, I don’t recommend reading it out-of-order. There is a story arc that continues throughout the series that you wouldn’t be able to appreciate having read the books out-of-order. I highly recommend starting with the prequel (SEDUCED) first. It really introduces the characters and gives you a taste of things to come.

TEN TINY BREATHS by K.A. Tucker
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Just breathe,” my mom would say.
“Ten tiny breaths…Seize them.
Feel them.Love them.”

Does this book even need an introduction or an explanation for being on my list? C’mon now!

“I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. Give me your heart, Kacey. I’ll take everything that comes with it.”

THE TEN TINY BREATHS SERIES
TEN TINY BREATHS | IN HER WAKE | ONE TINY LIE | FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE | FIVE WAYS TO FALL

THIN LOVE by Eden Butler
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“I don’t want easy. I want the impossible. I want love so thick, I drown in it; it’s the only thing worth having and, I’m sorry Kona, you’re a nice guy when you’re not acting like an entitled jackass, but I really don’t think you’re capable of being anything more than that.”

To date, this is still one of my favorite second chance romances. The angst is in epic proportions and I do mean epic. This book will make you rip your hair out, it will make you sob hysterically, it will make you scream like a lunatic, but ultimately it will make you feel every single emotion right along with the characters and love every second of it.

UBEARABLE GUILT by Emma Grayson
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I was ripped from heaven with an angel, and tossed into the fiery pit of hell by myself with no way out. I wouldn’t ever allow myself to be released from its relentless grip.

If you ask me how this book first came on my radar, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. All I remember is reading that synopsis and knowing that I had to read it. And boy was I glad that I did because I absolutely loved it! I mean….just read this:

Kane Archer hasn’t always been tormented; he hasn’t always hated himself or been full of rage. He hasn’t always lived his life with an overpowering sense of guilt that threatens to destroy him. There was a time when his life was different. He was optimistic; he smiled and laughed; he loved passionately; he had it all. Kane was content—until the unthinkable took it all away. Two and a half years later and still reeling from his fiancée’s death, Kane returns to the one place he vowed he’d never visit again—Camden—with the promise to find the men who killed her and bring them to justice, regardless of the cost. Emotionally numb, stricken by guilt, and haunted by the events preceding Aimee’s death, the last thing Kane wanted was to meet someone he connected with; someone who made him feel again. As Kane gets closer to those responsible for Aimee’s death, he is thrown a curveball when he discovers a secret so devastating it rocks his world and threatens to destroy his chance at happiness. Whitney Jareau packed up her life when tragedy struck her family, leaving everything behind. Finally free from the persistent and domineering family that insisted she do the one thing she couldn’t, Whitney found peace in Camden. Two years later, her family wants her to come home and will stop at nothing to get her there. Wearing her heart on her sleeve for Kane Archer, a man so gorgeous it hurts to see the pain he carries, Whitney fights her family and refuses to return home to carry out their wishes. Can Whitney stay strong without giving in to the demands of her family? Can Kane let go of the past and move forward with the woman who brought him back to life? Or, will he walk away from her and carry the burden of UNBEARABLE GUILT

This is book 2 in the Breathe Again series, but easily enjoyed as a standalone

BROKEN by Lauren Layne
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I almost want to laugh at how messed up we are.
Two completely shattered souls doing a weird approach-and-recoil dance around each other.

A New Adult take on beauty and the beast by the super amazing Lauren Layne? Hell. Yes.

Lauren Layne first hit my radar when I read ISN’T SHE LOVELY which funnily enough turned out to be the prequel to this amazing series. But don’t be fooled, it’s not a novella. It’s a full length novel that introduces the characters, so I think that’s why it’s not considered the prequel? But it has its own fabulous HEA. Each book in the series is easily enjoyed as a standalone.

THE REDEMPTION SERIES
ISN’T SHE LOVELY | BROKEN | CRUSHED

WALK THROUGH FIRE by Kristen Ashley
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“I gave you up, walking through fire to do it but I did…
I did it in the end. I gave you everything.”

Holy mother of ugly cries!!! I was a pathetic mess reading this book. Utterly pathetic I tells ya! I don’t remember the last time a book made me ugly cry to quite this caliber. I’m talking crocodile tears level here, people!

You already know I love me a second chance romance and Walk Through Fire had an absolutely epic one. As a matter of fact, I’ve re-read one particular scene in this book at least 4 times now and each time the water works start. It’s just that powerful. So. Good.

DIVIDED by Ivy Stone
GOODREADS | AMAZON

He wasn’t supposed to show up on that bridge.
He wasn’t supposed to fill me with a slither of hope, for more, for different. But he did.

I first discovered Ivy Stone when I read the first book in her Unguarded series, EXPOSED. I fell in love with her writing style, her broken characters, and I knew I found myself a new author to stalk.

While each book in this series focuses on a different couple and their HEA, I highly recommend reading them in order because the backstory starts in the very beginning and you’d appreciate the story that much more having read each book.

BREAK EVEN by Lisa De Jong
GOODREADS | AMAZON

To an outsider, I have it all- the job, the husband, and the house- but inside I’m nearly empty.

I’ll be honest, I was afraid to read this book. Utterly terrified. I’m not typically a reader that enjoys reading about a heroine that cheats, no matter what the circumstance. It’s a horrible double standard I have and I own it, because I’ll forgive the hero but not the heroine *hangs head in shame*

But this book is nothing like what I thought. It’s incredibly unpredictable, erotic, and utterly unputdownable. If you read any book by this author, please make it this one. Trust me. Take a chance on something outside your comfort zone. You will not regret it.

PAPER HEARTS by Claire Contreras
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“How would you describe the #feeling of #love in 140 or less characters?
Answer : Like somebody is gripping your heart, but you don’t want them to let go because the ache would worsen without them.”

You already know that second chance romance is my crack of choice, so are you even a little surprised to see this book on my list? Really? Are you? Of course you’re not! I adored Kaleidoscope Hearts, but I loved Paper Hearts even more. If you’re a fan of angsty second chance romance and you haven’t read these books yet, you need to get on them right now. RIGHT. NOW.

THE HEARTS SERIES
KALEIDOSCOPE HEARTS | PAPER HEARTS | ELASTIC HEARTS

HOPELESS by Colleen Hoover
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.”

Um…I’m sorry, but do I even need to say anything here? I don’t think so. Carry on…

“The moment my lips touch yours, it will be your first kiss. Because if you’ve never felt anything when someone’s kissed you, then no one’s ever really kissed you. Not the way I plan on kissing you.”

“I live you, Sky,” he says against my lips. “I live you so much.”

FISHER’S LIGHT
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I’m going to fix this. I have to fix this… I hate every moment that I’m away from her, but I will do whatever it takes to find the man she once loved and bring him back to her.”

Yet another second chance romance that I adored! I seriously loved every single angsty page of this! One of my top reads of that year.

How do I get that back when the darkness is hell bent on taking over, holding me in its clutches and making sure I never see the sunshine again?

TOXIC by Kim Karr
GOODREADS | AMAZON

Jeremy McQueen.
He wasn’t just any boy- he was “the boy”. The only one I never should have met, and the one I’d never trade meeting for the world.

And since we’re on a second chance romance angst kick, how can I not mention this deliciousness?

I loved him once, even though I’d never told him I did. And as I looked at him, everything I’d ever felt for him came rushing back.

PAPER PRINCESS
GOODREADS | AMAZON

“You should know whatever game you’re playing, you can’t win. Not against all of us.
If you leave now, you won’t be hurt. If you stay, we’ll break you so bad that you’ll be crawling away.”

Book. Crack.

Warning: this book will cause nervous break downs, eye ticks, random screaming episodes, cause you to perve on a 17 yr old alphahole and be glued to your kindle from beginning to finish. That is all. You’ve been warned.

This will never be my home. I don’t belong in splendor, I belong in squalor. That’s what I know. It’s what I’m comfortable with because squalor doesn’t lie to you. It’s not wrapped up in a pretty package. It is what it is.

THE ROYALS TRILOGY (Warning: Rage inducing cliffys ahead)
PAPER PRINCESS | BROKEN PRINCE | TWISTED PALACE

UNBREAK MY HEART by Jacquelyn
GOODREADS | AMAZON

I’d pushed her aside for so long that there was no foundation to build on. Just a mess of shattered pieces that I’d crushed with a sledgehammer every time she’d grown closer than I was comfortable with.

Quite easily my favorite angsty romance I’ve read all year. ALL OF THE ANGST!!! Oh man! If you love serious alphaholes, angst so thick you can choke on it, and a story so addicting that you can’t stop reading it for even a second? Read. This. Book.

For the past couple of nights when I’d lain down beside her, after she’d called asleep and I knew she couldn’t hear me, I’d promised her that she’d never have to forgive me again if she could do it one last time.

OTHER DGR ANGSTY FAVORITES

The following are all book recommendations I’ve received (thanks to my favorite angst pusher, Carolin Jache)

12 Comments · Filed Under: DGR Favorites, Features · Tagged With: angst, DGR, DGR Fave, DGRUltimate

Jennifer’s Review: ★Devil In Disguise★ by Cynthia Eden

July 1, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

DEVIL IN DISGUISE
Series: Bad Things #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Cynthia Eden
Release Date: June 28, 2016

Don’t make the devil angry…

Luke Thorne loves having one hell of a good time. As the ruler of every dark creature to walk the earth, he certainly has more than a bit of a bad side. He lives for danger and isn’t the type to lose his heart—mostly because he doesn’t have one. Then she walks into his life.

Mina James is seduction in the flesh, a perfect temptation that the devil himself couldn’t pass up. Too late, Luke realizes he’s let a real siren into his life, a woman who is bent on using his dark powers to free herself from hidden enemies. Since Luke isn’t the type of man to be used, he should walk away from her, but…something about Mina draws him close.

Soon he’s realizing that she isn’t who she appears to be. Not dark and cold, but burning red hot. Mina is a woman fighting for her life—and the Lord of the Dark suddenly finds himself in an unlikely role…hero. Luke isn’t going to let her enemies destroy Mina. He will fight heaven and hell to keep her. But in the end, the secrets they both carry may just rip apart a love that should never have been…

There are Bad Things in the world…very, very bad. Are you ready for them?

AMAZON | iBOOKS

This book is the perfect mix of fantasy and paranormal. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

”Are you the devil?”
“Only if hell’s on earth.”

My Luke:

Are you tempted? Lol. I didn’t mean for this pic to be so…revealing…but his…face…was just perfect to me. LMAO!
Luke is the devil, the darkness. He encounters Mina when she tries to manipulate him and seeks him out in a time of weakness. After he discovers her true motive, he is still determined to keep her. I loved that Luke’s character wasn’t too serious. He was laid-back, yet powerful, with a sense of humor.

Luke caught Mina’s chin in his left hand and turned her face toward him. “Guess what, sweetheart?”
“What?” The one word came out worried, fearful.
He grinned. “I’m keeping you.”

My Mina:
Mina can manipulate people with the sound of her voice. She uses this ability but doesn’t like using it. She initially comes across as a strong, sultry woman, but she is vulnerable and hurting at the same time. She doesn’t like her ability because her enemy has exploited her ability for their gain. She is running from someone who wants to hurt her, so she seeks out the devil himself to try to steal an item that will take away her power so that her ability cannot be used for evil any longer.

”Tell me what you want most in the world, right now. Tell me…and I’ll give it to you.”
Disbelief rocked her. “Why?”
“Because I can still see the tears on your cheeks. Because they still hurt me.” Each word was growled. “Because I did this to you.”

I really liked this story, a mix of fantasy and paranormal. I even liked the supporting characters, Julian and Rayce, who were Luke’s security and also shifters. There are some hints of Julian’s past and Rayce’s past that I hope Cynthia will continue and write both of their books.

The only down side to this book is I want to know more! I found myself reading with all kinds of questions and I hope that Cynthia continues to write more and develop this fantasy/paranormal world in more depth.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3.5 stars, Jennifer Reviews

Jennifer’s Review: ★The Hang Up★ by Tawna Fenske

June 30, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

The Hang Up
Series: First Impressions #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tawna Fenske
Release Date: June 13, 2016

PR specialist Miriam Ashley makes her living cleaning up bad boys. Mountain climber-turned-CEO Jason Sanders should be an easy fix. And with a nephew to care for, he’s motivated. The problem? Every time she tries to help Jason get his head in the boardroom, they end up in the bedroom.

What the hell is she thinking? He’s the definition of off-limits. Not just because he’s a client—he spends his free time risking his life mountain climbing. The same thing that got her father killed. She’s not going to open her heart to a guy who could disappear at the drop of a…well, she’d rather not finish that thought.

She needs to leave complicated alone, but every time she sees Jason, something tells her it’s her who might fall…

AMAZON | iBOOKS

I absolutely love books that make me laugh, and I giggled through this whole book! The sexual innuendos in this book are off-the-charts. This is the perfect summer read. Sometimes, I just want something light and fun. Fenske’s writing is so refreshing.

My Jason:

practically oozed sex appeal, outdoorsy authenticity, and lumbersexual edginess.

Jason just become the new CEO of a big outdoors/adventure corporation. He was hired to give the company a new look and new direction. He’s a big, burly man who needs a little finesse to help him along in his new role.
My Miriam:

She was built like a 1950s pinup girl, lush curves and full lips that practically begged to be kissed hard.

I loved Jason and Miriam’s meet-cute! It’s hilarious and adorable. I don’t want to give anything away, but it is right at the beginning, so even if you sample this book, you will be able to catch it. And once you sample it, you won’t be able to stop….trust me :).

I’m not sure how to feel about a woman who stares at my junk for that long and says ‘I’m sorry.’

After meeting Miriam, Jason requests that he teach her some etiquette on how to be a good CEO in exchange for him teaching her more about his company. And commence with the outdoor adventures that are awkward and adorable and steamy! Jason also has a softer side where he takes care of his sister and nephew, and I just fell in love with him. It takes a lot for me to like a nice guy because I usually like ‘em rough and mean, but apparently I like ‘em rough and nice, too! Woo hoo!

“I want to suck you.”
“Okey-dokey,” he said, too dizzy to spend any time considering what a dork he sounded like.

If you’re looking for a short and easy read that will make you laugh and get your panties hot, this book is for you!

Other books in the series
The Fix Up (First Impressions #1) – Another 4 Star from me!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Jennifer Reviews

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