MAY 26 RELEASES
Falling Hard (Bad Boys Undercover #2)
Hades (Demonica #11.5)
Searching for Beautiful (Searching For #3)
Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1)
Review: ★Destroyed★ by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliot
May 24, 2015 by ·
Destroyed
Series: Lost in Oblivion #3
Authors: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Only one woman has ever refused him…and she’s the only one he wants.
Now that he’s successful beyond his wildest dreams with his band Oblivion, Simon Kagan is happy to enjoy his all-access pass to the groupie train. After getting more fists in the ribs than hugs growing up, he discovers having a warm female in his bed is an easy way to escape the loneliness.
Until Margo.
From the moment the classy, buttoned up violinist entered his sphere, he knew she was different. After one amazing night in the studio, he feels like he’s finally connected with someone on a deeper level—only to have her walk away without a backward glance.
As a member of the Boston Symphony orchestra, Margo Reece’s life revolves around the regimented structure of a second chair violinist. But Simon’s uncanny ability to crawl into a song and create a smoky, sin-filled experience translated into the hottest night of her life. She walked away afterward because that’s what she was supposed to do.
And Margo always does what she’s supposed to.
Until Simon.
When she’s called on again to blend her sound with Oblivion’s, she has to make the decision to play it safe or let her wild side free. Especially when her first meeting with Simon shows that sometimes rigidly contained passions create the most dangerous sparks…
Playing with fire,” he said into her ear.
She turned her face so her lips brushed his ear. “Which one of us is the flame?”
I have been looking forward to Simon’s book since first meeting him in Seduced. It’s no secret that I love me the manwhores, and when you make said manwhore the cocky lead singer of a rock band? Well, I’m putty in your hands is what I am. Speaking of Seduced, I HIGHLY recommend that you read that before this book. It will give you an extra insight into Simon and Margo’s relationship (how they met and how it all began). Though the authors give you the backstory here, I feel that it will really help connect you with the couple a lot better (especially the way this story is written, and I’ll get to that in a bit). Also, I’ll highly recommend reading this series in order. Each character gets their own book, but the story arc continues to roll out throughout the series and you’ll definitely enjoy it much more reading it in order.
Simon and Margo are as opposite as they get. Simon is the lead singer of Oblivion and man slut extraordinaire. his vices are alcohol and women and the band’s groupies never leave him hurting for what he wants. But the one woman that he only share one scorching stolen moment with is the one that continues to haunt his every thought.
Margo has recently lost her spot in the Symphony orchestra, the classy and buttoned up violinist gets the chance of a lifetime to play on Oblivion’s new record. Unfortunately that also brings her back face to face with the one man that tempts her good girl ways to go very very bad.
I hate to admit that I struggled through a few parts of this book. Margo and Simon together had me wanting to rip my hair out with their constant back and forth with each other. They both want each other beyond the sex, but they’re each too stubborn to admit to it. Simon’s treatment of her is almost callous at times. And Margo’s ability to just move right past it and continue the sexual relationship between them without calling Simon on all his bullshit frustrated me even more.
I’d say that this quote describes the majority of this book perfectly. There really wasn’t much in the form of romance between these two. There was rough sex, public sex, dirty sex…but that was essentially all that it was; sex. I wanted that connection. I needed it to truly get invested in this couple. The previous books in this series definitely gave that to me and I loved the angst of it all. But for some reason, I struggled here. I wanted to love them, but there was always something missing for me. Thought admittedly, the sex was really REALLY hot!
I would have loved more about Simon’s backstory. You get a few bits and peaces about his rough childhood, but I was also left wanting. I needed something…more. Same thing with Margo. The primary focus of the book leaned toward their sexual connection and the unfolding story of the band, while the romance was more on the back burner.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love this series, but I suppose I wasn’t prepared for how this story will unfold. The last 10%, however, managed to accomplish what the rest of the story didn’t. It finally gave me that connection with Simon and Margo. But then Cari and Taryn hit me with that cliffhanger! Sweet mother of torture! Why oh why must you make it hurt like that? Even though the previous book in this series was told in 2 parts, I wasn’t expecting the same thing here (since book 1 was a standalone). On the one hand I’m frustrated and left wanting more. On the other hand I’m happy because I know that the second part of their story will bring me everything that was missing here. The set up is definitely delicious enough. I was really hoping to be getting Nick’s book next, but I’m not complaining at all about getting more of Simon.
If you’re a fan of this series, this is different than the previous 2 books (at least it was for me). Deacon and Harper’s story was a bit simpler, so I can see how they fit into one book. Gray and Simon are definitely more complex characters and I can understand why the authors want to tell their stories in 2 parts. I just wish that Simon and Margo had a little more of an emotional connection here. But I’m definitely looking forward to see what the next book brings for them.
READ THE SERIES IN ORDER
-this is the series introduction I highly recommend you check out before starting the series. You get a background on each of the characters and really get what sets their stories in motion.
Deacon and Harper’s book (Currently FREE on Amazon!)
Deacon and Harper’s novella
Gray and Jazz (part 1)
Gray and Jazz (part 2)
Review: ★Filthy Dirty Secrets★ by Grace Morgan
May 24, 2015 by ·
Filthy Dirty Secrets
Series: Filthy Dirty Alpha #2
Author: Grace Morgan
Genre: Erotic Romance (trilogy)
Release Date: May 18, 2015
My unique brand of kink has most women dropping their panties.
But not Lola.
Which makes her all the more interesting. You know the old cliché that men love the chase? Hell yeah we do. I want her to fight me. Resist me.
Because when I finally take her, I’ll have conquered not only her body, but her mind. And to a Dom like me, there is no better victory.
This is book 2 in the Filthy Dirty Alpha series, continuing the erotic journey of Lola and Burke, and the dark, and troubling secrets he’s been hiding.
Book 1 – Filthy Dirty Alpha
Book 2 – Filthy Dirty Secrets
Book 3 – Filthy Dirty Fate
The story of Lola, Burke and the mystery of Hope’s disappearance continues in Filthy Dirty Secrets. And the book is very appropriately titled since there seems to be a whammy of a secret at work here which finally hits you over the head like a two by four with that cliffhanger.
There was quite a few revelations packed into the short 65 pages here. You get the reason behind Lola’s ferocious need to find out what happened to Hope. I was afraid that the author may never address that and I always felt that the story really needed that reason. And I must say, I was very satisfied with what it was. It explains her thirst for answers and truly makes you connect with her character here.
Burke continues to be the mystery that he was in book 1. Even though the story is told in dual POVs, you don’t get much about Burke here other than his struggle with what he wants from Lola. Does he secretly crave more or will it stop with the end of their thirty day arrangement? Guess we’ll have to wait for the third and final book for that answer. I’m really hoping for some insight about his character next. Besides being a Dom with commitment issues and the owner of Second Circle, we truly don’t know much about him. Though we do get to find out his connection with Hope, it still leaves quite a few questions to be answered.
There is a hell of a cliffy that the author hits you with at the end, and I have to say that it was one I never saw coming. I love a story that can continue surprise me and this series continues to keep doing that. Grace Morgan manages to pack in a mix of scorching hot sex with a bit of story, answering a few questions while leaving you with many more here. My only complaint is the length. I would have loved for a little bit more here. I’m hoping that the final installment will give us just a little bit more. I can’t wait to see how this all ends. Quite the addicting little story the author has penned here. Definitely looking forward for more from her.
DON’T MISS BOOK 1 IN THE SERIES
Review Blitz & #Giveaway: ★Revelry★ by @CarmenJAuthor
May 23, 2015 by ·
Title: Revelry
Series: Taint #1
Author: Carmen Jenner
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: May 25, 2015
Cooper Ryan is living the dream. Between the parties with rock royalty, booze, groupies and performing to crowds of thousands with his band Taint, life seems pretty sweet. There’s just one thing missing: the feisty little red-head that took his baby and ran off with his heart. Throwing himself into music is the only thing keeping him sane.
Until a run-in with a nonplussed, package-wielding PA throws everything off balance.
Ali Jones is having a craptastic life. Her grandmother died, leaving her homeless, penniless, and alone, and her boyfriend left her for a tramp who takes her clothes off for money. That’s why when she lands her dream job at a record company it seems like it’s too good to be true.
Because it is.
Slapped with an ultimatum, Ali must decide if facing the horror of the unemployment line is a fate worse than going on the road with four rowdy rockers hell-bent on making her life misery.
He’s adored by millions.
She’s not even loved by her cat.
Can they ignore their hatred long enough to survive the tour from hell? Or will their chemistry force everything to come crashing down around them?
PRE-ORDER LINKS (pre-order price 99c)
My vision is partly obstructed by Ali, but the sight of her head bobbing as she takes him in her mouth is all I need to know what’s going on. Levi meets my gaze across the limo. There’s gloating there—that much is obvious—but there’s also understanding. When you spend as much time together as we do, you come to know your bandmates pretty well. For all his talk, he’s not as big of a douche as he claims to be. He may not ever sleep with the same woman more than once—with the exception of Ali, I guess—but I know he’s not immune to the loneliness our lifestyle creates. It’s strange how you can be adored by millions and yet completely alone all at the same time.
He slides his hand into her hair and closes his eyes, throwing his head back against the seat.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he whispers, and then he gathers her hair to the side and shifts her body so that my view is completely unobstructed. I watch as she works her hands up his shaft in time with her mouth. He doesn’t attempt to fuck the back of her throat and make her choke on it, the way we both had that first night we fucked her. Instead, his touch is gentle. Reverent.
It makes me crazy, and hot as fucking hell. I shift uncomfortably, adjusting my cock within my jeans. I don’t make a move towards them, though I want to. I want to bury myself inside her and mark her as mine, but at this point the lines are so fucking blurred it doesn’t matter whom she belongs to. Him. Me. The both of us, or neither one.
I lean forward, taking a glass from the shelf and a crystal decanter filled with amber liquor, and I pour myself a drink, and then I slide back into the leather to watch.
“Play with yourself, Red,” he whispers.
“No.”
“Do it,” I say, and she turns around to glare at me. I can’t tell if she’s disappointed I’m not joining in, or if she forgot I was even here.
“I don’t want—”
“Why are you suddenly so embarrassed?” I say sharply, swigging back more of the scotch than I should.
“I’m not embarrassed. I’d actually rather that you joined in.”
“I’m watching,” I say, eyeing her coolly over my glass. She scowls at me a moment and then she kneels up, steadying herself with one hand on Levi’s thigh. She wriggles her skirt up over her hips and bends over. Everything is on display as she takes him in her mouth again. I close my eyes, not wanting to watch her on her knees in front of him, her head bent low, her full fuck-me lips wrapped around Levi’s cock. I feel as if I’m on a ride that’s spinning out of control and I can’t find a way off. I can’t make it stop. And I so badly want it to stop.
I hope you’re sitting down as you’re reading this because what I’m about to tell you will shock the hell out of you. You ready? IjustreadalovetriangleandIactuallylikedit. Did you get that? Because after all my blustering about never reading it, I think I just died a little inside admitting it. But holy shit, leave it to Carmen Jenner to make me love it. Somewhere right now, my friends, hell is surely freezing over.
I wish I could tell you I was shocked by the fact that it was this author that made it happen, but considering just how much I love her writing, it really isn’t all that shocking. Carmen’s characters are anything but conventional. Her heroines are sassy, sharp-witted, potty mouthed little hellions. And her heroes are to die for alphas with just that right touch of vulnerability. She’s not afraid to go outside the conventional lines with her stories. She thinks outside the box and that’s what makes me love her books as much as I do. She’ll go there. Where most authors will shy away from certain scenarios, she charges into these things like a bull and knocks it out of the fucking park. I love it! But enough about my fangirling and lets get onto the review, shall we?
If you’ve read Enjoy Your Stay, then you’ll remember Cooper Ryan; the sexy rockstar that lost his girl and his child to man from his woman’s past. (And if you haven’t read it, no worries because this book and series stands on its own). Left broken hearted and jaded, Cooper never wants to feel that way again. He’ll never let himself get that vulnerable again. But when a sexy redhead literary comes stumbling into their meeting he seizes the opportunity to make her one of his contract demands. He wants her as the band’s PA, even if she’s glaring daggers at him at the mere mention of it.
Ali Jones hasn’t exactly had the best year. Her boyfriend cheated on her with their stripper roommate. She’s lost her grams and is now living out of her car with her grandmother’s cat that clearly hates her guts. As much as she loves the industry and dreams of managing big names one day, the last thing she wants is to get on a tour bus with the too cocky for his own good rockstar. Even if he makes her nether regions go all aflutter.
“What the fuck is an Alpha-hole?”
“You know, one of those bossy dicks. Everything has to be my way and I’ll blindside you with how fucking sexy I am so you won’t see it coming when I slap you upside the head with my big cock, and my bullshit about how I own your pussy, and you belong to me and blah, blah, blah.”
The banter in this book alone is worth 5 stars. I was laughing like a loon the entire time reading this and couldn’t stop. Carmen Jenner really brought her A game with this series. Holy shit! It was hysterical. There was a certain circle jerk incident, then there was a certain waxing incident, and through it all I was laughing so hard I had honest to gawd tears in my eyes.
In case you haven’t caught on yet, yes this book is a love triangle. For a reader that avoids the mere mention of LT like a bad case of the clap, believe me when I tell you that it was handled well. Well enough that even this picky bitch loved it. There was no leading the reader around by the nose about who she might pick. There was no leading on of both men and wishy washy twatty heroines. Hell no! If more authors wrote love triangles this way, I’d probably read them a whole lot more.
As much as I loved Cooper, Levi, the rockstar with the giant cock heart of gold stole my heart just the same. I simply couldn’t get enough of him and his BOD. What’s BOD you ask? Allow me to clarify
All clear now? Great!
“I think your giant cock might break me.”
“It’s not gonna break you.”
“Well that’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who might spend the rest of your life in a wheel chair because all your lady parts fall out when you stand up after having that monster of a thing inside you.”
“You’re really hurting his feelings now.”
The story is told in alternating POVs from Cooper and Ali and it really allows to fall for these characters, no matter what their faults or quirks may be.
There’s plenty of other things that happen aside from the romance between them, but the romance was definitely the focus. It never deviated from it and even though another man was involved, it never took away from the main couple. What it did do, was add an absolutely sizzling touch to an already hot as fuck romance. Did I mention there’s some hawt MFM scenes? Oh yes, my pervy friends, this book had it all. The only reason I’m not giving it a full 5 stars was because I wanted just a little bit more from that ending. It’s definitely satisfying enough, but I still wanted more. I guess I’m just greedy like that. I’m not sure if their story will continue in the next book or Ali and Coop will just be featured in it, but whatever it is, I’ll take it!
If you’re looking for your next rockstar romance that’s anything but conventional and will keep you laughing hysterically one minute and panting in lust the next, you just found your next read. I’m seriously in love with this series and cannot wait for more on the boys of Taint.
Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of the Sugartown, Savage Saints, and Taint series.
Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.
A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore MAC addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.
A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?
Review: ★Flirting With Scandal★ by @ChanelCleeton
May 22, 2015 by ·
Flirting with Scandal (Capital Confessions #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 19, 2015
The author of I See London sets her sights on Washington, D. C., with a sexy new series about three sisters, the secrets they keep, and a powerful blog with a knack for exposing scandals…
Jackie Gardner knows all about dirty little secrets. The illegitimate daughter of one of the most influential senators in Washington, D.C., she grew up surrounded by the scandals and shadows of politics. Now that she’s landed an internship with a powerful political consulting firm, she’s determined to launch her career and take this city by storm.
William Andrew Clayton was born for politics. He knows the drill: work hard, play discreetly, and at all costs, avoid scandal. At twenty-six, his campaign for the Virginia State Senate is the first step to cementing his future. It’s time for him to settle down, to find the perfect political spouse. He needs a Jackie Kennedy, not a Marilyn…
When Jackie meets Will in the bar of the Hay-Adams Hotel, sparks fly. But the last thing Will needs is to be caught in a compromising position, and an affair with a political candidate could cost Jackie her career. When what began as one steamy night, becomes a passion neither one of them can walk way from, they must decide if what they have is really love, or just another dirty little secret…
I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of politics and I’m especially not a fan of having it in my books. So when I got the chance to read this book, I was skeptical whether I’d like it. But that blurb was just too tempting to pass up so I jumped in…and I’m so glad. What an incredibly pleasant surprise this book turned out to be. I can honestly tell you that I’m completely hooked on this series now and anxiously anticipate the next one. I loved pretty much everything about Flirting With Scandal; the story, the romance, the characters, the steam. It was fantastic!
Jackie Gardner has quite a few skeletons in her closet, her biggest being the illegitimate daughter of one of DC’s influential senators. Her mother? Nothing more than a mistress to the rich political powerhouses that she seems to flop from one to the other. The last thing Jackie wants to be is like her mother. She has goals, and dreams, and she wants to get there on her own terms. Her political career has only just begun with an internship at one of the biggest political consulting firms. She can’t afford for her secrets to come out and she certainly can’t risk the temptation in the form of an immaculate suit and an arresting face…
When they meet at a bar, sparks fly. But what Jackie doesn’t know is that the handsome Will is indeed a William, William Andrew Clayton to be exact and also in the running for Virginia State Senate. He’s everything that she should steer clear off. Too bad her consulting internship puts her to work on his campaign and to meet the attraction between them head on.
Will had to have been one of my favorite parts of this book. Can I tell you how absolutely refreshing it is to get a nice guy, but one that still maintains that sexual edge to him. The man was absolute perfection. He gave me a major case of the swoons.
Jackie was a great heroine as well and the perfect match for Will. She takes charge of her life and goes for it. She doesn’t allow anyone to walk over her. She’s smart, sharp witted, but of course harbors her insecurities due to her history. She certainly doesn’t make things easy for Will. But Will is also a man with a mission and he refuses to take no for an answer. he fights for her. He doesn’t allow for stupid miscommunications to come between them. He becomes the voice of reason and forces her to talk everything out. There was no stupid drama, no angst, no miscommunications. But beyond that it was also incredibly sexy.
Scandal, sex, and politics all come together into one scorching and entertaining read that readers would love from start to finish. I loved it. If you’re looking for a light and sexy read with no stupid drama, characters that you’ll fall in love with and root for till the end, then you’ve definitely found your next book. Read it. Love it. Thank me later 😉
Review: ★HOT ALPHAS (Anthology)★
May 21, 2015 by ·
Hot Alphas (Wounded Warriors #3)
Authors: Lora Leigh, Laurelin McGee, Shiloh Walker, Kate Douglas
Genre: Erotic Romance (anthology)
Release Date: May 19, 2015
In Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh, ex-Marine Turk has become Erin’s sworn protector. The consistent target of her CIA-operative brother’s deadly foes, Turk is the only port Erin has to cling to in a storm. He promised her brother long ago never to touch her—but how can he resist a woman who aches to be with him as much as he burns for her?
In misTaken by Laurelin McGee, Jaylene Kim is a strong independent woman whose feminist values run deep. Even though attractive men are her weakness the last thing she wants is one telling her what to do. Until she meets her mysterious new neighbor. He makes her realize that you can still be strong and relinquish control . . . in the bedroom. But as their passion consumes them both Jaylene isn’t so sure he is who he says he is.
In Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker, Tate longs to spend his nights with Ali, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations. Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with his mother right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Tate’s unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with . . . but the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all?
In Tangled by Kate Douglas, Nate shows up to work at Tangled Vineyards ready to do all the things he loves best—work with his hands, grow the grapes, and craft award-winning, full-bodied wines. But when something better comes along in the form of Cassie, the winemaker and former owner of the vineyard, Nate becomes completely love-drunk. Getting involved with Tangled’s number-one mixologist is a bad way to start off a new job, but with Cassie as a constant temptation, Nate doesn’t stand a chance…
I only read 3 of the 4 novellas in this book. So those are the 3 that I will be rating.
Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh– 2 Stars
I used to be a huge fan of this author. She was the one that first introduced me to erotic romance with Wild Card. But it’s like she just stopped trying lately. The stories have become regurgitated drivel. They all sound the same. You’ve read one, you’ve read them all. Change the characters’ names, rinse, lather and repeat. Another undercover operative with commitment issues and a sassy heroine that wakes him up? Been there. Read that. The writing? Made me roll my eyes so many times I thought they’d permanently get stuck that way…
and not 2 lines after
Honest to gawd, if I read that his quivering member quivered, I may have thrown my kindle across the room.
I felt like I was starting this book from the middle of the series. The author sort of just throws you into things without much of a backstory. It was almost like starting a series from book 3 if you know what I mean. Having read most of this author’s backlist, I’ve also noticed every single one of her characters lately sounds the same. That same “Damn you. Damn you, you witch” line makes an appearance in practically each book. At this point, I’m just over it.
misTaken by Laurelin McGee-1 star
Never has a book infuriated me as much as this one did. And I consider myself a fairly laid back person. I don’t take my fiction too seriously, because it’s just that…fiction. Let’s look past the writing style that didn’t work for me at all. Let’s also forget that the dialogue between the characters read like something out of a YA novel. Let’s also overlook the fact that the hero is supposed to be an alpha, and yet he actually stumbles over his thoughts as to whether or not to hug the heroine after walking her home when he first meets her. YES, you read that right. HUG.
But then the nail on the coffin was this…
“What’s wrong with romance novels?” He looked genuinely puzzled.
What the hell? It wasn’t obvious?
“They’re completely ridiculous. Hot alpha male with a broken past and massive bank account is healed by the golden vagina of a naive girl he meets under completely contrived circumstances. No thank you. That’s just smutty fairy tale for the Basic Bitch. It’s demeaning, and unrealistic. Besides, the sex in those books is always weirdly dominant and controlling.
I only have 2 questions here
This is a conversation between the hero and heroine within a ROMANCE NOVEL
Now to be fair, I understand what the author was trying to do here. The hero, after all, is an erotic romance writer. Mwuhahahaha. Get it? How fitting that this feminist heroine would fall for him. Unfortunately though, even if it was clearly satyrical, it turned me off completely. I was already struggling with reading about a heroine with strongly feminist views (it’s just not my cuppa). Add in her severe dislike for a genre that this Basic Bitch happens to be reading, and yeah…nope. It just didn’t work for me.
This was my first Laurelin McGee book, so this faux pas aside, I’d give her another try with a different book. Unfortunately if I hate a heroine it will almost always ruin the book for me, and that’s exactly what happened here and this didn’t work for me at all.
Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker– 3 stars
This was the saving grace of the anthology for me. I love Shiloh Walker. This is a novella that has been previously published, Burn For Me and is the first in what was 3 prequel novellas. The story gives a HEA for the couple introduced, but the story ARC continues throughout the next 2 books.
I read Erin’s Kiss, then Burn for Me, and misTaken next. Sadly misTaken managed to totally kill the vibe of the book for me and I just couldn’t find it in me to read the next novella, Tangled by Kate Douglas. I may come back to it on a later date.
On a side note, I really loved the previous 2 anthologies in this series, so maybe that’s why I was as disappointed as I was with this one? Who knows. Try it yourself and see. I know I tend to be picky with my books, so it may very well be a case of it’s just me.
Review: ★A Beautiful Kind of Love★ by Ellie Wade
May 20, 2015 by ·
A Beautiful Kind of Love (Choices #1)
Author: Ellie Wade
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult Romance
Release Date: April 11, 2015
Every choice has a consequence.
I believe in soul mates. Why? Because I have one and his name is Jax Porter.
I have known Jax my whole life and I have loved him with every breath I’ve ever taken. The fact that we were born a mere month apart to mothers that are best friends has made us inseparable since birth.
What we have is so rare, one would think our story would be written, our fate sealed. But, unfortunately that’s not how life works. Life offers us many choices that can turn destiny into chance.
I now find myself heading toward a destination that I could have never imagined and I have to figure out where to go from here.
Will the choices that have been made change our path forever or will fate find its way?
Being the absolute angst whore that I am and after seeing many friends rave about this book and how emotional and angsty it was and seeing it all over my Goodreads feed, reading it was a no brainer for me. I was practically salivating after the synopsis alone.
Now that I finished?
And not for the reasons that you’d think. In all honesty, I found absolutely nothing angsty about this book. Nothing. Even when there was an “angsty” situation, there was just not enough backstory or development given with it to make me even slightly care about the character or their plight. None.
It started out great. There’s only one thing that I love more than a friends to lovers romance, and that’s a second chance romance. Unfortunately, I never clicked with either characters or their romance.
So what exactly didn’t work for me? Almost everything….
The writing
The lack of contractions in this book drove me up the wall crazy. I’m talking eye-twitching, hand itching to reach through my kindle and add an apostrophe myself sort of crazy. It got to the point that every time I saw it, I began to channel my inner Austin Powers.
I do not know of any teenagers that talk this way. It is highly annoying. I do not like it.
Weird timeline
The book starts off with both Jax and Lily at age twelve, but it doesn’t give a year. It refers to The Bodyguard as being one of Lily’s mom’s old movies. How old was her mom when she had her? Twelve? It was made in 1992. If this is based a number of years ago (considering at the end of the book Jax and Lily are 21 going on 22), then by method of deduction it would be 2005 when they’re 12 and a 1992 movie would NOT be old. Then when they’re 17, kindles and iPods are referenced. Then Katy Perry just a little later. It just didn’t add up. Perhaps if the author dated the time frames and put a year with the chapters it would have helped.
Miscommunication
Considering that these two are supposed to be best friends, they had so much miscommunication between them it was like they were playing a game of broken telephone. The amount of stupid decisions that were made that could have easily been avoided with a question or simple talk was ridiculous. Yes, I get that they’re teenagers but c’mon. They’re supposed to be BFFs. And it’s like they spent the entire book misreading this or assuming that…
Jax
Here’s an MC I’m supposed to be swooning over and falling for. Yet the only thing I felt for him was….rage. Pure frustrated rage.
There’s a decision that Jax makes that is the catalyst for all the fuckery that takes place in this book. But here’s the thing…I didn’t get it. Why? How? And most importantly, WHY? There was a reason given, but it was weak. Oh so weak. It was almost like it was thrown in there as a ‘by the way’ sort of thing, just to explain it. Or try to explain it anyway. But it didn’t explain it. At all. If anything, it just frustrated me more. Perhaps if there was more background, more backstory and more development with it, I could have understood. But as it was, I found the reason to be stupid. So stupid it actually made me dislike him as a character.
Secondary characters
You know what I love in my books? Unpredictability. Nothing better than a good plot twist. I found the set up with the secondary characters so predictable, it was eye roll inducing. I knew from the very second that a particular secondary character was introduced, what would happen. And I was right. I don’t think it could have been made any more obvious. Perhaps that was the point? But as it was…
Lily
I’m a picky bitch when it comes to my heroines, it’s true. But could Lily have been more of a wet blanket? Gawd. I really felt for her at first, but then her constant back and forth and forgiving of Jax’s douchebaggary made me completely lose respect for her. And then that ending? Are you freaking kidding me?!!! No really. Are you FREAKING kidding me? OMG!
I had to take a day to sleep on my thoughts after finishing this book because had I posted a review immediately after, it probably would have been a 2 page rant. I hate leaving bad reviews, especially when I seem to be one of the VERY few that doesn’t connect with the story, but I couldn’t think of one thing I liked about this book. Not one. And that seriously hurts my heart because I had such high hopes for it. Will I read the second book? Probably not. I just don’t care enough for the characters to want to know where the journey takes them. Unless I’m hit by some masochistic curious urge, I doubt I’ll continue.
I realize I’m in the extreme minority with my thoughts, but before you throw stones and rotten tomatoes, just remember
So don’t let my asshole opinion deter you from reading it. Try it yourself and see. Who knows? You just may love it.
Guest Post, Review & #Giveaway: ★Falling For His Best Friend★ by @katee_robert
May 20, 2015 by ·
Meet Avery & Drew in Katee Robert’s newest sexy standalone from Entangled Brazen!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1S9HBMg
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Abguui
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1PqG9WN
iBooks: http://apple.co/1FmStzy
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1Ecc4OZ
He’s going above and beyond the call of duty…
Avery Yeung’s biological clock just went off early. Thanks to her family’s medical history, she’s running out of time to get knocked up. And the only guy within donating distance? Her overprotective-and irritatingly hot-best friend. So clearly she needs an anonymous donor…
Anonymous donor? Over Sheriff Drew Flannery’s dead body. While daddyhood will never be in the cards for a man with his past, Drew won’t let Avery shop for a “popsicle pop.” He’ll do what’s right for his best friend by doing his best friend. But only if they do it properly.
But there’s nothing “proper” about it. Between the bed, the kitchen counter, and against his squad car, Avery and Drew are having the hottest sex ever. They can’t get enough of it-or each other. And without knowing it, they’ve crossed the one line that could ruin their friendship forever…
I asked Katee how she keeps coming up with new and sexier sex scenes for her characters and where does she draw her inspiration. (because inquiring pervy minds gots to know!) And here’s what she had to say
Bring on the Sexy Good Times!
I’ve always preferred to read romances where I get all the delicious details, rather than a fade-to-black or sweeter romance. So, when it came time for me to be the one writing romance, the only route that felt natural to take was the one that let the reader see everything going on in the bedroom (or closet or living room…but I digress). The only problem? There’s a whole lot that goes into sex scenes to make them feel effortless and not awkward.
Yeah, I was way in over my head. Writing sex scenes are DIFFICULT. No duh, right? I should have seen that from a mile away.
The thing is, it got easier with each book I wrote, until the sex scenes are now one of my favorite parts of any given book. See, in addition to making me blush (every single time!) and occasionally making me take a lap around the living room to cool off, a good sex scene gives the reader a very intimate view of a character’s fears and desires.
How a hero or heroine chooses to make themselves vulnerable—or not— in the bedroom is telling when it comes down to it. Each pairing presents its own challenges. For example, with FALLING FOR HIS BEST FRIEND, Drew is the dominant partner almost exclusively—he drives the sex scenes. They’re both busy fighting their feelings for each other, but they do it in different ways. Avery lets herself get lost in the moment, and Drew tries to control every little thing.
With each book, there are challenges and with each book there’s the underlying desire to keep the heat level in roughly the same place. I like my sex scenes hot! Which is great in theory, but there’s always the fear in the back of my mind that I’ll write a scene, send it in, and have my editor respond with, “Katee, you wrote this exact same scene in a totally different book!” Or “Katee, every single book in this series has the characters getting busy in the backseat!”
The double ups don’t actually happen that often, though. Each couple brings different desires to the table, so writing to cater to those desires ends up creating a natural variety of sexy good times naturally. Which is a relief, let me tell you!
What about you? How do you feel about sex scenes in romance books?
And worst of all, he wanted to do it again.
Ever since Drew and Avery were first introduced in In Bed with Mr. Wrong I just knew they’d be one of my favorites in the series. And you know what? I wasn’t even a little bit wrong. I love a good friends to lovers romance, and this one delivered it in spades.
And then he kissed her.
Avery and Drew have been best friends for twenty years. There’s nothing that they haven’t experienced together, especially being the fun loving troublemakers that they are. But there’s one thing that always stayed hands off, especially for Drew, and that’s anything even remotely romantic or sexual. Drew attempted to kiss her once and was turned down flat. He doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, so even though his attraction for Avery hasn’t lessened any through the years, he won’t act on it. Until he has no choice but not to…
Avery has always known Drew for the player that he is. His hit it then quit it ways date back all the way to high school. He’s also been the one solid presence in her life that has been there for her through everything. Especially that terrible day that she got the test results back saying that she has the same genetic markers for cancer that killed her mother. Now her biological clock is ticking and it has a very quick expiration date with her health risk looming over her. Avery is desperate to have the one thing she longs for; a child of her own. After watching her sister that had the same genetic markers go through an emergency hysterectomy, she knows she doesn’t have time to waste. And with no potential men in the plan for her, since Drew seems to scare all of them off with the guise that they’re not good enough, she gets desperate. And what’s a girl to do? Go to a sperm bank, of course.
When the idea of Avery getting pregnant by any man that’s not him hits Drew over the head like a two-by-four, he knows what HE has to do. Why go to the sperm bank when he can get the job done right…the old fashioned way.
Avery may not be too keen on the idea at first, but it’s not long before all that pent up sexual chemistry from the years crackles and sizzles out of control. Let’s just say there’s a certain scene that involves Drew’s sheriff’s uniform, handcuffs, and the side of a road. Holy melting panties!
Avery may know what she wants, but Drew struggles with it. The last thing he wants is to give his heart to a woman only to waste away like his drunk of a father when he looses her. Watching him fall harder and harder for Avery was all the more satisfying to watch because of this. Sure he screws up, but he more than makes up for it.
I really loved this latest installment in the series. It’s everything that I love in contemporary romance. It was light, sweet, with the perfect amount of sexy and fantastic characters. If you loved the previous books in this series, you’re definitely going to love this one. And if you haven’t yet read those, then you can easily read this one as a standalone. The operative word here being READ it.
New York Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back.
Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way—as it often does—and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she’d like to write a book and try to get published.
Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding speculative romance. Because, really, who wouldn’t want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people?
She now spends her time—when not lost in Far Reach worlds—playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.
Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Spotlight & #Giveaway: ★Sneak Attack★ by @cariquinn
May 19, 2015 by ·
I don’t know if you all know this, but ever since I first read Shadowboxer last summer, I’ve been practically stalking Cari Quinn for more in this series. Actually, forget practically, it’s a wonder the woman puts up with me with my incessant and rabid need for Giovanni’s book. But when she told me that there’s going to be another book for the couple that made me fall in love with this series, Mia and Tray. I can’t say I was complaining. So I’m so excited to have Cari on the blog today talking all things Sneak Attack, sharing an excerpt AND a great giveaway. Make sure you check it all out below!
Hey y’all! I’m Cari Quinn, and I’m so thrilled to be back on Dirty Girl Romance to talk about SNEAK ATTACK, my next book in the Tapped Out MMA series! And make sure to read on until the end for an awesome contest where YOU get to share which kind of sports hero gets *your* blood pumping!
SNEAK ATTACK is about Tray “Fox” Knox and Mia Anderson, two former underground MMA fighters who fell in love when Mia set her sights on fighting Tray. A bit surprising, right? Some readers wondered how that could be possible, and if Mia truly thought she could kick Tray’s ass. I’m currently reading the autobiography of Ronda Rousey, one heck of an amazing female fighter, and I bet she’d agree that yes, women can take down men. She sure has. 😉
When I wrote SHADOWBOXER, I thought that was the end of Mia and Tray’s story, though of course they’d continue to show up as side characters in the rest of the books in the series. Yeah, well, they didn’t want to go along with my plan. In fact, when I started ripping off the layers involved in the building of a relationship between two scarred people—physically and emotionally—so many secrets started coming out of the woodwork that I couldn’t keep up. And SNEAK ATTACK will definitely change the trajectory of the series.
One thing that hasn’t changed about Tray and Mia? Their explosive chemistry. These two want each other everywhere…and anywhere. 😉
Mia arched against me and sank her teeth into my shoulder. It shouldn’t have made me instantly hard. I shouldn’t have grabbed her long braids in my fists and yanked her head back to claim that wild, hungry mouth with my own. This wasn’t the way. We needed to talk. I needed to shift back from her hips pressing so insistently into mine. But I couldn’t. Couldn’t. I knew what she craved because the same craving streaked through my blood.
Breathing fast, she yanked up her shirt, knowing I’d pull it off. I’d help her as I always did. Together, we were both weak. And when my hands closed over hers and tugged the material higher, then when they greedily slipped lower to caress the flesh I knew as intimately as my own, I expected her to gasp. To beg. Not to twist away and pant as if I’d plunged a knife into her chest.
“What?” I jerked up her shirt again while she fought to pull it down. “Let me see.”
I drew her toward the window and turned her into the shaft of light, swallowing hard at the black tattoo outline covering her ribs. I had a tat in that spot too. Those bastards hurt. Even in the dim light, I could make out the roses and shaded gloves.
Fucking boxing gloves.
Her chin lifted and in her eyes was a demand. Don’t ask. I wouldn’t, but not because she’d silently instructed me not to. That tattoo was why she’d left me hanging for hours? It sure as hell hadn’t been there this morning when I’d had her luscious breasts in my mouth.
The better question was why it was there. The gloves might’ve been a metaphor. God knows she was fighting now. Would always be fighting. Or was she trying to give me a message I refused to hear? Did she want to start fighting again?
“Mia—”
She stretched up and locked her hands around my head, hauling my mouth to hers. Cutting off her name, turning it into a groan of pure pleasure as she pressed her breasts against my chest. Having her shirt and bra between us didn’t lessen the sensation. If anything, it amplified the friction of her skin against mine. I bit her lower lip, my annoyance level rising in tandem with the arousal I couldn’t stop. My body was primed to respond to hers.
That didn’t mean I had to like it.
Book 2 in the NEW ADULT MMA series, TAPPED OUT
She thought she’d fought her final match…but the bout isn’t over yet.
Mia Anderson found more than she ever bargained for when she set up a fight with reigning king of the underground MMA fighters, Tray “Fox” Knox. Five months have passed, and both have walked away from the sport that brought them together. Now they fight for love, not blood. Until a voice from the past comes back to haunt Mia, causing her to struggle with her secrets and her need for Tray.
Tray’s tired of battling to be with a woman who keeps pushing him away. He loves Mia, but maybe he can’t love her through this. Not unless she will let him put his back to hers, all or nothing. He’s ready to slay any demon she has—except the one she refuses to share.
One opponent will walk away the victor. And one will lose…everything.
Intrigued? I hope so! Both SNEAK ATTACK (out 5.29.15) and ON THE ROPES (out 7.1.15) are up for preorder now for only 2.99 thru release week! And if you’d like to give the series a try for FREE, both SHADOWBOXER and BODY SHOT, a vignette teaser for On The Ropes, are free for a limited time!
Now for the contest.
For a chance to win a $10.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card and a signed print copy of SHADOWBOXER, book 1 in the Tapped Out series, plus a custom made book hook for the Tapped Out series plus some fun swag, just answer this question:
Which sports hero is your favorite to read—or watch? And why?
Thanks so much for having me here today and thank YOU for reading! <3
#NewReleases: May 19
May 19, 2015 by ·
MAY 19 RELEASES
Game Changer (Bomb Squad #3)
Falling for His Best Friend (Out of Uniform #2)
Protective Instinct (Moon Shifter #5.5)
Hot Alphas (Wounded Warriors #3)
