ARC Review: ☆Power Play☆ by Mallery Malone

Raphael Jerroult a.k.a. the Crescent City Casanova, has fought his whole life—both in and out of the boxing ring. Watching his father suffer for years after his mother’s death, he’s resolved to envelop himself in a shell made of money, MMA matches, and a different woman every day. But when an old flame, and the only woman he’s ever truly let in, comes back in his life, Raphael can’t stop being distracted by the red-headed beauty with the curves that go on for days…

Macy Lovelace has no desire to start things up again with Raphael. Memories of the sweetest torture she’s ever known can’t make her forget that he’s not cut out for long-term love. But Macy’s the only girl who Raphael ever let in, the only girl who really knows his sexy, dangerous side. And with the Crescent City Casanova, the only way to keep up, is to be tied down…

3.5 Lovers Reunited Stars

This was much more than she remembered. He was much more than she remembered.

Don’t let the “billionaire” series title or the page count fool you, this book is much more that it seems to be at first glance. The cover whore in me simply couldn’t pass up that cover, and the dirty talking MMA fighter lover in me simply couldn’t pass up that synopsis. So I read it…and I’m so glad I did.

If you love the lovers reunited trope, you’ll really enjoy this one. While I can’t say that this was so unlike anything I’ve read before, it was a thoroughly entertaining, romantic, and steamy read from beginning to finish. Mallery Malone has managed to accomplish what I find quite rare, give a fully developed story with MCs that you will fall for from the beginning in just 90 short pages. Typically with short novellas I don’t connect with the characters since the pace is just too quick, but that wasn’t the case here. The story and character development was fantastic.

The sex was scorching hot but it wasn’t instant, which I appreciated as it gave me time to truly get invested in the characters and their love and backstory. The connection between Macy and Raffael was believable and even managed to pull at some of my heart strings.

If you’re looking for a short yet steamy novella with a lovers reunited trope, you can’t go wrong with this one. Perfect in-between books read, it had a little of everything. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.

ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

ARC Review: ☆One Night of Sin☆ by @ElleKennedy

A sexy category romance novella from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

Only $.99!!!

4 Sinfully Hot & dirty talking Stars


You say the filthiest things,” she moaned.
“That’s ’cause I’m a filthy boy. A very filthy boy that needs to be punished. So now ride me until I can’t see straight.”

Ha! See what I did there?

If you’re at all familiar with Elle Kennedy’s writing then you know that the woman can write some fucking HAWT books. And One Night of Sin? Sweet baby jebus! This book needs to come with a warning…and I mean A WARNING!

  • Book may cause sporadic ovary CUMbustion
  • Make sure you stock up on batteries or have your significant other on hand
  • Gage and his dirty mouth may give you a hot flash…or 30
  • Thinking about Gage and his dirty mouth may also make you impatient to wait if significant other isn’t on hand at the moment


Oh…there’s also a story somewhere in there. I swears! If I can only remember what that is now. Ahh yes, it’s all coming back to me now.

We have Gage Holt a former MMA fighter and current part owner of a club, and a verra bad boy. As far as first meetings go? He’s got that part covered…


That’s what you want, isn’t it? For me to fuck you right here, right now, against the wall. Isn’t that what you want, Skyler?”

Be reasonable, what woman can resist THAT? Certainly not Skyler Thompson, a good girl that’s always played it safe when it came to sex. So when on a bad date while at club Sin, she catches the eye of the sinfully sexy and tatted up Cage? Let’s just say she know exactly what she wants…and she really makes no qualms about going after it.

But luckily she’s forward without coming off as desperate or brash, which is typically my kryptonite with heroines.

The set up is not really unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Bad boy meets good girl. Boy isn’t looking for a commitment because he’s not “fit” to be in one. Boy and girl agree to some no string sex.


…we need to lay down a few ground rules.”
“What kind of rules?”
“Actually, there’s only one. This thing between us…it’ll be just sex. That’s all I can give you.”
“Fine, great, I’ll take six more orgasms.”

And since your offer sounds so tempting, Cage…

As far as the plot goes, it’s entertaining and the book reads very quick. Well…give or take a few “breaks”. Uhem.

I loved the set up for the 3 partners, all of who are former MMA fighters. This definitely was a hot little book in what looks to be a very promising and sinfully delicious series.

Did I also mention the hot sex?


Are all your fights usually so quick?”
Nope. I wanted it over fast so I could take you home and fuck you.

But don’t worry, it’s not just smut and zero story. If you’re looking for a scorching hot book with a dirty talking MMA fighter and a good girl gone bad? Looks like you’ve got your next read here 😉

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**

But seriously guys, this is a STEAL for $.99. If you want a hot and steamy read with a hero that will quite literally melt the panties off of you, this is a must read. Huge rec from this dirty girl 😉

ARC Review: ☆Temptation☆ by @RobinCovington

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Burn up the sheets one page at a time with Robin Covington and her sizzling romance, Temptation!!
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She needs to be good.
Five years ago, Kit Landry was homeless and alone at sixteen. Determined to ditch her crappy life, she moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big as America’s country sweetheart, but a year of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile.
He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be.
Sometimes bad is so very good.
With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl–no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.
Buy Links
Review
4 stars

I had thought the fire was dangerous, but I was wrong. Max was the thing I needed to worry about.
“You’re no angel,” I whispered.
“I’m glad you finally figured it out.”

I have yet to read a Robin Covington book I didn’t enjoy, and Temptation was no exception. Steamy, a little angsty, entertaining and satisfying; it was the perfect NA contemporary read.

Kit Landry is America’s country sweetheart.

The guitar was more important to me than any lover, our connection elemental, and I respected the hell out of it.

But she wasn’t always the good girl she is today. After her stint in rehab and her bad girl ways landing her in every gossip magazine, her label is threatening to drop her. To keep her career on the up and up, she needs to keep her image good and focus on her music. So now Kit must be the epitome of good, and to do that the last thing she needs is a bad boy that will test her every resolve.

Max Butler is a bad boy firefighter. He may risk his life running into burning buildings, but he has no interest in risking his heart to giving it to another woman…ever.

But a little no string, no commitment fun between the sheets with his own personal fantasy? Sign him up. So when he gets the opportunity to get close to Kit after rescuing her from a fire, he doesn’t think twice about it.

I went at her again like I was starving.
And I was famished. For her. It was the craziest thing I’d ever experienced, but I wasn’t going to let a little insanity stop me.

While the chemistry between them was nothing short of scorching,

both Kit and Max are gun shy when it comes to anything more. Max from being burned by a woman in his past, and Kit from another reason from her past.

I really loved that this was written in dual first person POV, but that’s usually my preference. This did have quite a bit of back and forth between Kit and Max. There was that element of ‘I want you, but I can’t’, but it wasn’t overdone or OTT in my opinion. I could have done without that additional “drama” at the 90% mark, but then again it DID fit the story so it didn’t bother me too much.

I liked both Kit and Max…well that’s a lie. I liked Kit but Max is what made my pervy little heart go all pitter patter with his deliciously sexy dirty talking ways. This author definitely knows her way around a sex scene. Damn.

If you’ve never read a Robin Covington book before, this is the perfect one to start with. I promise you’ll be going to her back list immediate after.

P.S.
My casting has been gratuitously stolen from the author’s inspiration behind Max and Kit 😉

About the AuthorRobin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.

A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel was a 2012 finalist in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington and Maryland Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.

Giveaway

Blog Tour & Review: ☆Buried☆ by @SelenaLaurence

BURIED by Selena Laurence
Blog Tour and Giveaway

Buried

Hiding from Love #3 
by Selena Laurence
Releases  August 4, 2014
* Stand Alone Novel *
Seven years ago, Juan Martinez lost everything—his only parent, his home, his life as he’d known it. Alone, lost, and desperate, he turned to the Reyes Hispanos—the RH—one of the most violent gangs in South Texas. But when you sell your soul to the devil, you pay a heavy price. Convicted of a drive-by shooting, Juan has served hard time. Finally out on parole, he wants to disappear—from the RH, from memories of all that he’s lost, and especially from the gorgeous woman who just showed up next door.

Beth Garcia grew up following after her older brother, David, and his best friend, Juan. She always dreamed of a day when she’d be old enough for Juan to look at her as someone other than David’s little sister. But he disappeared at seventeen, after his mother was deported, and Beth thought she’d lost him forever. When she finds him living at the halfway house next door, she knows he’s still the same guy inside. Determined to save him from himself and the RH, Beth sets out to prove that he didn’t commit the crime he was convicted of. But the path to absolution is dark, and even Beth may not be able to discover the real Juan.

Can a man with a damaged soul and a beautiful heart let a woman with fierce loyalty and unwavering love risk it all to save him? Or will his past bury them both this time?

4 Stars

I’m going to find Juan- the real Juan. I’m going to bring him back from the dark, deep place of pain and punishment he’s been living in. I know who he is. I’m going to remind him who he is, and then I’m going to make sure the world knows him too.

In my typical fashion of doing things back asswards, I went into this book without having read the previous 2 in this series. What? Don’t act like you’re surprised. What can I tell you after finishing it? 3 things.

1. The story goes to prove what a fantastic author Selena Laurence is
2. You can easily read this as a standalone
3. I will now be going back and reading the previous 2, not because I was lost in the story, but simply because I’m intrigued by the characters.

Juan Martinez has spent the past 7 years in hell. He’s lost his mother, his home, and life as he once knew it. Seeing no other alternative, he turned to the only option he thought was available to him; joining the Reyes Hispanos, one of the most violent gangs in his town of Texas. His life certainly hasn’t been easy, and he’s long since buried all his youthful dreams. The straight A student with dreams of a wife and a white picket fence has been replaced by the cold faced gangster that’s learned to hide everything he feels. After serving hard time for being convicted of a death in a drive-by shooting, Juan only wants one thing; to hide. To hide from his past, to hide from his present, and definitely to hide from the gang that is already breathing down his neck and wants him back into the fold. But all that changes when at his halfway house his past comes crashing into him in the form of Beth Garcia; his childhood best friend’s younger sister and the woman he’s always loved.

Beth still remembers the boy that Juan used to be, and she refuses to believe in the facade of the dangerous gangster he now presents. She doesn’t believe he’s guilty of the crime he was convicted for. She sees beyond the hard exterior to the broken soul of the man beneath. The man that she used to know, and the man that she is determined to find again.

I can’t give you any one word to describe this book, because it doesn’t fit into any particular box or genre that I can think of. It was emotional, heart wrenching, at times sexy, and poignant.

I loved the strength in both of these characters. With every piece of the puzzle of Juan’s past that gets revealed, you get further and further drawn into the story.

Juan for all his bad boy gangster ways was nothing like that with Beth. This was his childhood crush and the girl he always imagined himself being with. So while their connection is instantaneous when the reconnect these 7 years later, you can understand it given their history. Though their relationship is not an easy one with the chaos that surrounds them from Juan’s past life. There was action and quite a few nail biting moments that will keep you glued to the story from beginning to finish.

I also loved how Selena included Joss from A Lush Betrayal in the end here. It was so flawlessly done and just added to my enjoyment of the story to see the two worlds tied together.

**ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review**

The Hiding from Love series

Hidden 
(Nick & Lindsey)
** 99 cents **

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Camoflauged 
(Gabe & Alexis)
** FREE **

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Concealed 
(Gabe & Alexis)

Amazon  | B&N |  iTunes

Buried 
(Juan & Beth)

 Amazon | B&N  | iTunes

Selena Laurence is the Barnes and Noble Bestselling author of what she likes to call Edgy Contemporary Romance. Her books have been Amazon Top 10 bestsellers in multiple categories including Multicultural Romance, Hispanic Fiction, Urban Fiction, Military Romance, and Romantic Suspense. Her New Adult romance, Hidden, won the 2014 Reader’s Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the year.

Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spends a hell of a lot of time at soccer games, on her laptop, and reading. She requires a Mocha Latte every day to function, keeps a goldendoodle at her feet most of the time, and has more kids than she or Mr. Laurence know what to do with.

Selena is also author of the Lush Series, a story of four high school friends who form the rock band Lush.  Take a ride with rock stars, men, brothers, and lovers, as Joss, Walsh, Mike, and Colin discover what it means to succeed, to fail, to hurt, and to love.

ARC Review & Author Interview: ☆No Limits☆ by @lorilfoster

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he’s never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…
Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it…

Releasing: August 26

Available for pre-order
Kindle / Nook / iTunes / BAM / 
4 Swoony Romance Stars

When need be, I can fight dirty, though usually I just fight for sport. But when it comes to you, I fight to win.

I’ve been a HUGE Lori Foster fan since reading her very first SBC Fighters book years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been stalking the poor author in hopes that’d she’d write another MMA series. Considering that she’s a big fan of sport and it’s very evident in her writing, it just makes it all the better. So when Cannon was first introduced in Getting Rowdy, I’ve been practically salivating at the thought of him getting his own book. I kid you not. Allow me to quote my own review

On a different note, I am absolutely DYING to get a book for Cannon. He was one of my favorite parts of this book. Please please please give us a book for him. Did I happen to mention that he’s a fighter? I would squeal like a teenage girl spotting Justin Bieber if Lori Foster gives us another series like her SBC Fighters with Cannon. Seriously, I’m not even embarrassed to admit that.

So when I began reading this book and realized that Cannon is THE Cannon, I had a little moment

The one thing that I’ve truly come to appreciate in Miss Foster’s books is the way she ties all her characters together flawlessly, even from earlier series. We got Rowdy, Logan, Reese, Dash…and even Havoc had a mention.

Having said that, you can definitely read this as a standalone, though I would recommend reading the novella Hard Knocks, just to get a better introduction to all the fighters. Now on to the review.

Cannon

If you’re looking for a sweet yet incredibly sexy, protective and possessive yet not OTT hero, you simply must meet Cannon.

Three years ago, Cannon rescued her and her grandfather from kidnappers. Yvette has always harbored a school girl crush on the sexy fighter, but then he walked away from her. She was too young, too needy, too vulnerable…or so she thought. But Cannon never forgot the beautiful girl with the green eyes, so when her grandfather’s passing and will gives him the opportunity to fix the wrongs of years’ past, he doesn’t think twice. He wants Yvette, and he’ll have her, but first he needs to convince her.

The one thing that I always liked about Cannon, even when he was a young man in the other series, he was always the sweet guy. He was the neighborhood protector, the nice guy, yet he still exuded that sexy and dangerous vibe without coming off like an asshole. I was so happy to see that didn’t change in his own book. He was still the swoony protector, and still the nice guy. While he hasn’t been a saint in the 3 years he hasn’t seen Yvette, he was dubbed “the Saint” in the SBC for a reason; he treats everyone, even his one night stands with kindness. This is not your stereotypical asshole fighter book hero.

Cannon loses no time at all in making his intentions clear to Yvette. His feelings for her haven’t changed, and if anything they’ve only intensified through the years.

Her impact on him was the same as three years ago when he’d first kissed her. She’d started an itch that had never gone away, and instead had grown to nearly consume him.

Yvette has always had feelings for Cannon, but she never thought he’d reciprocate it. But she’s not the same woman that she was when he rescued her. She’s older, wiser, and determined to fix her problems herself and not be seen as the vulnerable and needy girl used to be.

If you’re looking for some fighting action here, you won’t get it. This is very strictly a romance book with a hero that just happens to be a fighter. And honestly? I can’t complain in the least.

This was a slow burn and slower paced romance, meaning the author didn’t throw the MCs into bed at the very first opportunity. Not even close. The sexual chemistry and tension between them was palpable by the time they burned up the sheets together…and boy did they burn them up. But the sex wasn’t at the center of this book. The romance was. And the romance was perfection. Lori Foster was the author that first introduced me to contemporary romance, and all these books later she continues to remind me why she’s one of my go-to authors in the genre.

This book had a little bit of everything; romance, suspense, and some action. Even a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Yvette was a character that in any other circumstance would bother me with her insecurities, but something about her just worked for me here. Sure I was frustrated with her a few times, but I also understood why she felt the way that she did, so I was able to look past it.

Then there were the side character; Armie, Denver, Stack, Vanity, Rissy, and Cherry. One future pairing has already been made clear, and let me just tell you I can already tell that that book will be SCORCHING. I can’t wait. I’m so happy that Lori has has written another MMA series, and can’t wait for more. This was the perfect book and couple to start off what promises to be another amazing series.

***ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest revew***

Interview with Lori Foster
Hi Lori! Thanks so much for being here on Dirty Girl Romance blog today. We are super thrilled to share with our readers your upcoming release,  No Limits, and your new Ultimate series. And of course my inner fangirl is squeeing like a teenager at a Justin Bieber concert with excitement here 🙂

But that’s enough about my inner fangirl, let’s talk Cannon!

   
DGR: We first meet Cannon as a young man in Getting Rowdy. Did you know then that you would be writing a book for him? (I have to admit my first thought when I read the book was, ‘please please start another series with him like your SBC Fighters series’. I was a big fan of that series, obviously.)
LF: Thank you so much! Many readers contacted me after Cannon’s appearance in the Love Undercover series. Seemed everyone, including me, liked him from the get-go. And yes, almost as soon as Cannon showed up on the page I knew he wanted his own book. Some characters are like that. I don’t know anything about them. I don’t even know they’re going to appear. Them poof –they show up, steal a scene, and convince me they need a book of their own.  🙂

DGR: I also know you’re a big fan of the MMA, does that make your writing process for this series more fun?

LF: Yes, definitely. It also makes it easier in some ways, more difficult in others. I have a lot of respect for these professional athletes and I want to do them justice while also romanticizing them and enhancing natural qualities enough to make them “book worthy” heroes. Because I love the sport, I feel familiar with it. But again, the realities of training and competing should never read like a how-to manual for a romance novel. So I have to gloss over some things, expound on others. Overall, my MMA series is about ripped, capable fighters falling in love and working through some suspense elements. NOT about actual fighting.

DGR: I personally loved Cannon’s combination of possessive and protective with super sweet. Can you tell the readers any more enticing details about his character? 



LF: Like many of my heroes, he’s a natural born protector. He has a sister he adores, a neighborhood he’s loyal to, and a wealth of honorable, sometimes quirky friends. I like to write characters that have some flaws, but I have to admit, Cannon doesn’t have many.  🙂

DGR: What was your favorite part to write for No Limits?

This is awful to admit, but my favorite part to write was Armie Jacobson. He’s a character who will end up with his own book, and from the first time he showed up, he was hilarious and outrageous and he’d say and do things that surprised me and had me grinning. He’s a perfect best friend for the very responsible Cannon, and I have a feeling readers will enjoy him as much as I have.

DGR: This is an over-asked question, I’m sure, but I still have to ask. Who would be your dream cast to play Cannon and Yvette?

LF: Well shoot. That’s always a toughie because while I love movies, I almost never remember the names of actors. Josh Duhamel is always a hottie, and he’s big enough to be Cannon, although maybe he’s a little older. Not sure. Mila Kunis has the right look for Yvette, if she could play a quieter, more reserved part.

DGR: There were many interesting side characters introduced; Armie, Denver, Stack, Vanity, Rissy, and Cherry. Any hints who’s up next and who’ll be the heroine to bring him to his knees?

LF: Yes! I’m almost done writing Denver’s story now. It’s titled HOLDING STRONG and should be out April/May 2015. Denver is one of the bigger fighters (in more ways than the obvious) and he’s a little more alpha, a little less laidback than Cannon. He and Cherry showed some attraction in NO LIMITS, and in their own book they finally get together, but also have some issues to work out. Denver sees her as the ultimate party girl, and since he’s pretty possessive, that bugs him a lot. Both of them also have troublesome pasts that have to be resolved.

DGR: Armie (dreamy sigh). He was so much fun to read as a character. I think I highlighted everything he ever said. When is his book and can you give us any more details about him to tide us over in the wait?

LF: See!? I loved Armie too. I think you’re going to love him even more in HOLDING STRONG. But I don’t see Armie getting his own book until… the end of the series. Sorry. Cannon is first, Denver is second. Stack will likely be third. That leaves Armie for last. But the good part is that we’ll get to see Armie playing in his secondary role for a while longer. 🙂

DGR: I love that you also included several characters from other series like Rowdy, Logan, and of course even my favorite, Havoc, got a mention. Are any of the boys from SBC Fighters series going to be making any more appearances in this series?

LF: They are! I had to get permission from previous publishers to include them, but everyone is on board so expect some cameos and some longer roles as the two SBC series mesh. You can expect to see Dean (Havoc) Conor from CAUSING HAVOC, and Simon (Sublime) Evans from SIMON SAYS, and maybe even some peeks from Jude Jamison, JUDE’S LAW. 🙂

DGR: Anything else you’d like to let the readers know about this No Limits and the Ultimate series?

LF: Readers can catch early “sneak preview” excerpts on my website – www.LoriFoster.com and can win fun goodies like T-shirts, mouse pads, key chains, etc… on my Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/LoriFoster

Thank you!

ARC Review: ☆Hard Knocks☆ by Lori Foster

In the stunning prequel novella to her new mixed martial arts series, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings together an elite fighter and the woman he’s determined to win.

Power. Brute strength. Unforgettable moves. It’s no wonder Harper Gates hasn’t been able to get her fling with Gage “Savage” Ringer out of her head. Months have passed since she laid eyes—or any other body parts—on him. Months without a word of contact… until, sidelined by injury, he comes back to town.
Staying focused on his training seemed like a smart move to Gage, even if he thought about Harper every day. Seeing her again only makes it clear how much is at stake. He’s got one night to earn back her trust. One night to show her that behind his breathtaking skill and ripped body is a man who’ll give her everything she needs.
Don’t miss No Limits, the first novel in Lori Foster’s Ultimate series.

3.5 Short but worth it Stars

Ever since I first discovered Lori Foster with my first SBC fighters,
Causing Havoc (SBC Fighters, #1) by Lori Foster
and then binging and reading the entire series back to back, I have been hoping and HOPING that she will write another MMA series. It only makes sense, right? The author is a huge fan of the sport and she writes some of the best steamy contemporary romances, so the combination is golden.

When I saw the title and author of this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I didn’t even bother to read the book blurb. I had assumed that the novella would be a prequel to the 1st book (with the same couple). Guess I should have read the blurb 🙂

This novella is more of an introduction to the series and the characters. I found it perfect for that. You get to have a small but juicy bit about all the deliciously sexy fighters that are introduced. Ms Foster gives you just a bit and yet not quite enough to practically make you salivate for their books.

But there is also the addition of a romance; one between Gage “Savage” Ringer and Harper Gates. This was a cute and sexy addition to the story, but to be honest, I was more interested in the rest of the fighters. It’s tough to really get invested in the characters in less than a 100 pages. While it was sexy and steamy, I didn’t feel like I had enough background story or information on Harper and Gage to truly appreciate their romance.

That being said, it was a great way for the series and the hero of the next book to be introduced and I’m very happy I read it and would definitely recommend fans of the authors start the series with this novella as well.

Now that is all you’ll be getting from me, since I plan on diving straight into Cannon’s book in
No Limits (Ultimate, #1) by Lori Foster
next.

***ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

ARC Review: ☆Lead☆ by @KylieScottbooks

leadAs the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it’s booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.

Lena’s not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

The Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott:
Lick (Stage Dive #1): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads
Play (Stage Dive #2): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads
Deep (Stage Dive #4) available on January 6th, 2015: Amazon / B&N /Goodreads

                        

5 God damn mother-fucking rock stars Stars


He always seemed so polished, so perfect, you could almost ignore the chaos and pain living inside of him.

I kid you not, this series only gets better with each new book. I had some high hopes for Jimmy’s story, and Kylie Scott not only managed to meet them but blow them out of the water.

See, here’s the thing. I have this thing for almost nonredeemable bad boy assholes. If they just happen to be almost nonredeemable rock star bad boy assholes? All the better. It’s a condition that I have recently diagnosed as AssholeLustitis. True story.

Enter Jimmy Ferris, the lead singer of Stage Dive, recovering addict, and all around giant dick (pun most definitely intended)


This was Jimmy is all his glory, rude as fuck and not a single social nicety to him.

Having scared off most of his assistants and outright refusing a sobriety companion, Jimmy needs someone. And his band mates think they have just the ticket to what he needs when they meet Lena. So they make her an offer she can’t refuse. Be Jimmy’s 24hr companion, live in his house, oh and earn pretty much double what she’s currently earning as an assistant to the band’s manager.

Lena is used to dealing with assholes. She’s sassy, quit witted, sharp-tongued and in 2 words? Fucking awesome. Her internal monologue had me laughing throughout the entire book.


I’m so tempted to just punch you in the junk right now and be done with it. I mean, it has to happen sooner or later, right?”

Whoops…sorry. Got carried away there. See the thing is, Lena was such a great heroine it was impossible not to root for her. The banter between the two was some of the best I’ve read. I’m talking laugh out loud funny. I’m talking wanting to reach through your kindle to fist bump her funny.


Do you actually expect me to jump around like an idiot?”
“It would amuse me.”
“Don’t make me kill you at this hour of the morning, Jimmy. It’s not civilized.”

Lena has no issues dealing with Jimmy’s broody, moody, and general assholness. Yes, assholness is not really a word, but work with me here. The problem begins when she starts to develop feelings for the asshole. And given her history with men? Well, let’s just say the cards are not exactly stacked in her favor.


I have in my time dated a cheater, a thief, a repressed homosexual, a foot fetishist, and various men who just wanted a chance to meet my sister.”
“Why’s the foot fetishist so bad?”
“Always with the strappy high heels. My toes were killing me.”

Jimmy knows he’s no good for anyone and certainly not worthy of anyone’s love. So he sets out to dissuade Lena of her crush and prove to her just how bad he is for her. Too bad he can’t stop the sizzling chemistry that brews between them.

Lena may be incredibly attracted to Jimmy, but that doesn’t mean she turns a blind eye to his more…let’s go with faults.


His smile, oh god his smile, I wanted to wipe it off his face with a pickaxe. I’d be gentle, you could trust me.

Ummmm…alrighty then

Let’s not forget about the rest of the band mates, because I loved catching up with all the guys. I actually think this is how I prefer Mal…in small doses…in someone else’s book. He was just full of great advise here.


Interesting. I’m going to tell you what I told Killer at puppy training today when he tried to mount a teacup poodle he’d only just met. If she means something to you, you gotta do the woo, son. You can’t just be trying to stick it in.

Or not. Maybe? Whatever. For Mal this was practically genius.

Kylie Scott did a phenomenal job in building an almost unbearable sexual tension. I’m talking the burn of all burns here. But it was perfect for the story. I really don’t think it would have been as good had they been thrown into bed together too soon. And when Jimmy finally gives in to the scorching hot chemistry between them? Let’s just say he REALLY doesn’t disappoint.


He ate me like a man deprived, starved.
He ate me like I was his favorite meal.
Vaguely related, apparently singers had excellent tongue control and strength. Bless them for that, many, many times over.

Right…I think I heard this in a song once too

So let’s sum it up here; gorgeous lead singer of a popular band, asshole with redeemable qualities, and then there are his OTHER qualities…


I stared at his cock, mesmerized. Even encased in rubber it remained a thing of true beauty. Had I any talent with a pen, I’d have written it poems. A haiku perhaps.
“Lena?”
I was hypnotized, helpless. Cock-struck.

It was a thing of beauty. Didn’t hurt that he happened to be packing quite the love sword, huh?

You lucky bitch.

Jimmy may be on the road to recovery and he does his best to get Lena to stay as his assistant, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fuck up. And when he does it? He certainly does it thoroughly.


Stupid Jimmy Ferris and his amazing mouth and penis. Who needed him? Not me, I could look after myself.
That’s why god invented vibrators, thank you very much. Masturbation was so much safer. My fingers never gave me this sort of trouble.

So why even put up with his shit?

Oh shut it, Jimmy. No one asked you. It’s true, but still.

Throw in Jimmy and David’s crazy mother, Jimmy’s issues, and Lena’s luck with men and you got yourself an addicting, unputdownable, laugh out loud, entertaining and sexy read. Kylie Scott truly has outdone herself with this book. It had everything and in just the right amount. The banter, the sexual chemistry, the sex, the story. EVERYTHING. And that little teaser at the end for Ben? Gah! I just may die a little waiting for his book to come out.

So if you’re looking for a sexy and funny rock star romance, you really need to look no further than this. Seriously. Read it. You’ll thank me for it. And I thank you

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Dirty Girl Romance: ☆Ultimate List of Dirty Talking MMA fighter books☆

Last week on our FACEBOOK page I asked you guys what kind of book recs you’d like to see and was given one of the most delicious suggestions there is:

  • Dirty Talking MMA fighters.

Now you don’t have to ask me twice, considering this is a favorite of mine…and let me just tell you, I’ve read my share of some HAWT MMA books. So below is a list of just some of my favorites that I’ve read.

Some of these books have been published and some will be published soon, but all of them have one thing in common: they’re fucking AWESOME! (If I do say so myself) I’m sure that I’m missing some, since I’m only listing the ones that I’ve read so far so I would love to hear some of your favorites in the comments section. Let’s show these bad boys of MMA some love shall we?

These are listed in no particular order, but I will list a series in order:

Lori Foster’s SBC Fighters:

This was THE series that first introduced me to MMA. Lori is a huge fan of the sport herself, and it’s evident in her writing. The woman can write the hell out of a hot as sin fighter. These are not erotic, but they are definitely verra steamy (my personal favorite being the dirty talking Drew from Back In Black)

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble  

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 



 

Kele Moon’s Battered Hearts & her new Untamed Hearts series

Surprisingly not many people have heard of this incredible author and her super steamy books. I have been a huge fan ever since my first book by her, Beyond Eden which was a scorching hot MMF romance. Then going through her backlist I discovered her Battered Hearts series and I’ve been a goner since. Her new spin-off, Untamed Hearts will be starting with The Viper, which is set to be released Aug 19. I just finished this book tonight and let me tell you, Marcus is EVERYTHING!

 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

To be released Aug 19. Add it to your TBR here: Goodreads

 

Cara McKenna’s Willing Victim

Holy. Mother of all dirty talk and even dirtier sex. This novella is a shortie but hell does it pack a punch. And when I tell you it’s hot, I mean It. Is. HOT! It is a bit on the risque end with some rape play, so it may not be for everyone. But this dirty girl devoured it. Flynn is a hot as fuck, dominant, dirty talking MMA fighter. What else do you need?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Some Brazen goodies:

Gina Maxwell’s Fighting for Love series.

Read it. That is all 😉

Elle Kennedy’s After Hours series.

The first book is available for pre-order and is being released on Aug 4 for only $.99. Now take a look at that title…good. Now take a look at that cover…great. The book is everything the cover and the title promise and then some 😉

Katy Evan’s Real series

I’m sorry, did this even need a reason or an introduction?

Cari Quinn’s Tapped Out series

What’s better than a hot MMA fighter hero? Make the heroine an MMA fighter too. This book had everything; steam, angst, and so emotional it even managed to bring a tear to my cold and black little heart. Besides, it’s only $.99. A serious steal for a book this length.

Vi Keeland’s MMA Fighter series

I LOVE this series. HARD. Best part? Each book just gets better and better. I’m now anxiously awaiting the release of book 3, Worth Forgiving, which is being released on Aug 21.

Abbi Niles’ Love to the Extreme series

While I can’t say that I LOVED the first book, I did likey a lot. And with each book it just gets better and better, book 3 being the best. First 2 books are available now, with the 3rd being released on Aug 26 and available for pre-purchase now 🙂

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Elizabeth Reyes’ 5th Street series

This is NOT an MMA series, but Hector was a sinfully sexy boxer, so I wanted to include him in my list. This is NA but still steamy and one of my favorites by this author

JB Salsbury’s Fighting series.

This series already has 3 books out, but since I’ve only read the first I won’t include the rest. I do hear they’re even better than the first, so I’ll definitely be reading soon. But this one? Bad boy MMA fighter meets the virgin daughter of a Vegas pimp. Yep. You read that right

M.A. Stacie’s Beneath the Surface

This series is also not an MMA series, but this book was. Bad boy millionaire by day, underground fighter by night. Oh and a whole lot of scorching hot sex 😉

Bethany Bazile’s Fight for Me

As far as I know, this is a standalone, and is a verra steamy one as well 😉
Like I said, this is a list of just my favorites that I’ve read, and I’m sure there’s many that I’m missing. I’d love to hear from you guys about any of the ones I’ve not included here in the comments section below. And before you jump down my throat about not including our favorite fighting bad boy, Travis, from Beautiful Disaster, there’s a reason to my madness. While that book continues to be one of my New Adult favorites, I didn’t think it was either steamy or filled with dirty talk. I loved the hell out of it, sure, but just didn’t feel it fits the theme here 😉
 
 

Review: ☆Looking for Trouble☆ by @VictoriaDahl

A good reason to be bad…Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to make up for her mother’s mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip doesn’t just fade away. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who’s ever ridden into town would undo everything she’s worked for. And to add insult to injury, the alluring stranger is none other than Alex Bishop the son of the man Sophie’s mother abandoned her family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie’s not looking for trouble!

Maybe Sophie’s buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents’ checkered pasts, he’s willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off his own family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie’s prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.

 

Buy Links
Review
4 stars

If she were timid, he wasn’t sure he’d ever have noticed her. If she’d hidden behind her glasses and sweater, his eyes would have skipped right over her, letting her red hair and brown eyes blend into the crowd. But she wasn’t hiding, she was…waiting. And Alex was perfectly willing to step up to the plate.

Sophie Heyer is a good girl with a dirty little secret. She may be the prim and proper little librarian in a small town, but underneath the modest clothes hides a bad girl that can’t wait to get out.

But being the daughter of the woman that was the center of the town’s scandal 25 years ago is not easy. Especially not when she looks exactly like her. After all, when your mother leaves her husband and 2 young children to run off with a married men, the rumor’s won’t be good. So Sophie tries her best to go against her mother’s image. She’s a good girl. She walks the straight line, and she’s not looking to deviate from that…especially not for a bad boy.

Alex Bishop is a bad boy. Covered in tattoos, riding a motorcycle and not staying in any place too long is what he’s about. He tried a relationship one, but let’s face it, with his constant travel for work and everything else, he’s not cut out for them. But he’s not opposed to a little fun between the sheets. Especially when a certain little redhead catches his eye.

He’s been away from the little town for years, and he’s not happy to be back. He may not know who Sophie is…but Sophie certainly knows who he is. He just so happens to be the son of the married man her mother ran away with all those years ago. The son of the woman that hates Sophie and everything she reminds her for. Too bad that doesn’t stop the scorching hot chemistry they have between them. Sophie may try to be good, but Alex makes her want to be oh so bad.

If you’ve never read a Victoria Dahl book, you’re definitely missing out. I love her sexy combination of romance, humor, scorching sex, and endearing characters, and this book was no exception.

Need something?” she asked.
Alex groaned. “I had to crawl to the shower. Are you trying to prove your superiority? I give. Uncle.”
Sophie laughed. “What’d you come out here for?”
“I don’t remember,” he said. She felt him growing hard against her. “Jesus, you’re a witch. The kind that can raise the dead.”
“Maybe you’re ore of a man than you thought.”
He groaned again. “I’ll punish you for that later.”
“Promise?”
“No. I probably won’t have the strength.”

I really enjoyed this book. I’m not a fan of mousy heroines, so I was so happy to see that Sophie was hiding her true personality behind her demure mask. And Alex? Did I mention tattoos, a motorcycle and a dirty mouth? What else do you need? How bout a great story on top of everything?

Looking for Trouble was a great start to what looks to be a very promising series and I can’t wait to see what else Miss Dahl has in store with the next books. I do wish that we did an epilogue or a little bit more from that ending, but it was still satisfying and fitting to the story. A very solid 4 star read.

Fans of sexy contemporary romance will really enjoy this one.

ARC Review: ☆Still Life With Strings☆ by L.H. Cosway

My name is Jade Lennon and I stand still for money.

The night I saw Shane Arthur watching me everything changed. A man in a suit always catches my eye, but it was the way he looked at me that was different. Like he knew me or something. He didn’t know me, especially not in my costume. My sobriety rests on staying away from men, but there was something about him that made me throw caution to the wind.

After all, I was never going to see him again, right?

Wrong.

Standing still isn’t the only way I make my money. I also bartend at a concert hall. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Shane was going to show up there. Not only that, but he’s the most recent addition to the orchestra. So now on a daily basis I have to resist one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever met and he plays the violin. For me that’s one hell of a deadly cocktail.

He wants me to teach him how to live. I’m not sure how much a twenty-six year old recovering alcoholic who works in a bar and moonlights as a living statue can teach a world class concert violinist, but I’m sure going to try.

Still Life with Strings is a story of music, art, sex, magical realism, and romance that you will never forget.

Not suitable for readers under 18 years. Contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature

3.5 Bluebird Stars

To be a muse is to be a wonder in someone else’s eyes, flaws and all.

This was my first book by L.H. Cosway, and I can definitely tell you it won’t be my last. The author has an incredible talent in allowing her words on a written page to build a vivid and living visual in your head as you’re reading it. I think that may have been may favorite part of the book.

Jade is a street performer and a bartender in a concert hall. A recovering alcoholic, she uses music and art as her way to escape. One night while she’s standing still on a busy street in her blue lady concert she finds a beautiful man in a suit watching her…and everything changes.


It was just an ordinary night.
He did’t think anything extraordinary would happen.
Until it did.
Turning a corner onto the bustling night time street, he saw her all in blue.

Shane Arthur is a talented violinist that plays at the concert hall where Jade works. He’s instantly drawn to the beautiful girl in the all blue costume and they share a stolen moment of passion within the shadows of the nigh time street.


In this moment we’re base and animalistic. No reservations, no pretenses, just two people seeking relief and some small piece of a human connection.

What I truly loved about the story was that Shane wasn’t some asshole player. Nope. He was a lost soul that was equal parts endearing and sweet, yet had an incredibly sexy side to him as well.


When I look at him, I see a heart that was badly broken and is only just sewing itself back together.

What begins as a friendship, soon begins to develop into something much more.
Jade isn’t looking for a relationship. She has her hands full without a man taking care of her younger siblings. And the only relationships she’s known were when she was drinking. But little by little Shane and his sweet and unobtrusive ways begin to chip away all the reasons she thought she had not to get involved with him.

Usually with a heroine like this, I’d find myself getting frustrated. Shane made his intentions very clear about what he wants, and plays no games. Jade was the one that wasn’t looking to get involved. BUT, something about Jade just really worked for me. She was endearing and strong with not of that wishy washy, ‘I want to but I can’t’ back and forth. I truly understood her struggle and my heart felt for her.

The author wrote a beautiful story about 2 broken people that are connected in more ways than they even realize. The subtle twists and revelations in the story were fantastic. But this is also a difficult review for me to write since considering all the elements of the book, I should have loved it. But there was also something missing for me the whole time. I’m not even sure what it was exactly. But it was just missing a certain spark, a little something that would bring up to a solid 4 star read for me.

That’s not to say I didn’t like it, because I really did. And I will happily read any of the author’s past and future books because her writing style really captured me.

***ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review***

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