I wish I could tell you that I was stolen.

Kidnapped off the street in some third-world country, sold against my will, while a desperate family back home waited and prayed and talked about me on the news.

I wish I could tell you that, because then you might understand.

What really happened? I walked to my fate with my eyes wide open. But before you say I deserved whatever happened to me, you should know. I was desperate. I was alone. I was afraid for my life. You would have done the same thing.

I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse.

But then, I woke up in darkness, unable to move. There was only one thing I was sure of: I wasn’t alone anymore.

And then I heard HIS voice…

Whatever you think you’re doing, stop. I’m not your fucking knight in tarnished armor. I’m not a broken man with a heart of gold. I’m pure fucking evil, and you made the choice to shackle yourself to me.

I had a hard time rating this book. While I found the writing to be phenomenal, it wasn’t quite what I expected and it wasn’t nearly as dark as I thought it would be. As a debut novel, the author has definitely captured my interest and I will be reading any and all of her future books. There were some parts that didn’t really make sense to me or I wished were different, but despite all that I did enjoy the story. It was different from anything I’ve read, and that alone was enough keep me reading to see how it will end. Don’t go in expecting something quick paced or incredibly dark. It’s neither. It’s a slower paced story with dark elements, but I just wouldn’t classify it as dark. Perhaps readers that want to be eased into the dark romance genre would want to start with this book, as I feel it would be perfect for that. Those that have read books by Pepper Winters, Lily White, Lili St. Germain, M.S. Willis, or the likes will not be quite as impressed by the “darkness” of the plot. Also, this is not set in present time. It’s set in futuristic world where food and water are sparse, money means nothing, and the only power to be had is influence. Influence which is mainly in the hands of the criminals and the corrupted.

This will be a SPOILER FREE review, and I would advise to go into this book blind. Do not read reviews as there are some details that while they aren’t big spoilers, they’re best to find out as you go along.

Autumn is living on borrowed time. She’s running from someone that wants her dead, starving and alone, she’s desperate. Seeing no other alternative, she sells herself to what she feels is the lesser of the evils. An organization that is known as Stoker. She may not know much about them, but she does know that they sell women and she may or may not be better off with her new master. But knowing the fate she’s running from, she takes the chance, and is given to a man she comes to know as Tate. But will he be her salvation or her ruin?

I’m not going to give you any more about Tate. The author trickle feeds you information about him throughout the story, and it’s best that you know next to nothing going in. His alter ego of The Viper was something that I struggled with, though. He has conversations with The Viper at times, and it always threw me. It’s like he had a dual personality…yet they were one in the same. It was strange.

Now I love a good anti-hero, but I struggled to see Tate as one. I’m not sure what it was exactly, but his constant power struggle with The Viper and his back and forth with Autumn left me seeing him as more of a broken man than a truly dark one. But there were times where that darkness in him did come out, and I gobbled it right up.

This girl had the audacity, the sheer fucking balls to assume that I was a human being. That I could be trusted to treat her with a modicum of dignity.

It’s obvious he has a story, and I really enjoyed the way that it was revealed bit by little bit. I suppose I just wanted something a little more from him. (But hey, that could just be me.)

Autumn’s character I struggled with a bit as well. She was so up and down, it was hard to keep track. I didn’t understand her almost instant “attraction” to Tate (view spoiler)[and the part where she heard his voice before meeting him really had me scratching my head (hide spoiler)]. But I did really like that she wasn’t a weak heroine. While she may have been out on her luck, she did her a core of strength that at times was subtle and at times really prevailed.

Her fierceness, the intelligence in her eyes, the way she met me eye to eye, no matter what the circumstances. She could kneel, she could bow, but she was never broken. She couldn’t be broken.

The romance aspect is something that I really liked. Despite the quick connection that Autumn had to Tate, it was still a very slow build. I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.

Though don’t expect smooth sailing anywhere in the story with the relationship between these two…

This girl was going to be the death of me. But at least I could enjoy the journey on my descent into hell.

I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but again, that may have been just me. (view spoiler)[Unless I missed something, what happened with Birdy? I wished there was more information given about the time when Tate was gone (hide spoiler)]. There were some things that wrapped up too neatly and almost too quickly.

But everything aside, I did like it quite a bit. The author definitely has an incredible talent, and I look forward to see what else she has in store. If this was her debut novel, I can only imagine how good her future books will be. So give it a try, I can tell you it will be different from anything you’ve read lately.

This is written in dual First Person POV

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~ Signed book of Pieces of Autumn ~

They say men like a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom. I never knew the sentiment was reciprocal. Until I met Jax Knight. A gentleman in public, a commanding, dirty talking rogue in the bedroom.

Daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint,” Lily St. Claire knows firsthand how fighters can be. As the owner of a chain of MMA gyms, she’s no stranger to aggressive, dominating, and possessive men. That’s why she’s always kept her distance. But the day Jax Knight walks through her door she’s captivated by his charm. Stunningly handsome, well mannered, Ivy League educated, and confident, he shatters all the preconceived notions she’d come to think were true about men who trained to fight.

But falling for someone so soon after her breakup wasn’t something she’d planned on. And definitely not something her ex plans to allow.

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There’s only two choices with a man. Forgive him or forget him. If you can’t do the latter, then you need to forgive him because he’s already stolen your heart.

I knew I would love Jax the second he was first introduced in Worth the Chance. And you know what? I was so right. This man was EVERYTHING.

Suit clad rich business man by day, dirty talking MMA fighter by night. And when I mean dirty talker, I mean dirty talker. This man could melt the panties of a nun. I mean Oh. My. Gawd.

Tell me what you thought I meant.”
“You know what I thought you meant.”
“Yes. But I want to hear you say it.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to hear you talk dirty to me.”

He was sweet and protective, sexy and dirty, and rang every single one of my bells. I loved him.

I’ve really enjoyed the previous 2 books in the series with Vince’s book being my favorite. Unfortunately I found this one to be the weakest in the series. Thank goodness for Jax because he’s the one thing that truly made the book for me.

I wanted to love Lily, and in the beginning I almost did. The daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint” and the current owner of the chain of MMA gyms he once started, she comes across as a little broken and gun shy when it comes to relationships.

But hell, given her recent ex boyfriend, who can blame the girl.
Oh. I can. Because why would this girl maintain a “friendship” with an ex that not only crosses any boundary she puts up, she actually fears him…and with good reason. Caden was psycho! And I mean PSYCHO. The man was utterly diranged with some serious anger management issues.

I spent most of the book waiting for her to really come into her own (read: grow a pair) and put him in his place. Welp, that never really happened.

At times I understood her struggle, especially being in the emotional place she was in and with the recent grief of losing her father so unexpectedly

For almost a year I’ve walked around numb, filled with an emptiness I never thought would be filled.

But as the book progressed my patience with her wore thin.

Luckily there was Jax. If you’re on the fence about reading this book, it’s worth it just for him. Trust me. And this is coming from someone that can’t easily overlook a weak heroine.

I want to be there to catch you if you fall from now on, Angel.

While this may not have been my favorite book in the series, I do think that Jax was my favorite hero.

Given everything it was still looking to be a very solid 4 star read for me…up until the “conflict” of the story happened. Of all the stupid, pig headed, idiotic things. I have never had a bigger urge to reach through my Kindle and shake (read: bitch slap) some sense into a character. I won’t spoiler what happened for you, but I will say that I simply couldn’t believe it. For Lily to believe who she did and what she did, it didn’t make sense for me. And maybe even if it did warrant such a reaction, the extent to which she took it, didn’t.

And I wanted her to be the one doing it. Scratch that, I wanted her to flat out grovel. Instead we get Jax being the one that’s “worth forgiving.” I almost didn’t feel like she deserved him in the end after everything he does for her.

But then Vi Keeland gives us that epilogue. And my anger with Lily somewhat (not fully) dissipated. It was such a perfect way to end this series, I just couldn’t ask for anything better.

So all in all, I did genuinely enjoy this book minus a few things, of course. Would I recommend reading it? Absolutely. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to mix Jax. And hey, it may not frustrate you as much as it did me. It was sweet, sexy, and of course the sex was scorching. I may not have loved it, but I definitely liked it a whole heck of a lot.

ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review

MMA Series Reading Order

Worth the Fight (Book One)

It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

***Author’s note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

ONLY $.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME

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Worth the Chance (Book Two)

Meet Liv Michaels

It may have been seven years, but I’d know him anywhere. Sure, he’s grown, filled out in all the right places, but his captivating blue eyes and cocky grin are exactly the way I remember. Even though I’d much rather forget.

Liv Michaels is almost there. She’s smart, determined and weeks away from landing the job she’s dreamed about for years. Time healed old wounds, even her broken heart from the devastation of being crushed by her first love.

Meet Vince Stone

Women love a fighter, especially a good one. Lucky for me, I’m damn good. But there’s one woman that isn’t interested. Not again, anyway.

Vince ‘The Invincible’ Stone is every woman’s fantasy…strong, sexy, confident and completely in control. Growing up surrounded by chaos, he’s learned never to get too attached. Love will drag you down. He adores women, treats them well, puts their own needs before his own…for the night anyway. With the biggest fight of his life coming up, his focus should be on training.

When fate brings Vince & Liv back together again, there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. But can Vince erase the old scars their past left behind? Or will Liv hurt him instead?

***Author’s note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the 18.

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Additional Books by Vi Keeland

                                     

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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I hate him…

I hate that I fell in love with him, hate that he didn’t love me back, and I hate the fact that I just made a life-altering decision just so I could get the hell away from him.

He’d always said that he was unchangeable, heartless, and cold…

I really should’ve believed him…

Final book in the Reasonable Doubt series…

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Everything we had was built on lies…

I was a little worried about jumping into this book immediately after finishing the second since I just didn’t get the excitement from the second book that I did for the first. I was scared that this would follow an unfortunate formula that some serials have had for me lately and fizzle out at the end. But after finishing it? It blew the first 2 books out of the water. OH MY GOD. I devoured this in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. What an amazing conclusion to a great serial. Whitney, I will never doubt you again. Seriously. I bow down. Wow.

What this book had:
1. An asshole Andrew that fucked up with Aubrey in epic proportions.
2. An Aubrey that finally grows into her own, grows a pair of lady balls and makes Andrew WORK for it. And I mean WORK for it.
3. A grovel of epic proportions. And I ate it up like the starved little pervert that I am and loved every second of it. Perfection.
4. An even better epilogue that was the icing on an already perfect cake.

Now then, on to the review. But if you haven’t read the first 2 books
STOP reading my review. It will not contain spoilers for this book, but it will definitely have some from the previous 2.

It all started with an email.

You and I will still be friends a few months from now, and you’ll be completely okay with not seeing my face.
Watch.
-Alyssa

You and I will be fucking a few months from now, and the only reason I’ll be okay with not seeing your face is because you’ll be riding my cock as I bend your ass over a table.
Watch.
-Thoreau

Andrew has kicked Aubrey not only out of his apartment, but also out of his life. After his past quite literary comes back to dig up long buried secrets and wounds, he feels like he has no choice. He tries to move on with his life and tries to continue with his one dinner, one night, no repeats motto. But every time he tries to replace the image of Aubrey with another woman, there’s always something that holds him back. It really doesn’t help that Aubrey is now completely freezing him out and wants nothing to do with him inside the office or out of it. So he does what he does best; push. Until one night he pushes too far and she’s done.

What do you want me to say, Aubrey? Your pussy was so magical that it opened my eyes and made me want to change all my ways for you? That I can’t live or breathe without knowing you’re by my side? Is that what you’re expecting me to say?
“No. A simple apology for-“
“Kicking your inquisitive ass out of my apartment? For trying to prevent you from feeling like do you right now? Fine. I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner.”

Aubrey is tired of the scraps she’s been getting from Andrew. She doesn’t just want his cock, she wants his heart, but he has no interest in ever handing that over.

But when Andrew finally starts to understand the depth of his feelings for Aubrey, it’s too late. She’s moved on, moved to a different city, and wants nothing to do with Andrew ever again. What follows in the second half is a grovel that will make you smile and pant at the same time. It was, in a word, perfect.

As for the secret that Andrew’s been keeping and the mystery behind his past? Well it all gets revealed little by little and chapter by chapter. And when you finally get the whole story, your heart will absolutely break for him. All I can tell you is that Whitney manages to bring the story a full circle and not the slightest detail from the previous 2 books goes unanswered.

The thing I loved the most is that the author stayed true to Andrew’s character. He never loses that edge of his asshole ways, even when he finally gives into his feelings for Aubrey. And of course there’s always his filthy mouth and the scorching hot sex. But while the sex was hot, it wasn’t at the center of the story like I felt the last 2 books had. This had a rounded story, more character development, and just more of everything. I loved it and I can’t wait to see what this talented author will have in store for us next.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review