College senior Kate Camden has learned to adapt – to her last year of school, to the promise of motherhood, to the fact that she’s doing it all alone. But just when she’s learned to adjust, heartache threatens to break her apart.

Pro hockey player Jason “Ryke” Ryker has it all: adoring fans, a promising career, and a beautiful wife. But when his seemingly perfect life is shaken by tragedy, he’s left questioning whether having it all is ever more than an illusion.

When circumstance brings Kate and Ryke together, they discover they don’t have to hurt alone. Bound by a grief that haunts them both, they must rely on one another to survive heartbreak. But that grief is more powerful than they realize, and the tie that binds them together may ultimately tear them apart.

Amazon I Barnes & Noble

Lisa’s Review

FOUR BOUND STARS.

I think it’s fairly obvious by now that I can’t possibly resist a story of love. What you may not know is that a sports themed romance really gets me excited. Combine love, Brenda Rothert’s writing talent, some heart ache and a Ice hockey professional and you are left with a story that is soul searching, heart melting and sexy-steamy all in one gorgeous book. From the cover to the ending this short, moving story won me over. Here are my ‘bound’ book thoughts …

What’s it all about?
In her last days as a college student Kate Camden will spend them battling against some of the darkest days of her young life. Life is proving to be difficult for this blonde beauty and she’s doing all she can to keep her head above the water. Ice hockey star and model Jason Ryker is living his dream, from the outside this handsome sportsman seemingly has it all, but inside he’s a man fighting demons from his past. When life brings Kate and Jason together their brokenness may just be the thread that draws them close, but with broken hearts and a past that hasn’t been easy, Kate and Jason find themselves battling to find a way to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their love.

What did I love?
Even though this book was on the short side it definitely left a dramatic impression. When they say ‘all good things come in small packages’ they must have been thinking about this loveable, touching novel. The author created an intimate atmosphere as she developed Kate and Ryke’s relationship. I was so transfixed by the story that I forgot that I was reading about fictional characters, I loved the anticipation that was built up from the start and I instantly felt connected to where these characters would end up. There wasn’t a moment that I felt distracted or uninterested, the author held my attention in every scene. The book started out with some surprise difficulties that instantly grabbed my attention and from that point the author continued to pull at my heart strings. From beginning to end I felt emotionally invested with both the characters. Kate and Ryke were both adorable, individually I loved their point of views and as a couple I was cheering for them from the beginning. The attraction between them was relatable and the slow burn style build up made the book into an addictive page turner. The intimate moments between the couple were both sensual and sexy and there was definitely enough steamy moments to keep most lovers of heart melting scenes happy. Overall there wasn’t much that I didn’t adore about this story of love. I cried, laughed and fell in love right alongside these characters and I’m ready to know more …

Why not five?
Firstly I’d like to say that this book was a winner in my eyes and it deserves every one of the respectable four star rating that I gave it. For me there was not much between this book getting the full five stars however, I would have liked for the story to be longer, I wanted to learn more about Ryke and Kate and their developing relationship. I needed more of a prolonged conclusion to the story, I loved the building up of the relationship and anticipation of the couple finding true love, but I would have liked the author to have spent more time giving the reader a more detailed happily for now ending. Thankfully this book is a part of a series so I’ll get my second look into the lives of these characters at a later date. All in all this book both touched and enchanted me, I would recommend this promising start to the series to other readers and I’m interested in reading more by this author.

Final thoughts …
Sweet, sexy, weepy, touching and thought provoking. This author has created a story that is full of heart and soul and I’m one to happy reader to have been given the book to review. This will be a series to look out for and i’m happily adding this author to my ‘look out for future releases’ list. Don’t delay go grab it readers, enjoy … kisses.

*Guest reviewer for Dirty girl romance book blog, ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review.*

After the MMA scandal of the year, former Middleweight champion Tommy “Lightning” Sparks’s career is in shambles. While he fights to get back on his feet, he’s forced to swallow his pride and move in with his best friend, Julie. But righting his own wrongs won’t be his only battle. Another fighter has his sights set on Julie, and for the first time Tommy’s place in her life is threatened.

Julie Rogers fell for Tommy the day he helped her find her lost puppy at ten years old. As a thirty-two-year-old veterinarian, she still has her love for animals—and for Tommy. Over the years, she’s come to accept that Tommy will never look at her with anything other than brotherly love. After he moves in, the feelings she’s kept locked away threaten to burst through their restraints.

Terrified of losing their friendship, Julie resolves to date another fighter and let go of Tommy. But as she beings to move on, Tommy starts to see her with new eyes. Now, he’s more determined to than ever to emerge the victor and become the man she deserves, before he loses the only woman who means everything to him.

4 stars

It takes losing everything you have to realize what meant the most.

I’m pretty sure whenever I see the words MMA fighter, my slutty little one-clicker starts moaning like she’s at a porn convention and screaming at me

So what’s a girl to do? Give in of course!

Like you don’t have your own trigger words. Psh! This one just happens to be mine. Nothing I like better than a hot MMA fighter. Throw in the best friends to lovers trope and I am one happy girl.
So did I love this one? Meh…not quite. I did like it. But there were just a few things that kept this from being a 4 star for me.

Tommy “Lightning” Sparks has lost it all; his Middleweight champion title along with his professional MMA career. He has no one to blame but himself, and he knows this. But then his house along with all he owns goes up in flames. Luckily his best friend Julie is there for him and offers a place to live for the time being.

Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy since she was 10 years old. But she knows that nothing will ever come of those feelings, since all Tommy sees her as is a sister. Their lives are too different, but that doesn’t stop her from still having feelings for him.

But when they’re living together, all of a sudden Tommy starts to see that he might see Julie as something other than his best friend.

No matter how hard either of them fought this attraction, and even if they succeeded, their relationship had changed forever.
The only question was…would they still be together in the end? Or would they both spend forever apart…and alone?

Now here is where the story got a whole lot frustrating for me. Tommy realizes that he has feelings for Julie, but he fights it. What begins is a lot of ‘I want you’ but ‘I’m not good enough for you’. Followed by a bunch of sexual tension and no follow through. Add in Tommy’s penchant of running away from any sort of conversation about this, and I was at my wit’s end.

I mean good god! The man frustrated me to no end. He made a whole bunch of assumptions that were pretty much always wrong. I forgot at a point that I was reading a book about 2 characters in their 30s. The way both of them behaved at times made me feel like I was reading a NA book.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like Julie, because I did. When she was sick of Tommy running from her and his feelings, she did not take it sitting down. The girl was all

And seduced the hell out of him. I liked that while she was down to earth and had a backbone. She was the perfect match to Tommy.

So while I didn’t love it, I did enjoy it. The ending was very satisfying and I loved the way that Tommy fought for Julie. And the speech he made at the end may or may not have brought a tear to my eye :)[His speech in the end almost brought a tear to my eye. (hide spoiler)]

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

Kara Brookes hates liars.

Dylan Day hasn’t told the truth from the moment his plane touched down in Ibiza.

It’s a recipe for disaster.

Romantic, emotional and intensely erotic, Knight & Day is the thrilling final installment of the USA Today bestselling Knight Series from Kitty French.

Lucien and Sophie are back, and have set up camp on the sun-drenched isle of Ibiza for the opening of the latest of Lucien’s strictly adult clubs.
They’re joined for the summer by Sophie’s best friend Kara, and Dylan Day, Lucien’s newly appointed club manager.
The laid back, smokin’ hot surf guy from California seems almost too good to be true… but there’s no smoke without fire.

It’s going to be a long hot summer of love, lust, lies and wedding bells. But who will get their happy ever after?

Knight & Day is the thrilling conclusion to the USA Today best-selling Knight erotic trilogy. Whilst it can be read as a stand alone story, it’s best enjoyed as the finale of the set.

That gif? That’s basically how I feel every time I pick up a Kitty French book. I just know that I am in for some major hotness and pantie melting steam. And let me just tell you, this book definitely delivered that…and then some. A gorgeous setting, a feisty heroine, and a swoon worthy hero, what more could a girl ask for?

After being left at the alter by her cheating fiance, Kara Brookes is done with liars. A woman that keeps a feisty and tough exterior, she keeps an endearingly emotional part of her hidden inside.

Kara was the toughest person in the world, until she wasn’t, and then she fell to pieces. But she did it in a scary, private way that allowed her to stay looking perfect on the outside while on the inside she was broken glass.

Dylan Day is a man trying to escape his past. The isle of Ibiza offers the perfect escape for anonymity. But when he gets a job as Lucien Knight’s club manager, he finds himself inexplicably attracted to the feisty and refreshingly direct Kara.

The attraction between them is palpable, but Kara is determined to resistthe sexual pull of Dylan

You like things that are bad for you, English.”
“It’s my downfall. I like sugar. I like fast cars. I like sexy men.
I let myself have the sugar. And the cars.”
“Two out of three ain’t bad.”

But soon enough the attraction proves to be too much for both of them and the sexual sparks begin to fly.

You like dirty talk, English?”
“You want me to tell you how good it feels to spread your legs wide open and fuck you with my fingers?” He crooked his fingers inside her, finding her g-spot and massaging it.
“You want me to tell you how much I love watching your mouth when you’re excited, and feeling your clit swell when I touch it? How much I want to lick it right now? To taste you, to feel you come in my mouth?” “Or maybe you want me to tell you how hard my cock is for you, and how it’s actually fucking hurting me because I want to screw you so badly? Is that it, Kara?”

I ask you, what woman in her right mind can resist that. Not this one, that’s for damn sure. And Kara was no exception.

Dylan was one delicious walking orgasm. Everything that came out of the man’s mouth got me hot.

But can their whirlwind affair survive the secrets and lies?

I really enjoyed this last installment of the Knight series. It was erotic and scorchingly hot. Exactly how I like my books. I loved Kara and her no filter mouth. She was feisty, flirty, and extremely endearing; my favorite type of heroine. Dylan, don’t even get me started on him. I fell for him right away. He was just all kinds of delicious.

So why not 5 stars? Well, the mixing POVs did not really work for me. I understand that this was a continuation of Sophie and Lucien’s story, but it felt like it was too much in this book. It was almost like they were squeezed in just to make an appearance, if that even makes sense. Don’t get me wrong, the continuation of their story was romantic and sweet, and the end brought tears to my eyes. But the jumping POVs that went from Dylan to Kara to Sophie to Lucien with no clear transitions got to be confusing. I think I would have like to have more Dylan and Kara in this book, since the primary focus seemed to be their story.

If you like sexy and erotic romances with super hot dirty talk, don’t pass this book up. I for one can’t wait to see what Kitty French has up her sleeve next.

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

Buy Links

Lust is a dangerous thing. It can make you believe things that are not real. It can seduce your mind and lead it blindfolded to the cliff that will be its demise.

What would you do if you could leave your life? Wake up one day and be someone else?

I signed the contract. I left Candace Tapers and her slutty, strip club life behind, abandoned every part of that life with one hesitant swipe of my pen.

The agreement was clear:
1. Sex
2. Photo ops
3. No romance

“I need a wife. I am not signing up for romance, or affection, or a full time job. I will not love you. I will have no use for you other than sex and photo ops.”

Sex with Nathan was easy. More than easy. Panty-melting, can-never-get-enough HOT. I had begun to think that I could live this new life, showered in luxuries, orgasms, and diamonds.

Then I started tripping over secrets.

Disclaimer: The Dumont Diaries contains a strong alpha male, super hot explicit sex, and twists and turns that might cause unnatural heart palpitations. This book does not contain BDSM elements.

*The Dumont Diaries was originally released, and is still available as a four-part miniseries. This book combines the four pieces of the miniseries into one, full-length novel.

After reading Sex. Love. Repeat., I knew I had to go back and read every other book written by this author. After hearing so many great things about this series, I knew this would be my next read. Plus, my friend Jahy was kind enough to gift me this book (Thanks, Jahy <3 data-blogger-escaped-br=””>
So what did I think? There’s one thing I know for sure, I am captivated by this author’s writing style. It’s almost poetic, the way the words flow and weave into a story that captures you from the first few pages.

Having said that, I do have a few mixed feelings after finishing this one that made rating it a bit difficult for me. Let me try to explain why.

Candace is not the good girl she once was. Desperate to make ends meet, she turns to a life that she never imagined for herself.

I am reckless on a pole, trusting my legs and arms in a way certain to cause damage. It is a lover I hate and I ride it relentlessly, caressing it in a sensual way that leaves nothing to the imagination. The beat moved through me and I got lost in its strength, pulsating against steel, spinning away only to return to it, my heels a blur of clear sparkle, my thoughts lost in the movement.

Then the answer to her financial problems appears in the form of a mysterious, blue-eyed stranger

His offer is clear, an agreement of convenience for both sides

I need a wife. I am not signing up for romance, or affection, or a full time job. The papers will discuss your duties. I want nothing more from you then what is stated there. And as far as you – you should never expect that from me. I will not love you. I will have no use for you other than sex and photo ops. That is something you might want to consider when making your decision.

But while things may appear cut and dry, Candace struggles with keeping her feelings out of the arrangement

I’ll be honest, my feelings for Nathan were all over the place. I went from

to

Plainly said, he was an asshole. The things that he said and did did not always sit well with me. But here’s the biggie

*Highlight to see spoiler*
I found myself forming a bigger connection with Drew. I know it wasn’t meant to come off that way, but I felt more of an emotional connection from him than I did with Nathan for most of the book.
But I gotta say, Nathan did have his positive side

Do. You. Need. My. Cock?” He grunts out the words, every other dip of his cock deep, then shallow, then deeper. “Yes!” The word explodes from me, a plea for help in a deep hole of pleasure. I speak, the words quick and breathless. “I need you so badly. So fucking badly, Nathan. Please. Please give me what I need.”

I do believe my disconnect came from a lack of character development for Nathan. While there are bits and pieces that we get about him, I didn’t have enough to make me fully fall for him.

All that aside, I did enjoy this book immensely. I read the second half in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. Allessandra has now become an auto-buy author for me. I’m pretty sure I would read anything this woman writes. She has a true gift with words.

Buy Links