Review: ★Game Player★ by B.J. Harvey

Review-GPGame Player
Series: Game #1
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
Author: B.J. Harvey
Release Date: March 23, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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From the USA Today bestselling author of the Bliss series comes a new spin off series featuring your favorite Bliss series characters who are yet to meet their match.

Matt Taylor’s motto:
“I’m the king of the cut ‘n’ run. I wine them, dine them, then slide inside them, making sure I get up, get dressed and get out before they can even utter the words “second date.”

Mia Roberts’ motto:
“I’m queen of the chase. I meet them, greet them, date them and leave them. A social butterfly, I’m happily single and happy to stay that way.”

The players have been found.

The challenge has been set.

Whatever happens, they’ll soon find out that playing the game can get you played in the best possible way.

Buy LinksAMAZONReview4 starsGame Player-DGR

I still hate you.” She mutters under her breath.
“You can hate me and still fuck me. In fact, if you off like that every time I make you come, you’re welcome to hate-fuck me any time you want.”

I’ve been on a rom kick lately so when the author offered me a chance to read Game Player, I jumped on it. This was my first book by BJ Harvey and all I can say after finishing is, where has she been all my life? Game Player is full of wickedly hilarious banter, sizzling hot romance, and a cast of characters that I completely fell in love with. I had a goofy smile on my face for most of the book (some parts I wanted to throttle the heroine), but that may have been because I wanted Matt for myself. Nothing wrong with a little heroinecide. I’m totally making that a word, by the way. But I digress…

Knowing you, you’d probably try and turn up early to witness the walk of shame.”
“If you’ve done it right, it should always be a stomp of satisfaction. Have I taught you nothing?

Matt Taylor is a player in every sense of the word. He’s the hit it and quit it type and not one for settling down. But one drunken hookup at a wedding 18 months ago changed his relationship with Mia irrevocably. They may not have spoken of it since, but eventually the sparks between them prove too hot to ignore.

Don’t you worry about me, legs. There’s a whole black book worth of willing volunteers.”
“Legs?”
“Well I can’t call you Tits, can I?”
“You’re a piece of work, Taylor.”
“It’s okay to admit you want me, Mia.”

Mia is a sassy, call them like she sees them type of chick. She sees nothing wrong with giving in to the undeniable urges between her and Matt, but that’s it. Matt may want something more, or so he says, but how can she trust a player like him?

Why did I ever think I could play the player at his own game?

I absolutely loved Matt. His internal dialogue gave me many a giggle, and the man has a hell of a mouth on him when it comes to the dirty talk.

Jesus, are you trying to kill me?
“No, Legs, I don’t want to kill you. I want to make you moan. I want you to whimper, and I want you to scream my name when I’m balls deep inside you. My mouth is going to claim you, my hands are going to explore you, and my cock will make you mine-even if you only ever give me one night.”

Ovaries. CUMbusted.

But in all seriousness, I couldn’t get enough of him. You can see how much he struggles with his feelings for Mia when she doesn’t trust him with that. Mia was a source of frustration for me for much of the duration of the book. I wanted to throttle her for the way she acts with Matt at times. But on the other hand, it kept their antics lively and angsty, so in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t take much away form my enjoyment.

Admittedly, it took me a bit to really wrap my mind around all the characters. I believe this is a spin off from BJ’s Bliss series, and many of the characters from that series have a cameo here. As this was my first book, it took my puny brain a bit to get a hang of everything, but once I did, I was right in the swing of things.

All in all, Game Player was a sexy and hilarious read that I enjoyed thoroughly. This is an author that will surely be my go-to whenever I need a book to put a smile on my face while making my ovaries happy.


Check out BJ Harvey’s Bliss series

TEMPORARY BLISS | TRUE BLISS | BLISSFUL SURRENDER | PERMANENT BLISS | FINDING BLISS

New Release & Review: ★Dirty★ by @KylieScottbooks

Review-DirtyDirty
Series: Dive Bar #1
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Kylie Scott
Release Date: April 19, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that comes with her.

Lydia Green doesn’t know whether to burn down the church or sit and cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it’s with his best man is another thing all together. She narrowly escapes tying the knot and meets Vaughan only hours later.

Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessman she thought she’d marry. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and unsettled. But she already tried Mr. Right and discovered he’s all wrong-maybe it’s time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what’s wrong with getting dirty?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

Review5 starsDirty2-DGR

I’d broken into his house, but he’d somehow broken into me, cracked me wide open, exposing me to so much more of life than what had existed before.

You know that moment when you pick exactly the right book at exactly the right time? You know what I’m talking about here; when all the planets aline and you pick the book that’s guaranteed to be the perfect one for your mood and taste. Well this book was that for me! And what perfect timing too because I’ll be going into my weekend with a perma-grin on my face. Dirty was laugh out loud funny, with a cast of secondary characters that you’re guaranteed to fall for right away. It’s filled with amazing banter, swoony moments, and make-your-ovaries-happy-sort-of-sexy times.

No part was left untouched. My smile grew wider, my nipples hard and my loins Vaughan-addled. That’s a medical term.

First, let’s talk about Lydia. Has a more perfect heroine ever been written for me? I think not! Here’s a girl that discovers her soon to be husband is having an affair…on their wedding day…with his best man. So she does what any reasonable person would do; makes a run for it by climbing over a fence, breaking into the first house she sees and believes to be empty, and proceeding to have a meltdown in the bathtub. And the entire time her internal monologue had me laughing. This is a woman that’s been dealt the worst card and she’s able to poke fun of herself in such an endearingly quirky manner, you can’t help but love her. She’s not perfect; she can get down on herself and her body issues, but again, this is done in such a way that just makes you love her that much more.

I just want you to know, I will not be falling slave to your devil dick and demon tongue. No matter how good they are.”
“Hmm…
Is that your way of saying you like how I fuck?”
“Yes. Basically.”

As for Vaughan? Well, let’s just say the man lives up to his promise. I fell for him when I first met him in the Stage Dive series, and I loved him even more here. He’s just the right amount of alpha and yet he’s funny at all the right times and even sweet at others, without ever losing any of his edge.
Dirt-DGR

Fuck. I was so confused. “We have a bed at home. I mean, at your place.”
Low laughter from the deviant. “Yeah, but I have you all turned on right here. Why wait?”
“I’m not really turned on.”
“Nipples.”
I looked down. They were indeed twin hard points, all too obvious beneath the thin cotton of my top. Talk about betrayal. “They know nothing.”

This book kept me laughing at parts and uncomfortably squirming at others. It was sexy and humorous perfection. I loved every single page of it. I love every single secondary character that was introduced. I’m pretty sure I’d part with an ovary right meow to get my hands on Pat’s book, but I’ll happily settle for Joe’s book next.

If you’re looking for a pick-me-up sort of book that will put a smile on your face and make your ovaries giddy with joy, you’ve found your next read!


Pre-Order TWIST, book 2 in the Dive Bar series, releasing November 22, 2016

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When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he’s been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they’re emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets…apart from the
one that really matters.

And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.

New Release & Review: ★Slow & Steady★ by Kendall Ryan

S&SbaNNERSlow & Steady
Series: Alphas Undone #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kendall Ryan
Release Date: April 12, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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When Greyson Archer tosses a twenty on the stage of a strip club, the last thing he expects to see are the haunted green eyes staring back at him. Finley should be home raising her infant daughter and baking cookies, not tucking singles into her G-string and giving lap dances.

Greyson can’t deny that he’d like his own private show, but there’s not a chance in hell of that happening. The last time the former Navy SEAL saw her she was dressed in black, holding a folded flag and sobbing that it was all his fault… and he agreed with every single word. He couldn’t do anything to help her then, but he can now.

Finley deserves better than this dingy club, and when an obsessed customer crosses the line, Greyson leads the rescue and will do whatever it takes to make amends for their broken past.

He never expected to want to settle down, but with Finley, everything is different. For the first time ever, he can breathe. But Greyson will have to fight for what he wants in order to keep the woman with the green eyes he’s dreamed about so often.

Slow & Steady is book 2 in the Alphas Undone series, but can be read as a standalone novel, as it features a new couple.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

ss1Excerpt

It was nine o’clock on a Saturday night and I was totally out of my fucking element. A bottle of red wine tucked under one arm. A bouquet of wild flowers in the other. A condom tucked into my wallet, just in case. I was in foreign territory, and my entire body knew it – tense shoulders, my heart beating like a drum, and arousal barely contained beneath the surface.

Finley was standing at the doorway, watching me with a confused expression.

She looked gorgeous, makeup free, pink-painted toes, hair mussed and loose. Little cotton pajama shorts and a tank top that hugged her lush breasts.

“Maple’s not here.” She said the words, but she knew as well as I did I wasn’t here for Maple.

“I know that.” My voice was sure and confident.

“Then why are you … oh.” Finley shifted her weight, her eyes dropping from mine as she saw the wine and flowers. She could read it all, plain as day. I knew she could see my intentions, my uncertainty, and underneath it all, my desire. Maybe it was the desire to fix everything I’d broken, or maybe it was just my desire for her as a man desires a woman.

Normally when I felt that primal urge for sex, I headed to West’s bar. I’d pick out a woman for the night. Share a few drinks with her, a few laughs. Later, we’d head back to my place and fuck until dawn. And that was it. I’d be set for a few months.

This … with the courting and the nerves … it was nothing like my standard operating procedure.

I’d never felt so stripped bare and vulnerable. Never put myself out there so completely with a woman before. But then again, Finley was unlike any woman I’d ever met.

And she was still just standing there. “Can I come inside?” I asked, heart in my throat.

She didn’t say anything. But she opened the door wider.

With Nolan’s words ringing in my ears, I stepped over the threshold, sure that whatever happened tonight had the power to heal us both.

ss3Review3.5 stars

She wasn’t meant to be mine. They weren’t meant to be mine.

Now it’s been a hot minute since I last read a book by Kendall Ryan that I forgot just how well they can hit the spot.

Greyson Archer is a former Navy SEAL that still harbors unimaginable guilt over the death of his friend and teammate. When drinking his sorrows away at a run down strip joint, the last thing he expects is to recognize the face of the striking stripper that caught his attention the mere second she went on the stage. The fact that the woman that seems to make his blood heat is also the widow of his fallen brother in arms doesn’t do much for his guilt.

Seeing how low she’s come to support herself and her baby daughter, Greyson is determined to make things right. He wants to give them what he should have given them when her husband died; his support. He’ll just have to put his libido on hold…if only Finley will allow him to get close enough to help.

Finley is just fine on her own. She may be barely making ends meet, making her rent, and working as a stripper to support herself and her daughter, but she doesn’t need Greyson to come in with his bad boy vibes and oozing sexuality to tempt her self control. She still harbors plenty of rage his way, but the lust is certainly a heavy undercurrent in their relationship. Greyson is determined to help and when Finley’s life is in danger, he knows that he won’t take no for an answer.

Slow & Steady is exactly what the title implies; it’s a slow and steady build. However, with the length of the story, it didn’t allow a lot of things to be fleshed out and connect me to the story more. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it. Quite a lot, in fact. 3.5 stars for me means I really liked it. But there were times when I wanted to throttle Finley for her stubbornness and stupidity in certain situations. The suspense part of the story was a bit…odd. I felt the story could have easily done without it and been just fine. But it did serve as a plot driver in finally getting Finley and Grey together.

This was a quick, cute and sexy read about second chances and forgiveness. It had a little suspense, a little steam, and quite a few swoony moments. It certainly hit the spot for the mood I was in and was the perfect read to spend a Saturday afternoon on.

About the Author

Kendall Ryan Headshot 1 pic

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels, including Hard to Love, Unravel Me, Resisting Her and When I Break.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and reading.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

 

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Review: ★Dirty Sexy Inked★ by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde

Review-DSIDIRTY SEXY INKED
Series: Dirty Sexy #2
Author: Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 5, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Dirty Sexy Inked

Breaking hearts is what wild and rebellious Mason Kincaid does best. Hit it and quit it is his motto, and with his bad boy reputation and tattoos, he doesn’t lack for female companionship. Until one hot night with the one woman he swore he’d never touch becomes an all-consuming addiction he can’t kick. Katrina Sands has been his best friend for years, but now that he knows what she feels like, and tastes like, there is no going back to being just friends. Hot, dirty sex has never felt so good…or so right.

Buy LinksAmazon | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY

Book Trailer 1

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Review4 starsDirty Sexy Inked-DGR

They were two damaged people who’d managed to heal each other with something as simple as unconditional love. The fact that they were best friends who had phenomenal sex was a bonus.

I have one question right now: Where has this series been all my life?! No really, what a perfect treat this was to get a fantastic balance of super hot sex AND a wonderful story. Sometimes a girl just needs some great smut in her life, and this book hit the spot so well. But it’s so much more than erotic romance, the story is great, the characters well developed, and the writing just flows. Suffice it to say I loved it!

Friends to lovers is my catnip; especially when it has a super sexy tatted and dirty talking hero.

He didn’t know how to do gentle or romantic. When he fucked, he was rough and hard and demanding. Katrina was the one good thing in his life, and he never wanted to taint her with his perverse need to use sex, to use her, to ease all those underling raging emotions form the past that he struggled to keep buried so he didn’t hurt anyone or anything.

Mason Kincaid and Katrina Sands have been best friends for over twelve years. Mason has been Katrina’s everything for so long; her protector and her confidant, but lately her unrequitted growing feelings for him are beginning to really get in the way of that friendship. She’s spent too many years watching Mason make his way from one woman onto the next, and it’s time that she finally begins to consider going for what she wants…even if it means backing away from her best friend. But Mason isn’t about to distance herself from him without a damn good explanation, but when he confronts her, sparks fly, and that chemistry that’s been brewing between them all those years finally ignites.

Whether Katrina knew it or not, she was his. And he was going to do everything in his power to prove it.

I simply adored Mason. He was such an endearing character. The way he calls Katrina ‘Kitty-Kat’? *swoon* I loved everything about these two; the way they protect each other; their shared history, their friendship, and their clear affection for one another. And between the sheets they’re absolutely combustible! Katrina was a wonderful heroine as well but I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that Mason really stole the show here. This was a man that really went after what he wanted once he realizes what he’s missed all these years. He knew what he needed and he didn’t hide it.

She owned his heart. She was the other half of his soul. And he never wanted to live his life without her in it.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and can’t wait for the next installment. A sexy as hell and perfectly entertaining solid 4 star read for this picky reader 😉
About the Author

erika and carly

About Carly Phillips

Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter

About Erika Wilde

Erika Wilde is the author of the sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit website at www.erikawilde.com.

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Review: ★Thrown Down★ by Tessa Bailey

Review-Thrown DownTHROWN DOWN
Series: Made in Jersey #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: April 4, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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He has one last chance to deserve the girl of his dreams…

Overachiever River Purcell was never supposed to be a struggling single mom, working double shifts just to make ends meet. Nor was she supposed to be abandoned by her high school sweetheart, breaking her heart into a thousand jagged pieces. Now Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, his sights set on her…and River is in danger of drowning a second time.

No one believed Hook’s resident bad boy was good enough for River. Not even Vaughn himself. But he’ll fight like hell to win back the woman he never stopped loving, to keep the daughter he never expected, and convince himself he’s worth their love in the process–even if he has to rely on their fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry.

But even as River’s body arches under his hungered touch, the demons of the past lurk in the shadows. Waiting for Vaughn to repeat his mistakes one last time…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview3 stars

He didn’t remember a time when River didn’t occupy his heart. His mind. All of him.

I’ve been waiting for River and Vaughn’s book since first meeting them in Crashed Out. I love a good second chance romance, and of course the complexity of River having a child that Vaughn didn’t know about when he left added to the intrigue. Now this sort of set up could either work really well or not, and in the case of this book, it worked and worked well. Vaughn and River are still very much hung up on each other even 5 years worth of separation later and Vaughn was devoted to her even when he was away. He left because he didn’t think he could give River the life she deserves being the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. But when he learns that River gave birth to his daughter, he drops everything to come back to the town that only holds painful memories to him to make things right with the only woman that will hold his heart.

But while the set up was great and I loved Vaughn’s bad boy side and dirty talking, all the dirty talking and sex began to overshadow the story for me. There’s a line between hot dirty talk and porny, and some of the lines here went from porny to making me feel like I was reading a dirty Victorian romance…

His growl of bliss was released against River’s flesh, ropes of male fluid soiling River’s bedclothes.

Male fluid? Bedclothes?
Then there were terms like …manhood stood
…damp femininity
…River gasped, feeling her loins quiver.

Then this doozy

Fuck, Riv, I couldn’t breathe around how bad I want to eat you. Still can’t. I felt that little rosebud through my pants today- up against your car- and I’m a sick man now. Am I imagining how bad it needs me?

He’s referring to her clit…as a rosebud…and inferring that he can feel it though his pants? What on earth does she have down there because I’m pretty sure that requires medical intervention!
Or this…

Can I have this pussy for myself again? Please, River? Give it back to your buck for safe keeping.”

And topped off with this

“This kitty likes when you’re on all fours, doesn’t it? You could never get that ass up in the air fast enough. Fuck, the way you used to look at me over your shoulder. Come get it, big daddy.”

and this one…

Vaughn fell over her like a fuck-hungry prison inmate

Le sigh.

This had such a strong promise, and again, if you can overlook the lines I referenced above, you’d really love it. I did really love the story. But unfortunately for me, the OTT dirty talk once again overshadowed things. I adored Tessa’s Line of Duty series. Her heroes were sexy dirty talkers, but it was perfectly balanced. It feels like it was just trying too hard to be dirty here, if that even makes sense.

On a different note, there’s a secondary character in this book that really caught my attention and I do believe there may be an MM in the making, and my pervy self is already salivating for that one. Will I read the next one? Absolutely. Can’t love them all. I still love Tessa and her writing, but sadly this one fell a bit flat. Hopefully the next one will make up for it.


THE REST OF THE SERIES


MADE IN JERSEY #125781782AMAZON | MY REVIEW

MADE IN JERSEY #1.526226522AMAZON | MY REVIEW

Review: ★Jacked Up★ by @AycartElle

Review-JUJacked Up
Series: Bowen Boys #4
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Elle Aycart
Release Date: March 8, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Since James Bowen married Elle Cooper’s sister, tall dark and handsome Jack Copeland has become a permanent fixture in Elle’s life. A silent, rather annoying fixture, with his arrogant aloofness and my-way-or-the-highway attitude rubbing her the wrong way. So she does what any self-respecting woman would: aggravate the wits out of him.

Party girl Elle Cooper is everything covert operative Jack Copeland doesn’t want in a woman. Outspoken, sassy. A smartass. Too bad when he closes his eyes, all his mind conjures up is her. To everyone else, he comes off as intimidating and unapproachable. Everyone except Elle. So he does what any self-respecting man would: stay the hell away from her. But when Elle gets herself in deep trouble, all of Jack’s protective instincts kick in, and keeping his distance is no longer an option.

Elle’s already complicated life takes a downturn, and she’s given two choices: go to jail or stick with Jack.

With Jack and Elle in such close proximity, sparks are flying all over the damn place and it’s only a matter of time before they ignite. The only question is, who will kill Elle first? The vicious drug cartel hunting her or Jack?

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N 

Review4.5 starsJacked Up-DGR

I say when we are done and we are not. Not by a long shot. You’ve been taunting me for months. Years, pet. Now that you got my undivided attention, you can’t say you don’t want it. You can’t back down. I won’t allow it. You’ve been asking for it. For me. This is what you get: me. I’ll tie you down and fuck you so thoroughly you will be limp by the time I’m done with you.

Do you like broody, protective uber alphas who prefer monosyllabic conversations unless they’re in bed and letting their inner caveman do the talking? Do you like sassy as hell heroines that give as good as they get and have more zingers than an episode of SNL? Do you like a sizzling hot sexual chemistry that brews even hotter with a slow burn sort of pace the author sets? Do you like your erotica written perfectly balanced with an addicting sort of story and a dash of suspense thrown in? Well lucky day! Because do I have the book for you!

She sighed. “That tone is not going to go down well with me, Borg.”
“Which tone?”
“The obey-me-or-else tone, the one that demands servitude. Doing things on command is not a skill I’ve acquired or have any interest in acquiring.”

If you’ve read the previous books in this series, then you’ll remember Elle Cooper, Tate Cooper’s sister and now James Bowen’s sister-in-law? If you haven’t, no worries, because you can easily read this book as a standalone and not be even slightly lost. Jack Copeland is James’s shadowy and grumpy friend that now has a tie to Elle that he’s not too happy about. The woman infuriates him almost as much as she turns him on. And Elle absolutely loves to tease Jack to within an inch of his sanity.

Who’s that?” one of the women whispered to her.
Judging by his language and social skills, the missing link between humans and monkeys.
“A friend of my brother-in-law.”

Elle is exactly the kind of woman Jack doesn’t want; fun-loving, slightly flighty party girl that doesn’t take much in her life seriously…unless you take aggravating him as a thing, because she does that real well. But beneath the zingers, insults and barbs they throw each other’s way, there’s such a heavy undercurrent of lust, that you find yourself squeezing your legs together until that final big boom you know is coming and these two will finally CUMbust.

You don’t want to fuck with me, pet.”
“But I do.”
“You can’t take me on. I like my woman tied up. Ball-gagged. Blindfolded. Plug up their asses. Pussy spread open for me to fuck it however I want. If I take the gag off, it’s to fuck their mouths.”

Jack does an upstanding job avoiding all things Elle, until the day where Elle lands in life threatening trouble and Jack is determined to protect her at all costs. He’ll do his job and walk away afterwards, but Elle is determined to make him lose all reason and patience in the process.

You think I can’t even look at you? I want you so fucking badly I can’t even breathe.”
“Well, I hope your ninja training includes holding your breath for long periods. Or let me ask at the counter, they might have an iron lung somewhere. Either way you said your dick is not in charge here, so order it back to its cave and don’t waste my time.”

I gobbled up this book with a pervy sort of glee I haven’t felt in a long while. I loved these two together. Nothing beats a good hate/love scenario for me, and boy do these two serve that up on a silver platter. You can’t help but love Elle even if she lands herself in scenarios where you’ll want to throttle her. Jack is everything I love in an alpha; broody, slightly crass, protective, and a dirty, dirty man in bed.

The sexual chemistry between them was so hot, it practically crackled on the pages. I appreciated the slow burn approach the author took and not throwing them into bed together right away. I love a good sexual tension and this book certainly had that.

But beyond the super sexy romance and fantastic characters, Jacked Up had a great plot that served to tie everything together flawlessly. The suspense was the perfect touch. It wasn’t so intense that it took away from the romance, but it was the perfect spark to spice things up even further.

Jacked Up was the perfect combination of sizzling hot erotica, romance, and story. If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, you are seriously missing out.

On a side note here’s a particular secondary character that I’m beyond thrilled will be getting a book because I was salivating for his story the entire time.


READ THE REST OF THE SERIES


MORE THAN MEETS THE INK | HEAVY ISSUES | TO THE MAX

Review: ★Brave Enough★ by M. Leighton

Review-Brave ENoughBRAVE ENOUGH
Series: Tall, Dark, & Dangerous #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: M. Leighton
Release Date: April 5, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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From the author of the New York Times bestselling Bad Boys novels comes another dark, sexy story…
 
Is she brave enough to give her heart to a man she only thought she knew? 

He was the most charismatic man I’d ever met. Strong, tough, brave. Bold as hell. Something told me Tag Barton could have anything—anyone—he wanted…and he wanted me. It didn’t matter that he was wrong for me in practically every way possible. It didn’t matter that my father would hate it.

I couldn’t resist him. Even if I’d known who he really was and what he was really capable of.

When he suggested we pretend to be engaged, I thought he was the answer to all my problems. He wasn’t. And, in his wake, he left nothing but scorched earth and me, just another casualty of my father’s war.

Can I believe him now when he tells me he loves me?  Or is he nothing more than a beautiful, breathtaking lie?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&NReview3.5 starsBrave enough-DGR

The light rain bathes my face, the sweet scent of grapes scent the air and the heat of Tag surrounds me. I’m invaded by this moment, by this man. Invaded, body and soul.

Truth be told, I struggled with my rating for this book for days now. I’ve been marinating and marinating over what to rate it. Do I rate it as a part of the Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series which it didn’t seem to fit at all? Or do I rate it as a standalone I felt it should have been? After much deliberation, I’ve decided to go with something in the middle of the two. Because here’s the thing, while I did truly enjoy Brave Enough, I didn’t find it fit the series. Aside from Tag being a hero that was first introduced early in the series, there is really no other connection. The story felt different, the romance felt different, and the entire feel of it was just different.

Strong Enough was a heart pounding and intense read. Tough Enough was a lot more tame, but it did follow on the heels of a story arc that was first introduced in Strong Enough. Brave Enough was something else entirely. Those that have read the series will see what I mean, and those that haven’t, good news! You can easily read this as a standalone and miss nothing.

You’re a woman with a body made for sin and a mind full of delicate sensibilities.

Weatherly O’Neil is seeking to escape her life for a bit and her father’s dictation of her life. Growing up in wealth and privilege, Weatherly never quite felt like she fit in that social circle. But now that her father is insisting that she marry someone for wealth and business reasons, she needs out; out from the pressures of her parents and her life. She finds that out in her beloved escape; her parent’s vineyard. There she comes face to face with the most charming, enigmatic and gorgeous man she’s ever met. His eyes promise the most delicious kind of sin, and his lips promise that she’ll enjoy the seduction.

He is magnificent. He is a pagan god preparing to take what’s his. I’m his willing sacrifice, laid out at the altar of his perfection.

Previous Special Forces and part of Delta Five team along with Jasper and Kiefer, Tag lives a different life now taking care of his ailing mother who works and lives on the vineyard as well as tending to the vineyard itself. Tag has never been the type to hurt for female attention but when he first lays eyes on
Weatherly he knows it’s a game changer. He’s determined to break down all her walls and ask her to be brave enough to take a chance on him. But Tag also has a secret, one that no one knows about and could cost him everything.

If you’re looking for a pure contemporary read with plenty of steam, this book will definitely hit the spot. It’s sexy and swoony and packed with plenty of feels. It’s also quite a bit slow paced and has the insta-lust/love thing going for it.

While I loved Weatherly and Tag’s connection, it was just too quick for my liking. There wasn’t enough relationship development for me to truly connect. Things get hot and heavy with these two pretty much straight off the bat, and doesn’t let up. At times I felt their physical connection was overshadowing their emotional one.

The book is also pretty slow paced, but on the flip side, I was never once bored while reading it. I was glued to the pages from start to finish and enjoyed myself the entire time.

I was really let down with the super rushed ending in book 2 of a particular story arc that began with book 2. A part of me had hoped that perhaps this would be fixed or further fleshed out with book 3, but alas there was zero mention of it here. It was like the first two books didn’t happen. Aside from cameos from Kiefer and mention of Jasper, that was all we got.

Ultimately it was the insta thing that brought down my rating. Their quick fall just didn’t feel believable to me. I found Weatherly overly naive and trusting and that was a source of frustration for a large chunk of the book for me. Tag was fantastic; a perfect balance of dirty talker and sweet, so that was certainly great to read. The ending was a bit heavy on the cheese and the entire relationship moved too quick for my tastes, but at the same time it fit this couple.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance with a swoony hero and plenty of steam, this will definitely hit the spot. My quibbles aside, I did still enjoy this book quite a bit and would recommend it to any fan of this author. One thing is for sure; M. Leighton can WRITE, and she most definitely gives good alpha.

I’m brave enough to face knives and guns, death and torture, discovery and capture, and the only thing I’ve ever known that scares the shit out of me is losing you.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


51ngi4+okBL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_AMAZON | MY REVIEW

51qasWOV1BL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_AMAZON | MY REVIEW

New Release & Review: ★The Beast★ by J.R. Ward

Review-The BeastTHE BEAST
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #14
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: J.R. Ward
Release Date: April 5, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself…

For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect—or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can’t understand—or control—the panic and insecurity that plague him…

And that terrifies him—as well as distances him from his mate. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities—and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world…and Mary’s. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

Review4 starsSpoiler Free ReviewThe Beast cast-DGR

She was all the power in the universe coalesced into a living, breathing thing, the miracle that he had been granted in spite of the fact that he had long been underserving of anything but his curse.

I’m going to be real for a hot second here; the last few releases in this series left me underwhelmed. So much, in fact, that I was about to give up on it entirely. There’s been a plethora of secondary characters introduced since Lover at Last and I’ve been itching for them to finally get a book. Instead what soon followed was more Wrath, then the book that shall not be mentioned, and now Rhage. I loved the original brothers, and I loved (most) of their HEA. But that doesn’t mean that I want a second book for them in what I felt would be messing with that perfectly satisfactory HEA. I couldn’t understand why Rhage needed a full second hardcover book, when Z’s story in Father Mine was perfect in the novella length that it was. So to say that I was questioning reading this book would be an understatement. But man am I glad that I decided to take the chance with this book, and I can fully admit that all the preconceived notions I had about it couldn’t have been more wrong.

Time was too finite; no matter how much of it you had with someone you loved, when the end came, it wasn’t nearly enough.”

The Beast doesn’t mess with a happy couple’s HEA; it expands on their emotional journey. It’s an emotionally gripping, lovely, and at times sweet and at times sexy continuation to a beloved couple.

Rhage and Mary are happy together, but after everything that has been going on with the war and his brothers, Rhage finds himself questioning some of the inner turmoil that he can’t explain. Then a mortal injury on a battle field where he ignored all danger finally brings him the answers he’s been seeking; but not quite the answers that he’s ready to deal with.

I’d say a predominant part of the book focuses on Rhage and Mary’s story. There’s no unnecessary drama or angst, just a shellan and her hellren dealing with normal relationship issues as any married couple would. It was sweet and at times emotional, and if you loved Rhage before, I guarantee you’ll fall for him even more here. As much as Mary frustrated me in their first book, I adored her here. Her inner strength, her love for Rhage and the brotherhood, her commitment to Safe Place and the people she helps paints her in such an admirable and endearing light.

But aside from their story, there’s quite a bit more happening here. So if you were thinking of possibly skipping this book, I’d advise you against it. There are some twists here that you will not want to miss, including the introduction of a new secondary character that is sure to shake things up in the future books. While there’s still a number of secondary POV’s, for once that really worked for me here and it flowed well with the story instead of distracting me from the main couple.

There’s quite a few revelations happening with Xcor, Assail, and Layla. As well as some real doozies happening with the Lesser war and Scribe Virgin and Omega. While the book is over 500 pages long, I was glued to every word and couldn’t put it down and I haven’t had that with this series in quite some time. Assail gets quite a bit of pages here and I’m utterly salivating for his book. I’m not even touching on Xcor because I plain need his book.

The Beast is a page turning and at times action packed and twisty ride. It had everything; action, suspense, swoony romance, and mind-blowing twists that guarantee you’ll be unable to stop reading.

That being said, if I don’t get either Assail or Xcor next, Lana is going to be one angry panda. I love my original brothers, but my patience is about to go Beast on me soon.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


DARK LOVER | LOVER ETERNAL | LOVER AWAKENED | LOVER REVEALED | LOVER UNBOUND | LOVER ENSHRINED | FATHER MINE | LOVER AVENGED | LOVER MINE | LOVER UNLEASHED | LOVER REBORN | LOVER AT LAST | THE KING | THE SHADOWS | THE BEAST

 

Review: ★Her Fantasy Husband★ by Nina Croft

Review-HFHHER FANTASY HUSBAND
Series: Things To Do Before You Die #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Nina Croft
Release Date: April 4, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Security Company CEO Josh Slater put his life on hold when he said “I do” to protect a stranger. While his marriage was never meant to be real—he hasn’t even seen his wife in five years—Josh can’t shake the idea that he’d be cheating if he moves on. Now he’s a man with a mission: chase down his “wife,” get an annulment, and finally indulge in a little no-strings sex.

Heiress Alexia Slater entered into a marriage of convenience straight out of high school to gain control of her inheritance before her not-so loving family squandered the whole thing. She doesn’t want the marriage to be real—she’s fought hard for her independence—but that hasn’t stopped her from spending the last five years fantasizing about her gorgeous husband.

Then he shows up.

Josh wants an annulment. Lexi needs to stay married. When the chemistry explodes between them, there’s no stopping the battle of wills only one of them can win…

She’s had the fantasy, now it’s time for the real thing…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview3 stars

He was addictive. Which was a problem, because he was also bossy, and a loner, and a total commitment-phobe.


I love the premise of this series; after being stranded on a lifeboat after the cruise ship they’re one; a group of male friends make a pact to do the one thing they want. In His Fantasy Girl, for Logan it was getting in touch with the woman that he had an amazing one night stand with and never stopped thinking of.

For Security Company CEO Josh Slater, it’s not quite as….virtuous. What he wants is no-strings-attached sex, lots of it. Problem is, he needs to end his fake marriage of convenience first with a wife that he hasn’t seen since their “wedding” five years ago. But what should be a quickie annulment since they never consummated their marriage soon turns a lot more complicated when he lays his eyes on Alexia Slater.

This was a case of opposites attracting. Josh is brooding and grumpy and Alexia is the sweet and easy going, if at times overly so, woman that’s determined to save everyone. Surprisingly, I really loved Alexia. I say surprisingly because at times I felt she let people step all over her, especially her family. I only have one word for her grandmother…
But while I loved the set up, I had a hard time believing that Josh spent 5 years being celibate because he was “married”. Considering their arrangement, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around that. I connected to Alexia and her reasons, but Josh’s seemed a bit extreme.

I did love the two of them together. Josh may not like his attraction to Alexia and fights it, but I liked that he’s still protective of her though it all. And of course the steam did help…

I hope I live up to your expectation.”
“You’re better than I could have ever imagined. My fantasy husband.”

Josh was really slow to thaw, so his quickie turn around at the end just felt rushed and unbelievable. It was a little heavy on the cheese too, considering the time frame.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read, albeit nothing I’d come back to. If you’re a fan of this series, I highly recommend it because it hits the spot for a nice and steamy afternoon read.

New Release & Review: ★Dark Notes★ by Pam Godwin

Review-Dark NotesDARK NOTES
Genre: Dark Romance (standalone)
Author: Pam Godwin
Release Date: April 5, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Dark Notes Pam Godwin eBook

They call me a slut. Maybe I am.
Sometimes I do things I despise.
Sometimes men take without asking.

But I have a musical gift, only a year left of high school, and a plan.
With one obstacle.

Emeric Marceaux doesn’t just take.
He seizes my will power and bangs it like a dark note.
When he commands me to play, I want to give him everything.
I kneel for his punishments, tremble for his touch, and risk it all for our stolen moments.

He’s my obsession, my master, my music.
And my teacher.

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

Review4.5 starsDark Notes-DGR

This brutal man is my home. His hell is my heaven.
I’m his Ivory, and he’s my darkest note.

If there’s one thing that Pam Godwin knows, it’s how to write one seriously intense alpha. The mere name alone, Emeric Marceaux, is enough to get my motor revving. This man will give you shivers and you’ll actually feel his intensity crackling through the pages. It’s utterly delicious. He’s a dose of dangerous, with a splash of depraved, and all of it is tied around a sexual magnetism that’s so captivating, your fingers will tingle turning the pages.

She’s exactly the kind of woman I’m drawn to. A woman who flees when hunted and comes alive when she’s caught.

Dark Notes is a standalone dark romance with a deliciously kinky element of the forbidden teacher/student. Add in the fact that Ivory is only 17 years old, and you got yourself one crazy ride of a book. But that description doesn’t even begin to do this book justice.

Ivory Westbrook is a survivor with big dreams. Being the only empowered student in one of the most elite and expensive performing arts high schools in the nation, she has a lot to prove, but her talent as a pianist is unparalleled. Unfortunately she lives in a world where money is power and she has none. She’s lived a hard life in her young years; her father is dead and her mother may as well be with her addiction to drugs. She’s survived unimaginable horrors from a tender young age, but she’s a survivor at her core. With only a year left of high school, she’s that much closer to her dream of making it into Leopold, the highest ranking college in the country. Now all she has to do to get even closer to that dream is impress her new music teacher, who just happens to be the most intense and captivating man she’s ever laid eyes on.

He’s enchanting, distracting, and positively terrifying.

Things begin to simmer between the two of them at first sight, and the author does an incredible job in making the sexual tension practically palpable enough to taste. Emeric is one of the most captivating characters I’ve read in a long while. He oozes sexuality and yet there’s this edge to him that adds an element of fear that just works so well.

I didn’t expect to like Ivory as much as I did. I’m not a fan of sexual abuse issues being the go-to for heroines in dark romances, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Pam. She’s written an incredibly broken yet persevering heroine with Ivory. She has deep rooted issues, but never once are they glossed over. It’s incredibly raw, painful and believable. You can understand her captivation with Emeric. You can completely understand why she does the things she does and craves the things she does. The author lets the rich character development paint the whole picture for the reader. Never once do you feel like you’re being told anything; you feel it right along with the characters.

Sometimes you love people you shouldn’t, and in the endless space of that love, nothing else matters.”

While the sexual tension between Ivory and Emeric is instantaneous, that is the only instant thing in this book. The rest is the most delicious sort of slow burn. It’s almost like watching the most sexual game of cat and mouse unfold, and even though you know what the end result will ultimately be, you still can’t stop reading.

It’s no longer a matter of if or when.
Tonight, she’ll bend for my punishment, tremble for my touch, and I’ll risk it all to show her exactly what she means to me.

So you may be asking yourself if I loved it so much, why not a 5? The reason for that is because I did find parts of the story to be too predictable for my tastes. As soon as a few particular elements were introduced, I knew straight off the bat where it would be leading and how it would end. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the entire book was that way, not at all, in fact. There are certainly enough twists and turns packed in to keep you guessing. Pam Godwin is a master of her craft and she seems to get better and better with each new book. If you’re looking for a dark romance with a bit of kink and taboo thrown in, you really can’t go wrong with this one.

The tempo of our breaths. The drum of our heartbeats. The crackle in the air. The exquisite cadence pulses through me, awakening sensations I’ve never felt, composing a melody I’ve never heard. Our hypnotic, dark notes.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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