New Release & DGR Favorite Review: The Pawn by @skye_warren

December 6, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

pawn_releaseblitzbannerTHE PAWN
Series: The Endgame #1
Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
Author: Skye Warren
Release Date: December 6, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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“Sinfully sexy and darkly beautiful, The Pawn will play games with your heart and leave you craving more!” – Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author

The price of survival…

Gabriel Miller swept into my life like a storm. He tore down my father with cold retribution, leaving him penniless in a hospital bed. I quit my private all-girl’s college to take care of the only family I have left.

There’s one way to save our house, one thing I have left of value.

My virginity.

A forbidden auction…

Gabriel appears at every turn. He seems to take pleasure in watching me fall. Other times he’s the only kindness in a brutal underworld.

Except he’s playing a deeper game than I know. Every move brings us together, every secret rips us apart. And when the final piece is played, only one of us can be left standing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THE PAWN is a full-length contemporary novel from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren about revenge and seduction in the game of love. It’s the first book in the brand new ENDGAME series.

Buy Links Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

thepawn-teaser-v2Review-DGR5 starsthe-pawn-dgr-teaser

I’m the pawn, and he’s my triumphant captor.

This was easily my favorite by this author to date. Gripping. Captivating. Magnetic. Dark. Erotic. It was EVERYTHING I love about a dark romance. It’s not gratuitous violence and scenes thrown in for pure shock value. It’s a mind fuck. An incredibly written, twisty, and delicious mind fuck that I couldn’t put down from beginning to finish; with a heroine you’ll want to root for, and an anti-hero that you’ll want to hate only slightly more than you love him.

The Pawn reminded me all over again why I love dark romance. It’s that electric zing of the forbidden. That feeling of rooting for a man that’s supposed to be the bad guy, yet you know that someone deep inside is someone that may be just an ounce redeemable. It’s the flutter of butterflies in your belly when you watch a sweet, innocent and naive girl grow into a woman that’s much stronger than you think. It’s that delicious tingle you get watching the fly get trapped in the spider’s erotic web. It’s pure wickedness.

Soon, little virgin.”
“Don’t call me that.” My voice trembles only a little, revealing the turmoil inside me.
“What else should I call you? Princess? Darling?”
“You could call me by my name.”
He dips his head, his mouth right by my ear, his voice just a breath. “There’s only one thing I’m going to call you. Mine.”

Growing up in privilege and money, Avery had an enchanted life. She idolized her father, she looked forward to her future and starting college, she had a doting boyfriend that she suspected only wanted her for his status, she had little worries aside from questioning her relationship…until it all crashed down on her…

I look up at him, searching his eyes for some hint of kindness, of mercy. There’s none. I find only fire- and the thought that comes next makes me shudder: this is vengeance.

Losing everything she finds herself penniless and desperate, and desperate times lead to desperate measures. Which is how she finds herself in the Den, agreeing to sell her virginity and body and soul to the highest bidder for a month.

You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know I could make you come in two minutes.”
A step back, my calves bumping the small chair where I sat. “You wouldn’t.”
“No, but you wish I would.”
“I hate you.”

Gabriel Miller is an enigma. He’s not a good guy, but his golden eyes lure her deep into a tangled web that she doesn’t know how to get herself out of.

The story was incredibly written. I love mythology and getting bits and glimpses of it only heightened my enjoyment. Watching Avery slowly come more and more into her own was almost as satisfying as watching the shadows lift from the mystery that is Gabriel but only leave behind more questions.

There’s something feral about this man, a fire that burns inside him, untamed.

The plot it filled with twists and turns that keep you absolutely riveted to the pages. The characters are multi-layered and enigmatic. You find yourself at the edge of your seat, heart beating wildly in your chest, just waiting for that final shoe to drop. This is one of those books that you will read in one sitting and it will leave you craving for more. It’s darkly erotic and entirely addicting.

You don’t taste sweet,” he says, pausing. “You taste like I’m fucking dying and you’re the only water around. You taste like goddamn air.”

If you’re a fan of this author, and you love a well written dark romance, this is one book that you do NOT want to miss. I may go crazy in my wait for the conclusion, but I don’t regret a moment of it because I have the best book high after finishing this. All of the stars!

THE KNIGHT is now available for preorder!

theknight

The power of pleasure…

Gabriel Miller took everything from me. My family. My innocence. My home. The only thing I have left is the determination to get back what’s mine.

He thinks he’s beaten me. He thinks he’s won. What he doesn’t realize is that every pawn has the chance to become a queen.

And the game has only just begun.

* * * * * *

THE KNIGHT is book two in the Endgame series from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren about revenge and seduction in the game of love.

PRE-ORDER TODAY!

About the Author13680481_812207255582123_3040574096772318693_o

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance such as the Chicago Underground series. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, two sweet dogs, and one evil cat.

Contact Skye:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest | Website

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Dark, DGR Favorites, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: , , ,

New Release & Review: Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey

December 5, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

wound-tight-reviewWOUND TIGHT
Series: Made In Jersey #4
Genre: MM Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: December 5, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

wound-tight

A sexy new M/M romance from New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey

When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.

Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.

Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 stars

I make the decisions. Do you understand? Boss inside work, boss outside of work. That’s me. Your dick seems to like that idea just fine.”

Ever since I realized that Mr. Tightpants and big and bad boss Renner Bastion was gay in Thrown Down, I’ve been wiggling in pervy anticipation for his book. Can you blame me? Take Tessa Bailey’s gift of writing some of my favorite dirty talking alphas and multiply that by TWO? Sign me the hell up! But I was also a little nervous, too. Can an author that’s written mainstream contemporary romance pull off an MM without making it cliche and suffering some of the pitfalls that some author have when taking on something that’s away from their norm? In the case of this book, it’s a resounding HELL YES.

He had a strict set of rules when it came to other men, and Milo violated them all by being his employee. Not to mention being too young…and too straight.

Now before you go getting the wrong idea here, no, this isn’t a GFY. Milo is very much gay. He knows who he is and embraces it. But coming to the realization that he’s gay a bit later in his life is also making him question his approach. Watching his boss be so comfortable in his own skin and sexuality makes him follow him around not only to keep him safe. So of course it makes the perfect sort of sense to ask Renner for his help…in navigating this new to him world and eventually getting the attention of the man responsible for his sexual realization. A man that is NOT Renner.

…please stop acting like a nightclub is Mars, for the love of God. You could easily do this on your own, but apparently you’re rubbing off on me because I feel…” He shivered. “Obligated to guide your path. You’ve turned me into a gay Yoda. It’s not a good look.”

But the second these two touch, the sexual fireworks go off, the lines get blurred, and all of a sudden what was supposed to be, isn’t, and what shouldn’t be happening, is.

Renner was every bit the brooding and broken alphahole I expected him to be. But getting pieces of his past does help you understand why he is the way he is. Milo is his antithesis. Fun-loving to his serious, quit to laugh to his brooding. But together they make the perfect sort of sense. The sexual chemistry between them was utterly sizzling. This was more mainstream MM and it hit the spot just right for this reader. I loved the way that Milo was so sure of his own self even while Renner questioned everything. Runner’s past does explain some of his behavior, though I didn’t feel that it was enough to make him be AS hesitant as he was. He frustrated me to no end with the way he handled certain things with Milo at times. Then again, he was just the right amount of endearing that I forgave him everything at the end.

Wound Tight was a perfectly delicious conclusion to the Made In Jersey series. It was steamy and with the right amount of emotion (though there was some cheese thrown in at the end that was a touch too sweet for me). But it was also entirely satisfying and a totally enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a spicy MM romance to spend an evening with, you can’t go wrong with this one.

THE MADE IN JERSEY SERIES

CRASHED OUT
BUY | READ MY REVIEW

ROUGH RHYTHM
BUY | READ MY REVIEW

THROWN DOWN
BUY | READ MY REVIEW

WORKED UP
BUY | READ MY REVIEW

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Review & Excerpt Tour: Perfectly Paired by Lexi Blake

December 3, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

perfectly-paired-reviewPerfectly Paired
Series: Masters and Mercenaries: Topped #3
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM Romance
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: November 29, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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A table for two

Waitress Tiffany Hayes knows what she wants and she wants Sebastian. Top’s grumpy sommelier calls to her in a way no man has before. She simply needs to show him that they belong together. Finding an opportunity to spend some quality time with him turns out to be the easy part. Convincing Sebastian to look beyond his damaged heart and soul is far more difficult.

A thirst he can’t deny

After losing everything he held dear, Sebastian Lowe has finally rebuilt his life and the walls around his heart. Tiffany is a sweet temptation he struggles to resist. She’s bright and complex, but he’s sure she can’t handle his dark desires. When they’re thrown together on an assignment, he can’t help himself.

A perfect pairing

As passion builds, the new lovers are both forced to face their pasts. To have a future, they must find a way to heal the wounds they thought would haunt them forever.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iTUNES | B&N

Elegant young handsome man over night city background

Excerpt

Damn but she was a beautiful woman. She was also something he needed to keep his hands off of. No matter what Big Tag said, he did not date women he worked with.He didn’t really date anyone. He played with subs. When the need got too great, he found a partner for a brief time. He didn’t sleep with anyone. He fucked, and that was starting to get very old. Empty.

“So you said something about house rules?” Tiffany leaned forward, her elbows on the bar. “Are these housekeeping rules or like big bad Dom rules?”

“I don’t suppose I differentiate.” He couldn’t let those big eyes of hers soften him up. It had almost happened at her apartment. When she’d stood up after he’d spanked her and there had been tears running down her face, his impulse had been to reach for her. He’d wanted to draw her in the way he had that night when she was drunk and she’d cried on his shoulder. He’d wanted to smooth back her hair and promise her everything was going to be all right, that he could fix things for her. It was a path that was sure to lead to discomfort for her and humiliation for him. “I prefer a clean living space. I don’t like for things to be messy. I expect that you will keep your things in their proper place.”

Because no matter how hard he tried, he could still trip. The legs he now walked on were only a year old. He’d spent the first two years in a wheelchair.

The Garden’s Wheelchair Dom.

He still wasn’t completely comfortable in the prosthetics.

“I can try,” she said with a frown. “I’ll be honest, I’m not the world’s biggest neat freak.”

He’d been able to tell that from the state of her apartment. It had been cluttered, a bit dusty. With the exception of her easel. That had been perfectly taken care of. He rather wished he’d taken the time to ask to see her art.

He’d seen one painting that night he’d taken her home. It had been a painting of three laughing girls, the swirling colors so vibrant he could hear them giggling as they splashed in a puddle on a rainy day. The figures had been more impressions than photographic reality, but he’d known what she was trying to convey.

“If you cook I’ll clean, and the other way around.” He’d started a list in his head on the long drive. The drive that would have been considerably shorter had they left at the proper time. As she’d sung along to sugary pop songs after she’d changed his radio, he’d sat and considered how to proceed.

With caution. Lots and lots of caution.

“I’m not the best cook in the world,” he continued, “but I can manage. Most nights, of course, we’ll be eating at Top as our training sessions for the new restaurant will last long hours, but I would prefer to eat breakfast here rather than skipping the meal or picking up fast food. Eric made sure the fridge was stocked with a few items I requested.”

“Breakfast.” She gave him a little salute with her free hand. “I can manage that.”

“In addition to our duties at Top, we will now be taking on the additional task of appearing to be a long-term D/s couple, and we need to talk about what that should look like.” Another thing he’d been thinking about ever since that moment the trap had closed around him. “You know you probably could have gotten us out of this assignment. It’s much more difficult for the Dom to say no. The sub always holds the power. Is there a reason you didn’t use yours today?”

“I didn’t want to,” she replied simply. “I don’t have a full-time Dom and I thought it would be interesting to see what that’s like.”

Was she thinking at all? “You know nothing about how I function as a dominant partner.”

“And now I do,” she replied. “You like rules and schedules and you tend to be very fair.”

“I can be quite exacting in my standards.”

“I can be quite flexible,” she shot back as the sexiest smile crossed her face. “I’m serious about that. I can still do the splits and everything.”

“You’re far too reckless, Tiffany.” He didn’t appreciate recklessness so why was she like a siren calling to him? If he listened, he would end up wrecked.

“You’re far too uptight, Sebastian.”

Erotic moments of couple in bed

Review-DGR4.5 starsperfectly-paire-dgr-teaser

A smart girl got what she wanted. A good girl made sure her Dom got what he needed, too.

tumblr_nh648kl9fl1u6bin0o3_400Lexi Blake brings the feels with this one. Big time. So sexy and swoony. I adore everything this woman writes. She has a knack for writing a romance that not only scorches but packs an even more solid punch of emotion. It’s perfectly balanced. It’s perfectly written. It’s has a couple that’s perfectly paired.

That’s the trade, baby. Love can lift us up or it can crash us right down. Nothing good comes without risk.

Tiffany Hayes isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. And what she wants is the perfectly mannered but grumpy and standoffish sommelier, Sebastian. These two are polar opposites. Tiffany is fun loving and sunny while Sebastian shies away from any attention and prefers the shadows. Losing everything you ever held dear may do that to a man. Now he feels like a shell of a man he used to be, a monster. He doesn’t understand why a bright ray like Tiffany may be attracted to someone like him. But Tiffany isn’t above manipulation to get what she wants. And suddenly a flooded apartment and a few other “occurrences” and Tiffany is the only sub available for a Dom/sub training that Ian Taggard asks Sebastian to do…well…in his own Ian Taggard way.

Dude, will you take over the baby Doms for me? There’s a new crop coming in and they need to be sown. Otherwise they’ll all be like ‘brah, let’s go spank some bottoms and drink craft beer’ and then I’ll have to murder them. Seriously. I’ve been told not to murder them. Millennial Doms. Has it really come to this?”

Can I just say how much I love Ian? Because I swear the man is the perfect comedic intervention in every single book he appears in. I will never, and I mean EVER get enough of him.

It’s not like I’m getting any right now. Have you ever tried to top a woman who recently had a baby you put up in her? Charlie’s not having any of it. And Seth and I here are still outnumbered because someone neutered Bud and now the dog doesn’t have a dick either. Or balls. Yeah. I think he’s got a dick, but no balls. Isn’t that right, Sean? It’s the same thing. You kept your dick, but they cut off your balls. Dude, I don’t know how you survived. It made the dog cranky so he ate one of my shoes. That made me cranky. God, I’m tired.”

As for Tifanny and Sebastian? I couldn’t get enough of them together. I loved the way that Tiffany was determined to break down all Sebastian’s walls. She doesn’t bow down or run away when things get difficult. She pushes his and forces him to see things the way they should be. She gives as good as she gets, if not better, and man but I loved her for it.

And Sebastian? Holy mother of swoons but I adored this man. Watching the painful struggle of him still trying to deal with his past and his present was absolutely gut wrenching. I hurt for him. I cried for him and everything that he’s been through. The man was just so perfectly imperfect.

This book was everything I love about romance; an endearing and strong heroine, a broken alpha that just needed the right female touch, a perfect balance of swoon and steam, and all with the spice of Lexi Blake’s BDSM to top it all off. It’s the perfect book to warm you up on a cold winter’s night. Simply delicious.
About the Authorlexi_blakeNY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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New Release & Review: Downed by Jen Frederick

December 1, 2016 by · 1 Comment

downed-reviewDOWNED
Series: Gridiron #3
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Jen Frederick
Release Date: December 1, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

downed

He’s the guy no one likes…

Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.

She’s the girl everyone loves…

Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.

Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.

Buy LinksAMAZON Review-DGR4 starsdowned-dgr-teaser

He likes to take control—on and off the field. He plays hard, loves hard. I should’ve been prepared for him, but I wasn’t.

Well spank my butt and call me Larry, I did NOT expect to like this as much as I did. Now, now, don’t go getting all hissy on me, let me ‘splain. See, the thing is, for as much as I loved Ace in Sacked and was salivating for his story, I was torn between wanting to sack him in the nuts and whacking him with a blunt object until he sees reason in Jockblocked. He single-handedly ruined the book for me. The man was a damn drama queen is what I’m telling you here. I didn’t think anything was going to redeem him after that mess in my eyes, but I was definitely willing to give it a go. Turns out, all Ace needed was a sugary sweet souther girl, who’s as pushy as she is nice.

I chalk it up to unfinished business. She’s an itch I need to scratch. I get in bed with her, screw her, repeat my no-relationships speech, and then we’re done. Over. Finito.

Ace lost everything after his ego and actions led him to almost see his budding football career go up in flames. Now he’s at a new school, hoping for a fresh page and a new start. But some things are hard to escape and it’s not long before he finds himself in a similar predicament, but with a different girl.

There are two things I’m good at: sex and football, and right now I need to concentrate on the latter.

Everyone loves Bryant Johnson, and it’s not hard to see why. She’s sweet as sugar, never cusses, ready to help anyone at the drop of hat, is a phenomenal cook and an even better friend, and the football coach’s daughter. But it’s not all shiny perfection that it seems. Bryant’s actions are all centered around a very painful loss. Everything she does now is all in an exercise to fix the future, so her loss isn’t experienced by some other woman. But nothing quite prepared her for the full impact of JR “Ace” Anderson

You going to come for me when I tell you to? You going to be there with me—really be there, when I’m fucking you so hard and so deep that you won’t be able to walk the next day?” A strangled noise escapes her mouth. “Y-yes.”

So confession time; I don’t usually like the sugary sweet heroines. But something about Bryant just grabbed me. Perhaps it was because there was always that little crack to the shiny foundation that everyone sees on the outside that humanized her. She was almost too perfect at times, but it also worked for her. She was the perfect balm that Ace’s ragged edges needed.

I hadn’t come looking for it, that’s for damn sure. But I don’t regret it. All of the acts of my past—both good and bad—led me to her.

Did Ace redeem himself in this book? More than. THIS is the man that I was hoping was under all that false ego and bluster. You really got to see the heart of him here, and suddenly all of his past actions begin to make sense.

Downed was a delicious combination of sweet and spicy, sexy and romantic. It was one of those perfect college sport romances that made me remember why I enjoy NA in the first place. It had just the right amount of angst and just the right amount of steam to keep me reading well into the night. Dare I say, it was my favorite in the series

Football is a game, but Bryant’s my future. And I’ll keep fighting for her for as long as it takes. Good thing I know how to win.

THE GRIDIRON SERIES

 

SACKED: BUY | READ MY REVIEW

JOCKBLOCKED: BUY | READ MY REVIEW

 

 

1 Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports · Tagged With: , ,

Jennifer’s Review: To The Ends of The Earth by Skye Warren

November 27, 2016 by · 2 Comments

review-to-the-ends-of-the-earthTitle: To the Ends of the Earth (A Stripped Series Novella)
Series: Stripped
Author: Skye Warren
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: November 15, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Another rundown apartment. Another job that pays cash. Every new city it becomes harder to hide but I can’t stop running.

There are two men after me. One wants to save my soul. The other wants to claim my body.

Part of me wants Luca to catch me, even knowing what he’s capable of. An enforcer. A fighter. The only language he speaks is violence.

How far will he go to find me?

What will he do once he does?

A wild glance over my shoulder. The shadows are moving. I’m about to find out.

Start the Stripped Series Today: http://www.skyewarren.com/books/

Buy LinksAMAZON

 

Review-DGR4 starsI really enjoyed Luca and Beth’s story. This was a great ending to one of my favorite series by Skye Warren!!!
à la Mode St. » fashion

A man like this isn’t anyone’s prince.

à la Mode St. » fashionWe first met Luca & Beth in Pretty When You Cry, where Luca is a bodyguard/enforcer and saves Beth from the cult. This book picks up at their beginning. I loved getting to know Beth’s story from her point of view. Beth comes from…..hell on earth. I cannot even imagine growing up in a cult. I can’t. If I even begin to think about it, I get this crazy rage inside me because it just makes me so angry. Which is why I really liked this story because Beth breaks free from that life of horror. Even though Luca saves her, she is the one who saves herself. After finding out that she is pregnant, she fights for herself and her daughter. I loved that Skye gave her a while to be on her own without Luca. I think her character truly needed that, even though it was hard. But once Luca finds her……DAYUM! Beth is still running from the cult, so Luca has to fight to protect her. He doesn’t let go. He doesn’t her leave or fight on her own any more. And he literally fights for her.
à la Mode St. » fashionFighting’s in my blood. This is what I was born to do. And you’re the best reason I’ve ever had to do it.

à la Mode St. » fashionThis story is short, but well-developed. I thought there was nothing left unsaid or undid (Lol). I also loved that it was hot, but because of Beth’s past, Luca didn’t push her even though he could have (sorry for being vague. I’m trying not to spoil anything).

You don’t have to read the other books before this one, but if you don’t, you will definitely want to read them after because all of these characters are just so good!

2 Comments · Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Split by JB Salsbury

November 25, 2016 by · 2 Comments

split-reviewSPLIT
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: JB Salsbury
Release Date: November 15, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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JB Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has captivated readers around the world. Her unforgettable new novel is a story of romance and suspense, with a twist no one will see coming . . .

What do you do when you wake up with no memory of what you did last night?

Lucas spent the first half of his life protecting himself from others, but now his own mind is his biggest enemy. He doesn’t know what happens when the blackouts overtake him, but he can recall the feelings–the rage, the confusion, the fear. Thankfully the quiet life he’s found in Payson, Arizona has kept the darkness at bay. Until his boss’s estranged daughter shows up in town, asking questions she shouldn’t and sparking a desire Lucas can’t control. Getting close to Shyann is the best thing that’s ever happened to him, but when his blackouts return, unleashing the truth he’s battled so long to hide, he may just lose her forever . . .

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3 stars

 SPOILER FREE

I was meant for this. To love the unlovable.

If there’s one thing I can tell you is that Split is one of the most unconventional and unique romances I’ve read in a long while. It’s not going to a be a book or story I’ll soon forget, and that certainly deserves some praise. The writing is engaging, the characters multi layered, and there’s enough twists and turns to keep you glued to the book from cover to cover.

What we have isn’t conventional, it wouldn’t be considered ideal, but it’s perfect for us. Because love never discriminates. Even when you’re split.

I was riveted to the pages from the very beginning. There’s enough mystery worked in to guarantee your kept interest.

Shyann Jennings couldn’t leave her small town fast enough to pursue her dream career and to put the pain of her past behind her. Now after her career that she put her blood and sweat and tears into has gone up in spectacular flames and she’s back into the small town she ran from to lick her wounds. While she dreads everything about coming home, what she doesn’t expect is the quiet, unassuming and beautiful stranger that works for her father and draws her in for a reason she can’t understand. Lucas is different from any man she’s ever been with. He’s shy, quiet, keeps to himself, but yet there’s also something beneath the surface that may be much more than meets the eye.

People hate what they don’t understand, shun those who are different.”

While I loved both characters, I have to admit that I never did understand the draw that Shy had towards Lucas. This is especially true when all the secrets came out. While I get the lust and romance, the love was tough to swallow. I had a hard time buying into it. This was more so on Shy’s side than Lucas’s. I adored Lucas and his character is what kept me turning the pages.

That’s not what I want with her. What I want is to freeze time. I want to record how she feels in my hands, the longing in her eyes, the heat of her breath. I want to slow every single moment with her down so seconds last hours until her touch is branded into my memory.

Ultimately what brought my rating down was the ending. I had a really tough time swallowing all of that. I couldn’t wrap my mind around some of the choices the characters made and especially the way they dealt with them. It just wasn’t believable. And yes, I get that I’m reading a psychological thriller and fiction, but at the same time, I want some believability in the story and it just wasn’t there.

I hated a particular decision that Lucas made but I found a way to look past it. What I couldn’t look past was the way Shyann deals with everything. It was just too much.

Would I still recommend this romance? Absolutely. It’s unique and original and worth the read for that alone. It could have easily been a 5 star for me if not for that ending. But different folks and all that, and you may not have the same issue with it that I did. So read it and judge for yourself.

2 Comments · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With:

Review: Hard Compromise by Samanthe Beck

November 24, 2016 by · 2 Comments

hard-compromise-reviewHARD COMPROMISE
Series: Compromise Me #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Samanthe Beck
Release Date: November 21, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Laurie Peterson assumes her impulsive one-night stand with sinfully sexy Sheriff Ethan Booker is the biggest surprise of the year…until her bakery burns down while she’s basking in the afterglow. It looks like her dreams are up in smoke, but then Ethan proposes a deal too tempting to resist.

Ethan has no intention of settling for a one-night stand with Laurie. Nor does he want anything to do with the women his wealthy family wants him to meet. Not when he’s waited ten years for his chance to make his move. His deal might have strings—and Laurie may not know the stakes—but nothing will stop this sexy cop from staking a real claim on her body and her heart.

 

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 starshard-compromise-dgr-teaser

He could already picture her, breathless and ready as he braced her against the nearest surface and unleashed half a decade’s worth of repressed longings. Fuck her so thoroughly she’d have no standing to dismiss the event as a heat-of-the-moment hookup. He was coming for her. Her, dammit, and he hadn’t waited this long only to be shown the door after one energetic encounter.

Bad girl from the wrong side of the tracks.
Good boy from the town’s richest family.
Ten years of repressed longings and lust.
What does that all equal? One spicy little read!
21245251I do believe that this may have been my favorite book that I’ve read from this author to date. I loved everything about it.

 

Dirty talking sheriff?

I’m in no shape to be toyed with. Keep it up, and this is going to be brutal. You’ll feel it for the next week, no matter how many times I kiss it better.”

CHECK!

Sassy heroine? Check

Booker, don’t confuse me with one of your well-bred, easily-shocked, country-club girls. I’m not well-bred and nothing shocks me. My only rules are fast, hard, and so filthy dirty it leaves a stain on your soul.”

CHECK!

Insanely hot sexy times? Check and freaking check!

Ethan Booker has been lusting after Laurie Peterson for years. He’s known her since he busted her for underage drinking as a wild child sixteen year old girl. But now Laurie is all woman, and she’s kept her wild child ways that guarantee that no man gets a repeat performance from her. Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks made Laurie rely on no one but herself, especially not her good for nothing mother that only shows up when she needs something from her. Now the town’s sheriff and son of the richest and most influential family in their little town is determined to make her stick around long enough to form an attachment, even if it means a compromise between them. She’ll pretend to be his girlfriend for his sister’s wedding to get his meddling, match making mother off his back, and he’ll pay her the six grand she needs to put her business back on the ground after a fire burns her dreams down. But what’s a good compromise without some very bad fun?

This book was so much fun to read. I loved Laurie. She was all sass and vulnerability. She’s determined to push Ethan away and Ethan is determined to break down all her walls. I loved the two of them together. The story was sweet, sexy, and the perfect read to warm you up on a cold winter’s night. Me likey!

 

DON’T MISS BOOK ONE IN THE COMPROMISE ME SERIES!

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Review: Triple Trouble by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

November 23, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

triple-trouble-reviewTRIPLE TROUBLE
Series: Found in Oblivion #2
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage
Author: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
Release Date: November 18, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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She wasn’t looking to fall in love with one man. Never mind two.

Juliet Reece grew up in the shadow of her seemingly perfect older sister, Margo Reece. While Juliet’s wealthy, blue-blood parents dealt with infidelity, Juliet fought for normalcy. Now she’s the bassist in Warning Sign, a band on the rise, and she finally feels like she’s making space for herself in the world. It’s her time to shine, and she’s ready to have fun and focus on her career.

Until Randy “Sparks” Pruitt nearly blows up her life. Literally.

She can’t stand the guy. She definitely hasn’t fantasized about gripping a handful of his hair and – no. Not happening.

Then there’s Tristan Eves, Sparks’ new friend. He’s the exact opposite of Sparks. Playful. Naughty. Arousing.

Suddenly, she’s on the verge of something wilder than she’s ever experienced before. Two seductive men, hers for the taking – if she can handle the heat.

If double trouble is dangerous, watch out for the power of three…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 starstriple-trouble-dgr-teaser

It shouldn’t have made sense. Shouldn’t have worked. This was an activity meant for two, right? Three should’ve been a crowd. Except she couldn’t have imagined it any other way than exactly this.

Do you see those pathetic looking things in the corner over there? That, my friends, is my poor overworked ovaries waving the white flag of defeat. This book went and did them in. They put up a good fight but at the end the combustible chemistry between Juliet, Randy, and Tristan was just too much for them. May they rest in peace, the poor f*ckers. But damn, what a way to go.

She was light and heat and the smoky hint of salted caramel in a rich coffee. A man wanted to savor her for a whole night.
THIS man wanted to fuck her blind and make her breakfast in the morning.

Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott are the magicians of dirty. Magicians, I tells ya. These two wrote a book so dirty, it put dirty to shame. It’s like triple dirty. Ha! See what I did there? But I digress. Where was I? *pause for dirty visual of one particular book scene*
And I’m back!

It’s not often I read a book that has this much sex in it that I connect with. Because mostly I get tired of all the sex and find myself craving more story. What? Even perverts have standards dammit! Don’t look at me like that. I will admit to devouring each and every single deliciously dirty scene in this book and absolutely loving it. Why? Because it had fantastic characters and wrapped around an amazing story that together with all of the dirty made for one spicy little read.

I love that no matter what they write, the characters all interconnect. If you’ve read Rocked and met Harper Pruitt, then you’ll recall her quiet and unassuming brother, Randy, roadie to Warning Sign. Tristan is the sexy chef that was also introduced in the Lost In Oblivion series. And Juliet? She’s the younger sister of Margo Reece, who you’ll remember from Destroyed. And if you haven’t read Lost In Oblivion, no worries, you won’t be lost. But you’ll appreciate this series so much more if you have since it is the sexy spin off. But I digress again.

Randy has been the roadie for Warning Sign for years, and been practically in love with the band’s beautiful bassist, just as long. But aside from sniping and growling at him for wrong lighting and the almost disaster at the one show that Randy still blames himself for, she never paid him the time of day. Enter Tristan, chef, playboy, and Randy’s best friend and roommate. When the chemistry between Tristan and Juliet is too much to deny, Tristan doesn’t miss his friend’s feelings on the matter. And what should have been equal parts dare and invitation soon begins to turn into more than either of them ever expected.

We own you tonight.”

Sweet mother of all that’s holy, this book was freaking hot. HOT. If you’re looking for a healthy balance of story and hot sex, look no further. You’ll get that in spades. But fair warning, I’d advise you have plenty of ice, batteries, or your significant other on hand as you’re reading. Otherwise some side effects might ensue…

DON’T MISS BOOK 1

BEDDED BLISS ( FOUND IN OBLIVION #1)
Bedded Bliss by Cari Quinn & Taryn ElliottMY REVIEW | AMAZON

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Release Blast, Review & Giveaway: Consolation prize by Linda Kage

November 21, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

rb-consolationprize-lkage_finalConsolation Prize
Series: Forbidden Men #9
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Linda Kage
Release Date: November 17th, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Muscular Male Torso with shirt

Muscular Male Torso with shirt

 

Don’t you just hate it when someone destroys all your carefully made plans?

I mean, I had goals: college to graduate in one semester, a future I was working hard to reach, and an image of myself I wanted the world to see. My life was stacked into these precisely placed blocks. But then Colton Gamble came along and knocked them all askew.

I hated how he messed everything up, how he could hog all my attention whenever he was around, how he made my pulse quicken–but only because he ticked me off…not because I was attracted to him. Oh! And I hated how he knew how attractive he was too, the shallow, full of himself, doesn’t take no for an answer, too-flirty, too cocky, extremely irritating jerk.

The boy had all the qualities that turned me off. Or so I thought.

One night he wasn’t quite the brainless, over-confident jerk I usually took him for.

One night, he took care of me when I was at my lowest. He opened up to me and made me open up to him.

Now I’m learning maybe he’s not what I first thought he was. And maybe I’M not what I first thought I was. Maybe it’s okay to rearrange a couple of my perfectly set blocks. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll stop worrying about what I’m afraid everyone else will think and finally reach for something I really want. It’s possible some of my plans need to be destroyed, and Colton Gamble is exactly the kind of mess I need in my life.

What do you think? Should I give him a try?

Desperately seeking your advice,
Julianna Radcliffe

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Excerpt

“Just for that, I’m going to make you cuddle.”

“Cuddle?” My eyes bulged as he crawled closer.

For some reason, cuddling struck more fear inside me than getting slapped or punched. I knew exactly how to respond to those—kick his ass out of my apartment. But with cuddling, I was lost.

I edged away from him, shaking my head, only to yelp out a surprised scream when he snaked out a hand and caught hold of my leg, stilling me.

“Yes, cuddle,” he said. “I like to cuddle.”

My muscles clenched and limbs went tense as he climbed up right into my personal space and wrapped himself around me like a second skin.

“I…I’m not big on cuddling,” I finally admitted, my body board-stiff against him.

“Really?” He sounded surprised by that. “Well, don’t worry, by the time I’m through with you, you’ll love it.

consolation-teaser04

Review-DGR4.5 stars

I’m used to coming in second place.”
“Not with me you don’t.”

There’s just something about this series for me that seems to hit the spot each and every single time. These characters have become like family to me. I’ve grown to love them and root for their HEA and I have to admit that no one tugged at my heart strings more than Brandt and Colton Gamble. Brandt got his HEA in Priceless and I’ve been eagerly anticipating Colton’s turn. The brothers are polar opposites. Brandt serious and Colton the goof with the easy smiles and plenty of charm. I knew it would take a special girl to bring this guy to his knees and Julianna was certainly his perfect match.

His grin always bore that smug, arrogant smirk, as if he could read every dirty thought in my head. I hated that too…almost as much as I hated him.

After their failed date that barely made it halfway, Julianna find herself at Brandt’s wedding, pining after what could have been. Sent in as the distraction, Colton is all too eager to hit on the beautiful woman that he’s been lusting after since he first laid eyes on her and who has been thwarting each and every single one of his flirty advances.

Every time you disagree with me, I just want to piss you off until you kiss me and rip at my clothes. And then I want to bury my cock so deep inside you I forget my own fucking name. And then I want to make you forget yours.”

I was afraid that Juli’s feelings for Brandt may put a permanent shadow over anything developing with her and Colton, but I should not have feared it at all. I absolutely loved these two together. Four years his senior, Juli is not exactly thrilled about her building lust towards the little Gamble. But his easy smiles and charm soon begin to win her over. Then there’s the quiet intensity and layers that he so easily keeps hidden beneath his playful personality that calls to her even more.

They have everything stacked against them. Colton will always be Brandt’s brother, he’s younger…and he’s white. I love reading interracial romances, but sadly it’s not a common find. Nor is it an easy thing to pull off without making it all about color. But I have to say that Linda Kage not only pulled it off, but she did so flawlessly.

While Juli may come off as a harass at first sight, there’s so much more to her. She’s such a multilayered character that I couldn’t help but like her right away. The more I found out about her, the more I understood why she acted the way she did. As for Colton, I knew I’d love him and I was not wrong. What I didn’t expect is to love him as much as I did. But he’s right up there with Ten for me. The same sort of ornery personality and easy humor, but beneath it all is a heart of gold.

I don’t know. Doesn’t that sound… wrong to you?”
“Oh, baby doll. Wrong’s just the way I like it.”

While the book may be titled Consolation Prize, their relationship was anything but. I absolutely adored the two of them together and watching them both slowly tear down the other’s walls. I loved watching them fall for each other against all odds.

Where the hell have you been all my life?”
“I’ve been looking for you, baby doll.”

When I’m in the mood for a poignant, emotional and sexy NA romance, this author has become my go-to. The Forbidden Men has been and continues to be one of my top favorite NA series. This book only served to remind me why I love it as much as I do. I simply can’t recommend it enough. Perfection. Pure perfection.

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About the Author

Linda Kage grew up on a dairy farm in the Midwest as the youngest of eight children. Now she lives in Kansas with her husband, daughter, and nine cuckoo clocks. Her life’s been blessed with lots of people to learn from and love. Writing’s always been a major part of her world, and she is so happy to finally share some of her stories with other romance lovers.

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Review: Turbulence by Whitney G.

November 17, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

turbulence-reviewTurbulence
Series: Turbulence #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Whitney G.
Release Date: August 29, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

turbulence-whitney-gracia-williams

Strap yourself into the cockpit for the ‘flight of your life’ via the latest standalone erotic romance from New York Times bestselling author Whitney G….

Fuck me recklessly
Kiss me harder.
Take me again and again… 

He and I met under a cloud of clichés:
Boy meets girl. Boy charms girl. Boy fucks girl.
Our story was supposed to end right after the orgasms, right after we went our separate ways.

But then we saw each other again…
And neither of us could walk away.

Our rules were simple.
Our passion was scandalous.
Our hearts were supposed to be safe…

But when you find something so all-consuming–something so intoxicating and inescapable, you’ll risk everything you’ve ever had, even if you’re destined to crash and burn.

This is us.
This is our messed up love.
This is turbulence.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 starsturbulence-dgr-teaser

Look, I don’t typically do one night stands.”
“Then we won’t call it a one-night stand.”
“A night of meaningless sex, then?”
“A night of fucking,” he said, his voice low. “A night of me owning your pussy on every single surface in my hotel room. If we make it past the alley, that is.”

If you like them brooding, mysterious, completely relationship phobic, mercurial, dirty talking and beasts in the sack…meet Jake Weston. Your next BBB. Broken Book Boyfriend. I’m totally coining that phrase by the way. So fitting. But I digress…

To say that I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book would be a mild understatement. There’s something about Whitney G’s alphaholes that simply do it for me. And Jake Weston? He may be her best alphahole yet. He’s a successful pilot that goes far beyond the capabilities of a man his age, he’s mysterious, and he’s clearly hiding a past that he wants nothing to do with but continues to haunt his present.

In my world, a connection was a temporary lull in an itinerary, a short-term flight that eventually led to a final destination and nothing more. The word itself was fleeting, never final, and it never applied to relationships.

Gillian Taylor moved to New York with stars in her eyes and with hopes of her dream career to finally prove her family of overachievers, that never fail to remind her that she’s the black sheep, wrong. Years later, she finds her dream job gone, her boyfriend cheating on her, and her hopes and dreams slowly circling the drain. Working as a flight attendant isn’t what she wants, but it’s all she has right now. A cocky, smooth talking pilot is the last distraction she needs…even if this particular distraction proves far too tempting.

If I agree to this,” he said, his jaw clenched. “There will be no late night emotional talks, no mentions of the words ‘more’ ‘us’ or ‘relationship’, and I won’t be taking you out on any dates.”

Turbulence is filled with enough sizzle to set your kindles on fire. Jake is deliciously sexy, and Gillian certainly has enough sass in her to give as good as she gets. Though I did find at times she gave into him way too easily.

I wanted to deny that even though she was the exact type I should stay away from, I couldn’t seem to get close enough. She was getting under my skin, slipping into my marrow, and that was a problem.

So you may be thinking to yourself, if I enjoyed this as much as I’m saying, why only 3.5 stars? Well, a couple things really. For one, this didn’t really strike out at me as anything different. I feel the story, while hot, wasn’t developed as well as it could have been. Jake’s character is mysterious until the very end, and when the secrets of his past do come out…they don’t really make sense. The why’s of it just didn’t add up for me. I wish there was more time spent on the development of that particular part of the story. As it was, it felt entirely too rushed for me. And while Jake and Gillian set the pages on fire, there wasn’t much more to them than the hot sex. I just didn’t feel that connection to them aside from a sexual one. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy them together, I did, but I also had a hard time truly buying the feelings of love at the end. I didn’t feel they had enough of a foundation outside of sex.

The book was entertaining and sexy, don’t get me wrong. There was just enough emotion weaved in that made it more than just a hot romp between the page sheets, but I just needed more. So as much as I love the concept and the characters, it wasn’t enough to bring it up to a solid 4 for me. Do I recommend this book for any fan of this author or any reader that enjoys an erotic romance with a broody hero? Abso-freaking-lutely. Is it anything I’d ever come back to? Probably not.

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