All Reviews – Page 115

New Release & Review: ★Sweet Little Lies★ by Jill Shalvis

June 28, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

SWEET LITTLE LIES
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: June 28, 2016

Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .

As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.

Fall for him—hard . . .

Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.

And then tell him the truth.

Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

She’d already wandered way off the track she’d set for herself, a fact that was now coming back to bite her hard because…
Because she was falling for him.

There’s nothing better for me than getting lost in a Jill Shalvis novel. This was the author that first introduced me to contemporary romance and she continues to be my go-to when I’m in the mood for a sweet romance with some steam and some of the swooniest heroes I’ve ever read.

Sweet Little Lies is the first book in the brand new Heartbreaker Bay series and this reader is already hooked! I fell in love with the story, the vibrant secondary characters, and the beautiful romance, and of course, Finn O’Riley. There’s one thing that this author manages to do each and every single time, and that’s not only connect the reader to the main characters right away, but all the secondary characters as well. This book unfolded before my eyes like the perfect romance movie. Between the slew of secondary characters like Pru’s ornery and opinionated neighbors, the old homeless guy, the tight knit group of friends, and my very favorite, Thor the dog. I fell for them all and I fell hard.

I adore the way that Shalvis can weave together a swoony romance with a fictional town full of characters that I can’t wait to learn more about. Of course, the story of Pru and Finn is center stage of it all, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

He’d known they had something but this…this rocked his world. Hers too because they both melted into it, tongues sliding, lips melding, bodies arching into each other in a slow rhythm.

Pru is one of those heroines that you can’t help but like. She’s incredibly selfless, but in the most endearing way. The way she takes care of everyone and the way she was with Finn absolutely melted my heart. She sets out to help him find his happiness and ends up falling for him instead.

Yes. This. It was just what she needed, because here, held by him like this, her guilt, her regret, her fears…all of it gave way to this heady, languid sensation of being desired and she didn’t want it to stop.

As for Finn? *sigh*
God but I loved him. Here’s a man with demons but not an a-hole. I think this is my favorite part of Shalvis’s characters; they’re your normal everyday people. There’s no crazy drama, no crazy angst, and yet you still end up loving the book from start to finish.

I don’t want to tell you much more because it’s something you need to read for yourself. But if you’re looking for a swoony and sexy romance with a great story, amazing secondary characters, and the cutest mutt I’ve ever read about, this is a must read.

I loved watching Pru and Finn’s relationship develop. It was the perfect slow burn and when it finally took off, it downright sizzled. I loved the humor, the pacing, absolutely everything. And even though you knew exactly what the ultimate fallout would be with the conflict at the end, it took nothing away from the story. I adored it!

Dammit, she was supposed to be fun whispering him. Instead, she’d fun whispered herself!

There’s also a sneak peek into the next book, and I’m practically salivating for it! I’ve already fallen for every secondary character that was introduced, especially Jake. I can’t wait for more in this fantastic series!

HEARTBREAKER BAY Series

Sweet Little Lies (Heartbreaker Bay, #1)
The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay, #2)
Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay, #3)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Jill Shalvis

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: ★Man Candy★ by @MelanieHarlow2

June 27, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

Man Candy
Author: Melanie Harlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 20, 2016

He’s back.

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.

But I can’t resist.

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.

AMAZON

“It’s so good to see you, Jaime,” he said. “You look great.”
“You too,” I said before I could stop myself. I didn’t want him to think I still cared—in fact, I wanted him to know I wasn’t fooled by his charm. I wasn’t that silly little girl anymore, the one who’d doodled his name in her notebooks and blushed when he said hi at school and cried herself to sleep when he asked another girl to his prom. That silly little girl was gone, and in her place was a confident, smart, professional woman who knew her worth and, even better, the truth about love. No more stars in her eyes.But why did he have to be so hot?OK, pull yourself together. No drooling.“I’m so glad this worked out.” Quinn let me go but stood too close, his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. He wore jeans, a gray knit pullover that hugged his muscular chest and arms, and his feet were bare. His hair was damp and messy on top, just like it had been the last time I’d seen him in person. His full lower lip made me want to bite it. Maybe even draw blood.“Sorry, I just got out of the shower,” he said sheepishly, ruffling his hair. “Want to come in and catch up? Or maybe go out for a drink? I just need to throw some shoes on.”“No.” Trying desperately to shove the image of him in the shower from my mind, I elbowed past him and trudged up the stairs. My cheeks were hot, which meant they were probably turning scarlet. They ruined my poker face every time.

“Come on, it’s Friday!”

“I have work to do.” He was naked a few minutes ago. And wet.

“Did you have a bad day?”

“No.” Rivulets of water streaming over those muscles.

“You already have plans tonight?”

“No.” Steam rising as he stroked himself beneath the spray.

“You don’t love me anymore?”

I froze as the shower fantasy exploded into bits, replaced by a humiliation that paralyzed me, one foot on the top step, one hand on the banister. Slowly, I turned my head and glared at him over one shoulder.

Now the grin cocked up on one side. “Because you used to, you know. You told me.”

“You need to forget about that.”

“Have you?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “That was a long time ago. Back when I was young and impressionable and believed in love.”

His brows went up. “You don’t believe in love anymore?”

“Not the romantic kind. That’s a fantasy used to sell things like lipstick and roses and diamonds.”

“Pretty jaded for twenty-seven, aren’t you?”

I resumed heading up the stairs. “I’m not jaded, Quinn. I’m just a realist.” And I’ve been burned before, trusting guys way less attractive than you.

He said nothing more, and I let myself into my flat. As soon as the door was shut behind me, I leaned back against it, exhaling and fanning my face.

He still got to me. That was so aggravating.

I mean, how was I supposed to sleep at night? Quinn Rusek was one fine piece of man candy, and I had a sweet tooth for him that wouldn’t quit.

But he’d made fun of me! Again! A nice guy would have at least pretended not to remember what I’d said. Or maybe apologized for humiliating me. Or not have brought it up at all!

What an asshole.

A hot asshole—the worst kind.

Curse you, Alex, and your generous heart.

And curse you, Quinn, for getting under my skin again. You stay away from me.

But a traitorous little part of me hoped he wouldn’t.

(Bet you can guess which part.)

You don’t believe in love anymore?”
“Not the romantic kind. That’s a fantasy used to sell things like lipstick and roses and diamonds.”

Melanie Harlow books are my happy place. The quirky humor, the steam, the ridiculously endearing characters she writes, all of it simply does it for me. Man Candy was yet another reason why she’s become my go-to author when I’m in the mood for something cute and steamy.

I love the older brother’s best friend trope, so of course I gobbled this up with a fangirling sort of glee. Add into this the fact that the heroine was basically my long lost twin and it was a recipe for a guaranteed win for me!

Ten years ago, Jaime put her heart on the line and confronted Quinn with her crush…only to have him crush her. She never got over the sexy asshole and when her brother tells her that Quinn is back in town on break from his successful modeling career and will be living in the flat below her, she’s not exactly thrilled. But Quinn? He’s ready to claim Jaime once and for all. She was too young ten years ago, but he’s ready for her now. The only problem? The Jaime of today is a jaded relationship phobe the shuns the idea of true love.

I lay there for what felt like hours, imagining her right above me, wishing she were curled up beside me, and wondering where the crack in her armor would be.

The banter between these two was one of my favorite parts about the book. I loved the way Quinn teases her and Jaime’s inevitable crumbling to his sexy ways. It’s so refreshing to get a role reversal where the man wants the relationship and the woman is hesitant. But all that hesitancy built up to some of the best banter and sexual chemistry I have read in a long while…

I want you I want you I want you.
I couldn’t stop thinking it, couldn’t stop fucking her, couldn’t bear the thoughts that she didn’t want me, didn’t want this, more than she wanted to protect herself.
I was inside her.
And I didn’t want to leave.

Quinn was absolute perfection. I had expected a cocky manwhore but he was so much better! He was the perfect combination of sweet and intense. He was incredibly sweet with Jaime and understanding when he needed to be. He was meticulous at chipping away at her carefully constructed walls. But when it came down to the sex? Holy mackerel! The man was crazy intense and had one heck of a mouth on him. GAH but I loved it.

Jaime, while stubborn as hell, was so endearing. I’m not even sure what it was about her. Maybe it’s because she reminded me of myself with her disgust of mushy relationship stuff, but I loved her even when I wanted to throttle her! She puts on a brave front but there’s definitely chinks in her armor where Quinn is involved.

I wanted him to have me in a way no one else ever had. I wanted to share myself in a way I never had.

Man Candy was fun and sexy. It was a romance lover’s dream! It had me swooning and laughing well into the night, and even panting in some places. I loved it to pieces and can’t recommend it enough if you’re in the mood for something light but incredible satisfying!

All my rules were broken. All my walls were down.

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Blog Tours, Contemporary Romance, Giveaways · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4.5 stars, humorous, Melanie Harlow

Review: ★Stealing His Thunder★ by Sparrow Beckett

June 23, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

Stealing His Thunder
Series: Masters of Adrenaline #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Sparrow Beckett
Release Date: June 21, 2016

From the author of the Masters Unleashed series, Sparrow Beckett revs things up with two lovers on a collision course in the first Masters of Adrenaline novel.

Nothing gives Addison Kennedy a rush like stealing cars. The Lexus was the perfect target, but before she can get its engine purring, she’s cold-cocked unconscious. When she comes to, she finds herself on a bed with a blonde, tattooed god standing over her.

Fox Larson is shocked to discover the thief he knocked out is actually a hot girl. Bringing her home may not have been the smartest move, but he wasn’t about to leave an unconscious and defenseless woman in a parking garage. Besides, if she’s part of an auto theft crew infringing on his territory, he needs to pump her for information.

However, Addison has personal drive that won’t be denied and she’s desperate to prove Fox’s group needs her skills. Submitting to his kinks in the bedroom is a hot yet complicated bonus. When a big job goes bad, and Addison finally gets her chance, will she succeed in stealing his thunder?

AMAZON | iBOOKS

God, he was going to break her, but she wanted to be broken.

Readers, are you ready for the kinkiest guilty pleasure book ever? Because Stealing His Thunder is sure to hit every spot you have. No joke. Think Fast and the Furious meets BDSM in funny, easy, and light romance. You have your Dom uber alpha, you have your slightly OTT sassy heroine, all wrapped up in a super sexy BDSM romance that’s sure to please every palate.

This is book one in the brand new Masters of Adrenaline series, but I did read a few familiar names from Beckett’s Masters Unleashed series. And while this is the beginning of the series, I found myself thinking that I may be missing certain backstories on a few secondary characters because it read like I should already know about them. Perhaps there’s a little crossover from the other series that flew over my head as I’ve only read book one.

Firstly, allow me to give you a visual for the hero:
Mmmm hmmm. Not a bad visual to have while reading, let me just tell you. Beard, tattoos, and a penchant for kink. Delicious.

This is one of those books that you take for what it is: a little fluffy, a lot sexy, and definitely entertaining. You can just shut off your brain and enjoy it. No thinking required. Which is exactly what a girl needs sometimes. Fox Larson is a domineering, dirty talking uber alpha. Addison Kennedy is an overly sassy engineer turned car thief. There’s nothing she won’t do for her family. When her ailing grandfather is forced to live in a senior home because her grandmother can’t take care of him at home, she’s determined to get them money to help support them. Trouble is, a college student doesn’t earn much. So why not put her engineering knowledge to boost some cars on the side? And when she gets in the crosshairs of car thief extraordinaire, Fox, she’s determined to join his team…even if he’s having none of it.

The writing reminds me a little of Jaci Burton; fluffy smut for lack of a better description. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Nothing at all. It’s an entertaining read through and through, and if light and fluffy kink is what you’re craving, this will hit the spot just right.

THE SERIES

STEALING HIS THUNDER (Masters of Adrenaline #1)
FUELING HIS HUNGER (Masters of Adrenaline #2) (Releasing Oct 18, 2016)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, BDSM, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3.5 stars

Review: ★Last Kiss★ by Laurelin Paige

June 21, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

LAST KISS
Series: First & Last #2
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Laurelin Paige
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: June 14, 2016

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart…or at all.

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

Whoever had decided that damnation was fire and brimstone was wrong. Hell was cold and ice and emptiness. Hell was watching the one I’d grasped to so tightly slip through my fingers.

The heart stopping conclusion to the erotically charged story that began with First Touch is here and it’s filled with enough twists and turns to leave your head reeling. There’s one thing I can tell you after finishing this book and that’s that Laurelin Paige can write. I mean the woman can write. Holy hell but the woman can write.

I’d let him in, let him consume me and yet I’d still kept him at a distance, even when I knew he’d tried to let me in.

I read First Touch when it first released and have been stewing in my misery since. Of all the cliffhangers I’ve read, that one had to be one of the most painful ones. I’m talking I wanting to throw a tantrum and cry sort of painful. Suffice it to say, I’ve been immensely looking forward to the conclusion.

You feel me…
Right now you feel me, Emily. That’s where I am- inside you. All the time, I’m there. No matter whose bed you sleep in.”

All of Emily’s secrets seems to be unveiling. Just as she finally got to a relationship place with Reeve, the appearance of someone from her past shakes the foundation of it to the very core, leaving her questioning everything, including herself.

She may not have intended to fall for Reeve, but she barely had a choice in the matter. The man is everything she craves. His intensity calls for her submission and her submission is what he gets…

But, oh, how I craved any risk the man offered- including the danger of love.

Reeve is just as intense as ever. There’s something about the man that’s just so enigmatic, he practically crackles with the electric current of it. Reeve is easily one of the most memorable heroes I have read to date. This is not a man you would soon forget. He skates just on the edge of depravity but has no qualms diving right into the dark pits of it if that’s what Emily needs. It’s what he himself craves as well. If you thought First Touch was erotically charged, guard your ovaries with Last Kiss because DAMN. The fine line between dub con and D/s is certainly present but the book is entirely in the gray. I don’t know how I would categorize it but I can tell you that it’s hot as hell.

Then he was inside me- bruising me, breaking me. Tearing me into a hundred pieces that all belonged to him.

For those that read the first book and are afraid there may be a love triangle, don’t be. At least not quite. But that’s the most you’ll get out of me because I don’t want to ruin it for you.

What I can tell you, is that I read this book in practically one sitting. The anticipation of turning each page became an obsession. I was riveted. The story was intoxicating. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down until the end.

I was so completely taken with the man in front of me. He was the master of my heart and body. Maybe even the master of my soul.

My one source of frustration through parts of the book was Emily. As much as I loved her in the first book, it didn’t quite carry through to this one. Don’t get me wrong, the author gave every character in the story quite a bit of depth. The character development was beyond amazing. I supposed I just hoped that while Emily craves to submit to Reeve, she’d take charge in other aspects of her life…primarily her friendship. While I can understand her thought process after so many years, there were times where she was just a little too forgiving. It wasn’t until the very end when things truly come apart that she finally understood things that should have been somewhat obvious earlier. But at the same time, taking her past and what she needs/craves into consideration, you can also understand it as well.

I’d never thought I was fit to glimpse heaven until I put my head between your thighs…
The taste of you should be forbidden. It’s the fruit that causes gods to war.”

If you love a romance with a touch of taboo, your heroes intense enough to give you shivers, and a story captivating enough to leave you thinking about it weeks after finishing, this is definitely a must read. It’s certainly not a book I’ll be forgetting any time soon.

My love for you is so ferocious, so dominating that I’m possessed by it. It changes who I am. It makes me someone different and yet I’m more who I’ve always believed I am than I ever have been.

FIRST TOUCH (First & Last #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW

DESPERATE FOR THE TRUTH. OBSESSED BY DESIRE…

Emily Wayborn is finally her own woman.

After a string of shameful relationships and reckless partying with her best friend Amber, she’s now a successful voiceover actress, her wild past and everyone in it firmly behind her. Until she receives a cryptic voicemail from her former friend that sends her spiraling into the darkness she thought she had outrun. One thing is clear from the message, Amber is in trouble.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that leads her to Reeve Sallis, a gorgeous and equally dangerous hotelier known for his power games and shady dealings. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must return to her playgirl ways to uncover his secrets and track down her friend. But as she becomes more entangled with him, she finds she’s drawn to Reeve and his depravity despite her growing conviction that he may be the one responsible for Amber’ s disappearance.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Dirty Talkers, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Laurelin Paige, with an edge

Review: ★From This Day Forward★ by Lauren Layne

June 21, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Series: The Wedding Belles #0.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lauren Layne
Release Date: June 6, 2016

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in this prequel to USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding—but their own.

Up-and-coming wedding photographer Leah McHale’s career is on the rise–thanks in no small part to the Wedding Belles, the elite New York wedding planning agency that always throws top-tier business Leah’s way. So when one of the Belles asks Leah to fill in at the former First Daughter’s wedding, Leah is overjoyed to say yes–until she finds out who she’ll be working with.

Jason Rhodes is the one man who was able to capture Leah’s heart and, once he had it, promptly stepped all over it and left her broken. Now he’s working side-by-side with her at the biggest wedding of the season and Leah is determined to give him the cold shoulder. Despite his persistence, she is not going to fall for his charming, impish ways again. Not even if he still has that killer, irresistible smile…

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

Contrary to the delusions in your head, you’re not every woman’s fantasy.”
“I never wanted to be every woman’s fantasy. Just yours.”

I have no idea why I thought this novella would be a prequel, so don’t ask me. But boy was I pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be a fully finished romance with a HEA that perfectly kicked off a series that I already know I’m going to love! It’s rare that I’d read a novella that’s under 100 pages that would leave me this satisfied and have such fantastic character development, and I’m not surprised that it came from the fabulous Lauren Layne

Nothing had burned hotter than him and Leah together. And nothing had been quite so cold as the year that followed, when Leah had iced him out of her life entirely.

From This Day Forward is a sweet and sexy second chance romance. Leah McHale and Jason Rhodes had a blossoming relationship a year ago, until Jason broke Leah’s heart and caused her to run.

Her heart had gotten tangled in it, and what had started as a dangerous knot had turned into a noose that had nearly strangled her. It had taken a year to get over him.

Leah and Jason are both photographers, and when a mutual friend that owns a successful wedding planning business gives them the chance of a lifetime to work the wedding of the daughter of the former president of the US, neither can turn it down…even if it means working together.

Neither Jason nor Leah ever got over the other, but a misunderstanding and stubbornness on both their sides stops them from confronting their issues. Typically this would bother me a lot in books, but because of the short length of this one, it worked. I absolutely loved Jason, and Leah was a fantastic heroine as well. The sparks between them are instant and only burn hotter as the story progresses.

Sweetheart, by the time I’m done with you, sleep will be the last thing on your mind. I guarantee it.”

This was the perfect little taste to set the tone of the series and I loved it to pieces. It had just the right amount of romance, steam and story to make for one ridiculously satisfying read. It introduced a few secondary characters that I can’t wait to get the story for and I simply can’t wait for the rest of this series.

THE SERIES

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD (The Wedding Belles #0.5)
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (The Wedding Belles #1)
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE (The Wedding Belles #2)
TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH (The Wedding Belles #3)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Lauren Layne, Novella

Review: ★Ramsay★ by Mia Sheridan

June 20, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

RAMSAY
Series: Sign of Love
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Mia Sheridan
Release Date: June 19, 2016

Lydia De Havilland is shocked when Brogan Ramsay suddenly reappears in her life. Several years before, Brogan was the son of her family’s gardener, and the boy she hurt and betrayed. But Brogan is no longer the quiet, sensitive boy she remembers. Now he’s a man—gorgeous, powerful . . . and seeking vengeance.

Brogan Ramsay can’t let go of the memory of Lydia tricking him cruelly, leaving his heart shattered and his family penniless. And now he’s back to destroy her family the way his was destroyed. There’s only one problem . . . the girl who wounded him so badly years ago is now a woman who still has the power to render him breathless.

Ramsay is the story of betrayal and wrath, of the strength of regret and the power of forgiveness. It is the story of the thin veil between love and hate, and how more often than not, when we seek to inflict pain on others, the heart we wound is our own.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY ARIES. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

AMAZON

Forgiveness isn’t an emotion. Forgiveness is a choice. And sometimes it’s one you have to choose again and again.

I’ve been sitting on my rating for several days now and if I’m being perfectly honest, I still have no idea how to rate this fairly. On the one hand, I absolutely loved the writing style and the premise of the story. I loved the emotion, the feeling, the vividness with which Mia Sheridan wrote the characters. I’m a sucker for the revenge plot and a second chance love story and this book had it in spades. It was written with plenty of emotion to grip the reader and make the characters’ struggles their own. On the other hand there were some things about the story and the direction some things took and decisions made that left me conflicted and frustrated. This is really one of those times where I NEED a half star, because while this book wasn’t exactly a three star, it just wasn’t quite a solid four for me either.

She was everything soft and beautiful and feminine, and she made me want in a way I both loved and hated.

Seven years ago, the son of the gardener fell in love with a princess. She was everything unattainable and what he couldn’t have. But that love led to a betrayal that cost him and his family everything. Leaving him destitute, heart broken, and knowing one thing; he’ll never beg for anything again. But the burn of that betrayal never left Brogan and left him craving revenge more than his next breath.

I hated them-hated the whole lot of them. And now they’d pay. And I’d enjoy every minute of it. I wouldn’t allow anything else.

Now the tables have turned. Lydia is barely keeping her father’s once thriving company afloat. Her brother is deep in gambling debt and alcohol and the only answer to keeping her father’s company is to beg the man that wants to make her pay for everything. Brogan Ramsay. The same man that still leaves her breathless just as the young boy did all those years ago. But Brogan is no longer that boy she once knew. The Brogan of today is cruel, cold, and determined to make her pay for everything his family suffered from her foolish mistake those years ago.

But not everything is as it seems and both Lydia and Brogan harbor secrets of their own. Lydia’s may heal their wounds, but Brogan’s may rip them to shreds.

Ramsay is a powerfully emotional story of forgiveness and the cost of revenge. I absolutely loved Brogan, it’s impossible not to. Being able to be in his head and know his internal struggle over the things he does, his guilt over doing them, and his anger that he just can’t shut off just helped connect with him fully. You truly understand why he does the things he does even if at times you want to hate him for it.

Lydia is a heroine that will be a bit of a crap shoot for some. Some readers may not fully understand her easy acceptance of things her brother does and her even easier forgiveness of them. Family is a tricky thing and as much as I wanted to shake some sense into her some times, a part of me did understand how difficult it was for her considering her brother was her only living family left. She wanted to believe the best in him, almost to the point of delusion. At times her jumping to conclusion of Brogan and the choices she made soon after left me frustrated beyond belief. She was almost naively susceptible to bad thing. But then again, she is young and led a bit of a sheltered life, so I couldn’t judge too harshly.

Ultimately what led to my lower rating was the last 30%. There was just a little too much happening. Between Lydia and Brogan’s relationship and trust issues, their guilt and anger, her brother, Courtney, and a few other things I won’t mention due to spoilers, it just felt a bit OTT for my tastes. Maybe if they were dispersed throughout the book, it would have been a little easier to swallow. but the quick succession of these things taking place just left my head reeling.

I absolutely loved the secondary characters; Fionn and Eileen were like the glue that held everything together. Instead of distracting from the story they added a little something to it that made it just that much better. I don’t remember the last time I read a book where I loved the secondary characters almost as much as the main ones, but that was definitely the case here.

One thing is for sure, Mia Sheridan is an incredible story teller. Her characters are some that will stay with you for a long time to come. And while my rating is not what I’d hoped, I still enjoyed this story. Sure, it left me frustrated at times, but it’s not one I regret reading and I’d certainly recommend it to any fans of this author and those that love a little revenge with their romance. I’m definitely a huge fan of this author and I look forward to anything she may release next.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3.5 stars

Jennifer’s Review: ★Slave to Sensation★ by Nalini Singh

June 19, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

SLAVE TO SENSATION
Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: September 5, 2006

THE FIRST PSY/CHANGELING NOVEL from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian…The book that Christine Feehan called “a must-read for all of my fans.”

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”–the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was…

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion–and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities–or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

5 I-dragged-my-children-to-3-bookstores-in-the-rain-to-purchase-the rest-of-this-series Stars!

What do you get when you mix Star Trek and Avatar together? THIS BOOK! But only if Spock was a woman, and Avatar was shape-shifter hotness. And the giant nerd in me is soooo into it!
If any of you know Lana, you know that she LURVES Nalini Singh. She has been recommending this series forever, so I decided to give it a go.…..and I loved it!

I’m not just saying this because of Lana, y’all. If I didn’t like this book, I would have told that hooker she was cray-cray without batting an eyelash. But let me tell you, I honestly LOVED this book.

My Lucas:

My Sascha:

Sascha is the star of this book, and she blew me away! She is a Psy, a group of people who do not feel emotion, but she is constantly battling the emotions inside of her. She believes that she is flawed, and if the Psy Council finds out about this flaw, they will kill her. This battle that she fights is so strong and I felt for her. Sascha is cold on the outside. She has to be. But she is always battling with her emotions.

“Sometimes I remember that I can’t always protect those I love.” Under his fingers, her hair was soft and silky.
She didn’t try to tell him that he wasn’t God, that he couldn’t protect everyone. He knew that.
But knowing and believing were two different things. What she did say succeeded in stopping his heart.
“I wish you’d love me.”
“Why?”
“Because then maybe you could protect me, too.”

Lucas is a Changeling, a hot, alpha-shifter and leader of his pack. Lucas and Sascha begin working together on a project to bring the Psy and Changeling community together. Each side has their own agendas and secrets. As Lucas and Sascha work together, there is chemistry and attraction, a push-and-pull because Sascha cannot let herself FEEL anything. But I felt everything that she wasn’t letting herself feel! AND there’s mega-hot-dream sex.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Bad dreams?”

“No dreams.” It was a husky whisper. “That was the problem.”

Singh writes half of this book from inside Sascha’s mind, but not just her thoughts, her actual mind, and I have never read anything like it. It’s hard to explain, so you’re just going to have to read it. It is brilliant and fascinating.
I am always looking for something UNIQUE, and this book is definitely unique. It is so much more than “paranormal romance.”
Now, I want to devour the entire series! My body is ready Nalini Singh. Bring it on!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Jennifer Reviews, Nalini Singh

Review: ★Burnout★ by Tee O’Fallon

June 16, 2016 by Lana ·

BURNOUT
Series: NYPD Blue & Gold #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Tee O’Fallon
Release Date: June 13th 2016

Sexy-as-sin Police Chief Mike Flannery knows the new arrival to Hopewell Springs is trouble. She has a smoking-hot body and a quick wit…and he’ll be damned if that’s not a turn-on. But this former NYPD cop and small-town heartthrob has been burned before, and there’s no way he’ll let that happen again.

New York City Detective Cassie Yates is on the run. A six-month undercover sting in a sleazy bar seemed like a textbook arrest—but now there’s a hit out on her. Armed with fake ID, her K-9 companion, and a police-issued SUV, she flees to a quiet upstate town where she trades her badge and gun for a spatula, finally finding peace in the dream she tossed aside to follow her family into law enforcement.

There’s no denying the fire and ice between them. But as the hired assassin closes in, Mike’s past comes roaring back and secrets are revealed in an explosion destined to tear them apart—if not destroy them.

AMAZON | B&N

Who read this book because they were totally lured in by a hot cover?
What? Have you seen those abs? I’m weak, mkay! But I digress…

I love a good romantic suspense, and aside from the extremely hot cover, I was really intrigued by the blurb here. A tough as nails NYC detective meets small town Police Chief that’s running from a painful past of his own? Yes please!

The sparks between these two were instant, but it was a slow burn, which I also appreciated. Cassie may be a cop herself but her aversion to dating other cops makes Mike both suspicious and intrigued. He doesn’t know where the beautiful newcomer came from or what secrets she’s hiding, but he knows that there’s a whole lot more to the story that meets the eye.

Cassie is burned out by her job and her quiet reprieve in the small upstate town is just what she needs. Now if only she can figure out who put the hit out on her after what they all assumed was a successful undercover sting. It doesn’t take her long to figure out that Mike is unlike most cops she knows and she can’t deny the sizzling chemistry between them. She wants to come clean and tell him everything, but can she trust him.

Mike has a history of his own that causes him to mistrust. If anything, this is actually the one thing that ultimately brought my rating down. I didn’t understand his extreme reaction to the situation with him and Cassie. While I get that he was betrayed in the worst ways in his past, the situations weren’t as remotely similar as he was treating them to be. It was over the top and an exercise in frustration waiting for him to finally get his head out of his past and actually see reason. A little too long for my tastes, actually.

Burnout was a well paced suspense plot with just enough romance and steam weaved into it to make it a highly entreating read. There were two secondary characters introduced that I’d love a book for, so I’m hoping this will actually be a series. Tee O’Fallon is a new to me author, but she’s definitely one to watch out for and I’d gladly read any of her future releases.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3 stars

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: ★Allegiance of Honor★ by Nalini Singh

June 15, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR
Series: Psy-Changeling #15
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: June 14, 2016

The “unparalleled romantic adventure”* of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as a new dawn begins for the Psy-Changeling world…

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy…and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO

Nalini Singh on the future of the Psy-Changeling series

Is Allegiance of Honor the end of the Psy-Changeling series?

No, it’s not. 🙂 I ADORE this world and the characters and I have so many Psy-Changeling stories yet to tell. (I’ve often joked that I’ll be writing this series until I’m ninety-eight!)

Where do you see the Psy-Changeling world going from here? Who is the next book about?

(Slightly spoilery answer to follow if you’re just starting the series).

Allegiance of Honor sets up a lot of possibilities for the future. There are many avenues I could take. However, for me, this arc is all about what happens not just to the Psy, but to the world, now that Silence has fallen and all the rules have changed.

We’ve had the immediate aftermath books, both of which focused on the Psy race (Shield of Winter & Shards of Hope), but what about the wider long-term future? Because Silence existed for a reason. The Psy still have these incredible abilities that have the potential to drive them murderously insane, and the world is still a fractured triumvirate. And there are players about whom we know very little, like the falcons and BlackSea.

As for who’s book is next, I’m not ready to announce it yet because I want to be certain this character is ready – but I think you’ll be pleased. 😉

Lucas had had to chase Naya around the aerie at bedtime last night—her walk might still be a little shaky, but she was a rocket when it came to crawling. Dressed only in a diaper, she’d laughed uproariously and said a loud, firm “No” each time Lucas caught her and put her in her crib.After which she’d clamber out—she’d figured out how to escape a month earlier—and the game would begin again. Of course, since Lucas was a cat, he’d been having just as much fun as their daughter. Sascha, meanwhile, had sat in the living room with a cup of hot chocolate and just indulged in the sight of her mate playing with their cub.

She’d had to pretend to be stern when Naya ran over and pleaded her case with loud sounds and wild gesticulations of her hands. “No, Naya,” she’d said, biting her tongue in an effort not to laugh. “It’s time for bed. Go with Papa.”

At which point, Naya had growled at her, eyes sparkling with mischief.

And Sascha had cracked, laughing so hard she’d had to put down her hot chocolate before she spilled it. Lucas had shaken his head as Naya plopped down on her diaper-covered butt and joined in, clapping her hands at having made her mommy laugh. “No discipline.” Lucas had mock-growled at her before picking up their misbehaving baby. “And you”—a growly nuzzle that made Naya laugh harder and pat his stubbled cheek—“time for bed.”

He’d finally got her to sleep—by walking around with her pressed up against his bare chest.

Today, their cub was playing in the living area just outside the kitchen nook. Sascha had locked the aerie door to ensure Naya wouldn’t undo the latch and go out onto the balcony, and Lucas had childproofed the entire main area of the aerie, so Naya was free to roam as she liked. A lot of the time she practiced her walking skills. And no matter how often she fell down, she started back up again after a little break.

Stubborn, determined baby.

Peeking out from the kitchen, Sascha found her concentrating on stacking the colored alphabet blocks Faith and Vaughn had given her as a gift. Beside her sat a more than slightly ragged wolf plush toy, aka “The Toy That Shall Not Be Named.” Hawke had given that to Naya when she was a newborn, and it remained her favorite snuggle toy, much to her father’s despair.

Though Lucas did enjoy it when Naya went leopard on the toy, growling and “fighting” with the wolf. Then he’d smile and say, “That’s my girl.”

Find Nalini online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

I still remember the first time I picked up a Nalini Singh book. I was at the library and looking for more PNR to binge on (I was going through a huge PNR phase). And then I spot a series of books that looked like the covers belonged on a bad 80’s action movie. My inner cover wh*re cringed a little but I will forever be grateful I picked up that first book because that turned into what I now refer to as the PNR binge of 2010. When someone asks me what my favorite PNR series is to date, it’s without a doubt Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. And now 15 books into the series, I can continue to hold true to that statement.

Where am I going with this? I’m getting there, mkay?

I wasn’t sure about reading this book, because as far as ensemble books go, they’re a bit of a gray area for me; meaning they’ll either really work for me or they really won’t. Look, I have the attention span of a rodent, and when you have that many POVs my mind tends to wonder. Don’t judge me. So by now you want me to get to my point, right? Alright.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Allegiance of Honor is an ensemble cast book. It’s completely different from any other book in this series in absolutely everything. There’s no central romance, no main couple, but there’s very much a central plot. Singh is a pure genius when it comes to weaving together multiple POVs but not making it be chaotic. Yes, there are multiple characters from previous books that make an appearance here and you get to catch up with all your favorites, but of course the alpha that started it all is the one that gets the most page time. Lucas and Sascha obviously get the most story because it seems that their child is going to be pivotal in the books to come.

Allegiance of Honor is essentially a bridge book that closes the chapter on “Season One” story arc and introduces all the ingredients of Season Two that the readers will be looking forward to. I won’t lie, when I realized I wasn’t going to be getting a central couple, I wondered why this wasn’t a novella instead. A 478 page ensemble book? But here’s the thing, there’s A LOT that happens here. This series is not meant to be read out of order, and if you’ve been keeping up, you’ll be very interested to know what happens.

There’s the Trinity Accord and the brewing tension with the rise of The Consortium. We knew that when silence fell, it wouldn’t be the end and this book basically sets up the story line for the next books flawlessly. You get to see all your past favorites; a much need HEA for Riaz and Adria, which I was desperately hoping for, and even a bonus story of Father Xavier.

Even with all the multiple POVs there’s a lot of meat to the story. There’s a lot that happens, and fans of this series will find this book to be pivotal for what’s to come.

This could have easily been a 5 star read for me, but unfortunately in parts of the story I did find all the POVs to be slightly cumbersome. While many of the POVs weaved together to drive the plot forward, some of them felt more like a bonus. And while it was nice to have, considering the length of the book, it did make it drag a little for me. I would have rather had them as bonus novellas but this is entirely a personal preference. Many readers may really appreciate these little bonus POVs. I tend to get sidetracked when a book is too long and I find other POVs to be distracting.

I’ll also admit that it took me some time to finish this. I felt like the first half took me forever to get through, but then when you really started getting deeper into this new story arc, I was hooked. Well and truly hooked. I finished the final half in one sitting.

Nalini Singh is a brilliant author that created an incredible rich world filled with multifaceted characters. The world building in her Psy-Changeling series is unlike any I’ve read before. It’s phenomenal. What’s even more incredible is while this book has quite a few POVs and should almost feel like an extended epilogue, it wasn’t. All the POVs, all the little subplots, everything tied together and drove the plot forward. I have to tip my hat off to that, because that is no small feat and I honestly can’t think of any other author that would be able to pull off something like that.

And while I can’t say this book was my favorite in the series, I can tell you that it is not to be missed. There’s so many hints dropped here and amazing set ups for the next generation of Psy-Changeling, that I’m practically vibrating with excitement for it right now.

PSY-CHANGELING SERIES

SLAVE TO SENSATION (Psy-Changeling #1)
VISIONS OF HEAT (Psy-Changeling #2)
CARESSED BY ICE (Psy-Changeling #3)
MINE TO POSSESS (Psy-Changeling #4)
HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE (Psy-Changeling #5)
BRANDED BY FIRE (Psy-Changeling #6)
BLAZE OF MEMORY (Psy-Changeling #7)
BONDS OF JUSTICE (Psy-Changeling #8)
PLAY OF PASSION (Psy-Changeling #9)
KISS OF SNOW (Psy-Changeling #10)
TANGLE OF NEED (Psy-Changeling #11)
HEART OF OBSIDIAN (Psy-Changeling #12)
SHIELD OF WINTER (Psy-Changeling #13)
SHARDS OF HOPE (Psy-Changeling #14)

Want to win the hardcover of ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR? Enter the giveaway on my Facebook page HERE

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Giveaways, PNR · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Nalini Singh, PNR

Review: ★Idol★ by Kristen Callihan

June 14, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

IDOL
Series: VIP #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Callihan
Release Day: June 7, 2016

Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse —and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

I’m a twenty-seven-year-old, multimillionaire singer-guitarist in the biggest rock band in the world, and I have no earthly clue how to have a relationship with a woman. I could laugh. But I don’t find it funny. Because I want Liberty Bell.

*pause for dirty thoughts about Killian*
…
…
And I’m back!
Seriously though, even the man’s name is hot. Killian. *rarr*
But I digress…

Idol marks book one in Callihan’s sexy new VIP series and if this book is anything to go by, this is the start of something addictingly good. This book had a little bit of everything that I love; hot rockstars, angst, tortured rockstars, angst, sexy times, sassy heroines, amazing secondary characters that I’m already itching for a book for, sexy times, fantastic writing, sexy times, humor, and lots and lots of sexy times. You getting the drift here?

I don’t spend time with anyone. It’s writing-composing, practicing, recording, touring, fucking, sleeping. Same old record spinning round and round.

Kristen is a masters of weaving some grade A sexual chemistry and boy do you get that here. When Liberty “Libby” finds a drunken bum passed out on her well manicured lawn, she’s not exactly thrilled. When she finds out that the same ‘bum’ will also be her next door neighbor for the summer, she’s not jumping for joy either. But a few snarky barbs soon turn into an unwilling friendship that soon begins to turn into something much more. But what happens when Liberty finds out that her new neighbor is also the lead singer of the world’s hottest rock band?

Tell me you want this too, baby doll.”
“Want what?”
“Everything.”

The chemistry between these two is so hot, it practically sizzles. What a refreshing change of pace to get a rockstar that doesn’t want to manwhore his way around town. Killian realizes what he wants early on and he’s not shy about going about it. I loved the way he was with Libby. He’s patient and sweet and yet there’s always an edge to him to with his dirty talking ways

There’s no one else like her. There never will be.

Libby is endearingly sassy. Girl can definitely hold her own and she’s not shy about telling it like it is. I loved her spunk and backbone. Sure, she has her issues, but she never lets it own her.

The characters are perfectly developed, and their romance is a natural progression. I love when the author can make that sexual tension burn and Kristen makes it hurt so good here.

I also fell hard for all the secondary characters, especially the tortured Jax. I can’t wait for his story along with the rest of the guys from Kill John. But I’m especially excited for the next book ESPECIALLY after the preview at the end. YUM.

Clearly I loved this book, so why not 5 stars? Well, while I loved the tension and build up of the first and last 30%, the in-between of it didn’t have me as riveted. It was still a fun read, but I had no problems setting it down for a bit and picking it back up later. So while it wasn’t quite the perfect five stars, it was a super solid 4 that I enjoyed thoroughly. If you’re a fan of this author, this is an absolute must read. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

Love breaks your heart, fucks you up- perfect, all-consuming chaos.

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Blog Tours, Contemporary Romance, Rockstars · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Kristen Callihan, rock stars

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Stalking Is Encouraged

Subscribe

Ad space availa

Previous posts

Recent Posts

Pinterest

DGR on Bloglovin

Features

DGR Favorites

Anticipated Releases

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Current Favorites

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Recent Reviews

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Goodreads

Grab My Button

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: