All Reviews – Page 116

Review: First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

August 27, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT
Series: Chicago Stars #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Release Date: August 23, 2016

A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel—a long-awaited new entry in the beloved, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author’s fan-favorite Chicago Stars football series.

Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy.

Which is why a good detective needs to think on her feet. “The fact is . . . I’m your stalker.Not full-out barmy. Just . . . mildly unhinged.”

Piper soon finds herself working for Graham himself, although not as the bodyguard he refuses to admit he so desperately needs. Instead, he’s hired her to keep an eye on the employees at his exclusive new nightclub. But Coop’s life might be in danger, and Piper’s determined to protect him, whether he wants it or not. (Hint: Not!) If only she weren’t also dealing with a bevy of Middle Eastern princesses, a Pakistani servant girl yearning for freedom, a teenager who just wants of fit in, and an elderly neighbor demanding Piper find her very dead husband.

And then there’s Cooper Graham himself, a legendary sports hero who always gets what he wants—even if what he wants is a feisty detective hell bent on proving she’s as tough as he is.

From the bustling streets of Chicago to a windswept lighthouse on Lake Superior to the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay, two people who can’t stand to lose will test themselves and each other to discover what matters most.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

She was a woman who attacked life instead of waiting for it to unfold around her. And her general imperviousness to him had stirred up some kind of primitive bullshit need to conquer.

#HappyFeels
This book.
*Attempts to wipe goofy grin off of face*
*fails*
*grins even bigger*
I mean…THIS. BOOK.

As a long time fan of SEP and especially her Chicago Stars series, when I heard the news that she’ll be releasing another book in one of my most beloved contemporary romance series, I downright wet myself in fangirling excitement. True story. Well…maybe not the wetting myself part. But close. I was dang excited, mkay?!

I mean let’s face it, no one, and I do mean no one does an enemies to lovers romance quite like this author. She delivers these irresistible grumpy alphas that are just the perfect amount of endearing and sexy. They’re not perfect, but that’s what makes them perfect. Am I even making sense here? Let me put it this way; have you ever read about a hero that has a trigger happy moment yet manages to come off all the more endearingly sexy for it? Yeah? Didn’t think so.

If you love quirky, sassy, and adorably awkward heroines with just a dash of crazy to them, you will simply adore Piper. The woman is a downright nutter and I couldn’t get enough of her antics. If you’ve read any book in this series, you already know that SEP can deliver some of the best banter, and this book certainly didn’t disappoint in that department.

Did I ever mention what a bad lover I was when I first started out?”
“I don’t believe you did,” she said.
“I got lots of complaints, so I had to work at it. Treat it as a job.”
“Put in the extra practice time, right?”
“Precisely. When I think of the mistakes I made…”
“Mortifying, I’m sure.”
“But I kept my eye on the ball.”
“Only one? Curious. Oh, well, I hope your deformity didn’t make you too self-conscious. I’m sure you could still-”
“I finally got the hang of it when I was about-”
“Thirty-six?”
“Eighteen. I was a fast learner. All those older women willing to take a young kid like me into their loving arms…”
“Blessed are the merciful.”

I love a slow burn, and that’s exactly what I got with this romance. Sparks flew between Cooper and Piper right away…but not of the sexual variety. Oh no! Piper is hilariously failing in her job to trail former Chicago Stars quarterback. The problem? He makes her right away and is not entirely pleased about the slightly deranged woman that seems to be everywhere he turns lately.

The fact is…” She released her breath in a whoosh. “I’m your stalker.”
“Stalker?”
“Not a dangerous one. Lord, no. Merely obsessed.”
“With me.” A statement, not a question. He’d been here before.
“I don’t make a habit of stalking people. This…quite got away from me, you see.” She didn’t know exactly how this tactic will save her, but she plunged on. “I’m not full-out barmy, you understand. Just…mildly unhinged.”
He cocked his head, but at least he was listening. And why not? Lunatics were always fascinating.

This book will make you laugh, and laugh some more. Piper’s antics are downright hilarious.

Watching the unwilling development of a relationship between these two go from antagonistic, to grudging respect, to something more, was pure gold. I couldn’t get enough of the two of them. Of course it didn’t hurt that I got plenty of cameos from one of my favorites. If you’ve read Match Me If You Can, you’ll definitely appreciate it.

First Star I See was everything I’ve come to love about this author and so much more. It was full of fun banter, swoony moments, fantastic secondary characters, and the perfect slow building romance.

What about your scruples? I’m still the hired help.”
He leaned forward and nibbled on her bottom lip. “You’re not the help. You’re the obstacle.”
She nuzzled the cleft in his chin. “To what?”
“My peace of mind.”

It was the perfect light hearted sort of read I needed and I loved every single page of it. It reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series in the first place. SEP fans are in for one delicious treat with First Star I See Tonight. If you’re in the mood for laughs and swoons, this book has EVERYTHING. The perfect contemporary romance to satisfy any romance lovers!

CHICAGO STARS SERIES

IT HAD TO BE YOU (Chicago Stars #1)
Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars, #2)
Nobody’s Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3)
Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)
This Heart of Mine (Chicago Stars, #5)
Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars, #6)
Natural Born Charmer (Chicago Stars, #7)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, enemies-to-lovers, humorous, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Jennifer’s Review: Fool Me Once by Katee Robert

August 24, 2016 by Lana ·

FOOL ME ONCE
Series: Foolproof Love #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 1, 2016

They say opposites attract, but this is just ridiculous.

Aubry Kaiser doesn’t like people—actually, that’s not right. She loathes people. With her crippling anxiety, there’s no way she can demo her favorite video game at a convention with five thousand other people. Maybe if she brings someone to act as a shield…

But the only person available is the sexy cowboy she can’t stand.

Quinn Baldwyn is in a mess of his own. He’s been dodging his wealthy family’s matchmaking attempts—and life advice—for years, but with his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs of a shield of his own.

He and Aubry can barely hold down a civil conversation, but in bed…fireworks. And the closer they get to Quinn’s sister’s wedding, the more he realizes that he might actually like Aubry.

Now it’s up to him to convince her she might actually like him, too.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

A cowboy and a female gamer walk into a bar…..Ok, it isn’t a bar, but you get the idea right? These two could not be more opposite and yet this book just worked! This book is QUICK, DIRTY, and NO DRAMA. That’s all I really need in my life.

”No panties. Naughty, peaches. Very naughty. I like it.” He leaned close enough that his chest pressed against her back. “I don’t know if we’re going to make it back to the room. Maybe after the ceremony, I’ll drag you out into the vineyard and fuck you right there in the dirt.”

My Quinn: (Yep, this is JJ Watt in a cowboy hat. Yum!)

My Aubry:

Aubry is a wealth of contradictions. She is a gamer, the best out of millions and is asked to test a new game before it is released. She has some serious social anxiety and doesn’t think she would survive the trip by herself. Her best friend arranges for her to be accompanied by Quinn on the trip. In exchange, Quinn needs a pretend-date to his sister’s wedding, which he is not all excited to attend. Aubry is the perfect date because she has perfected her resting bitch-face.

(I need this shirt, y’all! Lol!)

”You don’t want polite. You want a hot fuck in the shower, on the bed, in the cab of my truck. You want me to finger you like this, and you to get off on the fact that there isn’t a damn thing between us and anyone who walks down that hall. Hell I bet if I slid down your jeans, you’d turn around and let me fuck you right here.” She around him and she buried her face in his shoulder as she came, her moans barely muffled. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

I loved Aubry’s character. Despite her social anxiety, she is confident and saucy. She knows who she is and what she wants. Her anxiety doesn’t stop her or hinder her. It is an inescapable part of herself. I love how Roberts writes about social anxiety in this book. I need a Quinn of my very own to help separate me from all the people in the world, because there are a lot of people. As a sufferer of social anxiety of my own, I completely understand Aubry’s issues. I loved how Quinn knew exactly how to help Aubry through her panic attacks.

Quinn and Aubry need each other. They don’t like or understand each other, but opposites definitely attract in this book. Quinn is a wall of a man, literally. Aubry needs him to protect her from the many people that cause her anxiety so she can fulfill one of her dreams. He is her trusty steed.There is so much delicious chemistry between Quinn and Aubry. They are complete opposites, and at first, I wondered how it was going to work between a cowboy and a gamer, but I was quickly sold on these two together.

Quinn barked out a laugh. “And here I was thinking I’m growing on you.”
“Like a fungus. Or mold. Reallly, really sexy mold.”

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, brazen, Jennifer Reviews, Katee Robert

Jennifer’s Review: A Brit On The Side by Brenda St. John Brown

August 23, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

A BRIT ON THE SIDE
Series: Calder Castle #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Brenda St. John Brown
Release Date: August 15, 2016

Bea’s English escape plan:
• Work in a real British castle
• Quality time with bestie
• Figure out what spotted dick really is
~~• Fall for bestie’s older brother. Hard.~~

Bea Gillespie would rather do anything than teach summer school math two classrooms down from her ex-fiancé. So when her best friend, Scarlett, invites her to England for the summer to work in her family’s castle-turned-hotel, she jumps at the chance.

Now Bea’s an ocean away from her problems at home, but she’s got a bigger one. A British one. Scarlett’s older brother, Jasper, is at Castle Calder for the summer, too. And he’s as sexy and smart as Bea remembers. Two years ago Jasper came stateside, and he and Bea shared a hot weekend. But that’s all it was — a weekend. One she purposely didn’t tell Scarlett about.

It didn’t feel like much of a secret until now. As Bea falls for Jasper, what started off as a fling begins feeling more and more like the kind of thing you’d gush about to your best friend. If you hadn’t been lying to her all along.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

I was a moon to your star. Wherever you were, I was painfully aware of your orbit. Painfully being the key word.

This is such an easygoing book, and it swept me away. If you are looking for a book to escape into, this is it. It was relaxing to read this book. I just wanted to sit in a corner window with some English Breakfast tea and disappear into this book. This book is “ace.” *giggles

My Jasper:

My Bea:

Jasper, Jasper, Jasper. I loved him! Jasper is…intense. Jasper is Bea’s best friend’s brother. I would have loved to be inside his head to get his point of view. He was little hot and cold, and I loved the contradiction of him. After Bea and Jasper have a sexual tryst one weekend, they don’t keep in touch, so Bea moves on and gets engaged. After the engagement falls through, she decides to move to England to work through the summer and get her head out of her ass. I loved all of the people in this story, such interesting main and supporting characters.

Bea is still finding herself. She is still confused about her feelings for her ex-fiance. She is confused about her feelings for Jasper. She is confused about her weight. And I felt a bit confused during her whole confusion, but maybe that was the point? I actually struggled casting her because it was difficult putting a picture to her character. I kinda wish she was a little more sassy and threw that sass back into Jasper’s face sometimes. Maybe she was meant to be a little awkward. If so, I got that.

If it’s possible to die of awkward, I’m going to keel over right here, in a borrowed flannel shirt with chocolate on my lips.

There is some angst, but not too much. On personal preference, I usually don’t enjoy the angst, so I gravitated more toward the light bickering and flirty side of Jasper of Bea, and there was enough of that to keep my attention zeroed in on these two.

This was my first book by Breanda St. John Brown, and I think she is an excellent story teller with a side of spicy hotness. Her writing reminds me of Samantha Young, but still has her own unique quality to it. If you are a fan of Samantha Young, you will love this book.

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

Jennifer’s Review: Worked Up by @mstessabailey

August 17, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

WORKED UP
Series: Made In Jersey #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: August 1, 2016

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.

As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?

AMAZON | iBOOKS

5 Pouty-Man-Bear-Forever Stars!!!

I have one question for you, reader…..Have you ever read Tessa Bailey? If your answer is no, then stop reading this review and go read her books……right now…..Seriously, stop. (There are no spoilers in this review, I just wanted to emphasize the awesome-sauce that is Tessa Bailey!).

”I was thinking I could switch to light beer for you.”

“Romance, thy name is Duke.”

This book is a modern-day fairy tale…..BAHAHAHA! Not really. The hero is a ginormous mountain of a man who is hairy and large in every way that counts. He is burly and blue collar and a POUTY MAN BEAR. I am a HUGE fan of the #PMB….I have my own #pmb t-shirt signed by Tessa herself, y’all. I have read all of her pouty man bear short stories that she wrote on Facebook in her private reader’s group, Bailey’s Babes. #PMBforever
Ok, onto the book……Holy hotness! I can’t even handle Tessa’s dirty words. She writes the best words of all the words. I don’t even know from where she gets these words. Her words give me the tingles in my jingle.

”That’s Duke’s clit between your thighs, Samantha. No one touches that clit but Duke. You need it polished, teased, banged, or just plain slapped, who’s the one you call?” Leaning all his weight to one elbow, he gripped her jaw once again. “Be a good girl when you answer and I’ll kiss it again later.”

Duke is a mechanic who likes to get his hands dirty. He is the responsible brother who takes care of his four divorced sisters when he isn’t working at the factory. He had no idea what was about to hit him when Samantha walked into the bar. It’s one of those instant-attraction moments. Duke is rough and gruff and tries to hold back and be gentle with Sam, but of course he can’t, but she can take all that he dishes out!

My Duke:

My Sam:

Sam is a children’s book illustrator at heart. She loves to draw and is never without her sketchpad. In fact, she whips out her sketchpad to draw Duke when she first sees him in the bar. I loved all of the characters of Duke in this book – the sea captain, Goliath, the superhero, etc. Sam has an over-protective brother who has agreed to fund her art business for children if she agrees to marry. You can see where this is going, and I loved every second of it.

Oh God, the puns in this book! So adorkable! Sam is such a dork, and I love her.

”Stealing someone’s coffee is called mugging,” she whined.

“Ah, if you can pun, sweetheart, you’re wide awake.”

“I can pun in my sleep.”

Renner and Milo….Tessa’s first M/M…..GIVE THEM TO ME!!!

I could gush about Tessa’s books all day, but I’ll let you read them instead. Go! Go! Go!

MADE IN JERSEY SERIES

CRASHED OUT | ROUGH RHYTHM | THROWN DOWN

Lana’s Review for Worked Up HERE

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Dirty Talkers · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Jennifer Reviews, Tessa Bailey

Jennifer’s Review: Reaper’s Fire by Joanna Wylde

August 17, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

REAPER’S FIRE
Series: Reapers MC #6
Genre: Erotic Romance, MC
Author: Joanna Wylde
Release Date: August 9, 2016

It’s time for more men and motorcycles in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Reaper’s Fall…

The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

Reapers forever. Forever Reapers. Sometimes loyalty sucks.

This book was one of my most anticipated books this year. I love this MC world. I have a wet spot for bikers of all kinds. If it’s a biker book, I’ll read it. I have been a fangirl of Joanna Wylde from the beginning.

My Gage:

My Tinker:

The start of this book was super hot. I was digging Gage and his insta-attraction to Tinker. Gage comes to town to spy on a rival motorcycle club. He has to make up a fake identity, get a job, and date a skank in the rival club. He begins working for Tinker as a handyman. Gage is my kinda biker – quiet & rough & easy on the eyes. I love a good dirty-talker, and his dirty-talk was flawless.

”I’ve been watching you twitch that ass of yours for too long,” I whispered. “You sit out on that pretty little porch of yours with your friend. You pretend you aren’t scoping me out, but you are. You’ve wanted it bad for a long time, and now you’re gonna get it.”

Tinker MADE this book for me! I loved her. Despite everything she put up with regarding her ex and the huge loss in her life, she decided to start fresh and move home to help take care of her father. She was stomped on by multiple people in this book, but it didn’t get her down, and I loved that. I wish that Gage and Tinker could have had more of the book to be together.

I turned, catching the back of her head and pulling her in for a hard kiss, because fuck loyalty.

The DRAMA – Talia – She got me ALL riled up. I was like….guuuurl…you crazy. There was just too much of Talia for me. It sucked that Gage had to put up with her for so long. It sucked that I had to put with her for so long.

Something happened in the book that gave me pause on my overall rating. A couple times during the book, I found myself wondering WHY the dialogue kept going. I would prefer the plot move forward rather than people standing around talking about the plot moving forward. I feel as if this might be the most that can be done with this series. I am happy that there is a spin-off series with the Silver Bastards.

Lana’s Review for Reaper’s Fire HERE

THE REAPERS MC SERIES

Reaper’s Property
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Legacy
Purchase | Read My Review

Devil’s Game
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Stand
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Fall
Purchase | Read My Review

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Bikers · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3 stars, Jennifer Reviews

Review: Reaper’s Fire by Joanna Wylde

August 16, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

REAPER’S FIRE
Series: Reapers MC #6
Genre: Erotic Romance, MC
Author: Joanna Wylde
Release Date: August 9, 2016

It’s time for more men and motorcycles in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Reaper’s Fall…

The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

Yup. I was woman enough to own it. Tinker Garrett, aged thirty-six, was in lust with Cooper Romero. The man was so damed easy on the eyes that it caused me physical pain. Okay, not pain. Warm tinglies.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Gage’s book ever since the little snippet I read in Reaper’s Fall. Add into the mix the interconnected story happening in Silver Bastard and I was utterly salivating for this book. I was hooked from the very first chapter! I knew from the very begging that I’d absolutely love Gage and I wasn’t wrong. After years of managing the Reaper’s strip club, the man that’s used to sleeping with a different woman every night gets to hook up with the one he actually doesn’t want…while lusting after the one he truly craves but can’t have. Sound intriguing? Because it totally was!

Sent in to investigate an MC the Reapers suspect of stealing from them, his best in is the president’s trashy sister. Unfortunately for him, it’s also the same time he meets the one woman that tempts him to leave his womanizing ways behind. Too bad he can’t have her since his job and brotherhood come first.

I loved the first 30% of the story, but then somewhere around the 40% mark, I began to get…aggravated. While I don’t mind a bit of angst between the hero and heroine and even more slow burn in their relationship, having the hero spend over half the book sleeping with another woman was a bit much. It began to take away from the story for me because after the 40% mark I got tired of reading about it. I almost wished it was handled off the pages for parts because Talia drove me batty.

Tinker was a fabulous heroine. She had a bit of sassy and a bit of quirky that really worked for her. I really connected with her from the very beginning and watching her trying to fight her attraction to Gage was definitely highly entertaining.

All things considered, this still would have been a solid 4 star read for me…until the end. After all the build up with everything, nothing felt resolved. Things that truly needed page time and should have been fleshed out more, were handled off the pages. I felt I got no resolution to some of my biggest questions. There was a lot of build up with Tinker and her ex, and then…nothing. The author mentions at the end why she chose to deviate from the timeline, and I sincerely respect her choice. However, I felt that it could have gone a different direction while in that timeline. It read like it was almost two different plot points that were tied together, but not really. There was a lot of focus on the fire at the end, but none of it really led anywhere, particularly for the plot. It didn’t drive the plot. At least not for me. A lot of the action happened off the pages. I wanted certain parts to be fleshed out more. Certain parts I wished were merely addressed or resolved, but they weren’t. Not really. It was like chunks of story that loosely connected together.

I’ve loved every single book in this series and I adore all things Joanna Wylde, but I have to admit I wished more from the ending here. The epilogue was amazing and even managed to bring a tear to my eye. But once more, I just didn’t feel like it fit the series. The whole book just had an entirely different vibe from the rest of the series for me. This can easily be a case of wrong expectations on my behalf. I still enjoyed the story for the most part, just left a little underwhelmed with the ultimate resolution of it. Fans of this series will likely enjoy the newest additions to the Reapers MC. I for one am really looking forward to more from the Silver Bastards now.

THE REAPERS MC SERIES

Reaper’s Property
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Legacy
Purchase | Read My Review

Devil’s Game
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Stand
Purchase | Read My Review

Reaper’s Fall
Purchase | Read My Review

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Bikers, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3 stars, Joanna Wylde, MC

Review: Burn Down The Night by @MollyOKwrites

August 15, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

BURN DOWN THE NIGHT
Series: Everything I Left Unsaid #3
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Molly O’Keefe
Release Date: August 9, 2016

A battle for control turns explosive as a beautiful con woman takes a bad-boy biker hostage in this edgy, seductive novel set in the world of Everything I Left Unsaid (“Toe-curlingly sensual.”—Katy Evans) and The Truth About Him (“Absolutely one-click worthy”—J. Kenner).

The only thing that matters to me is rescuing my sister from the drug-cooking cult that once enslaved us both. I’ve run cons my whole life, and I’ll use my body to get whatever I need. Max Daniels is the last connection I have to that world, the one person reckless enough to get involved. Besides, now that his brothers have turned on him, he needs me too.

The deal was supposed to be simple: a place to hide in exchange for rescuing my sister. Now he’s my prisoner. Totally at my mercy. But I’m the one captivated. Enthralled. Doing everything he asks of me until I’m not sure who’s in control.

We both crave the heat. The more it hurts, the better. But what if Max wants a different life now, to leave the game . . . to love me? I thought I knew better than to get burned. Now I’m in too deep to pull away. And the crazy thing is . . . I don’t want to.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

You want to fuck, let’s do it. Let’s burn down the fucking place. We got that in us…between us. But when it’s over…all I’ll leave you are bruises.”

If I had a dollar for every time I read about an anti-hero that falls head over balls for the heroine and all of a sudden his switch is flipped form bad to good faster than you can say “golden vag”, I could happily retire in my land of many books. So when I first met Max as the baddie MC prez brother of Dylan in The Truth About Him suffice it to say I was intrigued. Then when Joan carted him off wounded and passed out in her car in the end of that book, suffice it to say I was ready to sell an ovary to get my hands on his book. But I was also fearful that it would be another one of those books that I mentioned above. Joan was an interesting character to say the least in the first two books and I was beyond curious how these two very broken people would fit together. I wasn’t sure what I expected when I started Burn Down The Night, but I can tell you that I certainly didn’t expect it to absolutely blow me away. (Pun definitely intended).

My entire life I’ve been at the epicenter of crazy. I am the hurricane’s eye.

THIS. This is what grit feels and tastes like. This is what angst is. This is what true tension feels like. This is what a slow burn feels like when it builds and builds to a flame so hot, it will explode everything in sight. I could actually taste the tension, it was so thick. And man, it was delicious.

If you haven’t read the first two books, I highly recommend you do that before this one. While this is a standalone with a new couple and there’s plenty of background given to make sure that a reader new to this series wouldn’t be lost, I also feel like you lose a bit of the background going into this without the previous two books.

Burn Down The Night begins around where The Truth About Him ended. You get all the details that led to the events at the end of the book and a few puzzle pieces will definitely click together.

She had a chip on her shoulder so big and so hard it was like armor, hiding something so hot, so fucking needy, I could barely stand to look at her not bend her over something.

Joan is on a mission to rescue her sister from a mad men. Everything she has done up until this point has been for her sister. Her job as a stripper, her hiding in plain sight, the lies, the lies…and the lies. Now she’s one step closer to the man that has her sister, and the wounded MC president, Max Daniels, is her answer to everything.

Max knew that coming back for his bother would mean certain death, and he was not wrong. Shot and left for dead by his brothers, he’s kidnapped by a crazy woman that’s apparently a lot more than she seems to be. Biding his time to exact his revenge on the men that should have been his loyal brothers, Max doesn’t plan on the connection that slowly begins to build between him and Joan.

Save your act for other people. The lies and the show- I don’t want it. I want you. Fucked up and crazy. I want you.”

This book was the definition of a slow burn. Oh man but I loved it. The build up between Max and Joan is filled with tension and enough sexual sizzle to burn your fingers flipping the pages. It was so well developed, it was so amazingly written, that you can’t but root for them from the very beginning. I loved how believable the author made their relationship. These two people have lived their entire lives on survival and lies, and anything quick would not fit. Molly O’Keefe wrote it in such a way that you truly understand what ties them together and bonds them.

With Joan- I wanted her to peel back her armor. Her skin. I wanted to see her beating heart. Her ragged should.

The writing was pure poetry. It some of the best I’ve seen from this author, and quite honestly some of the best I’ve read in a long damn while. It was lyrical, gritty, violent and erotic. And it all flowed together so well, and blended into a something that was purely addicting to read.

We were like magnets that had been flipped and as hard as we’d repelled each other-that’s how hard we came together.

It’s not a traditional romance, and if you’re looking for that, you should look elsewhere. If you recall Joan’s bisexual nature, you should also know that there are a few f/f scenes in this book. This was just another layer into the depth that is her character, however, and it only served to add to the story. Nothing was gratuitous about this story or these characters. Every scene, every word, every development served a purpose. There wasn’t one wasted word.

I loved every single page of this book. I loved the characters, I loved the slow build romance, I loved the grit, I loved the realistic development and timeline, and I absolutely loved the end. For those that read The Truth About Him, the ending here will only serve to whet your appetite for the book that I”m hoping and praying will be next.

If you’re looking for an action packed, gritty read filled with plenty of suspense, this book is an absolute must read!

EVERYTHING I LEFT UNSAID Series

EVERYTHING I LEFT UNSAID (book 1)
AMAZON | MY REVIEW

THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM (book 2)
AMAZON | MY REVIEW

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Molly O'Keefe

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Midnight Soul by Kristen Ashley

August 14, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

MIDNIGHT SOUL
Series: Fantasyland #5
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: August 15, 2016

Against his will, Noctorno Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop, finds himself embroiled in magic, mayhem and parallel universes. Too late, he meets an amazing woman only to find she’s destined for his identical twin in another world.

And things aren’t going real great there.

Noc is recruited to help save that world.

What he doesn’t know is his destined love resides there.

Franka Drakkar wears a mask. A mask she never takes off to protect herself in a world of malice, intrigue and danger.

When Franka meets Noc and he discovers her secrets, convinced she carries a midnight soul, having shielded herself from forming bonds with anyone, she struggles with accepting his tenderness and care.

When Noc meets Franka, over wine and whiskey, her mask slips and Noc knows it’s her—only her—and he has to find a way to get her to come home with him.

And then make her want to stay.

AMAZON | B&N | GooglePlay | iBOOKS | KOBO

~Franka~

That day had been one I wished to quickly forget.

Indeed, the months since those witches took my Antoine had been time I wished I had the power to erase from my memory.

I had power.

I did not have that kind of power.

These thoughts on my mind, I moved down the hallway of the Winter Palace, seeking my room where I planned to pull the cord, ring a servant and request several bottles of Fleuridian wine.

Wine might not make me forget, but I’d found of late that it served well to dull the pain.

I turned the corner, my eyes to my slippers, but my senses made me lift my gaze to the passageway.

At what I saw, I halted and grew still, then slowly and quietly retraced my steps and ducked behind the corner, peering back around.

Oh my.

The Prince Noctorno of the other world was in the doorway to a bedchamber.

Although, he was not actually a prince. Not in this universe. Apparently they had very few princes in that other world. A world that existed on a parallel plane where all beings had twins to my own world.

This I thought was rather mad (everything about it, obviously), but with few princes, that meant there were few kings, so who ruled?

He reported that he was instead a member of the city guard, an occupation he referred to as being “a cop.” A rather surprising statement considering all that was him.

He was no member of a guard.

He was a prince.

And he called himself Noc, for some unknown reason, as Noctorno was a fine name, a strong name, a regal name (this last was true as his counterpart in this world was a prince).

And right now he had has back to me.

He was wearing a pair of trousers the like that couldn’t be found in my world. They were made of a rough, sturdy, faded-blue material. He also had a shirt that was not the fashion in this world. It was attractive and made of an equally attractive plaid. And it was a shirt that fit his broad shoulders magnificently.

His thick, black hair was untidy (this also attractive).

And I could see his light-blue eyes but only in my imagination as he had his back to me.

They were not eyes you were likely to forget. With his dark hair and skin browned in the sun, those eyes were deliciously striking.

There was a day, though now that day seemed lifetimes ago, when a sight such as Noctorno Hawthorne of another world (or indeed this one) would have caused me to have a much different reaction, not only to him, but to my plans for the imminent future.

That was before Antoine.

That was before I met the man who introduced me to, well…me.

But there was a reason I carried a midnight soul, for the evil contained in both my parents set their souls to cinders years ago. It was not a wonder I’d inherited the blackness.

What a bittersweet book this was for me to read. Midnight Soul marks the conclusion of one of my favorite Kristen Ashley series. After all, it’s the series that brought me The Golden Dynasty, only my top favorite KA book of ALL time.

This is not a series I recommend reading out of order. You need the entire backstory and it’s one that develops with each story arc and later carries over into the next. Yes, there’s a new couple in each book, but it just wouldn’t be the same experience to read them as standalones.

I have to admit I was nervous reading a book with Franka as the heroine. Considering the woman has sharpened her claws on plenty of previous heroines, I had to wonder how KA could redeem someone like her. While she wasn’t quite a villain, she wasn’t exactly a nice person and she certainly wasn’t someone you’d root for in the previous books either. After the culmination of events at the end of Broken Dove, I also wondered where the story had left to go. The ultimate baddies had been beat. Everything was right in the world and most questions answered.

If you’re expecting a book much like the rest of the Fantasyland series, don’t. This was as different as it gets and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I certainly enjoyed the flip side of the switch here. I don’t want to give you too many details and ruin it for you, but let’s just say I appreciated the slight reversal Kristen took with the last book in the series. It was most fitting.

I loved the mix of the heroine being the one from the ‘other’ world and the hero being the modern one as well. It was different and refreshing. Plus, let’s be real, I loved me some Noc. There’s also a secondary romance that happens on a mix of in and off the pages here that I would have absolutely loved more page time for. I was hoping to get more of them towards the end, but alas they were mostly just loosely mentioned.

So why not a higher rating? Well, I just didn’t get the oomph here that I’ve come to rely on this series. There’s not much in the way of things happenings. After the resolution in the first 20%, the rest reads like the typical second half of a KA book. The relationship development, the hero and heroine getting to know each other. It was a lot of pages of their day to day lives, and while it wasn’t quite boring, it wasn’t exciting either. I kept waiting for the typical conflict at the end, but there wasn’t much in that respect either. To me, it read like one long epilogue. There wasn’t much conflict past the revelation in the first 20% and that may work for some or not.

I loved the way the author redeemed Franka and made her into a heroine to root for pretty much right away. You get the true heart of her and you understand they why’s of what she did in the past. No, this wasn’t the action packed thrill ride that some of the other books in the series were, but it was by no means a bad thing…just different. The epilogue at the end is nothing short of what I’ve come to expect from Kristen and definitely managed to bring a tear to my eye. So while this may not have been my favorite book in the series, it was still a fitting ending to what had come to be one of my favorite series and one I strongly recommend to any lovers of fantasy romance.

And Don’t Miss the First Books in the Fantasyland Series!

WILDEST DREAMS | THE GOLDEN DYNASTY | FANTASTICAL | BROKEN DOVE

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Blog Tours, Excerpts, Giveaways · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 3.5 stars, Kristen Ashley

Jennifer’s Review: Just What I Needed by Lorelei James

August 14, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

JUST WHAT I NEEDED
Series: Need You #2
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Lorelei James
Release Date: August 2, 2016

The second sexy novel in the Need You series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Mastered Series and the Blacktop Cowboys® Series.

Trinity Carlson might be having the worst day ever. And that was before she started drinking in a dive bar, right across from her ex and his new girlfriend. So when she finally decides enough is enough, she grabs hold of a hot, blond stranger and gives him the kiss of his life.

Walker Lund never expected that a chance at love would hit him right on the mouth. Since the moment his brother decided to settle down, Walker has been dodging his family’s hopes that he’ll do the same. He’s never been interested in following in anyone’s footsteps. But when he discovers his sexy assailant has given him a fake name and number he suddenly finds himself in the mood for a little hot pursuit…

AMAZON | iBOOKS

5 Walker-Is-Mine Stars

I have a problem, and his name is Walker. It’s a problem because HE’S NOT IN MY PANTS RIGHT NOW! I’ve been indifferent of the long hair/man bun. I can usually take it or leave it, but in this case, I’ll take it!

My Walker:

More Walker…He’s just….UNF!:

I cannot get enough of Walker:

My Trinity:

Walker works in construction. Yeah, can he get any hotter or more perfect?! I think not. He is actually from a wealthy family, but he is the rugged man in his family and the glue that keeps everyone together. He is the good guy in the family. I usually lean more toward the bad boy/asshole characters, but I DARE YOU TO RESIST WALKER. It’s not possible.

I loved all of Walker’s brothers and sisters and cousins, constantly ragging on each other. They were so much fun. I love books with close-knit families. It just makes the book that much more cozy.
Trinity is adorable and spunky. She is an artist, but she isn’t up in the clouds. She knows who she is, and she knows what she wants. She is a little flighty but in a charming way. She tries to warn Walker that she is a lot of work, but he is the perfect man up for the challenge of all that is Trinity, and he takes pleasure in every single moment.

”I like that you’re warning me up front that you’re going to be a lot of work.”

“You are?”

“Yep. It’ll give me a chance to prove my awesome work ethic.”

I LOVED the meet-cute in this book. I don’t want to give it away, but I was sold on this book from the beginning and it kept my attention through the whole book. Some books start to drag for me around the 50-60% mark, but not this one. This is such a FEEL-GOOD book with all the smiles and giggles and swoons. There is not much drama, which I love.

”You have any idea how hard I’m digging on you right now?”

“Digging on me,” I repeated. “Is that a construction worker’s come-on?”

Walker, Trinity, and this whole book is endearing with the perfect slow burn. I love Lorelei’s writing style. It’s no-nonsense, straight to the heart of the story. Her dialogue makes me smile throughout the whole book. I have read a few of her cowboy series, and enjoyed the heat in her erotic books. I wouldn’t put this book in the erotic category, but it is just as hot!

Then I pursed my lips around the straw and sucked. “Want a taste?” His eyes went molten. He leaned in, resting his forearm on the brick wall above my head.

“No. I’m thinking I’ll get a little lust drunk just watching you.”

“Watching me what?”

“Lick. Suck. And swallow.”

THE NEED YOU SERIES

WHAT YOU NEED (book 1)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, New Adult · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 5 stars, Jennifer Reviews

Review: Dare To Stay by Jen McLaughlin

August 10, 2016 by Lana · Leave a Comment

DARE TO STAY
Series: Sons of Steel Row #2
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Jen McLaughlin
Release Date: August 2, 2016

Fans of Katie Ashley, Joanna Wylde, Kristen Ashley, Sophie Jackson and Katee Robert will be thrilled by this dark, steamy series, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Out of Line novels, where one gang of criminals knows just how being bad can be so good…

Bruised and bloodied on Boston’s mean streets, Chris O’Brien is reeling from the loss of his childhood best friend. But after barely escaping a hit placed on his head, Chris is desperate to live. A safe haven comes to mind – the home of the perfect girl from his childhood, Molly Lachlan. Before he has fully considered what it would mean to involve her in his mess, he finds himself on her doorstep.

When Molly agrees to let Chris inside her home, she realizes she’s also letting him into her life. Danger and desperation are coming off him like steam, and yet she can’t bring herself to turn him away. His bad boy charm always had a hold on her, but now there’s a soulfulness and sorrow in him that she’s never seen before. And despite the heart-stopping risk of helping him, she hopes against all reason that he’ll stay…

The stakes are dangerously high…and the passion is seriously intense. Follow the exploits of the Sons of Steel Row in Dare To Run and Dare To Stay.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

My life didn’t need to be all murder, guns, and meaningless sex. It could’ve been more- if I’d been born into another family. Another life. But I hadn’t been.

When I saw that Chris would be the hero in the second installment of The Sons Of Steel Row series, I’ll admit to having doubts. After all the events at the end of Dare to Run, I wasn’t sure how the author would redeem him enough to make me feel for the man. After all, Chris not only betrayed his best friend, he tried to kill him and the woman he loved in order to go after a power position within The Sons. How do you come back from something like that? Will the author be able to justify his decision? Make it believable? Make the reader connect with an anti-hero like that? Well I’m happy to report that the answer to all of those is a resounding YES.

He was more monster than human. All men like him were. Deep down, beneath his acts of neighborhood friendliness and that devastatingly handsome smile…He was a killer.

Dare To Stay picks up immediately where book 1 left off, with Chris bleeding in the alley, waiting for certain death. If you haven’t read Dare To Run yet, don’t worry, you can easily jump into this book first and the author gives plenty of background to ensure you won’t be lost for even a minute.

Molly Lachlan lost her beloved father to the violence of street crime and gangs. Chris and her grow up next door to each other in the same nice neighborhood, but their upbringing couldn’t be more different. Now Chris is a deadly killer and she’s a kindergarten teacher and they may as well live worlds apart. But when Molly finds a wounded Chris, all she can think of is fixing the broken man.

While I liked this book a whole lot better than the first, there were still a few things that kept it from being a solid 4 star read for me.

I had an issue with Molly’s personality at times. After all she’s been through and the way she lost her father, her connection to Chris never quite clicked for me. He should be everything she wants to stay away from, yet she’s willing to put her life on the line from the very beginning for him. I understood their history goes back many years, but I just didn’t feel that connection between them right away. She was just too self sacrificing at times.

Chris’s never ending back and forth of ‘I want her’ but ‘I’m not good for her’ started to grate on me too. I understand that he’s not a good man, but I just didn’t need it repeated at every turn. Or at least it felt that way at times.

I knew, even after all the blood, dirt, and sweat washed away, I would still be dirty. I’d never be clean.

The story itself was gritty and sexy. There was just enough to make me connect to the characters and keep reading curious to know what happens next, yet not quite enough to make it feel like an unputdownable read.

The romance was great and I definitely liked Molly and Chris a whole lot more than Lucas and Heidi. Heidi also had a lot more self preservation than Heidi did, which was a huge issue for me in the first book. I really liked Chris and her together, and there were definitely plenty of sizzle added into the mix.

I kissed her like I was a dying man and she was my last chance at salvation. And she was.

I had a hard time with the believability factor of the ending, but I can understand that Chris couldn’t have the same options as Lucas did. What I do know for sure, is the set up for the third book sounds utterly amazing. And I can’t wait to finally get my hands on Scotty’s book.

SONS OF STEEL ROW SERIES

DARE TO RUN (book 1)
MY REVIEW | AMAZON

DARE TO LIE (releasing February 7, 2017)
PRE-ORDER

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: antihero, Book Reviews: 3.5 stars

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