Review: So Steady by Eve Dangerfield

August 15, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

SO STEADY
Series: Silver Daughters Ink #2
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Eve Dangerfield
Release Date: August 14, 2019

Nicole DaSilva keeps her mind on the future. That’s where her perfect life is. At least it will be if she can sort out her broken engagement, get her tattoo removed, control her wayward sisters and catch the person stealing from their business…but that’s easier said than done. Especially when there’s a huge, strangely attractive tattooist in her way…

Noah Newcomb keeps his mind on the past. It’s where the demons come loose. He trusts no one and his only plans are for a vasectomy. He and Nicole make as much sense together as, well, an ex-con and a former school captain, but he’s never been one to turn down a rebound thing. Especially not with a girl as Type A hot as her.

It’s your standard ‘say anything to my sisters and I’ll call the Australian Tax Office and tell them there’s $500,000 in cash under your bed’ affair, but as Nicole and Noah hook up it’s clear they’re falling for each other. Can they meet in the present? Do they have a shot at something steady?

AMAZON

Kissing her wasn’t like kissing anyone else. It was like returning to a place you loved. The beach. The forests. His heart was thumping in his ears, his chest; every inch of his skin. This girl, this fucking girl.” 

Ummm….I would like to have a moment of silence for my ovaries, please. They put up a good fight, but they just couldn’t hold up against the potency of Noah Newcomb. The man didn’t just destroy them, he obliterated them without so much as batting a grumpy and silent eye. Not that eyes could be grumpy….or silent…But whatever! You get what I’m saying here. This book was SPICCCEEEY!!!

Nicole and Noah immediately caught my attention in the previous book. Eve introduced us to the sometimes quirky but mostly manic DaSilva sisters. Nicole was the steady and normal one to the sheer craziness that was her crazy younger sister, Tabby, and tatted up twin, Sam. She also seemed to be somewhat of a black sheep of her quirky and hipster family. But when her family’s tattoo shop is in trouble and money is going missing, Nikki puts her life on hold and travels back to help. That’s also when things implode around her. Her father has disappeared, her douchbag of a finance has broken up with her after giving her the ultimatum of choosing him or her family, and her sisters are as crazy as always. Then there’s also the silent and broody complication in the form of one giant and tatted from head to foot man.

Noah is Nicole’s opposite. She goes for the nice and proper men, and Noah is everything but. He’s mysterious with an almost deadly aura to him, and yet she’s inexplicably drawn to him. And what do you get when two opposites attract? INCENDIARY CHEMISTRY.

If you love your men tatted and with a filthy mouth, Noah is right up your alley. The man is FILTHY with a capital F. I’m talking FILTHY here people. Like make your ovaries blush sort of filthy. But he’s also incredibly layered. He’s so much more than just tattoos and a grumpy disposition. This is a complicated man with some hidden pain and some dark secrets. And this girl? LOVED HIM.

I adored this story. I’m talking everything about it. It was sexy and fun and oh so delicious! Definitely a must read for all Eve Dangerfield fans.

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#DGRFave & Review: Moti On The Water by @LEYLAHATTAR

August 14, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

MOTI ON THE WATER
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Leylah Attar
Release Date: August 13, 2019

A Greek family. An Indian family. A summer wedding on the Aegean coast…

Meet Moti Ferreira—spectacularly jinxed from the day she’s born.

Saddled with an eccentric mother, she stumbles upon the one man who holds the key to her freedom—the best man at her cousin’s upcoming wedding.

All Moti has to do is overcome her fear of water, board a yacht to the Greek Isles, seduce the dreamy Nikos Manolas, and survive two weeks at sea with her oddball family.

The only obstacle Moti doesn’t see coming is Alexandros Veronis, the onboard chef and star witness to her awkward mishaps. He transforms onions into chocolate and aroma into nostalgia. Day by day, his alchemy works its magic on Moti. But she’s not the only one falling under his spell. Everyone has a secret, growing round and ripe at Chef Alex’s table. When the masks fall off, they spill out one by one, and everything blows up in their faces.

Now Moti’s truth is exposed, and worse, she’s hooked on more than Alex’s midnight snacks. But this time, screwing up could be the best thing she’s ever done…

AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS

 

It was the strangest feeling—free-falling into someone else.

Are you looking for the perfect light-hearted summer read? Well look no further, friends, because it seriously doesn’t get any better then this book. Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding but with one side being a crazy and quirky Indian family and all of it set on the stunning and vivid backdrop of Greeke isles. Intrigued yet? Add into all that Leylah Attar’s colorful and magical story telling skill and what you’ve got is one unforgettable romance. Seriously. This was not just a romance, it was an experience. One where the story unravels like a stunning movie reel before your eyes and leaves you incapable of setting it down for even a setting.

There’s a magic formula between making your characters downright crazy and the perfect brand of eccentric. And Leylah Attar has found the secret sauce, because Moti and her family are something else. And oh my word, I loved it.

Some people will tell you that hunger is a sensation. Lies. Hunger is the mother of all emotions. Angry? Check how long it’s been since you last ate. Tired? You probably didn’t have enough to eat. Bored? You’re eating the same thing—same place, same time. Pretty much every disaster in human history can be traced back to the lack of a burrito.

Moti has spent almost all of her life trying to live up to her mother’s expectations of her. And the woman has some…interesting quirks to say the least. And when Moti finally meets a unicorn of a man at her cousin’s wedding, she thinks she’s finally got the key to freedom. Unfortunately for Moti, not everything goes according to plans.

Beyond the crazy families being stuck on a chartered yacht and Moti’s own eccentricities, there’s a bigger problem on board; her attraction to the chef, Alexandros.

I would’ve resented the dimple that formed on his cheek. When I was little, I prayed for dimples. And now I had them. On my ass. Naturally, people with properly-placed dimples irritated me.

I cannot tell you all just how much I adored everything about Moti. It wasn’t just her usual knack for catastrophes when she so much as breathes. Or her fear of water and disappointing her mother. Or her incredibly endearing inner monologue that I couldn’t get enough of. It was simply Moti. This imperfectly perfect character that had a smile on my face whenever she graced the pages. This is a woman that you can’t help but connect with because I think all of us have a little Moti in us.

Then there was Alex. Oh my swoon, this man. Can he BE any better? I think not. Between their sunset swimming lessons and his surprise midnight snacks with notes for Moti, I fell hard and fast for him. He was perfect. OH MY GOD he was perfect.

Moti on the Water was sheer magic set on a stunning backdrop and wrapped around a swoony romance; all of it told in Leylah’s unique voice made for one incredible read. This book is not to be missed and one I recommend for every romance reader out there. It’s easily one of my favorite reads this year!

Somewhere between the quest for a three-thumbed man, a cabin with no window, and a cloudless day on a rocky island, I fell for the chef.

Leylah Attar is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best Selling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She is the recipient of the 2017 Indie Reader Discovery Award for fiction. Her books, which include Mists of The Serengeti, The Paper Swan, 53 Letters for My Lover (#1) and From His Lips (a 53 Letters novella #1.5), have been published in nine languages.

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#DGRFave & Review: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

August 13, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

THE WALLFLOWER WAGER
Series: Girl Meets Duke #3
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Tessa Dare
Release Date: August 13, 2019

They call him the Duke of Ruin.

To an undaunted wallflower, he’s just the beast next door.

Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.

When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.

Not if he ruins her first.

AMAZON

She was a fool. A naïve, trusting, sheltered fool. And Gabe wanted to corrupt her so damned badly, his bones ached.

See that pile of satisfied reader goo in the corner? The one clutching her kindle to her chest and making moon eyes at the sky? That, my friends, is this girl after downright binging on the absolute perfection that was this story.

I don’t know how it’s possible for Tessa Dare to outdo herself with each book in this series, but my GOD does she. I loved the first book and thought nothing can top it, then I felt the same about the second book. And now reading the third, I’m convinced that this author is a mythical unicorn that farts rainbows and creates pure swoony magic with her stories. Yes, I realize most likely it’s immense skill and talent, but just go with me here. I’m still on cloud nine after finishing this phenomenal romance.

Now let’s talk about this story and everything that it had.

First, the third wallflower that gives the word eccentric a whole new meaning. A spinster by choice and an animal lover by nature, Penelope has an innate ability to find the weak and wounded and nurse them back to health. And over the years, she’s developed quite the collection of animals.

Dear Mr. Duke,
As requested, here is an inventory of the animals in my care: Bixby, a two-legged terrier. Marigold, a nanny goat of unimpeachable character, who is definitely not breeding. Angus, a three-year-old Highland steer. Regan, Goneril, and Cordelia—laying hens. Delilah, a parrot. Hubert, an otter. Freya, a hedgehog. Thirteen kittens of varying colors and dispositions.

But Penny’s skill of attracting the wounded and lost doesn’t just stop with animals. Enter Gabriel Duke, or the Duke of Ruin as he’s known to the lot.

Three things, however, never altered. He always woke with the dawn. He always woke hungry. And he always woke up alone. He had a set of rules when it came to sexual congress—he didn’t pay for it, he wouldn’t beg for it, and he damned well wasn’t going to wed for it.

I say this every time I read a book from this series, but I swear Gabe was my favorite hero to date. Broody, tortured, and hiding a heart of gold, this man absolutely stole mine. There’s something so vulnerable to his intensity. Beyond the ruthless and cold demeanor there’s a boyish charm to him that you can’t help but gravitate towards.

Then there’s Tessa’s signature brand of banter that will leave a goofy smile on your face and completely incapable to set the book down.

Every time I speak three words, you look as though you’re going to swoon into my arms.”
“I do not,” Penny objected, knowing very well that she probably did.
“You sigh like a fool, blush like a beet. Your eyes are the worst of it. They turn into these . . . these pools. Glassy blue pools with man-eating sharks beneath the surface.”
“I hope you’re not planning a career in poetry.”
“For the good of us both, you have to cease gazing at me.”

Penelope has made a deal with the devil when she agrees to allow the Duke of Ruin to help her meet the terms she’s promised to her aunt in order to not be forced to go back to her brother and eventually be forced to marry. Those terms? Finding a loving home for her beloved animals while letting the Duke introduce her back to the ton as something more than the quirky spinster.

The story is full of lovable secondary characters, including past favorites, and some of the most memorable and funny animals to grace the pages of a book. I couldn’t get enough of this!

Did I also mention the cameos?

I’ll look. I’m not afraid. I intend to be there for every moment of the miracle of my own child’s birth.” He crouched and squinted. “And . . . I’ve changed my mind.” Chase retreated to the far corner of the stall and sat on a crate, his pallor having turned a pale, sickly green.
“Fine,” Ashbury said. “I’ll do it. If I could stomach my own injuries from that rocket blast, I can stomach this.” He went to look, then reeled a step backward. “Oh, God. Something’s coming out.”
“Of course something’s coming out,” Gabe said. “A baby goat.”
“No,” Ash said grimly. “No.”
“If it’s not a goat, then what is it?”
“It’s a punishment for all my earthly sins, is what it is.”

This book was everything I’ve come to expect from the amazing Tessa Dare and so much more. It was romantic and heart warming. It had a tortured and protective hero. It had a quirky heroine with an understated inner strength that you can’t help but connect to. And it had the most swoony romance full of laughs that you never want to end. In a word? PERFECTION. An absolute must read for any historical romance fans out there!

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Review: Fortuna Sworn by KJ Sutton

August 8, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

FORTUNA SWORN
Series: Fortuna Sworn #1
Genre: Fantasy
Author: KJ Sutton
Release Date: July 1, 2019

We were meant to be seductive. We were designed to lure humans in.

Fortuna Sworn is the last of her kind.

Her brother disappeared two years ago, leaving her with no family or species to speak of. She hides among humans, spending her days working at a bar and her nights searching for him.

The bleak pattern goes on and on… until she catches the eye of a powerful faerie.

He makes no attempt to hide that he desires Fortuna. And in exchange for her, he offers something irresistible.

So Fortuna reluctantly leaves her safe existence behind to step back into a world of creatures and power.

It soon becomes clear that she may not have bargained with her heart, but her very life.

 

AMAZON


Nightmares may be lies, but we don’t have to be liars.”

Fortuna Sworn is book one of a new fantasy romance series by KJ Sutton. Right off the bat, I was intrigued by the blurb of this book.  Fortuna has been looking for her missing brother for two years so when she’s approached by a powerful faerie offering information about her brother in exchange for marriage, Fortuna went with him.

This book started off with a bang. Fortuna is a heroine with a really unique and scary power, and we are instantly treated to what she can do in the first chapter. I was intrigued and was instantly hooked especially when we meet Collith, the faerie king who seems to genuinely want to help her. It especially got interesting when Fortuna got to the Unseelie Court but this is also where pacing issues started to plague the book.

But aside from the pacing, I wasn’t too crazy about the drama and the fact that this could go into love triangle/love square territory. There isn’t one yet but the fact that there are 3 men vying for Fortuna’s attention, I could see it going that way. And while I don’t exactly hate it, I’m just over that trope. I’m tired of it because I would rather see other male characters be her friends and allies instead of her love interest?

It didn’t help that I disliked all three male lead characters at this point. I don’t know if this feeling will change in the next books but right now, I am somewhere between bored and actively hating all three of them. But this is just me being a hero-hater. I’ve seen other readers who’ve read this book loving and favoring one or two heroes vying for Fortuna’s attention.

That said, I enjoyed Fortuna’s trials immensely. It was, in my opinion, the best parts of the book because it showed readers her power and her potential to be a power player.

I won’t go into anymore details about the story but if you like faeries and faerie courts or love triangles, then I would recommend this book.

<i>Thanks to KJ Sutton for providing a copy of the book available for this review.</i>

 

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Review: Untamed Delights by Suzanne Wright

August 7, 2019 by ·

UNTAMED DELIGHTS
Series: The Phoenix Pack #8
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Suzanne Wright
Release Date: July 16, 2019

Return to the sensual and feral stirrings of the Phoenix Pack as a woman who’s already bound to one man is tempted by a wolf who’s bound only to his nightly desires.

Cat shifter Mila Devereaux can’t help but see it as a betrayal. That her one true mate imprinted himself on another female was hard enough to accept. Struggling to be at peace with her loveless fate, she doesn’t fight the suggestion of entering an arranged mating. Then she meets Dominic, a pack enforcer with a notorious reputation. It’s in his very scent. This irresistible playboy—and delicious badass wolf—is making Mila’s fantasies come alive again.

Alarming, compelling, and heady with sensual energy, Dominic is an expert at making women shed their inhibitions. Now everything about him—his killer smile, his perfectly sculpted body, and his smooth-as-honey voice—is drawing in a captivating new catch. But for the first time in his life, Dominic is feeling more than a fling. He finds himself tantalized by a female who makes him think of forever. He wants all of Mila and won’t be satisfied until he has it.

As the passion grows wild, so does the risk. They’re falling in love in the shadows and secrets of their pasts. And it’s threatening to destroy everything Mila and Dominic are fighting for. And are destined for.

AMAZON


I’ll bet you’re one of those guys who gives his cock a name.”
“I call mine ‘the truth.’”
“The truth?”
“Because women can’t handle it.”

Finally, my favorite goofball of the Phoenix Pack gets a book and he did NOT disappoint. Dom has been one of my absolute favorite secondary characters in this series. The man can deliver a cheesy pick up line like no other.

As it happens, my Alpha is considering having me committed. Especially since I keep claiming my watch is magic. But it really is.”
She gave him a droll look. “Is that so?”
“Oh yeah.” He glimpsed at his watch. “According to this, you’re not wearing underwear.”
Her brows drew together. “Actually, I am.”
“Really? Hmm.” Frowning, he tapped the watch. “Must be an hour fast.”

But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was a little afraid to read his book because of this. While Dom was great in small doses, I wasn’t sure how the author would pull off an entire book that may be full of his goofball tactics. So color me surprised when I learned that Dom is easily one of the most multi-layered characters I’ve read in this series. Seriously, y’all, the man’s layers have layers, and they’re DEEP. You think you know him, but there’s a wealth of pain that he keeps hidden under the goofball facade. And if you think you know what that pain is, you couldn’t be more wrong.

If there’s one thing that I love about Suzanne Wright, it’s her ability to deliver some of the sassiest and feistiest heroines ever. And when it comes Mila, she was no exception. I love the cute and fluffy yet vicious dynamic of the pallas cats, and Mila was awesome! This woman can kick some serious a$$ and look adorable doing it.

The story definitely didn’t disappoint either. Both Mila and Dom had a super intriguing story line. First with Dom’s love em and leave em past coming back to really bite him on the butt. And Mila dealing with the fallout of meeting her true mate but after he falls in love and imprints on her cousin.

In true Wright fashion there’s plenty of sizzle in this quick paced and action packed romance. Dom and Mila together were incendiary. I loved watching him really have to work for a female for once. And Mila sure mad him work. This is a woman that doesn’t give in easily, but when she does? FIREWORKS!!!

If you’ve been eagerly anticipating Dom’s book like I have been, you definitely won’t be disappointed with this one!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Lost In You by @authorlexiblake

August 6, 2019 by ·

LOST IN YOU
Series: Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense, BDSM
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: August 6, 2019

Robert McClellan was forced to serve as a soldier in a war he didn’t understand. Liberated by McKay-Taggart, he struggles every day to reclaim the life he lost and do right by the men he calls his brothers, The Lost Boys. Only one thing is more important – Ariel Adisa. The gorgeous psychologist has plagued his dreams since the day they met. Even as their mission pushes him to his limits, he can’t stop thinking about taking his shot at finding a life beyond all this with her.

Ariel Adisa is a force to be reckoned with. Her performance in Toronto proved she’s more than just a brilliant mind, but Robert still acts as if she is a wilting flower who needs his protection. Joining him on the mission to Munich should be the perfect opportunity to test their skills and cement their relationship. She and Robert are an excellent match. But when a stunning secret from Robert’s past is revealed, their world is turned upside down and nothing will ever be the same again.

While they chase dark secrets across Europe, Robert and Ariel realize that the only thing worse than not knowing who you are could be discovering who you used to be…

AMAZON

I don’t know about your other patients. I’m sure many fall in love with you because you’re an angel, but I want to bring out the devil in you. I want the dirty, nasty Ariel who will rock my world not with the power of her mind—but with every drop of the sexuality I intend to bring out in you

That shocked reader there, the one currently picking her jaw off of the floor? No, not that one. The OTHER one. Yes, the one that’s currently stalking Lexi Blake for any breadcrumbs from the next book. No, not that one! The other one! The one that’s currently rocking in the corner while slobbering something incoherent that sounds like ‘I need the next book’. Yes. Yes, that one. The pathetic looking one that’s clutching her kindle to her chest. Yep. That’s me! And don’t you judge me either! Because this book blew me away! AWAY I tells ya!

This was, hands down, bar none, my absolute favorite book in the series so far. And yes, I know I also said that about the last book. So that’s saying something, mkay? So. Freaking. Good.

Robert and Ari have been desperate for each other for years. Ever since Robert was first rescued from the clutches of the evil Dr. McDonald. But he knew his violent urges and inability to control the darkness in his mind made him dangerous to the beautiful psychologist. But Ari is so much more than she seems.

I’ll tell you guys, that I was afraid I was going to be bored considering there’s such a substantial connection that’s already established with this couple through the first two books. And the fact that they get together quite quickly made me nervous. I’m a reader that likes my angst and enjoys that delicious burn of anticipation for the couple to finally get together. But of course Lexi Blake made me eat my words. Because the romance was phenomenal!

There’s so much that’s happening as the team continues to try and unearth the secrets of their pasts and prevent Levi Green from getting his hands on the mind erasing drug that took their past lives away from them. Lost In You was non stop action with so many twists and turns, it will leave your head reeling.

In the midst of all that high octane action, you also get more details about Solo and Ezra, which left me damn near rabid for their book. Think Ian and Charlotte times ten! YES. It’s that good. Then there’s the development behind Tucker’s past and who really is Dr. Razor. And boy oh boy, let me just tell you, it’s delicious!!! I’m practically dying for that book.

Ari and Robert together were incendiary. Their connection is so strong, but with the secrets that Ari is keeping and the hidden truth of Robert’s past still standing between them, it’s not an easy road for them. I devoured this book, y’all! Like downright devoured. I couldn’t put it down for even a second. There’s so much that happens. Secrets unearthed. Truth revealed. Twists thrown in. It was totally and completely unputdownable. I’m utterly rabid for the next book!!!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, BDSM, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: , , ,

Review: Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

August 2, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PESTILENCE
Series: The Four Horsemen #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Laura Thalassa
Release Date: September 14, 2018

They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn’s town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless, of course, the angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed.

Too bad no one told her Pestilence can’t be killed.

Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he’s eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she’s with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her … and hers towards him.

And now, well, Sara might still be able to save the world, but in order to do so, she’ll have to sacrifice her heart in the process.

AMAZON

I cannot decide if you are a toxin or a tonic,” he says, lifting a hand to my cheek. “Only that you plague my thoughts and fill my veins.”

That moment when you read a book that everyone, their mother, their dog, and their uncle Jerry recommended to you…and you don’t like it.
I’m feeling a little like the black sheep of the book community right now because I know just how much so many of my book friends loved this book. And I wanted, so badly, to love it too. I tried, guys. I really REALLY did. But alas, this was just simply not my cuppa.

I’d like to preface this by saying that PNR is my jam. It was the genre the first got me into romance and so to say that I’m incredibly picky when it comes to it, would be a mild understatement. Perhaps that was one of the main reasons why I found this book falling short for me? I dunno. But I will say this, the author clearly has some major writing chops. I can definitely see why so many people enjoyed this one. But for me, there was just too many things that I couldn’t look past that began to chip away at my enjoyment of the story after the 20% mark.

1. The world building. It was there. Kinda? Not really. You get bits and pieces of the horseman and their “purpose” but just not enough for my tastes.

2. The purple prose. Sweet baby jebus the purple prose. I can’t with it, guys, I just can’t. And this book was riddled with it.

When you ignore me, I burn with restlessness; it feels as though the sun has turned its back on the world. And when you smile at me—when you gaze at me like you can see my soul—I feel … I feel like I am lit on fire, like you have been called by God to raze my world.”

On the one hand, it’s beautifully poetic. On the other hand, when it continues on and on, it gets to be too much for this reader.

3. The very many graphic deaths. Now look, I’ve read my share of gory details. I’ve read dark romance and romantic suspense, and I’m definitely no stranger to graphic depictions of death and sickness. But when those deaths are of children and sweet elderly couples? I don’t care what they add tot eh story or how they drive the plot forward, I can’t. I just can’t.

4. The romance. It was just meh for me, guys. I hate to admit it because you can definitely see that it was there, but I just didn’t click with it. It was torture porn disguised as romance, if I’m being perfectly frank. All of the deaths and gore simply overshadowed everything else. And that’s not even bringing up all of the shit that Pestilence puts Sara through.

5. Pestilence. GAH. I would have thought I’d love him, but man did I struggle. And no, it wasn’t because he kills so many innocents in the course of the story. It’s because he was a total beta hero in my eyes. Sure, he’s a big baddie with the diseases spreading and the kidnapping of our heroine after she tries to kill him in order to make her suffer. Sure he’s all tough and weapony and all that jazz. But he’s almost childlike in his idealistic views and understanding of human nature and interactions. I felt no alpha vibes from him in the least, and that’s a must for me. This is clearly a personal preference, so take that with a grain of salt.

Ultimately I found myself growing both bored and irritated with the story and all of the meaningless gory deaths and the back and forth between Pestilence and Sara. It felt almost preachy to me in parts because of the God references, but again, that’s another personal preference. I prefer my PNR to be strictly PNR. I’ve read another series by Larissa Ione on the Four Horseman Eternal Rider and sadly this book just pales in comparison. Perhaps it was because I kept comparing them that worked against it? I dunno. But sadly, this story just fell completely flat for me. I wanted to love it, but I barely got through it.

Would I read the rest of this series? Probably not. But I’ll definitely be giving this author’s other books a try. I loved her story telling, I just didn’t love this book and the concept.

Clearly I’m the lone black sheep here, because countless others absolutely loved this story. So don’t take my word as gospel. This is just one opinion here guys, with plenty of personal biases in play. So give it a shot and see for yourself.

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Review: Resist by K. Bromberg

July 31, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

RESIST
Series: Wicked Ways #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: July 30, 2019

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Driven series comes a powerful romance about reaching great heights through low depths.

Who says you have to play by the rules to get what you want?

Agreeing to meet Ryker Lockhart is my first mistake. Rich, handsome, and more than intriguing, he thinks blackmail will bend me to his will.

But he’s wrong.

I may have done a few things that weren’t exactly legal, but I have my own reasons for that. The last thing I’m going to do is let some high-powered divorce attorney come into my life, have my body, and rule my heart. Not to mention ruin everything that I have carefully built in just a short amount of time.

But as much as I try to resist him, and against my better judgment, there is something about him that has me agreeing to his proposal.

I’m putting everything on the line for him. I just hope I won’t lose everything when this is all over.

AMAZON

“It won’t be as easy as you think to walk away from the high life. Money is a powerful thing. Once you have it, it’s hard as hell to live without, Vaughn.”I start to protest but then realize he doesn’t get it. He knows how much he is paying me. He sees the expensive clothes and jewelry I have on but has no clue they are from thrift stores and pawnshops.

“I’ll walk away.”

The chuckle he emits scrapes over my nerves and irritates them. “No, you won’t. You’re addicted to the power of it. Of knowing you can bring a man to his knees. Of the ability to use your body to get exactly what you want.”

“You don’t know a thing about me.”

But the ghost of a smirk that plays at the corner of his mouth makes me fear he just might. “You don’t have to be embarrassed by it, Vaughn. I get off on the same type of power when I’m in court. It’s a high. Something once you have a taste of, you only seem to want more of.”

“Don’t paint your experience on my canvas,” I murmur.

“Here we are,” he says, pulling my attention to our surroundings instead of to him. We’re standing outside the entrance to The Club, and every part of me deflates a little at the thought of having to go back inside with him.

Of having to play more of the part, when this, me getting to be a little more of myself, has been so unexpected and nice.

“Here we are,” I repeat.

We stare at each other, the shadows of the night playing over his face and reminding me I barely know this man and that I do, in fact, want to know him more.

“I’d be more than happy to drive you home—”

“But—”

He puts a finger to my lips. “But that’s too personal.” He steps into me so that we’re both in the shadows now on the broad sidewalk.

“It’s too personal,” I agree as I draw in the scent of him, the feel of his palms as they run up and down my arms. And for the briefest of moments I forget what I’m doing here and that he’s paid me for it because all I can think about is him kissing me. All I want is him to.

“Why don’t we go—”

His lips close ever so slowly over mine so that I have no choice but to sink into the kiss. A kiss that’s soft and tender when every other one we’ve shared thus far has been raging with a lascivious desire.

But not this one.

My body heats up nerve by nerve. Muscle by muscle. Sensation by sensation.

Until he leans back so his forehead rests against mine and we breathe in the same air.

“Good night, Vaughn.”

What?

My head snaps up as Ryker takes a step back, regret owning every part of his expression, including the desire warring in his eyes.

“I don’t understand.” Flummoxed, I stand where I am and just watch him as he takes another step back and points to the taxi pulled up to the curb at my back.

“Your cab is here.” His smile is pained.

“But . . .”

He lifts a hand in silent goodbye before he turns the corner, leaving me staring after him as the taxi driver ushers me into the cab.

Tears sting my eyes as he pulls away from the curb.

Ryker just gave me exactly what I asked for—no sex—and yet every part of me is confused by it.

Because I want him.

And now I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do about it.

She’s like goddamn lightning—that’s what she is. She strikes without warning and is going to singe every damn part of me no matter what kind of shelter I try to hide under.

This book. OMG y’all!!! This. Book.

*licks every finger*

This was one of the most delicious enemies to lovers books I’ve read in a while. I can’t even. Still can’t even. It was just that satisfying.

I’ve been a long time fan of K. Bromberg, but I never expected her to write THIS level of alphahole. But not only did she, but she made me fall head over ovaries for the man, all logic forgotten.

Now let’s talk about this for a hot second, because I will say that if serious alphaholes aren’t your jam, this book isn’t for you, my friend. But this girl? Devoured it with the type of fangirling glee that this author seems to bring out in me. GAH!

I’m not a fixer. I’m not a man who wants to step in and save the day. Far from it. I’m too goddamn selfish to be that way. So why am I walking into this knowing there’s bound to be complications?

Rycker Lockhart is a devastatingly handsome and incredibly successful divorce attorney. He’s cold, ruthless and all business. He learned early on that women are a complication that he doesn’t need beyond a night. He’s also the demanding client of a secret escort service that caters to the rich and power hungry.

The heroine is the owner of the escort service that’s doing what she needs in order to get something that means the world to her with all the odds stacked against her. She’s tough as nails yet with a core of vulnerability that I couldn’t help but connect to immediately. This is a woman that has no problem being the first to say no to Ryker, who’s none too pleased to hear it. But then he makes her an offer that she’d be insane to turn down.

The story is one big power play in motion and I for one devoured it. The constant push and pull, back and forth, cat and mouse game that these two had going utterly owned and captivated me. I couldn’t get enough of it, no matter how frustrating it got. It was just so delicious. UGH.

Ryker is almost maddening in the games he plays. The man is ruthless with a capital R. This is no knight in shining armor. This is a man with some demons and an ice wall around his heart. I was completely enraptured by him. As much as he frustrated me at times, I still couldn’t get enough of him.

The characters are multilayered and the author peels back their layers page by page, until you’re ravenous for more. They both have so much depth, which I seriously loved. It’s so much more than a power play between a ruthless man and a desperate woman. There’s plenty of secrets and twists that will keep you glued to the pages. And then that ending!!! I. DIE. I need. NEED the next book desperately!!!

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.


A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018.

She is currently working on her Everyday Heroes trilogy. This series consists of three complete standalone novels—Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit (late spring 2018)—and is about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

Connect with K. Bromberg

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | GoodReads

Join her Reader Group: http://bit.ly/1PMUoG3

Stay up to date with K. Bromberg by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

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Review: Nothing But This by Natasha Anders

July 30, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BroNOTHING BUT THIS
Series: Broken Pieces #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: July 30, 2019

A married couple yearns to rediscover lost love in this novel about forgiveness, reconciliation, and emotional growth.

It’s always been complicated between Libby Lawson and Greyson Chapman—and married life isn’t any simpler. But when Libby gets pregnant, she at last sees a bright future ahead. There’s just one problem: Greyson says he’s sterile.

Furious, Greyson abandons the young family. Equally furious and deeply hurt, Libby cuts all ties with him. After all these years, it seems their relationship has finally expired. But love is resilient and endures even when you don’t want it to. Greyson still longs for Libby, and though Libby’s heartbroken by Greyson’s lack of trust, she holds out hope for a complete, happy family.

And so they embark on the journey back to each other, wary of all the obstacles between them. It’s been a long road already—one strewed with fear, doubt, and misunderstandings. Will they keep looking to the past, or will they look to each other and walk hand in hand toward a broad new horizon?

AMAZON

I’ve been trying to find the right words. The proper combination of sounds that would make you forgive me, that would make up for what I said and did. But those words don’t exist.”


Ever since Natasha Anders introduced Grey and Libby in More Than Anything, I’ve been completely enamored and invested in their story. If there’s one thing that I love more than a hero that royally screws up with his woman, it’s watching him grovel to get back into her good graces again. And this book? It’s one long, delicious, and emotional grovel.

Now I love a good alphahole as much as the next girl, but this book didn’t focus on that. You get plenty of Grey’s generally cold disposition in the first book. Enough of it to know that when the man makes a mistake, it’s the biggest mistake of his life. This book focuses on him dealing with the repercussions of that mistake and trying to grovel his way back and somehow make amends. You get flashbacks of what transpired to bring Grey and Libby to the point where they are now. I loved that Libby really grew into herself in this book. She goes from a besotted girl to a woman that’s not afraid to make him work for it. She’s not willing to forgive and forget, nor should she. I mean, the man thought their child was the result of an affair.

The flow is really organic and the pacing is superb. It highlights every bump along their road and twists and turns your heart right along with them. Their journey is painful and emotional and totally enrapturing.

Nothing But This was a painfully beautiful story of second chances. It was sweet, funny, and utterly gut wrenching in parts. It wasn’t an overly angsty read but it was certainly an emotional one. I really loved this book. It was a gripping and charming and hits every single feel.

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Review: The Guy On The Right by Kate Stewart

July 29, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

THE GUY ON THE RIGHT
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult Romance
Author: Kate Stewart
Release Date: July 29, 2019

Strike One-My mother named me Theodore after her favorite chipmunk.

Not cool, Mom.

I‘ve spent most of my life answering to Teddy, because I couldn’t make Theo work.

Except for here. College. The place where all bets are off, and I’ve managed to redeem myself.
There’s only one problem, my new roommate, Troy, is football royalty and looks like he stepped off the set of an Abercrombie shoot.

Doesn’t matter, I cook a mean breakfast for his panty parade, and we get along well.
And anyway, this year I got the girl. And she’s perfect.

That’s right. Theodore Houseman, former band geek, now marching band rock star has finally landed the girl of his dreams.

Everything is perfect.

That is, until Troy takes a good look at her.

I’m not going down without a fight. As a matter of fact, I’m not going down at all. As glorious as these days may be for my all-star roommate, Laney is my end game.

I may not know much about play strategy, but I’ve been the good guy my whole life. I’ve been listening and I know exactly what women want. Framed in a picture standing next to me, Troy may seem like Mr. Perfect, but he’s underestimating the guy on the right.

Spoiler alert: In this story, the underdog is going to win.

AMAZON

We shouldn’t fit, but we do, and our fit is nothing short of spectacular. There’s no wool in the world thick enough to make me blind to that. 

If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, this is simply a must read. The Guy On The Right was one of those books that sneaks up on you and makes you fall head over heels. It’s cute, light and somewhat unassuming at first. You meet Theodor, Teddy to his annoying sisters, and his fall fast and hard for his subtle and down to earth charm. The guy is roommates with the biggest manwhore on campus and football royalty. So he’s used to flying under the radar of Troy’s hotness. After his last relationship left him decimated, he’s not exactly the most confident of guys. But then an accidental meeting changes everything.

I’ve most definitely been friend-zoned, or in my case, Teddy’d.

Laney just got out of another disastrous relationship. After coming to the conclusion that she’s been dating the wrong men, she decides that a break from penis is exactly what she needs.

I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m done with Batman.”
“What?”
“It’s a syndrome. A type. I’m done.”
…
“Think about it, Batman is the booty call superhero. Sexy-half face, looks amazin’ in the uniform, BUT, he only answers to the signal, at night. He never takes off his mask and only reveals his true colors once he’s already bedded the girl. I’ve been dating nothing but Batmen.”

When Theo accidentally overhears her drunken breakup and later runs into Laney again, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them. This soon turns to something that catches both of them unaware. The bond between them becomes so strong that it soon leads to the realization that there’s definitely something else beneath the friendly jokes and camaraderie. Something that Theo and Laney are both too nervous to act on so that they don’t ruin their friendship.

Admittedly, the first 40% of the book had a lot of dialogue. The buildup between these two was very much a slow burn. While I love a good slow burn, I did struggle a little to get into the story. There’s a lot of camaraderie that happens that was cute to read about but didn’t feel…necessary. At least not for me. But then, right around the 40% mark, the story totally snuck up on me and clobbered me over the head with the cute feels. I was completely enamored with the characters and the story and couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. I was totally sucked in!

The second half of this book was absolute swoony perfection. I loved watching Theo really come into his own and let that hidden dominant side out. I loved that he was a genuine nice guy but still very much an alpha. I adored his protective and sweet side. And I absolutely fell head over heels for his insecure and vulnerable side.

Laney was a wonderful heroine. I loved her sass and backbone and the way she wasn’t shy about fighting for Theo, even if it was Theo himself. I loved how she loved him. But I especially loved watching their relationship slowly and organically blossom into something more. At first I was afraid that she had more chemistry with Troy and Theo would fade into the background. But I was so happy that wasn’t the case. Theo was very much the center of the story.

This was one of those light hearted and funny romances that’s slow to start but sizzles oh so hot when it finally gets going. Adorably sweet with just the right amount of sexy, it stole my heart and kept a smile on my face from beginning to finish. I can’t wait to get Troy’s story next!

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