Review: Heartless King by Maya Hughes

April 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

HEARTLESS KING
Series: Kings of Rittenhouse #5
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: April 23, 2020

Two blue lines. That means not pregnant, right? Right? Oh, sh*t.

Five years ago, Colm Frost asked me to marry him and I ran. I ran from my painful past too raw and fresh to escape. He was the only one who looked at me like I wasn’t broken and made me believe it. He made me feel it.

Now, he’s the hot, angry, hockey player on the mend.

I’m the physiotherapist who’s supposed to get him back on his feet.

I don’t think our night together was what his doctor prescribed, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t dreamt of him every time I close my eyes. I woke up beside him with my body still singing from the way he fanned the flames of my desire, but I couldn’t stay.

His lips on my neck. His hands wrapped around my waist. His impressive…ahem, touch leaving me breathless.

One moment of wild inhibition and it’s come back to bite me in the butt. Kind of like he did that night.

But a baby? Our night was supposed to be a one time thing, closing a door on the future I couldn’t handle.

Will this new bump in the road be everything we needed to find our forever?

Heartless King is a standalone friends to enemies to lovers, accidental pregnancy romance that brings all the laugh out loud, angsty feels!

AMAZON

Imogen was a dangerous element to introduce to my life. She made me feel whole when I wasn’t. She made me feel things were possible that weren’t. She made me want things I couldn’t have.

Colm Frost. Oh you poor broken soul, you.

This book introduced an interesting dilemma for me. On the one hand, I absolutely hated Colm in the previous book as a secondary character. I’m talking HATED him. Like wanting to reach through the book and twist his nuts off sort of hate. Yeah. That serious. But on the other hand, I was desperate to know more about the man and what makes him tick. There had to be some serious hidden pain for him to lash out as he did, and boy was I right.

I held onto that anger because it was a hell of a lot better than the crushing sadness, the loneliness and rejection that had become the hallmark of my life with everyone other than the Kings.

First of all, if you’re planning to read this as a standalone; don’t. Seriously. Yes, technically there’s enough background given to be able to understand everything, but you’d also be missing a lot of overarching story arcs and background that the previous books paved the foundation for. Trust me on this. You’d enjoy this book so much more if you read it in order. And you’d also be able to understand Colm a whole lot better as well.

Reeling on the heels of finding out his sister went behind his back and set fire to all of their plans while also dating his teammate and best friend behind his back was the catalyst that set everything in motion. Colm was already a live wire of feeling, but this was the straw the broke the camel’s back. He’s tired of being the good guy. The reliable guy. The guy that gives up everything to do what’s right and puts everyone first. But his new look on life is also one full of fiery self destruction fueled by anger and a pain kept hidden for years. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol and lost in a haze of partying and resentment, Colm may lose everything, including his spot on the team. His teammates and friends are desperate to help him, and the only solution they find is Imogen.

Imogen and Colm have a history dating back five years, but it’s certainly not as simple as the blurb makes it seem. Imogen is still working through the pain of losing her fiancé. It’s been over five years, but as much as everyone around her tries to get her to move on, she simply can’t. The only man that seems to be the exception to the rule, is Colm, and he comes with issues of his own.

As a physiotherapist, Imogen offers to help him recover from his recent injury to get him back on the ice. But this is no simple relationship. There’s a connection there that burns bright, but both Imogen and Colm seem to not be able to help self destruction.

Man, I loved and hated these two together. While Colm comes off as selfish and irrational in some of his anger at first, this book begins to peel back the layers, and soon you understand just how deep it goes. Imogen was the perfect salve to his tortured soul. But Imogen has issues of her own. Their chemistry was undeniable. I’m not usually a reader that goes for the surprise baby trope, but it seriously worked here. This was the perfect book to end the series with. And while there were parts of the story where I still wanted to strangle Colm and shake some sense into him, I grew to love him, faults and all by the end.

If you’ve read this series, you certainly won’t want to miss the conclusion.


Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.

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Review: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

April 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sarah Hogle
Release Date: April 7, 2020

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves–and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

AMAZON 

Through the windshield, he murders me with his eyes. He’s got his entire soul compressed right up against his irises and they’re the color of hatred. They desperately want telekinetic powers so they can blow me into the sky, through the fabric of our universe and into another one. I hope it’s a parallel universe with a parallel Nicholas and Naomi. I want to torture him with two of me.

Truth be told I struggled with my rating for this book. A lot. I’m blown away that this was Sarah’s debut novel. I was immediately hooked when I read the blurb. It was something refreshingly different in the lover to enemies to lovers trope. I mean, an engaged couple, in a battle of wills, a la War of Roses, to see who calls off their doomed relationship first? A grumpy heroine, a snooty hero, meddling parents, and plenty of tiny disasters combine for one amazing read. Seeing that so many of my friends loved this book, I went into it with pretty high expectations. And I think that may have played against me here, so take my review with a grain of salt.

I wish Nicholas were handsier—I mean handier,” I say, stealing the spotlight right back. “I’ve been performing maintenance duties by myself. But I’ve been getting better results, interestingly enough.” Nicholas’s stare is dehydrating. “Sounds unlikely.”
“Maintenance duties?” Deborah repeats, turning to him. “Has something broken? Naomi shouldn’t be trying to fix anything. She could make it worse.”
“I have no choice,” I tell her in a low, conspiratorial voice. “It’s a desperate situation…”

Admittedly, I struggled with the first 40% of the story. It dragged a little and I kept finding myself skimming. The characters felt a little blah and I just kept waiting for the moment they would jump off the pages for me. Luckily the second part of the book really brought that much needed zing. The banter here was amazing. The hilarious way Nicholas and Naomi tried to push each other into an out was entertaining as all get out. The fact that the story is written entirely in Naomi’s POV actually increased the enjoyment for me because I discovered the true depth of her fiance right as she did. There was something so magical about this. Granted I would have loved to be in Nicholas’s head a little bit, but that would have been icing on the cake.

This was a fun, light hearted romcom from an author that is now going straight to my auto buy list. If you’re looking for steam, this won’t have much of it, but the tiny bit that it had was a perfect fit. If you’re looking for a hilarious contemporary romance with plenty of banter and zing, this had it in spades.

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Review: The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jiminez

April 24, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

THE HAPPY EVER AFTER PLAYLIST
Genre: ContemporaryRomance
Author: Abby Jiminez
Release Date: April 14, 2020

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zonecomes an adorable and fresh romantic comedy about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers.

Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can’t seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a “take me home” look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker’s owner reaches out. He’s a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan’s not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can’t deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There’s no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

AMAZON 

I would notice you in a crowd of a million.”

I’ve been dying for Sloan’s story ever since the end of The Friend Zone made me cry my eyes out. I loved her and Brandon so much, it was difficult to imagine the man that would make Sloan’s heart beat again. But man, oh man, never in a million years could I have imagined the perfection that was Jason.

Sloan has been a shell of herself for two years since the tragic loss of her fiancé. Her love for Brandon was one of a kind. But sometimes, life gives you a second chance that you never see coming. For Sloan, this comes in the form of a dog that literally jumps through her sunroof and into her car after she almost hits him while driving. She takes the dog in while trying to get in touch with the owner, and quickly falls hard for the adorable mutt. When the owner finally calls looking for his dog, she’s not ready to let go.

Now, admittedly, I’m a little over the rockstar element in books. But Jason was so different. He’s a rising talent on the music scene and one of the most down to earth men I’ve read in a while. He’s charming, sweet, and incredibly patient. Their relationship starts through a series of funny texts and phone calls that I couldn’t get enough of. I love that they get to know each other before they even know what the other looks like. Jason falls hard and fast for the mysterious woman that refuses to share what she looks like or give his dog bag. He’s determined to woo her for a date. And woo her he does. The man woos her so hard. It was DELICIOUS.

Now I will say, I loved the sweet undercurrent of the book. I really did. I loved the slow build of a relationship between Sloan and Jason. I loved that Jason was a genuinely nice guy. I loved that he was so patient when it comes to Sloan and didn’t try to replace her dead fiancé or felt threatened by his memory. I loved that he treated her right.

What I didn’t love is a lot of the drama around the industry part of Jason. I wished that the time spent on the drama was spent more on seeing Sloan come out of her shell. It was just a touch too much for me, especially at the end. This is entirely personal preference, so take this with a grain of salt. I’m just not a fan of OTT drama, and this felt like OTT for me. It did drive the plot forward, so it certainly wasn’t aimless, but it did nothing for me either. I think I was just so invested in Sloan’s HEA after the events of The Friend Zone, that I wished more time was spent on her personal growth and moving on rather than Jason’s industry drama. I think this is why I’m over the whole rockstar thing in my books, because the industry drama sort of comes along with the territory.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still loved the romance here. SO MUCH. And the ending? Absolute perfection. It wasn’t the laugh out loud hilarious sort of romance that Friend Zone was, but it was a sweet and emotional one that was just as satisfying.

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Review: Madam Temptress by Meghan March

April 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Madam Temptress
Series: Magnolia Duet #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Meghan March
Release Date: April 14, 2020

I didn’t choose this path. No one would.

I played the cards I was dealt.

The life made me. The city made me.

I won’t apologize for who I’ve become.

Moses wouldn’t have me any other way.

He says he want forever, and I’m starting to believe him.
But I can’t outrun my past, and my sins are catching up with me.
It’s time to atone, I’ll gladly pay my penance.

We might be getting our second chance, but we have to make it out alive first.

Madam Temptress is the conclusion of the Magnolia Duet and should be read after Creole Kingpin.

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I’ll always find my way back to you, mama. That’s one thing I can guarantee.”

An epic conclusion to an epic romance!

I fell hard and fast for Moses and Magnolia in book one. I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance. And when that second chance comes for a baddie that played the villain in a previous series? Bring. It. On. I’m also a sucker for imperfect heroines, and Magnolia is definitely that. The woman fought and clawed her way through survival. She was a madam. She was a survivor. And she’s a woman that demands her man fights hard for her.

Admittedly, Moses and Magnolia took a little bit of a backseat for me in the first 70% of the book. I was so enraptured with all things Mount, that I lost a bit of focus with them. They were really settling into their love, and my angst craving heart was a bit disconnected from the romance bit. That’s not to say I wasn’t totally in love with them, because I couldn’t get enough. It was just a lower sizzle than it was in book one, which was understandable because they were moving on. The angst of the relationship passed and now they were focusing on the external threats of the danger to Magnolia’s life.

If there’s one thing March can do epically, it’s write one twisty and suspenseful tale. And the hunt for the mysterious man threatening Magnolia’s life was one twist after another. There was one bomb after another, until finally all hell breaks lose in the last 20% and OH MY GOD. It was brilliant. I was completely riveted to the pages.

Talk about your epic conclusion, y’all. This one had everything. And I do mean everything. Including some more Mount POV. What? I’m a sucker for this man. And I was a sucker for the perfect ending.

 

Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.

Sign up for Meghan’s newsletter and receive exclusive content that she saves for her subscribers:   http://meghanmarch.com/subscribe

 

To get the inside scoop on a daily basis, search Meghan March’s Runaway Readers on Facebook and join the fun!

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Excerpt & Review: Wicked Ever After by Shayla Black

April 8, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

WICKED EVER AFTER
Series: Wicked & Devoted #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic, Suspense
Author: Shayla Blake
Release Date: April 7, 2020

He’s dangerous. She’s his—even if he scares her. But once he unravels her secrets,

he’ll risk everything to claim her for good.

 

Sniper Pierce “One-Mile” Walker nearly had everything he ever wanted—until a fateful mission stripped it all away. Now an outcast, he’s forced to watch the off-limits beauty who stole his heart slip through his fingers. Left with nothing but revenge, he’s determined to defeat evil and win her back. But when he learns she’s planning a future without him, he vows he’ll break every rule and defy all odds to make her his again—forever.

Brea Bell was always a good girl…until Pierce Walker. Despite everyone’s warnings, she gave the rough warrior her body—and her heart. When she receives news that shatters her world, he devastates her by walking away. Terrified of losing all she’s ever known, Brea tucks away her dreams and commits to a “safe” future. Then Pierce appears in the dead of night, challenging and seducing her. Brea isn’t sure she can trust him…but she also can’t say no.

Angry and betrayed, he leaves to pursue vengeance, while her sins are exposed to the world, forcing her to fight painful battles. Can Brea and Pierce conquer the dangers that threaten their happily ever after…or will fate wrench them apart forever?

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Start the duet, today, with Wicked As Sin!

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Brea trailed the hostess through the dim restaurant. Pierce dropped his hot palm on the small of her back all the way to a booth in one dark corner. She sat and slid in on one side. Instead of sitting on the other, he plopped next to her, nudging her almost against the wall, his big body pressed against hers from shoulder to knee.She shivered. “What are you doing?”

“Being as close as possible so I can kiss you whenever I want. And touch your pussy. That’s important, too.” He winked.

Fire scalded her blood, battling her embarrassment. “You can’t do that here.”

“Why not? I’ll keep it under the table. No one but us will know. Well, unless you scream.”

With him touching her, chances were high that she would. Brea blushed.

It was impossible to tell from his grin if he was serious.

“Do I have to set ground rules? No touching my private parts in public.”

“Ah, c’mon. I probably won’t get to touch you later tonight. Don’t take one of my favorite toys from me.”

“My girl bits are not a toy.”

“But I love to play with them.” His black eyes danced as he leaned in to brush kisses along her neck. And then he dropped a hand on her thigh.

Apparently he was serious.

He would stop at nothing, burn down the world—whatever it took—to remove the obstacles between them until he called her his for good.

The much awaited conclusion to Brea and One-Mile’s story is finally here and it was fantastic! One Mile has been a character that I’ve been salivating since he first made an appearance as a secondary character. Admittedly, Brea wasn’t a character that hit my radar with her overload of sweet innocence. Then I read Wicked Ever After (One-Mile and Brea, part two) and I realized there may be something more to Brea then meets the eye at first.

Two things happened in this book:
1. Brea seriously grew on me
2. I decided I no longer want Cutter to get hit by a bus

Now look, if you’ve read the first book of this duet, then you know why I say that. I hated Cutter and his treatment of One Mile. He was an a-hole with a capital A. Luckily in this book he finally begins to see beyond the first impression he had of One Mile.

Break finally grows a backbone. She really comes into her own in this book and I loved watching this happen. I loved the way that she found her voice and learned to speak what she wants and go after it.

I love Brea and One Mile together. The man is utterly obsessed with her. He’s crude and rude but he worships the ground his woman walks on and then talks dirty to her behind closed doors. Swoon!

There’s plenty of action mixed into this to really spice things up. I particularly loved the way that things get resolved at the end. Admittedly my only quibble with the story is that it just didn’t grab me as much as the first book. I was a bit bored in parts and found myself skimming a bit. Ultimately this was still a fantastic conclusion to one of my most anticipated books and I highly recommend if you’re looking for something steamy with an uber alpha and plenty of action.

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty novels. For over twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Connect with Shayla

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Review: Bastard Boss by Sara Ney

April 7, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

BACHELOR BOSS
Series: The Bachelor Club #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sara Ney
Release Date: January 28, 2020

What is The Bachelors Club?

It’s a gentleman’s club—like the dignified men of the past used to have. Except, we’re not gentleman, and we’re not dignified.

We’re ineligible bachelors, bored, jaded and not looking for relationships. Quite the opposite actually. So committed to being single, we’ve created a high stakes bet to see who can remain single the longest…

Four days co-habitating in a shared work space shouldn’t be a big deal. It shouldn’t be distracting. But Spencer Standish saw me puking in a company trash can, and won’t let me live it down. Cheerful, aggravating Spencer, who wants me to fetch her coffee.

As if she’s the boss of me.

And now I’m stuck sharing her office.

Let’s face facts: I can’t be in a relationship; not when there’s a bet to win—not with Spencer, who loves my uncontrollable basset hound, lazy Sundays, and grilled cheese as much as I do. I refuse to fall for her.

I will be the last Bachelor standing.

AMAZON

Fishing for a boyfriend in the workplace pond is by far the worst idea I’ve ever had. Is it stopping me from flirting my perky tits off? Not one bit.

This was a light-hearted, easy, and fluffy romance, and also just what the Dr prescribed when I wanted to take my mind off of everything happening right now. It was one of those reads that you can enjoy in one sitting, completely shut your mind off, and just put a smile on your face. I love Ney’s brand of humor, and this definitely brought all of the banter with a dash of enemies-to-lovers, office romance trope. It was adorable!

Phillip and Spencer are unwilling office mates while Phillip is basically squatting in his office while the part of the building where he works is being remodeled. And when Spencer watches him spitefully eat a bagel with expired cream cheese and later chuck it all up in a waste basket soon after, it’s hate at first sight. They bicker non-stop and it’s oh so delicious because beneath that is a spark of attraction that sizzles so strong.

This was definitely a slow burn, and if I’m being perfectly honest, a bit too slow for me in parts. I loved the bantering between Spencer and Phillip, but the romance doesn’t fully pick up until well over the 75% mark of the book, and then wraps up too quickly for me to have truly gotten to enjoy it.

The one thing I really love in this series is the inclusion of the quirky pets. Book one brought an evil cat and this one brought an irreverent basset hound.

While I can’t say that this book was perfect, it was still one that I enjoyed, fluffy or not. It was cute and light-hearted read that was fast-paced even while being a slow burn. I love Ney’s brand of douchebags best, but I’m definitely still enjoying her Bastards quite a bit.

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Review: Stealing Cinderella by A. Zavarelli

April 2, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

STEALING CINDERELLA
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: A. Zavarelli
Release Date: April 2, 2020

Every royal has their dirty little secret. His was… me.

It should have been simple.

Go to the ball, meet the prince, and secure his patronage for my favorite charity.

But beneath the mask, the brooding beast of a man was not at all who I expected.

He was dark and intense and eerily quiet.

When I left, I could still feel the ghost of his touch branded into my skin.

He haunted my dreams, but I never expected to see him again.

Then he came for me.

And he took me.

And I learned that his darkness was a void I never could have conceived.

He’s the crown prince of Norway.

And, now, I’m his captive.

AVAILABLE NOW! FREE IN KU!

AMAZON 

 

Against my better judgment, I’m here. I’m giving him two months of my life to torment me, control me, own me.

Oh this book was all sorts of yummy. Full disclosure, I don’t really bother to read blurbs when A. Zavarelli releases a new book. I already know I’ll be reading this. But when I realized this was a modern-day retelling of Cinderella with a dark twist, I’m pretty sure my need for this book became rabid.

He’s a beautiful terror. A hypnotic aura of black and red. I’ve never wanted anything so much.

I love the inner workings of this woman’s brain that allows her to come up with these captivating anti-heroes. And when said anti-heroes are in place of prince charming? Sign me the hell up!

Ella tragically lost her father in the worst way possible, only to be left behind with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters that live to make her life hell. Forced into an almost servitude existence with them, Ella will do anything to escape their ire. Admittedly, I was frustrated with her at first. I like my heroines with a backbone, and seeing Ella take everything these women threw at her was painful. Then I had to talk myself off the ledge and remind myself that this IS Cinderella we’re talking about. And then I was even more pleasantly surprised to see Ella really grow into her own and develop a spine of steel.

His is a high that a chemical can’t give me. A force of nature true to his namesake. He is the God of Thunder.

Thorsen is the anti-thesis to the prince Charmings out there. The man is cold, aloof, and being the oldest twin brother, he’s up to take the throne after his father. His childhood has been anything but sweet, and made the man he is today. His beloved mother is dying and his cruel father that he can barely tolerate is threatening him to marry for duty. Then a charity ball allows him to set eyes on a mysterious beauty, and his obsession begins. When he finally discovers her, he’ll stop at nothing to have her. Even if he has to trap her, kidnap her, and keep her at his beck and call. GAH. DELICIOUS.

I loved how Zavarelli made this story her own while also keeping true to the bones of the Cinderella tale. It was sinfully sexy, deliciously gritty, and oh so dark and depraved. I devoured this book in one sitting. I loved Thor in all of his dark depravity. The man is sin personified and I couldn’t get enough of his tortured self. I loved watching Ella give as good as she got even when the odds were stacked against her. I especially loved watching Thor fall deeper and deeper under Ella’s spell, no matter how much he fought it.

If you like your fairy tales with a modern day dark twist, this book is simply not to be missed! 

 

A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.

When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.

She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.

Connect w/A. Zavarelli:

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Review: Queen of Lies by Whitney G.

March 22, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

QUEEN OF LIES
Series: Empire of Lies #2
Genre: Dark, Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney
Release Date: February 17, 2020

Book 2 in the Empire of Lies trilogy.

 

The twists and turns in Michael & Meredith’s story continue…

The woman I fell in love with is a walking contradiction…

She’s sexy as hell, yet infuriating.

Hopelessly in love with me, but carefully plotting to get the hell away.

She honestly thinks that I’m the ‘king of lies’?

Well, she f-cking fooled you…

 

She’s the queen.

AMAZON 

She was a mere chapter in my book and this is our final page. No happily ever after included.

I’ll keep this short and sweet. I devoured the first book. I was so sucked into this story, it’s not even funny. It had the delicious vibes of the Whitney G books I fell in love with in Reasonable Doubt: Full Series.

I devoured this too, but it was also missing something. Ultimately, with the short length of these books, I was hoping that each installment would offer more depth. But that wasn’t quite the case here. The story continues to move forward, but it’s too quick paced. I struggled with buying into the connection between Michael and Meredith. There’s simply not enough meat here for me to get fully invested. The bones are there. But it’s missing quite a bit of backstory. I’m hoping the final installment will bring that, but I just couldn’t help but feel this one merely grazed the surface of what it could have been

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Review: King of Lies by Whitney G.

March 21, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

QUEEN OF LIES
Series: Empire of Lies #1
Genre: Dark, Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney
Release Date: January 30, 2020

The man I fell in love with is a f*cking liar…

I don’t have much time to reveal all the details, but I will say this: The “Woman disappears after wedding” and “Woman flees before honeymoon” headlines are lying.

I’m not missing.

I didn’t run away after my wedding.

I would’ve never run away right before our scheduled honeymoon.

My husband has taken me.

No, correction: He’s kidnapped me because he claims that “it’s what’s best”. That I’m a mere pawn in his twisted game of chess.

Despite the fact that my heart is still tethered to his, or the fact that he’s still the most gorgeous and beautiful man I’ve ever met in my life (he can still make me wet with a single sentence), I have to focus on getting away from him.

I have to accept that he’s no longer the man I fell in love with.

He’s the king of lies…

AMAZON 

The man I married no longer exists. The king of my heart is long gone, and he wears a new name. He’s the king of lies.

Heed the warning! The author makes it very clear that this is a different book than what we’re used to from her and ends on a major cliff. She ain’t lying, people. This is certainly edgier than anything I’ve read of hers in the past. And having read her entire backlist, I really do mean that. It also held notes of the vintage Whitney G that I’ve missed since reading Reasonable Doubt and Turbulence.

The story features a mysterious and enigmatic anti-hero with a sexual prowess that practically sparks off of the pages. And you know I’m all about that! This is a somewhat short read and the story is broken into what’s planned to be a trilogy. It doesn’t look like we’re going to have to wait long between books either with the next one releasing in March.

Now what can I tell you without disclosing any spoilers for you? Umm…almost nothing. *sheepish grin*

I’ll tell you that I read this in one sitting. The story seems a bit convoluted at first, but Whitney brings a lot of the pieces together at the end while still leaving you desperate for answers. It’s told in alternating POVs with parts in present and the rest in the past leading up to the current events. The story is fed to the reader in short somewhat hazy glimpses. The anti-hero is deliciously dirty, as only Whitney knows how to deliver. We know next to nothing about him, except for the few small bits that are slowly disclosed.

The heroine is pretty easy to like from the very beginning. Perhaps because she’s so open about her sexuality. She’s been in a bit of a dry spell and isn’t above using Tinder to find a spark that will keep her warm for a night. She’s also an heiress that gave it all up to live a life of her own, until everything as she knows it comes crashing down when a short affair with a gorgeous stranger turns her work upside down.

It’s tough to rate this one with so many questions still up in the air, but it kept me glued to the pages and left me desperate for more. I can’t wait for the next installment!

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Review & Excerpt: Mating Theory by Skye Warren

March 20, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

MATING THEORY
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Skye Warren
Release Date: March 17

A Trust Fund Standalone Novel by New York Times bestselling author, Skye Warren

Billionaire Sutton Mayfair has nothing left to lose…

My best friend is getting married to the woman I love. They say the nice guy finishes last. So what’s the point of being a goddamn gentleman?

Maybe I should take what I want.

Even that sexy little thing on the street corner.

She needs a hot meal and a place to sleep. Instead I’m taking her home to soothe the savage beast inside me. I was born a bastard, and for the first time in my life I act like one.

Except the more I use her, the more I need her.

I didn’t know I had someone left to lose.

But for a single heartbeat, I had her.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO 

 

“Which one broke your heart?”I couldn’t describe the sledgehammer I’d taken to the brain when I met Christopher in a dimly lit private club. Too dark to be called lust or even love. Competitive and all-consuming. I couldn’t describe the desire that slammed through me when I met his stepsister.

There was no way I could choose between them, but it had not been a choice. They wanted each other. Electricity crackled in the air whenever they were in the same room.

Well, I could be happy for them.

That’s what a good man would do. A gentleman, and I’ve worked so fucking hard to pretend that’s what I am. Until the liquor stripped my skin away. Until this girl sat beside me, asking which one broke my heart. She watches me with clear eyes, her gaze impossibly wise. What does she see?

“Both of them.”

A sympathetic sound that feels like a stroke to my cock.

She doesn’t look shocked that I fell for a man, even though it shocked the hell out of me. I questioned my sexuality, fought with it—lost myself to it. Wanting Harper did not diminish wanting Christopher.

There’s something worldly in that dark gaze. Any other day I would find out what.

Tonight, I don’t care. She isn’t a person with wants and dreams and needs of her own. I’m going to use her body the same way they used mine. I’m going to take what they took from me.

“Your name,” I say, though it doesn’t really matter.

“Ashleigh.” She sounds uncertain for the first time tonight, her name drawn out into two parts. Ash, like the soot in a fireplace. And leigh, leigh, leigh. She’s beautiful, and I’m wasted.

“Come here, Ashleigh.” Except I don’t give her a chance to come here. She might use it to leave, to disappear down that metal staircase where I can’t follow.

My hand wraps behind her neck, pulling her close. My lips are harsh against hers, hungry and hard. I want to punish her for the emptiness inside me, except when she makes a little sound of fright, it fills me up with something else. Pleasure like black velvet, the kind of darkness I want to stroke my fingers over, back and forth, to feel the fibers pull against me.

Her shuddery breaths are like water, and I drink and drink. My tongue slides against hers. It’s a graphic act, this kiss. More obscene than actual sex could be. More invasive as I push her head back and explore her mouth, not waiting for permission, not leaving any place untouched.

I must taste like whiskey, but she doesn’t pull away.

I’m the one who breaks the kiss, panting hard. Liquid dark eyes stare up at me.

Surprise. More than that. There’s outright shock in her expression. Is she younger than I thought? More innocent than anyone I ever met? I should ask her about sex, but those aren’t the words that come out of my mouth. “Have you ever been in love, Ashleigh?”

A slow shake of her head. “No,” she whispers.

“Good. That’s good.”

“I can pretend.”

“What?”

“For a hundred dollars.”

There’s a drum in my head, pounding, pounding, telling me I’ve got something wrong. Really wrong. “A hundred dollars,” I repeat, wishing my veins weren’t running hot with liquor.

“For an hour. I know how much that suit costs. You can afford it.”

I pull back, moving careful so I don’t tip over. “What are you talking about?”

A cool breeze skates over us, and she shivers. I want to comfort her, but that’s not what this is about. A fast fuck on an abandoned rooftop while the sounds of a massive block party bounce off the buildings around us. And a hundred dollars, apparently. Jesus. I was about to fuck a prostitute.

What’s worse is that I still want to do it. More, because I know she’ll let me do anything.

For a price.

I want to fall in love. That’s what’s wrong with me, my fatal flaw. The insistent desire to enmesh myself with another human being.

How do you not fall head over heels for Sutton Mayfair? How, I ask you? The man is just so perfectly broken. Not only did he fall hard for the woman that his best friend wanted, but he fell for his best friend too. Now as their wedding day approaches, he’s nursing his broken heart through an alcohol fueled daze.

Ashleigh is barely keeping herself alive on the streets. A teen runaway, she’s turned to the only resort she has to make ends meet; selling her body. When she stumbles across a drunken Sutton on a rooftop, their story begins. Sutton is too broken hearted to look too deep into anything. He sees a beautiful woman that’s come on hard times and he’s not above giving her any cash she needs to find comfort in her body.

This may have been a short read, but it was filled with so much depth. Actually, I’m stunned at just how much depth Skye Warren fit into under 250 pages. It wasn’t a novella, but it read like one. Why? Because I devoured it in the time it would usually take me to read a novella. I couldn’t put it down.

There’s just something so incredibly endearing about Sutton. His unrequited love and coming to terms with moving on from a broken heart. Falling for a woman that’s selling her body to him no matter how much he fights it.

Ashleigh was one of the most endearing heroines as well. She’s damaged but not broken. She’s vulnerable but not weak. She’s this perfect balance of someone you want to shelter and protect while showing that she’s capable of fighting her own battles. I loved the two of them together and I loved this sexy and emotional story of two broken people finding shelter and love with each other.

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

Connect with Skye:

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