Review & Giveaway: ★Seduction In Session★ by Shayla Black & Lexi Blake

Review- Seduction in sessionSeduction in Session
Series: The Perfect Gentlemen #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Romantic Suspense
Authors: Shayla Black & Lexi Blake
Release Date: January 5, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

91mFmW5LBML

The second Perfect Gentlemen novel from the New York Times bestselling authors of the Masters of Ménage series.

Privileged, wealthy, and wild: they are the Perfect Gentlemen of Creighton Academy. But the threat of a scandal has one of them employing his most deceptive—and seductive—talents…

Recruited into the CIA at a young age, Connor Sparks knows how dirty the world can be. Only when he’s with his friends can he find some peace. So when an anonymous journalist threatens one of the Perfect Gentlemen, Connor vows to take down the person behind the computer, by whatever means necessary—even if it means posing as his target’s bodyguard.

Publishing a tabloid revealing Washington’s most subversive scandals has earned Lara Anderson the ire of the political scene—and a slew of death threats. To keep herself from ending up a headline, Lara hires a bodyguard, a man as handsome as he is lethal.

When the bullets start to fly, Lara is surprised to find herself in Connor’s arms. But as they begin to unravel a mystery that just might bring down the White House, Lara is devastated when she discovers Connor’s true identity—and finds herself at the mercy of forces who will stop at nothing to advance their deadly agenda.

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo

Review4 starsSeduction in Session @DGR

I am a ruthless bastard, but if you let me, I’ll be your ruthless bastard.”

I’m a huge fan of Shayla Black and Lexi Blake individually, but when these two combine their talents into a series? Fire. Works. This just may be my favorite series by them yet. And having read their entire backlists individually and combined, that’s no light statement. Espionage, action, suspense, and a romance so hot it burns up the pages, all woven intricately together to make up one incredible page-turner!

Connor Sparks has always been the odd man out in The Perfect Gentleman group. He didn’t come from money or prestige. His past is troubled and his future is shrouded in shadows. The CIA offered him the answer to his future and he took it with open arms. He’s built a reputation for himself in the years since and he’s known for being the man that gets things done no matter the cost.
Seduction in Session teaser @DGRAn assignment to play babysitter to a spoiled and naive woman in order to get close to a threat looming over The Perfect Gentleman is not his ideal, but he’ll do it. Even if he has to pretend to be her bodyguard. But Lara Anderson is nothing what he expected and everything he soon comes to crave. It’s not long before lust turns into something much more and leaves Connor rethinking where his loyalties lie when the bullets start flying.
I was a little afraid at first that Lara would get on my nerves. She’s not exactly the kind of heroine I prefer to read about; a vegan that even attempts to put her dog on a diet. She’s idealistic and at times naive and some of the things that come out of her mouth left me somewhere between laughter and ‘did she really say that’?

Yes. I think that’s a very good plan. Let’s form a friendship circle and talk this out. That will bring Connor into the group and make him feel comfortable.

That was not said in jest either.

But then something happened and she began to grow on me. I began to find her…endearing. It’s a true testament of an author’s talent to take a character that by all rights would never work for me in any other book and yet make it work.

Simon was a dangerous enigma. He’s sexy, protective, a little grumpy, and so alpha I think my ovaries actually sighed in happiness. When he releases his full effect on Lara, I was putty in his hands. This is a man that falls hard and knows when he screwed up. I spent the book waiting for that other shoe to drop when Lara figures out he’s not quite who he says he is and for his grovel. I can tell you that it did not disappoint.

Seduction in Session was everything I’ve come to love with both these authors; it’s action packed, with richly developed secondary characters, and an absolutely sizzling romance. This is not a book meant to be read as a standalone as each book builds off of the last with the story arc. While the romance has a HEA there is clearly unfinished business with the main threat against this group and I’m already twitching for the next book. Considering the set up for Dax’s book, I already know I’ll be salivating for his story. Hard.

Yet another addition from two of my favorite authors and I recommend it for any lovers of sexy romantic suspense. It will definitely not disappoint.


THE SERIES

SCANDAL NEVER SLEEPS | SEDUCTION IN SESSION | BIG EASY TEMPTATION

GiveawayWant to win a paperback copy of Seduction in Session? I’ll be gifting it to one lucky US follower on my Facebook page. ENTER HERE

ARC Review: ★Ruthless Proposition★ by Natasha Anders

Review-RPA Ruthless Proposition
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: January 26, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

91ZgCXwJBfL

All that glitters may lead right to his heart…

The last thing Cleopatra Knight expects on her business trip to Tokyo is to fall into bed with her arrogant, irresistibly hot boss, Dante Damaso. It’s a mistake—a steamy, mind-blowingly satisfying mistake. But a few nights of passion with the superwealthy bad boy prove to have long-term effects when Cleo’s world is unexpectedly turned upside down.

Dante has cultivated an enviable, jet-setting lifestyle: beautiful women, exotic destinations, and luxury without limits. He’s not looking to be domesticated, and certainly not by his assistant—even though he can’t get her out of his mind. Still, he knows he has both the responsibility and the financial means to help Cleo.

Though Cleo has no interest in Dante’s money, her lack of prospects gives her little choice but to accept his help. But living under the same roof, Dante discovers he wants more, and if Cleo lets down her guard, she just might find what her heart’s wanted all along.

Buy-Links9AMAZON

Review5 starsA Ruthless Proposition-DGR

This is what happened when you allowed yourself to have feelings for someone like Dante Damaso- they found the most creative ways to hurt you, and God, this hurt.

A few years ago I discovered this author when I first read The Unwanted Wife and I’ve been absolutely hooked ever since. She has a winning formula that works for me every single time. Take an utter asshole of an alpha, throw in a bit of a meek heroine that grows a backbone and a hell of one throughout the story, mix it in with some delicious angst and steam and BAM! Book perfection.

See I have this thing about assholes, I absolutely love them. The more asshole-ly they are, the more I pant after them. I don’t even know what it is about it, but it just does it for me. It’s like that saying about the bigger they are, the harder they fall and I absolutely love watching them fall and then of course the grovel. All of it put together is basically a literary orgasm for me.

Cleopatra Knight knows that the only reason she continues to have her job is her boss happens to be her brother’s best friend. That’s not why she applied, and it certainly wasn’t her means of getting it, but it is part of the reason she stays. After her dreams of being a dancer were shattered after a devastating injury, she may not know what else there is for her, but her job is a means to an end. Too bad her boss is a demanding, demeaning, unthoughtful and overworked asshole.
Dante Damaso is rich and successful beyond his wildest dreams, and he works his ass off to stay that way. He’s not interested in lasting relationships. Seeing his father work his way through countless wives has put him off relationships indefinitely. But he’s certainly not one to abstain. He loves a sweaty night between the sheets with a beautiful woman…so long as it’s just that night. And he makes himself very clear in that respect. When a trip to Tokyo stirs his attraction to his assistant, he sees no reason to abstain either. But he makes it very clear to her what it is and what it isn’t. After all, he’s not about permanence, particularly with a woman that he believes used his connection to her brother to get a job without being even a little qualified.

But one night together begins to turn into another, and he can barely control his lust around her. Until a particular consequence brings things crashing down, turning Cleo’s world upside down.

A Ruthless Proposition follows Natasha Ander’s tried and true formula and I found myself devouring the pages. I couldn’t put it down. At first because I was waiting for the epic fuck up, then because I was waiting for the epic grovel. And I got both of those. In spades. I also found myself blubbering like a baby towards the end of it. It’s not often that a book will bring me to tears like that, so this deserves a 5 star for that feat alone.

If you’ve read this author before and enjoyed her books, this one will be a hit as well. I love that even while her formula for romance follows from book to book, none of her books sound the same. The characters are unique and as are their story. I loved this one and if you’re a fan of assholes and angst, you really can’t go wrong with it.

Review: ★The Final Move★ by Victoria Denault

Review-TFMThe Final Move
Series: Hometown Players #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Victoria Denault
Release Date: December 8, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

Denault_The Final Move_E-Book

Hockey legend Devin Garrison thought he blew his shot. But his relationship with Callie Caplan just went into overtime.

Sexy, rich, and one of the biggest stars in the NHL, Devin Garrison has always been the one who had it all. That is until his marriage falls apart and he realizes he has to start over. If he’s honest, there has only been one woman who ever really excited him-Callie Caplan. They shared a night that was hotter than the late-summer sun, but in an instant-Callie was gone, pretending it never happened.

Callie Caplan isn’t the wild child people think she is. It’s true she’s avoided relationships, but only because she’s seen how crazy love can be. And her messy, imperfect life is crazy enough without opening her heart to a man-even one as picture perfect as Devin. But when fate brings them back together-just as they need each other most-Devin is determined to convince Callie that what she’s feeling is real. And this final play may be their chance at forever . . . 

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks / GooglePlay / Kobo / BAM

Review2 Stars

Minor spoilers to follow, please don’t read my review if you don’t want to know. I’ll spoiler tag the big stuff.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since One More Shot. The mix of angst and swoony romance just did it for me. And ever since I first met Devin Garrison in that book I’v been not so patiently waiting for his story.

As the calmer and more settled of the Garrison brothers, Devin was refreshingly different. Being married and a daddy also made him even more appealing. But the reader also got a peek into his life and began to understand that not everything in his marriage is quite as perfect as he’d like to make it appear. At first I assumed that Devin’s story would be more of marital issues than reconciliation with his wife, but after the events of Making a Play I realized that he’d be ending up with the other Caplan. After reading the preview in book 2 I have to admit that I was curious as to how this would play out. After finishing it? Well I kind of wish I could unread it, because it made me absolutely hate Callie and strongly dislike Devin in the process. *sigh* Where are those men in black when you need them?
I get what the author was trying to do with this story and while I appreciate her effort, it just didn’t pan out for me. Not even a little. Why?

Issue 1

Villinaize the wife as the catalyst.

Was this really necessary? Couldn’t it just be an “issue” they were dealing with and have them just fall out of love as they clearly were already well on the road for. Did she have to (Highlight to view spoiler)cheat (end spoiler)? I just didn’t find it necessary for the story. Sure, it served as the catalyst for Devin’s decisions, but it just felt like an easy way out.

Issue 2

Devin’s regression.

Oh boy. Where do I even start. So your wife (Highlight to view spoiler)cheats(End spoiler) on you, what do you do? Proceed to drink yourself stupid and have a one-night stand because…why? It felt like revenge and punishment more so than anything else. Hey, I was the perfect husband for so long, I need to slut it out now just to see how the other half lives. It didn’t make sense. And yes, I understand that he was hurting. But what he also was, was still married. Sure, I also get that this is a common occurrence and I shouldn’t judge. But do two wrongs really make a right? Considering how Devin has been for the past two books and always being the voice of reason, I wanted him to take the high road.

Issue 3
Callie.
Now I hate to name call, so I won’t. I also hate slut shaming, so I won’t. What I will say, is I absolutely hated her decisions and treatment of Devin for basically the entire book. One, she’s dated and flirted with his teammates. She proceeds to go on a date after her and Devin finally sleep together. Then there was her decision to go down on him after she finds him in the middle of a drunk hookup and throwing the woman out of the house they’re currently sharing. Also knowing how Devin is, her decision to continuously sleep with him but refuse anything more was downright infuriating. Considering everything Devin’s been through it was almost callous.

Issue 4
Did I mention that Devin is still technically married (though separated and no longer living with his wife) through all of this?
Again, I understand that this happens, and if this was any other character, I could have looked past it. But with Devin? No. I felt like he regressed and just wasn’t the Devin that I ultimately fell in love with throughout the series. I did not like him for a good 75% of this book.

Issue 5
And this is ultimately what lowered my rating even more. I felt zero, no connection between Callie and Devin. There wasn’t an undercurrent of sexual tension or longing throughout the series between them. Not even in this book did that come into play. It felt like they just ended up together because it was convenient and not because it was meant to be. I couldn’t connect to them as a couple. Hell, I didn’t believe in them as a couple. And what’s more, I didn’t like them as a couple.

Le sigh.

To say that I’m disappointed would be an understatement. I love this author, and I will definitely read any of her future work without a second thought. But sadly this book didn’t work for me at all. Maybe because I had such high hopes? Who knows. It is what it is, and I have a feeling this is just one of those books you’ll either understand and enjoy, or you won’t. I don’t see much middle ground here. But that’s just my opinion. Clearly I’m in the minority with my opinion so read it and judge for yourself.

Review: ★The Boss: Book Two★ by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

Review Boss 2The Boss: Book Two
Series: The Boss #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance Serial
Authors: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
Release Date: November 19, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

27260083

I’ve been watching…all this time.

I grew up as the bastard son on the wrong side of the tracks. Until an angel I could never repay helped me climb to the top.

My new assistant, Grace Copeland, is determined to bring me down. She thinks I don’t know about her lies and the risks she’s taking, but I’ve been watching all this time.

Watching her.

Soon she’ll realize that being on top is where I belong—and where she’ll beg me to be.

Buy-Links9AMAZONReview4 starsThe Boss vol2-DGR

This wasn’t me. I wasn’t some hormonally-driven horndog who couldn’t manage to keep his dick in his pants. She brought something out in me, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

Well, well, well, and so the plot thickens…and how! The Boss serial is my crack and Cari and Taryn are my favorite pushers because this self-professed serial avoider is addicted! Usually I wait until a series is complete, but something about these books leaves me in actual pain until I get my next fit. I should probably look into this.

The serial is told in alternating POVs, and with Grace having hers in the first book, now it’s Blake’s turn. Now I’m not sure what I expected. A typical enigmatic billionaire meets heroine and falls head over heels in love after fighting it for 5 books? You should know these authors don’t do anything in half measures like that. And let me just tell you, Blake’s POV will turn quite a few things on their ass. I didn’t see any of it coming and the revelations only served to whet my appetite further.

This takes off immediately where book 1 ended; the aftermath of Blake and Grace’s sizzling unexpected hookup in his office building after being locked in together accidentally. Blake never expected for Grace to effect him in such a way, but now he can’t deny it. The chemistry between them is just as strong as ever even if both of them continue to fight the inevitable.

She wasn’t just going to come. She was going to shatter, and I was going to break apart with her.

What Grace doesn’t realize, however, is not only does Blake know what she’s after but he’s hiding quite a few things of his own…and they’re a doozy.

Of course it wouldn’t be a Cari and Taryn book if it didn’t end in a cliffhanger that will make you want to rip your hair out. So it you’ll excuse me, I’m off to jump straight into book 3 which is luckily already released and hope that the cliffy in that one won’t leave me rocking in a dark corner somewhere.

THE SERIES

Book 1

26856316

Book 2

27260083

Buy

Book 3

27859777

Buy

Book 4

51YN4QBvToL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Review: ★Forgetting August★ by JL Berg

Review-Forgetting AugustForgetting August
Series: Lost & Found #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: J.L. Berg
Release Date: December 1, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

27202555

She can forgive, but can she forget?

Some days, Everly still thinks she sees him. In the food court at the mall, or in a car speeding past as the light changes. It only lasts a second, but when it happens, she slips back to a time when she was ruled-and nearly ruined-by August Kincaid. And it doesn’t matter that she’s moved on, that she’s about to marry another man. In those moments the only thing she can do to regain control is take a deep breath and remind herself that August can’t hurt her-because he’s in a coma. Except that he’s not anymore.

August is awake. With no memories, he sets out to solve the mystery of his lost life. He unearths a photograph of a beautiful redhead named Everly and knows instinctively that she’s the key. But when he finds her, the August she describes is more monster than man.

Tortured by the thought of having hurt her, August wants only to become the man Everly deserves. As the new August emerges, Everly glimpses the person she first fell in love with. But can she trust that this August is real? When the final secret of their shared past is revealed, one of them will make a choice that changes their future forever

Buy LinksAmazon / iBook / B&N / Kobo

Review4 starsForgetting August-DGR

Because life really didn’t move on from a person such as August Kincaid.
No, you simply learned to adapt and above all, you survived.

When you read about a book a day, they all sort of begin to blend into each other. So when I stumble upon a book that’s as unique as Forgetting August, it’s a treat. This was unlike anything I’ve read in the past and I was immediately drawn into the story. It was just that good; the writing, the mystery, the angst, the romance, all of it wrapped together into one spellbinding unforgettable read.
Everly is happily engaged and planning a wedding to a wonderful man that loves her fiercely. But with one phone call and three little words, her carefully constructed world crumbles into chaos. He is awake.

August Kincaid awakes from a two year coma that no one expected him to wake up from with absolutely no recollection of who he is or who he was.

My former life was an endless tunnel of oblivion, where there was no beginning or end.

When a gorgeous redhead shows up at his hospital bed, he hopes that her clear knowledge of him may help him piece together the memories that he no longer has. But then only thing he sees in her eyes is pure unadulterated hate. Hate for the man that he once was, and hate for the man that clearly hurt this woman beyond repair.
forgetting August teaser2-DGRAugust took everything from her once; her love and her heart, and then he shattered it. Everly wants nothing to do with the man, even if he doesn’t remember who he is. She’s happy in her life now, but his memory continues to haunt her and she just can’t bring herself to look the other way. August is clearly struggling to put the pieces of his life back together, and if she can give him the missing puzzle pieces, she’ll do that. But she will never give him a piece of her heart.

Maybe sometimes love isn’t pure. Maybe sometimes it’s toxic- so toxic it consumes a person until they would do anything to have it.
Like a drug.

The story is told entirely in the present with quick memory lapses into the past. It’s not a past/present type thing. It’s written in such a way that you feel like you’re experiencing those flashes of memory right along Everly.

But the heart is a fickle thing. You can’t help who you fall for and once upon a time August was her everything. Now in the midst of helping him regain his memory by taking him to places he loved and hoping to ignite at least a spark of something, the one thing is manages to do is re-ignite the flame in her heart for August that never quite burned out.

Could the heart remember what the mind couldn’t?

Forgetting August is full of angst and emotion. It’s wonderfully written that left me wondering how I haven’t read anything by this author before. The mystery of the past and what ultimately led to August going into a coma is something that stretches for the entire book.

While I’m not usually one for love triangles, the one here simply worked for me. I think that had a lot to do with Everly and clearly seeing her struggle of moving on from her past and attempting to face her future. She loves her fiancé, but August was something else for her entirely.

Loving me destroyed you…”
“Loving you brought me back to life.”

FA teaser-DGR

If I gave my heart over to a man who then turned into my worst nightmare…?
Who would be there to pick up the broken pieces?
No one, because there would be nothing left to find.

Forgetting August is sexy but without the need for super gratuitous sex scenes, if that makes sense. I absolutely loved this story and the characters. But most of all, I loved the mystery behind everything. I was just as desperate for those flashes of memory as August was. And when one of the biggest puzzle pieces get revealed, the author hits you with the mother of all cliffhangers that had me howling at the ceiling.

They say time heals all wounds. But can it forgive?

If you’re looking for something different, this duet needs to be on your TBR. I usually avoid cliffhangers like a religion, but in the case here I’m glad I read it. Even as I die a little each day in my wait for the conclusion in Spring.


Releasing April 5, 2016

51lXCZ2JJEL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_

PRE-ORDER

Review: ★Silent Scars★ by Ada Frost

REview- Silent ScarsSilent Scars
Series: Surviving #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Ada Frost
Release Date: November 28, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00039]

Her Man.

Their Hero.

His Pain.

What happens when you pray for death and you’re ignored?

You have to live.

You have to survive.

But what if the last thing you want is to take your next breath?

To the world, Ryan is a hero, an ex-marine, brother, son and protector. He has devoted his life to keeping others safe. He will do anything and everything to ensure his loved ones are protected, even if that means destroying his very own soul. After an explosion on the battlefield ends his career in the Marine’s, Ryan is sent home with an honorable discharge. But the war hasn’t ended for him.

He is home, he is free and he’s breathing, but he’s dead inside.

He wants nothing more than peace, but the nightmares in his mind will not grant him that. They taunt him, tease him and torture his waking moments. The darkness within him is slowly consuming him, blackness has seeped into his veins and is rotting his core. Ryan is a man on the edge of destruction. For once he is the one in need of saving. He needs a saviour.

He needs her.

Ryan is commissioned as a bodyguard to Aloura Cavendish. When he initially meets her, he believes her to be a spoiled rich brat, wasting his time. But the fire inside her astounds him. When he pushes, he never expects her to push back. When he runs, she chases. For the first time in his life, Ryan has a protector willing to fight his demons. The only problem – he is too afraid to release them.

Buy-Links10Amazon 

Review3.5 starsSilent Scars-DGR

In a world of chaos and pain, you are my silence.”

Silent Scars was my first book by this author and I can say with certainty it will not be my last. I do think I did myself a disservice by jumping into book 4 in this series without having read the previous books. Don’t get me wrong, this works well as a standalone and I was never confused, but it’s clear there’s a history with the secondary characters that I was missing. Ryan’s relationship with his brothers is something I would have loved to have read first before jumping into this book, but it is what it is. I definitely plan on going back and reading the rest of this series now.

…I needed to know how you healed silent scars.

This was an extremely poignant and emotional read that was almost difficult to experience at times. Ryan’s history is absolutely devastating. Everything that he’s been through and the memories that continuously haunt him to this day made my heart bleed for him. This is not an easy story to swallow. It’s dark, it’s emotional, and it’s a story of survival.

I’m not broken, Aloura. That would imply I could be fixed. There is nothing left inside me.”

After a devastating injury on his last tour in the Marines, Ryan is out. And while he may have his share of physical scars, none are as debilitating as his silent internal ones. The scars of his past and what he’s survived is what haunts him. The guilt of what he’s been through continues to eat at him. He’s a shell of a man that doesn’t believe he’s worth anything, let alone the attention of a beautiful woman he’s hired to protect.

I don’t want to be someone’s possession, Ryan. Belongings can be expandable, thrown away when they are old and dirty. I want to be a part of you. I want to wake up each morning with a feeling of completeness because I know you’re near. I want your soul to greet mine. Show me all of you. Give me your pain and I will give you my joy.

Aloura was an interesting character. She’s a bit quirky and introverted, she’s shy and unsure of herself. As the daughter in an unorthodox family, the quirkiness is basically guaranteed. Her father is the owner of a medical research company that’s been working on trialling a new cancer treatment drug and controvercially they test their drugs on human patients. When the threats turn to his beloved daughter, he hires security, and Ryan just so happens to be the unwilling bodyguard. Aloura is non too happy about the shadow, but when she meets Ryan, there’s something about his brooding intensity that calls to her. She wants to find his secrets and she wants to heal his deepest wounds.

How was it possible to know someone for only a few hours and feel so connected to them?

The story itself was an exercise in frustration for me. Ryan runs hot and cold so frequently it’s enough to give a girl whiplash. He yearns for a true connection and love, but in the same breath he doesn’t think he deserves it. And he certainly does his utmost best to push Aloura away in the cruelest of ways. While a part of me completely understood his behavior given everything that he’s been through, it’s Aloura’s that I had trouble connecting with. Ryan is a flat out asshole to her at times, he’s intentionally cruel and his words to her were sharp enough to cut at times. Yet she takes it all and wants to fix him. It just seemed like her connection to him was much too quick for me to really connect to. Ryan doesn’t give much for Aloura to be as invested as she is and at times I had a tough time swallowing his treatment of her and her acceptance of it.

Tiny dancer, I am not a fairytale prince. I’m not one of your heroes from those romance novels. I’m fucked up, inside I have nothing worthy of you.”

I struggled with my rating for days. I want to rate it highly simply on the poignancy of the story, but at the same time I just didn’t connect with it as much as I wish I did. I loved Ryan, but something about Ryan and Aloura never quite grabbed me. The story is angsty as hell and filled with plenty of bumps along the way. It kept me reading well into he night but there was always also something missing and while I can’t quite place my finger on what it was, it prevented me from enjoying the story as much as I’d hoped.

I needed her like oxygen, she was becoming my reason to breathe.

I have to say that I loved the author’s writing style, and I absolutely loved the setup behind the series. I will definitely be reading all the books before this one and the future ones after. While Silent Scars wasn’t quite what I had expected, it’s still a beautiful story of perseverance and survival that I’d highly recommend to any readers that enjoy that sort of thing.

Review: ★Say You’re Mine★ by Diane Alberts

Review-SYMSay You’re Mine
Series: Shillings Agency #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Diane Alberts
Release Date: December 7, 2015
add-to-goodreads-button-2

SayYoureMine_500

 

Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.

Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.

Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…

 

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Review3.5 starsSay You're Mine-DGRHe’d die for her. Kill for her. Fight for her. But not love her. He didn’t do love. Didn’t want it. Hell, he didn’t deserve it. Guys like him didn’t get to be loved.

Diane Alberts remains one of my go-to authors in category romance for constantly delivering on the swoony and panty-melting romance with deliciously stubborn heroes. Her Shillings Agency series has been a favorite of mine from the beginning. I’ve been itching to get my hands on Steven’s book since a little peek of him in Taking What’s His. While this is book 5 in a series, it is also easily read as a standalone.

Steven Thomas is exactly the kind of hero I love to read about; a lot broody, broken, with a strong penchant for dirty talk. Still suffering from the remnants of his last tour as a SEAL, Steven turns to alcohol and women to heal him. But lately he’s become almost too numb for even the strongest alcohol to do the trick. But one night after too many shots, he gets a whole new perspective on life…when he realizes that his best friend of over twenty years, Lauren may be open to more than friendship with him.

She was his one constant, in a world full of chaos.

Lauren has had feelings for Steven that she’s tried to deny for years. She’s been there for him though it all; his tours and the rock bottoms he hit after. But she’s never seen him quite like this and she knows if she doesn’t do something drastic soon it may be too late. So she tells a little fib to keep him close. But no good deed goes unpunished, and all of a sudden the fiery chemistry that’s been brewing between them comes to a head and becomes too much for either one of them to deny.
Say You're Mine teaser-DGRBut what happens when the man that despises lies above anything else finds out that the person closest to him has been deceiving him?

This was a sexy little friends-to-lovers romp. I love me my dirty talkers and Steven certainly didn’t disappoint on that end. I enjoyed this thoroughly and read it in one sitting. I knew from the very beginning where everything was leading up to, but my issue with the book wasn’t the predictability. I just failed to see the main conflict as being much of a…conflict. It just seemed a little contrived and blown way out of proportion for what it was. While I can understand Steven’s issues, it just didn’t add up for me I suppose.

That being said, I most definitely enjoyed this recent addition to the series and would gladly recommend it to any lovers of a sexy friends-to-lovers trope. It’s a quick and entertaining read that’s bound to leave you satisfied.

Let me be your lover. Your friend. The person you come home to at night, the one who holds you when you’re upset. The guy guy who needs you as much as you need him. Let me be yours, and say you’re mine.

Review: ★His To Take★ by Katee Robert

Review-HtTHis To Take
Series: Out of Uniform #3.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: December 7, 2015
add-to-goodreads-button-2

HtT_500

 

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent—something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Review3 starsThis was a steamy little number that took me a little under two hours to finish. At just under 80 pages it’s definitely a shorty but it also packs some heat. A sexy Marine and a sassy heroine who have been having an on again off again fling for years are now both back in the small town they grew up in. But this time, Warren wants more than just a hot secret hook-up. He wants something more, he just has to convince the skittish Erin that it’s what she wants too.

Erin has always had a thing for Warren. But she also knows that she can’t have anything with him either. He’s a Marine that may be deployed any day, and she’s a failed broadway actress that’s back home living with her mom and dad to lick her wounds. But what started with a sexy game of truth-or-dare, may also lead to something much more when Warren gives her a dare she has no hope of backing down from.

His to Take was a quick read that I read in one sitting. I love Katee’s writing and I’m a big fan of her Out of Uniform series. Unfortunately, as my thing with most short novellas, it just didn’t offer enough for me to truly be satisfying. It was a nice little appetizer, but I would have loved a full meal if you catch my drift. I have a hard time with short novellas as they just don’t grab be as much as a longer book may. It’s not long enough for me to truly get invested in the characters. But I do have to say, I was invested enough in Erin and Warren’s story. It was an enjoyable read, albeit a short one. If you’re looking for a quick and steamy read for the holidays, His To Take is the perfect contender.

Review: ★Crashed Out★ by Tessa Bailey

Review-CO

Title: Crashed Out
Series: Made in Jersey #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: August 7, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

CrashedOut_500

Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She’s the fuel for every song he’s ever written—each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this “kid” turned into every inch the man she’s always needed…

Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey…until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks—or rather storms—into Jasmine’s life. Sarge’s return shouldn’t affect her this way. He’s her best friend’s much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

 

Review3 starsCrashed Out-DGR

 

Ride me, use me, come on me. God knows I’ve used the thought of you to come for a fucking decade.”

When I heard that Tessa Bailey will be starting a new Brazen series, to say I was thrilled would be a mild understatement. Her dirty talkers are my crack of choice and I’ll never get enough. Seriously. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Tessa Bailey books make my ovaries happy. I absolutely loved the setup for this series, and I already know the next books in it will be on my auto buy list. Now about Crashed out…

I’m not typically of the younger man, older woman scenario…but if Tessa writes it, I’ll try it. And if said younger guy happens to be a super sexy rock god with a penchant for dirty talk, who am I to say no? Sarge Purcell has had a thing for Jasmine since he was just a teenager. As the best friend of his older sister and seven years his senior, he’s certainly had his share of dirty fantasies about her. Too bad that she never viewed him that way. Now he’s back on a hiatus from his band’s touring and when opportunity knocks…he’ll take it to tear down all her walls and convince her that she needs to take a chance on him.

So you’re probably wondering why I only rated this three stars, aren’t you? Well, see now here’s the thing; as a reader for me there’s a fine line between sexy dirty talk and plain crudeness and this book crossed it several times. Tessa Bailey has the midas touch when it comes to her heroes, the dirty talk just flows effortlessly in her previous books. But in the case of this one it felt forced and just way OTT.

That’s it, you tight little thing. Working my dick like a goddamn stripper pole…”

Tell me your fucking legs are up in the air because you want my come. Pout for it. Let me see that little pout.”

“I want to fuck you like a beast in heat…”

I’m all for dirty talk as much as the next pervert, but the above just did nothing for me. It didn’t feel natural, it was just too much and it took me out of the story quite a bit. I wanted to love it and there were parts and scenes that I certainly enjoyed the heck out of, but it just lacked that natural ease that Tessa’s writing usually has.

Having have said that, I’m still definitely hooked on the series. I loved the set up for Sarge’s sister, that just sounds all sorts of delicious. And of course there’s his band’s drummer and the manager that I’m itching to get my hands on. As much as I love Tessa’s books, you can’t love them all, so I’m writing this off as a fluke and I’m eagerly anticipating what else she has in store for the next books in this series.

Review Tour & Giveaway: ★Misconduct★ @PenDouglas @BerkleyRomance

Misconduct_Blog Tour BannerMisconduct
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2015 add-to-goodreads-button-2

Misconduct_Cover Image

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Fall Away series who never fails to deliver a “powerfully written contemporary love story…”*

Former tennis player Easton Bradbury is trying to be the best teacher she can be, trying to reach her bored students, trying to forget her past. What brought her to this stage in her life isn’t important. She can’t let it be. But now one parent-teacher meeting may be her undoing…

Meeting Tyler Marek for the first time makes it easy for Easton to see why his son is having trouble in school. The man knows how to manage businesses and wealth, not a living, breathing teenage boy. Or a young teacher, for that matter, though he tries to. And yet…there is something about him that draws Easton in—a hint of vulnerability, a flash of attraction, a spark that might burn.

Wanting him is taboo. Needing him is undeniable. And his long-awaited touch will weaken Easton’s resolve—and  reveal what should stay hidden…

Buy LinksAmazon / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo / iTunes / BAMExcerpt

“Why you?” he questioned. “Why have I been thinking of you ever since that Mardi Gras ball?”He pressed his body to mine, and I shook my head slowly.

“Mr. Marek,” I pleaded, but it was useless. My eyes fell to his mouth, and then I glanced to my closed door, knowing that even though the students were gone for the day, there might still be staff around. “Please.”

“There was something that drew us together that night,” he maintained. “Something that got under my skin, something that’s still there.”

His mouth was an inch from mine, and I breathed hard, needing to push him away, but at the same time, that was the last thing I wanted.

“Easton,” he whispered, and reached down behind my thigh, lifting it to press himself closer against me.

I groaned, feeling the ridge of his cock nestle between my legs.

“We can’t do this,” I told him.

My clothes felt like sandpaper on my skin, and I wanted them off. I wanted his shirt open and to know what he felt like under my fingertips.

“I know,” he answered.

But while his left hand held my knee up, his right hand slid between my legs and rubbed my clit through my panties.

I sucked in a sharp breath and clutched his shoulders, letting my eyes fall closed as my head floated away from me.

“Mr. Marek,” I begged.

But his breath fell against my mouth, and he whispered, “I told you there would be no stopping me when we finally ran into each other again.”

And before I could open my eyes, he’d captured my bottom lip between his teeth and then kissed me, sending me reeling until I didn’t know which way was up.

I couldn’t fight it. His tongue dove into my mouth as he pressed me against the whiteboard and kissed me hard. I circled my arms around his neck, knowing I was getting myself into a shit ton of trouble, but I didn’t care at the moment.

My body needed him. That’s all it was.

I wouldn’t get involved emotionally—I never did.

He grabbed me underneath both thighs and swung me around, planting my ass on the desk.

I groaned, his mouth working strong and fast over mine, stealing my breath as pleasure swarmed in my chest. It spiraled downward like a cyclone low in my belly.

I tightened my legs around his waist as his fingers slid under my dress, raking down my thighs.

I grabbed the back of his neck, cocking my head and returning every inch of his kiss. He tasted like coffee with vanilla, and I felt a hint of stubble on his face under my fingertips.

Dropping my hands down his body, I started unbuttoning his black vest. It was too thick, and I couldn’t feel him.

I pulled my mouth back, then dove back in to flick his tongue with mine.

“Jesus Christ,” he groaned, eating me up with quick kisses and nibbles. “Why does it have to be you, huh?”

I fumbled with the last button and finally tore open the vest, running my hands up his stomach and chest, covered only by his fine white dress shirt.

But even through the shirt, I felt the dips of his abs and pecs and of his toned waist and back.

Something screeched to my right, and I twisted my head to see the flailing branches of the tree outside scraping against the windowpane. The leaves blew, and I knew the storm would be here soon.

But I turned back to him, both of us breathing heavily, and I loved the storm in Tyler Marek’s eyes even more.

He slid his hands inside my panties and leaned his forehead into mine. I whimpered and grasped the back of his neck with both hands, my pussy throbbing at the thick ridge of his cock pressing against my leg.

He leaned down, his teeth nipping at my jaw as my eyes fluttered closed.

“Tyler.” I let my head fall back, craning my neck for his lips. “Mr. Marek, please stop,” I begged.

His hot breath fell across my ear, and I shivered.

“I thought about you all weekend,” he whispered. “How do you make me do that?”

I snatched up his lips again. I liked what he was telling me too much.

He grabbed the hair at the back of my head and pulled, exposing my neck again as he dived down and whispered against my skin, “When you walked in, dressed in that short little skirt, my fucking hands wanted these thighs”—he raked his fingers down my legs again—“almost as much as my mouth did,” he admitted.

I squeezed my eyes shut, the need becoming agony. “Mr. Marek,” I quaked. “Oh, God.”

I didn’t want to stop him, but . . .

I bit my bottom lip, feeling his fingers slide up and down my pussy, dipping and bringing out the wetness, spreading it over my clit.

And then whimpered, feeling two long fingers plunge inside of me.

“Shit,” I moaned, squirming against his fingers. “Please stop,” I pleaded. “Tyler, please.”

But he just added another finger, staring down and watching the pleasure of what he was doing spread across my face.

“Say it again,” he ordered.

I blinked, opening my eyes, even though his thumb rubbing circles on my clit was driving me wild.

“Tyler,” I said gently. “Please stop.”

His mouth curled into a smile, and he stole a kiss, nipping at my bottom lip. “You don’t want me to, do you?” he breathed out.

He increased his speed, flicking my clit faster and harder and curling the fingers inside of me, making me suck in air quicker and quicker and making me so needy I damn near gave in and begged to ride his cock.

“Tyler, oh, my God,” I cried, squeezing my eyes shut again and feeling my insides swirl and tighten.

“On second thought, call me Mr. Marek,” he insisted, and I popped my eyes open, seeing the devil in his grin.

I bit my lips between my teeth, groaning as I leaned back on my hands and slid my ass back and forth, fucking his fingers.

“Yes, Mr. Marek,” I breathed out, dropping my head back as the whole fucking world started to spin.

One of my heels dropped to the floor, but I couldn’t care less.

He continued staring down at me, looking like he was completely captivated with my face.

“You going to be nice from now on?” he challenged in a hard voice, rubbing harder.

“Yes, Mr. Marek,” I rushed out.

“You going to keep your temper in check?” His long fingers filled me up again and again.

I nodded frantically, feeling the orgasm coming. “Yes, Mr. Marek.”

“And I’m not done with you yet,” he warned. “Just so you know.”

I breathed in and out quickly, my body tensing and shaking. “Yes,” I cried out.

And then the orgasm exploded, spreading down my thighs and through my belly. I dropped my head all the way back, plastering my hand to my mouth to stifle the cry as I squeezed my eyes shut and let him rub my clit, bringing the orgasm to an end.

My legs, suddenly as shaky as Jell-O, released their grip on his waist and dangled off the side of the desk.

He kissed me, holding my lips for a few moments, and for a just a few moments I felt like I did on Sunday mornings. When I woke up and realized I could stay in bed.

Content.

Review5 starsMisconduct-DGR

Dark spaces, quiet places,” he whispered over my mouth. “That’s all we need, Easton.”

You know what I love about Penelope Douglas’s writing? Well, aside from the obvious everything. It’s her consistency. She never fails to deliver an absolutely enrapturing read with a strong heroine and an absolutely to die for hero. Her writing is magnetic, her romances are scorching, and her characters unforgettable. Misconduct is proof that not only can she write amazing New Adult Like Bully, or scorching hot dark erotica like Corrupt, but she’ll bring her A game to contemporary romance. And bring her a game she did, because I loved absolutely everything about this book.

I knew that look in his eyes. I may not know much about him, but I knew that look. And we were in my classroom. His son’s classroom. I may have had little shame, but he had none.

The one thing I’ve come to truly love about Penelope’s writing, is her ability to write a devastatingly intense hero. Because let me just tell you, the first time Tyler Marek makes an appearance on a page, not an ovary within a 100 mile radius will be safe. He captures your attention immediately, and he keeps it completely. The man is absolute sex on a stick. Misconduct teaser 2-DGREaston Bradbury made a name for herself in professional tennis, only to leave everything behind to start fresh in New Orleans. Landing the coveted teaching position at one of the prestigious private schools is her first step. Letting go of the dark memories that caused her to run in the first place is an indefinite second, and she’s in no hurry. While only 23 years old, this is no immature and naive female. Hell no. Like most heroines Penelope writes, Easton isn’t without spark or backbone. This is a woman that isn’t ashamed to speak her mind. She’s educated, she’s ballsy, and yet behind the tough exterior is someone that is very much broken. But she won’t let that slow her down. With her charismatic teaching style, she captures her students’ attention immediately, only to come to a head with a parent that doesn’t quite enjoy her unorthodox methods… Tyler Marek is twelve years her senior, the father of her student, and seems to enjoy demeaning and laughing at her at every turn. But beneath their snarks and heated insults runs an undercurrent of lust so strong, it basically ignites the pages. Holy wow but do these two have chemistry from the very beginning and it only burns hotter and hotter! Misconduct teaser-DGRNow if you follow my reviews you already know just how much I love a good hate-to-love trope, and Misconduct delivered that in spades. It was absolutely delicious. You really get that burn here, until you think you’ll actually combust if these two don’t get together. I’m talking about the mother of sexual tension here, people! I’m not even kidding. I didn’t know whether to ice my ovaries or keep a fire extinguisher on hand for chance that my kindle may catch fire. Good god! As much as I loved Tyler, I loved Easton just as much. I love a strong heroine that can give as good as she gets, and boy does Easton give it good. This is a woman that doesn’t take anything lying down…well…ok…actually there’s one particular thing that she does take lying down, but that’s neither here nor there. My point here is that both Easton and Tyler were incredibly dynamic characters. And together? Holy smokes! It just didn’t get better than that. Penelope Douglas is the queen of hate lust and sexual tension. The woman truly knows how to make her readers squirm and I love her for it. Misconduct was deliciously taboo and utterly unputdownable. The whole ‘will they get caught’ thing just added to the mix to make an already captivating romance that much better. t. Everything about it worked for me. If you haven’t read a book by this author yet, I can’t recommend a better one to start with than Misconduct. Trust me on this. If you’re a fan of enigmatic heroines, sharp-witted and strong heroines, and a hate lust so scorching hot it may set your kindle on fire, this is one book you need to read. Period. About the Author Penelope Douglas is the author of the New York Times bestselling Fall Away series. She has her Masters of Science in Education from Loyola University in New Orleans and she currently lives in Las Vegas with her family.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / GoodreadsGiveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: