ARC Review:★Rekindle The Flame★ by Kate Meader

Review-RtFRekindle the Flame
Series: Hot in Chicago 0.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Meader
Release Date: November 30, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Cuddle up by the fire with the irresistible prequel to Kate Meader’s smokin’ Hot in Chicago series—originally published in the sizzling holiday anthology Baby, It’s Cold Outside—a superhot e-novella that will warm you from your head to your heart and all the way to your toes!

Chicago firefighter Beck Rivera always knew his destiny would be defined by two things: his dream to follow in the footsteps of his legendary foster father Sean Dempsey and his teenage passion for heiress Darcy Cochrane, the one girl who could both stoke and cool his fire. Loving her meant setting her free and breaking her heart—and his. But when a chance reunion at his family’s bar, sparked by a drunk Santa, places her in his path again, destiny can no longer be denied.

The last thing heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Darcy Cochrane needs is the rollercoaster of emotion stirred up by her first love: sexy, gorgeous man-on-fire Beck Rivera. But he always had such talented hands. And more talented lips. And…maybe one time can’t hurt. Then she’ll send him packing like he did to her all those years ago. But Darcy and Beck soon discover that nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love…

Buy LinksAmazon / iTunes / B&N

Review4 starsRekindle The Flame-DGR

Nine years on, and nothing had changed. Beck Rivera was still the boy who heated her from the inside out….

What’s better than a second chance romance? A second chance romance written by Kate Meader. Something about her writing and her characters just works for me and this steamy little novella was no exception. This book was previously published in the anthology, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, but now you can read just the individual story. If you’re new to Kate’s Hot In Chicago series, it’s an addictingly good story that’s set around foster siblings that are also firefighters. Sound hot? Well that’s because it is!

Nine years ago, Beck Rivera and Darcy Cochrane were in love and inseparable until Beck broke Darcy’s heart. Beck was the bad boy and Darcy was a heiress that deserved better…or so he thought. Now years later, a chance meeting brings them together again at his family’s bar. But this time, Darcy has a plan of her own with beck…

Maybe it was time to ensure Beck Rivera never forgot he met her.

Darcy is a different woman now, grasping onto and leading the life that she wants. A life that Beck never allowed her to show him. He thought she was meant for society luncheons, but all she wants is to work a tattoo gun. Now she has the chance to reignite the flame that never diminished between them and set him right at the same time.
Rekindle the Flame teaser-DGRI love that Kate never writes cookie cuter heroines. They’re strong, independent females that know what they want and go for it. I loved how Darcy was a tattoo artist but it’s her personality that truly drew me. She’s strong but has just this right amount of vulnerability to endear the reader to her from the very first page.

As for Beck? Well, expect the same hot yet incredibly sweet alpha that only Kate can write.

Problem catching a breath, miss? I can help. Qualified EMT.”
“You’re evil, Beck Rivera.”

This was an incredibly satisfying read in just 120+ pages. It was easy on the angst, heavy on the romance, with just enough steam added to the mix to have you reading it in one deliciously fabulous sitting.

If you haven’t read anything by this author, I highly recommend you get acquainted. I’ve loved everything she writes, but her Hot In Chicago series is easily my new addiction. Sizzling romance, amazing characters, and a dash of swoons make it the perfect afternoon read!

I’m yours, mi reina. Always have been, always will be.”


Don't miss the rest of the series

Hot in Chicago #0.5

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Hot in Chicago #1

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Hot in Chicago #1.5

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Hot in Chicago #2

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Review: ★Keeping Secrets★ by Lisa Eugene

Review- Keeping SecretsKeeping Secrets
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lisa Eugene
Release Date: October 22, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Is that how a little girl sits?
No, Daddy.
How should a little girl sit?
Shoulders back and tummy in.
And how should a little girl look?
Always neat and pretty
That’s my girl.

Twenty-four-year-old Alexa Kennedy is beautiful, sharp as a whip, and at the top of her medical school class. She’s also been waging a war in her head for as long as she can remember. Depression. Hatred. Self-loathing. These feelings feed the pain inside her, fueling her quest for a perfection that she can never achieve.

In one life-changing moment, Dex Blakewell crashes into her world. Dex is funny, gorgeous, and irresistible. He chases away the darkness and fills her with light and laughter. An unusual friendship blossoms, making no demands or expectations.

Friendship turns into an unexpected love and a delicious passion. Alexa realizes that the only thing tethering her to sanity is their connection. But even Dex’s strength can’t keep her demons at bay forever.

When life overwhelms her, the outside world starts to mirror her inner turmoil. And when Dex discovers she’s been keeping horrible secrets, will she finally shatter or find a way through the darkness? Will the promise of love be enough to save her from self-destruction?

***WARNING: This book is for mature audiences and deals with topics and situations that some readers may find deeply emotional. That being said, I hope that many may find inspiration from these words. ***

Buy Links

Amazon 

Review4 starsKeeping Secrets-DGR

The need I had for her was consuming, irrational. She was as necessary as my next breath, as vital. It was not only baffling, but somehow unsettling.

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Eugene’s since my first book of hers, Steal My Heart. And with each new book she’s released since then she shows immense growth as an author. Her romances are not ordinary, and I can appreciate that as a reader. Reading romance, after a while most books begin to blend into each other. Unless there’s a certain edge to them that makes them stick out. This book had that in spades. Lisa took on an incredibly raw topic and she managed to weave it flawlessly inside a romance. Now considering the subject matter here, that’s no small feat. And props to her for pulling it off as well as she did.

Our gazes held and locked. There was a storm in her eyes and the force of it ripped through me.

Alexa Kennedy is a final year medical students, well on her way to becoming a doctor. She’s motivated, driven, smart, and completely lost to the war inside her mind. She’s her own worst critic and she never fails to rip into herself. A highly competitive medical school with entitled students just looking to overthrow her potential position as a valedictorian and scholarship to the Medical student are just a few of the things messing with her head. Then a child in the oncology wing that she’s bonded with passes away and sends her into a tail spin
Keeping Secrets-teaser DGR…only to come crashing into Dex Blakewell.

Dex is a successful businessman with no interest in women beyond one sweaty night between the sheets. But his word quite literary tilts on it’s axis when he meets Alexa. What begins as an unlikely friendship soon begins to turn into something much more. But both of them are keeping secrets. Secrets that have the potential of breaking the connection that they only just now formed.,,

Keeping Secrets was very different from anything that I would typically read. While the romance is a heavy element, what truly drives the story is Alexa’s “condition”. Lisa spares no detail in her struggle and truly brings the reader inside her mind. I loved that gritty little element to this book. I’m not entirely sure why it’s labeled as a dark romance, as I found nothing truly dark about it. There’s no graphic violence but you do get a graphic view inside Alexa’s issues (view spoiler). But for me that’s not dark. Realistic, absolutely. But not dark.

Alexa is a very broken individual, and while not my usual preference to read in a heroine, there was also something very endearing to her. You can’t help but feel for her and Lisa does a phenomenal job with character development to ensure that all readers will feel the same.

If you’re looking to step a little bit outside the norm of contemporary romance, this is the book you do it with. I absolutely loved that the author didn’t gloss over any issues. Her characters truly dealt with their issues in a realistic matter. The romance wasn’t instantaneous but it wasn’t too slow either. It was a perfect fit for the story and I loved watching these two fall in love. Of course in usual Miss Eugene fashion you get some super sexy scenes in here, but that’s just the icing on the already great story cake.

Review: ★Licked★ by Brooke Blaine

Review-LickedLicked
Series: L.A. Liaisons #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Brooke Blaine
Release Date: November 11, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

Licked AMAZON

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn’t have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she’s had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

When Ryleigh’s crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it all.

Wouldn’t it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls spectacularly apart?

Enter Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked’s renovations. Devastatingly handsome, and a smartass to boot, he’s got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that’s a long story). There’s just one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron’s best friend.

When the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it’s impossible to choose between two delicious flavors, what’s a girl to do?  Taste a sample of each? Or go out and get LICKED?

Buy LinksAMAZON

Review4.5 stars

If I were truly honest with myself, which guy would I choose? The man I’d always wanted? Or the man I’d never forget?

Now that, my friends, is how you write a love triangle. Because honest to god, if every love triangle was written this way, I’d actually read them. Having said that, when I found a teaser on Brooke’s Facebook page that hinted at a love triangle, I may or may not have threatened her with a slow and painful death. Because if you follow my reviews or know me at all, you know I absolutely hate love triangles. Having loved all her previous books, I decided to put my faith in her and dive right in, and boy am I glad I did because this was nothing like I expected.

If you notice, I didn’t do my usual casting for this book, and there’s a reason for that. I want you to go into this book knowing exactly the same amount that I did…which is practically nothing. It’s better that way. If you’re a love triangle avoider like myself, I beg you to give this a try and guarantee you will not be even a little bit sorry. So let’s move onto the review now, shall we?
Ryleigh Phillips has got to be one of the most adorably endearing heroines I have read in a good long while. Everything from her quirky rockabilly style, to her internal monologue, to her banter with her best friends, just worked for me. She’s funny, sassy, and just one of those heroines you want to be your very own best friend. She’s so lively, she practically jumps off the pages at you. Brooke did such a great job introducing a cast of secondary characters in the form of her best friends that grabbed all my attention from the go.

Raleigh is the successful owner of Licked, an eclectic ice cream joint that I’d probably be a frequent visitor of. Why? Well because who wouldn’t love a full set of Love Balls like Fiesty Ho-Bag or Cookie Dil-dough? I know I would. But I digress. Ryleigh was a bit of an outcast in high school. But now she’s grown into her style and is a successful business owner. So she attends her ten year high school reunion with the hopes of running into her old crush, Cameron. But of course nothing ever goes according to plan, because while she may have now caught the attention of her high school crush, it’s his best friend and roommate that undoubtedly captures her. So what’s a girl to do?

Hunter is nothing like her usual type. But when he volunteers to take over her shop’s renovations, she can’t avoid him. And he’s determined to have her too. So which one does she go with? The man she’s always crushed on? Or the man that she can’t stop thinking about?
Licked is one of those feel good and light hearted reads that will have you reading with a goofy smile on your face the entire time. It’s light on angst and stupid drama (as in none of it), and heavy on the humor and the sexy. I devoured it like my favorite pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Everything about it worked for me; the romance, the characters, and most of all the writing. Brooke Blaine doesn’t just take on new genres with each book she writes, she grabs it by the throat and calls it her bitch. The woman is a true rockstar. What a fun little read this was.

Endearingly quirky, laugh out loud funny, and deliciously sexy! Licked was absolutely luscious! I loved every yummy page of it. What a fantastic start to a series I can already tell I’ll be addicted to!

New Release & Review: ★Cruel and Beautiful★ by A.M. Hargrove & Terri E. Laine

Release & Review-CABCruel And Beautiful
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Authors: A.M. Hargrove,Terri E. Laine
Release Date: November 12, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

Cate Forbes, a dedicated college student with a carefully plotted future, doesn’t know the first thing about love. When she accepts a blind date with a rumored tasty piece of eye candy, she thinks she can get by with a night of fun. Cate’s plans quickly unravel when she gets one look at the sexy…

Drew McKnight.

The relentless hockey-playing medical resident knows what he wants—a career in Oncology and Cate. Although he’s heard the gorgeous brunette is a little relationship skittish, a single night out isn’t what he has in mind. Determined to have her—in every way possible—he shows her just what a future with him would hold.

Only life has other plans. The unthinkable happens and everything begins to shatter. Both in too deep, they will have to fight the cruel and hang onto the beautiful.

Cruel and Beautiful is a New Adult Contemporary Romance standalone, full-length novel based on true events, and includes mature content, not suitable for younger readers.

 Buy Links

Amazon / iBooks / Nook / Kobo

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Review4.5 starsCruel & Beautiful-DGR

…promise me you’ll live. Just live, Cate. Do it for me.

I have no idea how to even begin reviewing this book. After reading the prologue, I knew I was in for a tear jerker, and yet nothing could have prepared me for the full effect. Nothing. Cruel and Beautiful was unlike any book I’ve ever read before. Beautifully tragic and emotionally charged, it’s one of those books that will stay with me for a long while. I finished it last night and still find myself thinking about it. It’s just one of those stories that will touch you on a visceral level. It’s impossible not to have it effect you, it’s just that moving.

This is yours for as long as there are beats within it. Everything I have is yours. My love, my heart, my soul, and my life, for however short or long it may be.”

When Drew McKnight first laid his eyes on Cate Forbes, he knew he wanted her. Drew is older with his sights set on a career in Oncology, while Cate is still a college student with no plans on relationships or falling in love. But this isn’t an angsty college romance of boy meets girl. It’s a touching love story of two soul mates. It’s captivating, endearing, emotional, and interspersed with just the right amount of humor. You get to watch these two fall in love slowly. You get to experience all their first smiles, emotions, feelings, everything, right alongside with them.

Cate was probably one of the most adorably quirky heroines I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I don’t think any other author could have pulled off a heroine that refers to her vagina as muffin or names it Louise, and actually have it be endearing instead of cheesy. But somehow these two authors did just that. Her lack of filter between her thoughts and what she says, her quirky Cate-ism, everything just worked for me. I fell for it, hook, line and sinker.

Okay. I’ll call them. Just so Louise can look pristine.”
“Who the fuck is Louise?”
I hold up my index finger and jab it toward Louise.
“Jesus C. You named it Louise? How did I not ever know that?”
“It’s a private thing.”

Her random thoughts and banter with her best friend and Drew never failed to bring a smile to face. I’m not sure what it was that kept it from crossing over that line to annoying or cheesy, but it was utter perfection. I was laughing my fool ass off at everything.

Don’t you laugh at me, Drew McKnight. I’m scared to pee in the woods and I hate snakes. Louise does too.”
“Louise loves my snake, Cate.”
“That’s not fair. This is real. I have to pee and I’m afraid.”

I love that the authors added that bit of humor to this emotional story. There was no unnecessary angst or drama. The book flowed flawlessly without any of it. It was a touching love story but it was also so much more. At 436 pages, it was definitely on the lengthy end, and I felt like it could have been cut down in certain parts. But the story never dragged for me either, so I can’t complain too much about it.

As for Drew? What can I tell you about Drew? He was perfection. Sweet yet with an incredibly sexy edge. He stole my heart and kept it, never to be the same again. This man was everything.

It’s told in alternating parts of Past and Present. Throughout the entire time the reader only begins to develop more and more questions. The connection behind everything kept me riveted to the pages from start to finish. I needed answers.

Say you won’t run. Say you’re in this as much as I am. Say you want me the same way I want you.”

This is one of those stories where the less you know going in, the better. Even the tiniest detail can be a spoiler. So I recommend going in absolutely blind.

What I can tell you, is this is a book unlike any you’ve read before. If you want a romance that will break your heart and melt it at the same time, this is simply a must read. It’s heart-breakingly good. One of the most unique books I’ve read all year. This was my first book by these authors, and I can say with utmost certainty that it will not be my last. I’m a huge fan after this and look forward to whatever they have next.

If you’re looking for an emotional read that’s guaranteed to make even the strongest hearts cry, this is that book. Once you meet Cate and Drew you’ll know exactly what I mean.


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About the Author

ABOUT A. M. Hargrove

AMHargrove-AuthorPhotoOne day, on her way home from work as a sales manager A. M. Hargrove realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss, and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances, including, The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent, and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Death Waltz (The Praestani Novels); The Edge Series (Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, and Kissing Fire); The Tragic Series (Tragically Flawed and Tragic Desires); Exquisite Betrayal; Dirty Nights: The Novel; and The Hart Brothers Novels (Freeing Her, Freeing Him, and Kestrel).

Please find her at www.amhargrove.com.

 

ABOUT Terri E. Laine

TerriELaine-AuthorPhotoWife and mother of three, I’ve always been an avid reader. In my early years, my best friend and I would tell each other stories over the phone when we were bored. We called them our “soap operas” and generally revolved around whatever boy we liked at the time.

Over five years ago, I got this crazy idea to write a novel and try to publish it. And the rest is history. This journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. I look forward to many more memories to come.

Review: ★Knockout★ by Cari Quinn

Review-HHHEAHunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance (Anthology)
Release Date: November 3, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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An anthology of novellas about hunky blue collar, hammer wielding heroes and the women who tame them. Stories are by USA Today Bestselling Authors Cari Quinn, Cathy Clamp, and Anna J Stewart, and featuring authors Jodi Redford, Amie Stuart, Leah Braemel, and Chudney Thomas.

Get down and dirty with this sexy blue collar bundle featuring seven original contemporary romance novellas that range from sweet to sizzling.

KNOCKOUT – Cari Quinn
All Emerson Knapp wants…is everything he shouldn’t have. When all his secrets come to a head, the only question left is how much he’s willing to lose.

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS – Cathy Clamp
Sophie Green is smart, gorgeous, and good with her hands. Can Gabe convince her to make her stay at the Starlight Motel a permanent one?

MARKED FOR LOVE – Anna J. Stewart
Overworked pub manager Regan Murphy is about to have her hands full with Lantano Valley newcomer and tattoo artist Brodie Crawford: a sexy single father who is far too distracting.
*this version of MARKED FOR LOVE is a spiced up version of the original sweet novella of the same title. Includes a never before published epilogue, available ONLY in this boxed set.

KNOTTY MAGIC – Jodi Redford
Hormones be damned, Tully Eastwood won’t succumb to her attraction for a sexy lumberjack—until she finds herself trapped overnight with him in the woods.

AGAINST THE WALL – Amie Stuart
Construction Supervisor Lexi Kimball is the one person everyone loves to hate. Everyone except a sexy foreman with an adventurous streak, that is.

UNASHAMED — Leah Braemel
Two sexy construction workers double Hayley O’Connell’s fun. But can they convince her the fun should last forever?

LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR – Chudney Thomas
Mica Lawson is a failure and a flake; at least according to her family. Then one stalled elevator, and a sexy repairman, change her life.

Buy Links

ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME! GRAB THESE HOT HUNKS BEFORE THEY’RE GONE (only $.99)

Amazon


ReviewReview only for Cari Quinn’s Knockout4 starsKnockout- DGR

I’ve been denying too much for too long.

Ladies and ovaries, allow me to introduce you to your next must read. If you’re looking for some smutty goodness wrapped up in a fantastic story, it simply doesn’t get better than this. Did I mention that it has one of the hottest MMF threesomes I’ve read in a while? Because….damn.

It’s no secret that I’m a shameless hussy when it comes to Cari Quinn’s books. So when she told me she was writing another MMF and it would be set in the Tapped Out world, which is one my favorite series by her, my ovaries were all
The beauty of this dirty little beauty, however, is you don’t have to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy it. While Carly and Geo from On the Ropes make an appearance here that will make fans of the series happy, you won’t be lost if you’re new to it either. The story mainly focuses on the romance between Lily, Emerson, and JC. It’s a friends to lovers story that’s sizzles to the point of scorching!

I felt completely ravaged. Consumed.
Lost.

Lily and Emerson have been best friends for years. Emerson has been in love with Lily for almost as long. But she’s always been hands off. Her father took him in when he was lost, and the last thing he wants to do to repay that is defile his beloved only daughter. So he concentrates on his fighting career and wards off any potential men with intimidating looks. After all, no one else can possibly be good for her.

But his carefully constructed world gets thrown for a loop when JC decides to take matter into his own hands. JC has been in love with Lily, but he’s also been lusting after Em. While JC is open with his sexuality, he’s not quite sure which way Emerson will swing. But he’s willing to take the chance.

Em has never been with another man before, but damn if JC doesn’t do it for him. He lusts after him, but no one will ever know. Until one night where all their carnal desires finally come to one fiery head. Pun most definitely intended.

Hate and love might be on opposite sides of a line most of the time. Right now, I was fucking straddling it with his dick in my mouth. And I adored every second.

This book was all kinds of deliciously dirty. It may not be a full length novel, but boy is it enough to satisfy. And satisfy it certainly did. There’s one particular locker room scene that practically melted even my steel plated ovaries.

GFY, threesome and friends to lovers all in one delicious little story. It’s like the holy trifecta for me. My ovaries were on cloud 9 here! If you’re looking for a steamy little number to spend the afternoon or the evening with, I highly recommend you give this a go. Trust me. Make your your ovaries happy.

Review: ★Hard Beat★ by K. Bromberg

Review- Hard BeatHard Beat
Series: Driven #7
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: November 3, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Sweet Ache comes a blistering new novel filled with danger, secrecy, and a desire that can’t be sated…

Foreign war correspondent Tanner Thomas is addicted to living on the edge. Needing the adrenaline rush of his job to help him cope with a personal loss, he throws himself back into the game, concentrating all his energy on getting the next big story.

But when he meets his new photojournalist, Beaux Croslyn, he can’t help but feel like he’s losing his focus—and maybe risking more…

With secrets she won’t address, Beaux is far from your ordinary woman. Determined to keep her distance, she’s willing to pull Tanner in closer and hide behind the sparks flying between them. But as Beaux’s past begins to put their relationship—and their lives—at risk, Tanner’s determination to find the truth puts them both in jeopardy.

He’s ready to chase her to the ends of the earth to find out if what they had was real, or if the danger surrounding them was just an exquisite heat fated to burn out…

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks

Review5 starsHard Beat-DGR

 

She’s my little piece of Heaven in the land full of Hell.

It’s been quite a while since I read an all male POV that was this engrossing. Hard Beat was simply unputdownable from beginning to end. It was everything I love, and I really do mean everything. It managed to tick all my boxes.
A reedemable asshole hero.

Guilt is a goddamn vise squeezing out of me every ounce of emotion I never wanted to feel.

You may remember Tanner as Rylee Thomas’s older brother. Well now it’s his turn for a HEA and it’s going to be one bumpy road. Tanner is a famous foreign war correspondent. Now back to doing what he does best after a tragic loss that absolutely gutted him, he’s interested in one thing and one thing only; his career. No woman, especially not some newbie photographer that’s still green behind her ears will deter him from that. So when a dark haired beauty approaches him at a bar, he rejects her. But her appeal is just too much for him to fight, so when her flirtation turns into sarcastic insults after his treatment, a few heated words turn into something much hotter

You’re arrogant and-”
“You don’t have to like me to fuck me,” I say, cutting her off. “You just have to want me.”
“Fuck you!”

I chuckle against her lips before pulling back and looking straight into her desire-laden eyes. “That’s the plan.”
…. until he figures out that she’s his new photographer.

I think that had this been written in dual POV the effect would have been lost. I absolutely LOVED being in Tanner’s head. You get to experience every single emotion right along with him. So even when he’s being a downright asshole, your heart still breaks for him because you know what’s behind every word.

She wants to be a bitch? Well, I can be a grade A asshole. She has no idea who she’s messing with. We already started this relationship with a bang, so why not keep it going that way, right?

Utterly delicious hate to love trope
The relationship development here was phenomenal. The rocky start, the hate lust, all of which leads to inevitable feelings. But man oh man was it done well. I couldn’t get enough of Tanner and Beaux. These two seriously burn up the pages together. So much so that the tension between them sizzle and crackles so much it practically vibrates your finger with every turn of the page. Ugh. It was perfection.
A sassy and sharp witted heroine that gives as good as she gets
Beaux Croslyn is a mystery for a large portion of the book, but in that lies her appeal. You’re figuring out the puzzle that is her right along side Tanner. But what you do know, is this is a woman that doesn’t give in easily. For every asshole remark Tanner has, she gives it right back. She’s no pushover and she sure has a smart mouth on her.

Like I said, fuck off.”
“It seems to me your mouth needs to be washed out with soap. Not real classy for a lady to keep repeating words like that.”
“Oh, I’m a whole lot of classy. I just reserve all my fucks for assholes like you who deserve them.”

I simply couldn’t envision a better match for Tanner.
An unputdownable story filled with twists and turns
While the romance is emotional, erotic and oh so satisfying, what truly made this a 5 star read for me was the plot that tied it all together. It was fantastic! Then that last 30% happened and I was completely blown away. The twists and turns I never saw coming kept me riveted to the pages. I couldn’t put it down until I finished.

There’s not a single part about this book that I didn’t love. Quick paced, filled with action and even a little suspense, erotic, and emotionally charged made this the absolute perfect read. A must read!

Read the series in order

Driven (Driven, #1)

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Fueled (Driven, #2)

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Crashed (Driven, #3)

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Raced (Driven, #4)

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Slow Burn (Driven, #5)

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Sweet Ache (Driven, #6)

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Hard Beat (Driven, #7)

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Coming 1/11/16

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Aced (Driven, #8)

New Release & Review: ★Tough Enough★ by M. Leighton

Review- Tough enoughTough Enough
Series: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: M. Leighton
Release Date: November 3, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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You seriously don’t want to miss MMA-champion-turned-Hollywood-superstar Rogan. Hotness!


About The Book

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From the author of the New York Times bestselling Bad Boys novels comes the second book in a dark, sexy contemporary trilogy.

 He’s a fighter who never loses, but is he tough enough to win her heart?

There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away in my second-choice job as a makeup artist. But I prefer it that way, actually. I’m comfortable in the shadows, where no one can see my scars.

Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid.

But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most.

I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.

Buy Links Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo| Google Play

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Get Strong Enough, the first book in the Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series
Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

Add Tough Enough†to your Goodreads TBR
MLeighton-ToughEnough-Meme3Review4 starsTough Enough-DGR
Why me?”
He doesn’t hesitate with his answer. “Something tells me you’re worth the effort.”

Well, this was certainly…different. If you’re expecting Tough Enough to be on the same intensity level as Strong Enough, don’t. This was a complete change of pace from the first book. It’s an emotional journey that’s both beautiful and touching. The suspense element is not the predominant factor here as it was in the predecessor. As a matter of fact, it was barely present up until the very end. Which actually brings me to my minor dilemma. I’ve been waffling with my rating on this book for days now. Do I rate it on it’s own, or do I rate it based on the series it’s in? But I’ll get to that in a bit.
Tough Enough teaser-DGRIn true M. Leighton fashion, Tough Enough grabs the reader’s attention with just the prologue.

Katie Rydale is a woman with secrets; deep, painful secrets that she’s still learning to live with. It’s been years since the even that changed her life irrevocably, and yet she’s still just a shell of the woman she used to be. A meek kitten that hides behind the shadow of who she used to be. She’s more comfortable behind the lime light as a makeup artist to the stars that bask in it.

Kiefer Rogan is like champagne- undeniably delicious, deceptively light, and too easy to get drunk on. To lose your mind with. To make a mistake with.

Kiefer Rogan is the uber sexy MMA star turned actor and one fourth of the Delta 5 team that we were introduced to in the first book. Katie knows that men like him will only burn her. He’s just too everything; too sexy, too intense, too determined to get to know her.

We both fought to survive. But only one of us fought to live.

If you’re looking for a swoony alpha hero, you’ll certainly get that with Keifer. His slow and determined seduction of Katie was one of my favorite parts about this book. I love a slow burn romance, especially one that’s layered in ripe sexual tension. As protective as Rogan is, he understands Katie’s limits and doesn’t push them. For all his intensity, it’s so refreshing to see a hero that’s respectful of a woman’s boundaries. He was just so incredibly sweet but without ever losing that edge that he has to him.
Tough Enough teaser2-DGRKatie is not exactly the kind of heroine I prefer to read about. She’s very demure and tends to withdraw into herself at the slightest altercation. I would have loved to see her come into her own a little sooner than she did.

If you’ve read the first book, which I highly recommend you do, then you know there was a particular suspense element that was left in a cliffhanger. Clearly there was a story arc that would continue throughout the series. I was expecting for this book to bring some of that intensity with it as well, but it never quite went there. The main focus was the relationship between Rogan and Katie while the suspense was more of an afterthought. I don’t have a problem with this, and up until the final 10% of the book, this was a solid 4.5 star read for me. This could easily be a case of built up expectations, but I found the ending to be rushed and well…anticlimactic. After all the buildup in book 1 for everything to be resolved the way it was, it just wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. I would have loved for that part to be really fleshed out and not just glossed over as it had been. But then again, I don’t know what the third book will bring, so it is tough to judge without having finished the series.

For all the minor issues I may have had, this book had my full attention from beginning to finish. So while I wished it had a bit more of an edge to it like the first one in the series, I still definitely enjoyed it.


 


About the Author

MLeighton-AuthorPhotoNew York Times and USA Today†bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction.

Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Sign up for her newsletter here, and be the first to know about exclusive giveaways, new books, and awesome fan-only perks! And join Michelle in her superfan Facebook group, Laid Back with Leighton, right here!

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

Review-THeBossThe Boss: Book One
Series: The Boss #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance Serial
Authors: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
Release Date: October 27, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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I’ve always been a good girl.

I’ve only done two really bad things in my life–secretly live in the maid’s quarters of my beloved grams foreclosed beach house and lie to get a job as a personal assistant to billionaire Blake Carson.

My enemy, my lover, my savior.

He’s only two out of the three, if only I can figure out which two before I end up on the streets or in jail.

Or worse.

Buy LinksAMAZON

Review5 starsThe Boss-DGR

He was every sin I never knew I’d wanted.


You know that decadent kind of ice cream? The one where even if you get a small serving of it, it’s oh so satisfying yet still leaves you craving more? The Boss is that ice cream for me, and it was absolutely delicious! It’s tough to find a serial romance these days that can perfectly combine sizzling sexual tension with a plot that hooks you just the same. So of course it figures that the powerhouse writing duo that is Cari and Taryn pulled it off effortlessly!

I’d come here looking for a miracle, and I was walking away with a job.

The Boss teaser1-DGRGrace Copeland walks into the den of the enemy prepared to fight. She’s prepared to lie and do whatever it takes to get her beloved grandmother’s house back from the billionaire that probably doesn’t even care what it means to her. What’s she’s not prepared for is to walk out with a job.

Blake Carson is a glass magnate that’s not exactly known for his sunny disposition. He goes through personal assistants like another man may go through socks. So why on earth does he offer Grace the job after she basically calls him on his shit? Such is the enigma of this man.

Like the storm coming off the water this morning, he was a cold front slapping into a warm. The thunder was his voice, and I was the rocks trying desperately to hold out against the waves.
And the water was rising.

The sexual tension between these two is instant and so deliciously thick you can almost taste it. There’s nothing I love more than a good buildup and this book serves that up perfectly. Cari and Taryn know exactly what they’re doing and these two sure know how to tease and entice.
The Boss teaser2-DGRVolume One is written solely in Grace’s POV which only serves to entice the reader with everything that is or isn’t Blake. He’s enticing, magnetic, and an all out mystery. Then again all this does is whet your appetite for more.

Grace is exactly the kind of heroine I love to read about. She’s sassy and smart mouthed. This is a woman that gets knocked down and comes right back up swinging. I can already tell these two are going to be absolutely delicious together and I’m absolutely dying for more!

I was swept into the breath-stealing undertow that was Blake Carson and the force of his kiss.

After that ending, I’m not sure whether to rock myself in a corner somewhere in my wait for the next installment or to hunt down Cari and Taryn and beat them until they give it to me. All I know, is I’m hooked and I want it. I need it. I have to have it.

If you’re looking for a deliciously sexy read that you’ll devour in one sitting, guaranteed, look no further than The Boss. Trust me on this. You’ll thank me when you meet Blake Carson. I have 3 words for you: Suit. Beard. Tattoos. You’re welcome.


Don’t miss the next installment in this scorching hot series!


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Releasing November 19

Available for PRE-ORDER

Review: ★Friction★ by Sawyer Bennett

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Series: Legal Affairs #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: October 27, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.

Buy LinksAmazon 

Review4 starsFriction-DGR

…you, Leary Michaels, have no idea the beast you’ve awoken with your antics. You’ve invited me to come out and play, and I’m ready to play.”

I have a little secret…*whispers* I have an unhealthy addiction to legal dramas…comedies….romances…whatever. You name it, if legal procedures and trials are involved, odds are I’ve watched it or read it. So when I saw a new Legal Affairs book from Sawyer Bennett, it was a no brainer to read. This is only my third book by this author, and admittedly the other two I’ve read by her left me a bit underwhelmed. But having heard so many amazing things about her Legal Affairs series, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go. And boy am I glad that I did, because Friction was absolutely fantastic!.

Leary Michaels gets the chance of a lifetime when she’s hired to work at one of the biggest powerhouse firms, Knight & Payne. Coming from trailer park beginnings and sporting a polyester suit from Walmart she feels out of place, until the main partner and her idol gives her the advise that changes everything.

Make men notice you, and when you’ve fogged their senses with lust, slap them with your brains. Make women want to be like you, but be so confident in your abilities that they will inevitably fall flat on their face.”

And so awkward, shy trailer trash Leary becomes sexy powerhouse Leary; using all her feminine wiles to win her cases. But she’s not just sexy and sassy, there’s a brain on her and that just made her that much more fun to read about. Now she’s handling the biggest case of her life; not so much in the form of money, but meaning. It means everything to her to win, and she needs to crush her opponent. Too bad her opponent is the sexy Reeve Holloway, a defense attorney working for the client that hers is suing…and determined to give as good as he gets.

How can one man be so vastly different from the others I’ve had? How can he bring me so quickly to dizzying heights? How can he fully entertain and annoy me at the same time? And how can I actually be starting to have feelings for a man who should be my sworn enemy?

Friction is a hot little legal romp that was entertaining from beginning to finish. Intertwined with humor and with incredibly endearing characters, there wasn’t one page that I didn’t enjoy.

Leary and Reeve burn up the pages together. I loved the enemy lust thing they had going on along with their banter. Reeve is every bit the alpha to Leary’s sassy and together they were this perfect dynamic. They’re stolen kisses along with much more risqué endeavors during the case was utterly delicious. They’re on opposite sides in the courtroom but they sure set off some fireworks outside the courthouse too.

I possessed her and she consumed me.”

While I loved the romance, I think what ultimately made me enjoy this as much as I did was all the legal proceedings. You can clearly tell that Miss Bennett is in her element writing about this and it jumps off from the pages. The last 20% of the book was easily my favorite part. I loved reading about the case proceedings and how it all resolves. And I loved the way that Leary and Reeve handle themselves in the case that changes everything for them.

Tell me you adore me.”
“You know I do,” I say from a place deep within my heart.
“Tell me you’re going to fuck me silly after you finish working tonight,” he says, now grinning big.
“You know I will,” I say as warmth spreads through me.

A highly recommended read!

P.S.

This is a standalone in a series. The previous books were part of an erotic series! Check it out below


Read the rest of the series

Legal Affairs

Legal Affairs Boxed Set: Volumes 1-6

Confessions of a Litigation God

Confessions of a Litigation God
(Legal Affairs, #7)

Review: ★Filthy Rich★ by Virna DePaul

Review- Filthy RichFilthy Rich
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Virna DePaul
Release Date: October 27, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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High finance and a sizzling office affair raise desire and passion to the boiling point in Virna DePaul’s seductive new contemporary romance—perfect for fans of Carly Phillips, Lori Foster, and Molly O’Keefe.

Cara Michal has had to fight every step of the way to earn her place in the glittering seven-figure world of Wall Street. Years ago her hardworking father, a small-time investment adviser, was humiliated and wrongfully accused of fraud. Now Cara is at the top of her game, trying to support not only herself but her mother and brother. The occasional night out dancing soothes Cara’s soul, even as a bitter need for revenge against the man who destroyed her father makes inner peace elusive.

Then, in a moment of heat, Cara kisses a sexy stranger at a party—only later to discover that the man is Branden Duke, her new boss, an infamous operator with a wicked reputation in bed and on the Street. Branden is a man who seemingly has it all—except a woman who connects with him on a physical and emotional level. Now that he’s found Cara, he’s not sure he can let her go, even if he should.

In spite of herself, Cara is drawn to this charismatic guy. He is a challenge like none she has ever faced in her life. Their passion for each other is unquenchable, surprising them both with its ferocity. Even as Cara wonders if she can trust this man with her heart and soul, the ecstasy of their love cannot be denied. But when the past threatens the present, the two are faced with a truth from which they may never recover.

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks / Barnes & Noble / Kobo  / Google Play

Review2 Stars

I’ve loved everything else I’ve ever read from this author, so I was excited to see she had a new book coming out. The synopsis intrigued me and it sounded like I’d be in for another steamy read from the fabulous Virna Depaul. Unfortunately, there were just too many things working against this book for me to ever truly enjoy it.

I struggled with my rating, but I figure per GR’s explanation; it was just OK, so 2 stars it is.

Cara Michal is a hard hitter on Wall Street. After her father’s death, she’s been the main bread winner for her family; supporting not only her mother but her brother as well. Her career is everything to her and she won’t let anything or any one jeopardize it. But then a sexy stranger she meets at a party tilts her carefully conducted life on it’s axis.

When it turns out that the stranger isn’t some stranger after all; but is in fact the new owner of the financial institution that Cara works for, their brewing sexual chemistry becomes even more inconvenient.

Now the premise for this book was great. I loved the set and where I though the story was going. My main issue is I found a good chunk of the book to be pure filler; unnecessary information that did nothing to drive the actual plot. It was draining to read and often took me completely out of the story. I think this could have easily been trimmed by almost 30-40% if I’m being perfectly honest.

My second issue was with Cara. Her indecisiveness drove me nuts. She wants him, but she can’t have him, she’ll cave in, but it won’t go further than that. Rinse, lather, and repeat ad nauseam. Ultimately though, here’s a woman that refuses to be “kept” and struggles to be seen as an equal in a mainly male dominated profession, yet she’s taking risks by having sexual encounters with her boss at work. It just seemed like she’d cave in too easily that all her internal arguments for her profession were moot.

Then there were the sex scenes. Perhaps I’m just desensitized to erotic books that I’ve become picky, but personally the word “penis” in a sex scene does absolutely nothing for me. Particularly in an explicit one.

When she felt his fingers there she sucked them into her mouth, making love to them the same way she’d made love to his penis just a little while ago.”

Making love to his penis? Are we actually waxing on poetic about a blow job here?

I want you inside me.”
“My fingers are inside you.”
“No! I want your penis inside me.”

Le sigh.

Then add in a random stalker to throw in some suspense and I was altogether underwhelmed.

I did love Braden’s intensity. Virna DePaul definitely knows how to write a super sexy alpha. Unfortunately while there were parts that I did enjoy, the negatives simply outweighed the enjoyment for me. I’m still a huge fan of this author and will gladly read any of her future releases. We simply can’t love them all, and this was just that case for me. I recommend you read it and judge for yourself. I tend to be a highly critical and picky reader; so you never know, it just may work for you.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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