Review: Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

October 31, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

DESPERATE MEASURES
Series: Wicked Villains #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: May 28, 2019

My Savior… Or My Ruin?

One night, and my entire life went up in flames. All because of him. Jafar.

As my world burned down around me, he offered me a choice.

Walk away with nothing but my freedom… Or rise to his challenge and win my fortune back.

I bargained.

I lost.

Now Jafar owns me, and even as my mind rails against his rules, my body loves the punishments he deals out when I break them.

But a gilded cage is still a prison, I’ll do anything to obtain my freedom.

Even betray the man I’m falling for.

AMAZON 

I want Jasmine confined…
My collar on her neck, its chain never far from my hand.
I want her on her knees in subservience.
I want to fucking ruin her.

Sweet mother of ovaries, what did I just read? How did I not know that Katee Robert had such a dirty side to her? I felt like I should go to confession after reading this, because this was sinfully good.

The premise is delicious; a different take on your favorite disney story but with a deliciously kinky twist. What if the villain got the girl? That’s what you get with Jafar and Jasmine. Except instead of a royal kingdom, Jasmine is the daughter to an crime king. And instead of a goofy and somewhat bumbling good boy, she ends up with the intense, broody, and dominant Jafar.

This was more erotica that romance, and even though I don’t typically gravitate to this genre, this totally hit the spot for me. And to be honest, for the amount of hot kinkery that happens here, there was a surprisingly satisfying amount of story to it. Fans of dub con and the baby girl/daddy thing would totally eat this up. I’m more of the former than the latter, so the daddy thing didn’t quite hit the spot for me so much. However, this was still a highly entertaining and hot as sin read that I devoured from beginning to end.

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Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Rebel Queen by Jeana E. Mann

October 17, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

THE REBEL QUEEN
Series: The Rebel Queen Duet #2
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Jeana E. Mann
Release Date: October 15, 2019

“Shall we begin?” When spoken by my new husband, these three little words fill me with terror and anticipation.

In private, King Henry rules my body like he rules his country—with unrelenting control and passion. I crave his orders, his punishment, his commands. Outside the bedroom, we’re strangers caught in a web of lies and decadence.

Our marriage is a sham, a business arrangement devised to save my life and secure his crown. He doesn’t love me. He loves my body, controlling it, shaming it, worshipping it. To survive the dangers at court, I need to be smart, but it’s hard to think straight with a man like Henry between my legs.

Each night, he locks the bedroom door, determined to teach me a new lesson. Obedience, patience, trust. I lie awake in bed waiting for the sound of his footsteps and the latest installment in pleasure and pain. My heart pounds when the hinges creak and his broad shoulders block the door. I’m not ready, but I can’t wait to feel his hands on me. He shoves his bowtie in my mouth, binds my hands to the headboard, and whispers in my ear…

“Shall we begin?”

From USA Today bestselling author Jeana E. Mann comes this dark, contemporary romance filled with twists, turns, and unprecedented heat.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO | GOOGLE

START WHERE IT ALL BEGAN IN THE ROYAL ARRANGEMENT, BOOK 1 in the series:

The Royal Arrangement

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO 

When his key clicks in the lock of the apartment door, my heart almost leaps out of my chest. I slip my hands into the fur-lined restraints. Anticipation heightens my awareness. The silk sheets are soft against my skin. They smell of his cologne and shower gel. I draw in his scent and try not to squirm. With each passing second, my mouth grows drier and the ache between my legs intensifies. I can hardly wait to see what he has in store for me tonight.

His light footsteps approach, sending my pulse rate higher. He doesn’t speak. He shrugs out of his jacket, loosens his tie, and sits in the elegant chair at the end of the bed. My skin prickles under the weight of his scrutiny. I’ve never been self-conscious about my body, but insecurity races through me. He’s the king. How many women has he had in his bed? If they’re anything like Lady Clayton, they’ve been the most beautiful women in the world. I tug on the restraints, wishing I could crawl beneath the sheets.

He drags a finger over his upper lip. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“What?” Mortification sends heat rushing into my face. Changed his mind? About me? About us? A knot clenches in my belly.

“I’ve always taken the lead in our lessons, but tonight, I’m giving you control.”

I slide my hands out of the restraints and sit up, clutching a pillow to cover my nudity, feeling vulnerable. “I don’t understand.”

“Take the reins, Everly.” He enunciates each word in his haughty British accent. “Show me how persuasive you can be. Make me want you.”

What I want is much more precious and infinitely more difficult to acquire. I want to own you. Inside and out.”


Well butter my biscuit, this was a sexy little page turner. If you’re looking for a guilty pleasure read that brings an intense thrill and a whole lot of deliciousness, look no further. I was immediately hooked on the connection between King Henry and Everly in The Royal Arrangement, and this brought the sinful conclusion.

The relationship between Everly and Henry is anything but ordinary. He’s a man that demands utmost control, and she’s a woman that’s fighting her every urge to give into his demands. Even though she’s almost a kept woman locked away in his tower in this book, she doesn’t take it lying down. Her spark and fire burns hot and I really appreciated that. Henry is as intense as ever, and I wouldn’t have him any other way.

I would have loved for the suspense element in this story to be better fleshed out. As it was, it felt a bit glossed over and overshadowed by the relationship dynamic. Granted, I didn’t mind that too much since I really loved the relationship dynamic, but I still couldn’t help but want a little more from the ending.

All in all, this was an addicting and sizzling read that I read in one sitting and I’m definitely a new fan of this author and will eagerly jump on all her future releases.

 

Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books and several awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love.

 

You can follow Jeana here:

Website:http://jeanaemann.net

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann

Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/JeanaEMann

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/JeanaEMann

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann/e/B00HI4KQB4/ref

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeana-e-mann

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeana.e.mann/

Text Alerts: Text the word “Jeana” without quotations to 21000

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Back In Bliss by Lexi Blake

September 10, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BACK IN BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss, Colorado #9
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: September 10, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Logan Green is back in Bliss, but only for a few weeks to help out at the sheriff’s office. Everything changes when Seth Stark strolls into town with Georgia Dawson on his arm.

Seth’s arrival is anything but a happy accident. He always dreamed of a big house on the river and a wife he could share with his best friend, Logan. After building a software empire, his only goal has been to make that dream come true. He just needed the perfect woman.

Georgia is still haunted by the dark, troubled man who saved her life. She can’t get Logan out of her head. Her boss brought her to Bliss to help him decorate his new summer home, but when Logan Green walks through the door she discovers Seth has something different in mind.

Seth has a plan for their mutual happily ever after, but he never dreamed that coming home would put all their lives in danger.

AMAZON

Logan Green was the match and her body was lighter fluid waiting to explode.

This book was worth EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. of the wait. GAH! I feel like I’ve been waiting for Logan’s book forever. The man went from the adorkable deputy to sinfully sexy Dom in seriously the blink of an eye and I’ve been waiting with bated breath for this man to finally get his HEA. And let me tell you friends, his HEA was EVERYTHING.

Like every menage relationship in this series, there’s always one man that’s beyond ready to settle down while the other one is the broody and broken one that doubts his place. So of course Logan and his beautifully broken self was the later. He went through a life altering experience and it turned everything he knew upside now. It’s been years and he still hasn’t recovered but his Dom training in Texas gave him the respite that he needed. But now he’s back in his hometown of Bliss and dealing with every emotion that he pushed down into the darkest parts of his soul.

Seth is Logan’s best friend since they were just kids. They grew up together but where Logan’s childhood was warm and loving, Seth’s was anything but. Now the man is a successful billionaire and he’s more than ready to settle down with the woman of his dreams. There’s just one problem. That woman is in love with his best friend and that best friend refuses to admit that he needs them as much as they both need him. Enter all of the angst and emotion!

Of course this wouldn’t be Bliss if there wasn’t some mystery and action thrown in. So if you’ve been waiting to see who is after John Bishop after reading Once Upon a Time in Bliss, you’ll get those answers here.

But so much of this book is Logan coming to terms with his experiences and opening himself up. This was probably my favorite part of the story. I absolutely adored the way that Lexi handled his healing process and my heart broke at the full details of his torture and what he went through.

Admittedly I was a little afraid I wouldn’t like Georgia after I first met her in Siren Unleashed. She came off as a spoiled and slightly fluffy character. But then by the end, you can see that there’s more to her. And that more definitely gets expanded on here. Georgia is a character with plenty of depth and I loved seeing her true personality come out. She’s fierce and loyal and impossible not to love.

This was probably my favorite in the series so far but I’m already rabid for more!

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#DGRFave & Review: Absolution by Keri Lake

August 26, 2019 by ·

ABSOLUTION
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Keri Lake
Release Date: August 27, 2019

 

According to canon law, it is forbidden for a priest to betray the penitent for any reason. Even murder.

The consequences?

Excommunication.

For years, I’ve listened to your confessions. I know your darkest secrets, and have swallowed your sins in silence. In return, I’ve offered you forgiveness in His name. But behind the partition that separates us, I’m nothing more than a man who has long questioned his own faith.

Your contrition is my invitation: to mete out the kind of justice you pray will never come. I’m neither pious, nor merciful, despite what you see. I’m an imposter, an abomination to all I represent. A quiet executioner who’s kept below the radar.

Until her.

She’s seen what I’ve done. She knows the man beneath the cloth and my every mortal sin. She has witnessed the uncontrollable vices she hopes to use against me in order to get what she covets most.

Yet, I know her sins, too. Ones she doesn’t bother to confess. The kind, for which, there is no absolution.

*The short story first appeared in the Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. This is the full-sized novel, which includes the conclusion to Damon and Ivy’s story.

AMAZON

C’mon, pécheresse, let me hear you scream.”
“Oh, God!”
“There is no God here, Ivy. Only me.”

Bless me, father, for I have sinned. Oh how I’ve sinned! I’ve sinned So. Freaking. Hard. And I’m not even a little sorry. Absolution was a deliciously thrilling ride that skirts the edge of propriety and was so good, it was downright sinful!

Moans muffle into the pillows, while she rolls her head and claws at the bedding as if possessed by demons. Maybe she is. Surely, God isn’t present here, while I f*ck her with the kind of reckless abandon that’ll land my soul in hell.

If you’ve never read anything by the immensely talented Keri Lake, then this is the story you need to start with to get a good taste of her addicting story telling. And if you’re a fan of taboo romance, that you definitely need this book in your life!

This was originally published as a novella in a limited time anthology and it’s now been expanded to be a full length novel and it packs an even bigger punch. If you’ve read the novella, then you’ll definitely want to get your grabby little hands on this because it delivers on the satisfying conclusion that was missing in the novella. There has been an entire second half added that takes the reader beyond Ivy’s revenge and deep into the dark bowels of Damon’s.

Father Damon is not all that he seems. There’s a dark undercurrent to this man of the cloth and a history riddled with demons that have followed him into his present. When a man steps into his confessional to describe a crime that’s horrific beyond words, it sends Damon into a tailspin of repressed anger and vengeance. Then a a beautiful woman with her own dark secrets puts his faith to a true test.

Absolution is a sizzling story full of grit and a dash of darkness with a heavy layer of taboo. It was a page turner from beginning to finish. A high paced thrill ride of vengeance with a deliciously sizzling romance.

Ivy is a character that I wasn’t sure I’d like at first but boy did she grow on me as the story progressed. Even more so in the second half. Her reasons for getting to Damon aren’t exactly altruistic. This is a woman with a hidden agenda, but one made out of utter and complete helplessness. She’s desperate to get away from a demon of her own past and she’ll do anything to escape him. Even make a sinner out of Damon…

In her signature gritty style with an undercurrent of darkness, Keri delivers on the side of Damon we barely got a taste for in the novella. Here you get to know the man he used to be and the man he becomes along with the sacrifices he makes along the way. There’s so many twists and turns, it will leave your head reeling.

With plenty of mind-blowing twists and turns that I’ve come to love and expect from this author, Absolution was one unputdownable read that I recommend for any fans of gritty taboo romance. Trust me, people, if there’s one book you need to read right now, it’s THIS ONE!!!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Dark, DGR Favorites, Dirty Talkers, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: , ,

Review: So Steady by Eve Dangerfield

August 15, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

AMAZON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Review: Once Upon A Time In Bliss by Lexi Blake

July 16, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

ONCE UPON A TIME IN BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #8
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: July 16, 2019

CIA operative John Bishop arrived in Bliss, Colorado seeking a respite from the high stakes game of blood and lies that sent him to the worst corners of the world. A week playing the role of vacationing professor Henry Flanders would recharge his batteries, especially if he found a submissive plaything to occupy his time.

Nell Finn has spent her life focused on helping others, but when she meets the tall and mysterious Henry Flanders, she can’t stop imagining what he might do for her. When Nell and her mother are threatened, Henry comes to her offering his protection and comfort.

But as the threats escalate out of control, Henry discovers that the beautiful and innocent Nell is much more than a plaything. Can he save the woman he loves without exposing the secrets that would drive her away?

AMAZON

His real name was gone. Erased. He had no home. No family. No life. He was nothing. Nothing at all.

Hands down, my absolute favorite in the series so far!

The very second John Bishop appeared on the pages of Nobody Does It Better, I was desperate for his story. The mysterious agent that is as cold as he is ruthless just HAD to have a heart of gold beneath all of that brawn, right? And oh man did this deliver.

This is set in the past, so not only do you get the story of how Nell and “Henry” get together, but you get the additional backstory of some of Bliss’s favorite kinky residents, including teenage Logan. This was the perfect icing on the cake! But let’s not lose sight of the story, because Nell and Henry definitely stole the show.

I have to admit that I was a tiny bit afraid to read this book because while I loved Nell as the quirky side character, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy a full dose of her. The vegan bleeding heart activist isn’t my typical cuppa of heroine. But the more I learned about her, the more I found myself falling more and more for her incredibly endearing quirks.

Doctors push every day to find new medical breakthroughs. Scientists push to invent new technology. And I push every day so this planet is a better place for everyone, and you can look down on me and call me a kook, but people like me are the reason we have a democracy. We’re the reason women can vote. We’re the reason we have words in our vocabulary like human rights. Philosophers, thinkers, activists are the reason for every breakthrough humanity has made in becoming a more fair place.

Nell and John together were downright incendiary. I loved watching her sweet and idealistic heart slowly thaw out John’s icy walls. I loved watching him fall more and more for Nell’s innocence and sunny disposition. They were the perfect balance for the other.

Of course, what what would it be in Bliss if there wasn’t a mystery and some action that ran along with the romance, and it was the perfect addition to the already wonderful story. It was quick paced, full of action and steam, and wonderfully swoony. I loved getting more John Bishop and young Tag. I loved learning more about the young citizens of Bliss before they settled down into their relationships. And I loved, and I mean loved Nell and Henry.

She was a mystery, and he wasn’t sure he could untangle her.

Yet another fantastic addition to a wonderful series that I’m completely addicted to. Now I can’t wait for Logan and Seth’s story!

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Review: I Will Not Beg by Cherise Sinclair

June 27, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

I WILL NOT BEG
Series: Mountain Masters & Dark Haven #9
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Author: Cherise Sinclair
Release Date: June 25, 2019

She signed away her freedom…

Starved for affection, young Piper Delaney surrenders her life to a Master. But there is no love—only abuse. She’s told she can’t leave; she signed the slave contract. Years later, beaten and starving, she hears an English Dom say the contract’s illegal. Unenforceable. And she runs.

She reclaims her life and rises above the nightmare that was her past.

But her enslavement left scars. She longs for love, but the only men who truly attract her also terrify her–Dominants. Hoping to conquer her fears, she visits Dark Haven, but the sounds of the club are too much.

When a submissive panics, Sir Ethan steps in.

The powerful English Dom recognizes the shivering submissive in his lap. Years before, he’d corrected her Master’s deceit about a contract. She’s come a long way since then. Cynical at being pursued for his wealth, he finds Piper’s honesty compelling. She’s intelligent, brave…and she needs him. What Dom could resist?

He’s the Dom she’d dreamed about—perceptive, firm, and utterly self-confident.

His voice pulls her from panic attacks. His arms enclose her in safety. He treats her like a person, not something to mistreat. As he helps Piper overcome her fears, she starts to fall in love.

Then her past finds her and destroys…everything.

AMAZON

As he straightened, she stared at him…and felt barriers dropping. Leaving her open. Defenseless. Oh, she was in so much trouble.

No one can write an emotional powerhouse of a BDSM romance quite like Cherise Sinclair. When it comes to her books, I don’t even bother reading the blurb. I HAVE to have them. Period. This woman has written some of my favorite Doms I’ve ever written. Though, deVries forever holds my heart in the number one spot. *Happy sigh*

I Will Not Beg finally brings us the story of Sir Ethan, and boy was it an emotional doozy. Sinclair sure knows how to write some damaged characters. But she also knows how to make them powerful in their own right. And that’s exactly what she did with Piper. This is a heroine that’s desperate for love, but is terrified of seeking it out in a place she needs most.

After being brutalized in what she thought was a D/s relationship, Piper is still recovering. She’s terrified of Doms because the only reference she has is the cruel sadist that broke her. She’s trying to move on as much as she can, but the emotional scars of her past are almost as painfully obvious as her physical ones.

Sir Ethan is everything that Piper needs and everything that she’s terrified of. He’s patient, understanding, sweet, and undeniably Dominant. At first their contract is strictly for her healing, but it doesn’t take Piper long to discover just how much she’s still capable of love in the hands of the right man. And just how right, Sir Ethan’s hands can be.

This was an emotionally charged, character driven story. You spend a lot of time in the heads of Ethan and Piper. Both of them are damaged in their own right, though one more than the other. The amount of healing that they bring to each other is almost beautiful to experience. You see how they pick each other piece by piece by giving the other what they need; Piper’s trust and submission and Ethan’s patience and sensuality.

You experience Piper’s emotional healing journey, and watch her go from a victim to a survivor with a spine of steel. I loved that she grew into a woman that really learned to save herself. And I especially loved how Ethan was with her. The man is undoubtably dominant, yet he’s so incredibly sweet. He has an intensity to him, but there’s also this kind heart and never ending patience. I loved this combination.

There’s plenty of cameos from my favorite characters (*cough* deVries *cough*). I especially loved getting more of Dixon and Stan and getting a peek into their heads even if it was only for a little bit.

As always, Sinclair delivered an emotionally charged and sizzling BDSM romance that was satisfying from beginning to end.

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Review: Arranged by RK Lilley

May 3, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

ARRANGED
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: RK Lilley
Release Date: April 22, 2019

There were rules in the cash-for-beauty game. The money held the power. The beauty followed the rules and jumped through the hoops.

THE BRIDE
I knew what everyone would think if they knew the truth about my marriage. They’d be shocked and appalled. And rightly so. I was a young, modern, independent woman, and I’d done the unthinkable. I’d sold my virginity to a spoiled, rich boy. To a stranger who didn’t love me.

And yes, I’d done it all for money.

THE GROOM
My bride was as gorgeous as she was unwelcome. As desirable as she was unwanted. I wanted nothing to do with her, but that didn’t seem to matter exactly the second she got close enough to touch. I wanted her to hate me more than she loved the millions she’d sold herself for.

I wanted to spurn her, but unfortunately, I wanted to fuck her more.

ARRANGED is a standalone erotic romance.

AMAZON


He hated me on principle, and he fascinated me in spite of myself.

I love RK Lilley’s brand of angst. So of course the second I saw she has a new book coming out, I jumped on it with a rabidness of a starving squirrel. That analogy made sense, right? No? Whatever. Just go with me here.

Arranged marriages are my jam and bullheaded, broody, and brokenly mean heroes are my crack. So of course the blurb to this book hooked me, line and sinker. The irony of my rating is that I DEVOURED this book. I’m talking straight up binge read here, people. But I also couldn’t help but feel that something was missing for me. I’m thinking this was likely the heroine’s balls up until the bitter end. Le sigh.

The set up is delicious. A bride that sells herself and her virginity to a cold and unwilling husband who only marries her to get his inheritance from his father. She agrees to be his perfect trophy wife and obedient doll. He makes it apparent she will never be anything more to him. Enter a game of push and pull the likes of which will make you want to rip your hair out. And this was the beginning of the end for me here. Because while the set up was my catnip, the heroine was my kryptonite.

Now look, I get it. She sold herself for millions of dollars and knew full well what she was walking into. She agrees to take it all in stride and be the perfect little wife. She HAS to take all of her husband’s vile and hot and cold behavior. But at the same time, I didn’t get her either. He treats her like trash, and yet she still trembles because of their sexual chemistry. She’s so up and down with this that I started to get dizzy. He rips her to shreds and she barely walks away without gaping wounds, but the second he gives her the sex eyes, she’s all over it, because…magic penis.

Now you may have seen a HUGE spoiler floating around in some reviews. And I want to make myself very clear that this didn’t bother me. In context, I got it. But I get how this may be a huge no for some people. I’m not one of them, though. For me, this was staying true to this character and I wouldn’t buy it if he was the perfect little husband if I’m being perfectly honest. Where it went wrong for me with Calder is his sudden 180. The man goes from bitter and cold to suddenly the exact opposite and I simply didn’t buy the total and complete turnaround.

Does he grovel at the end, absolutely. But I couldn’t help but feel I needed something a little more. The heroine also finally grows a pair and lets him have it, which was satisfying. But again, it didn’t take long for her to succumb to his sex voodoo.

I loved the premise of this book and as I already mentioned, I totally binged on it. But something in the execution just felt lacking for me. I will say that I’m thrilled to have RK Lilley back in action and can’t wait for more books from her. This one, while falling short in some of my personal preferences, was still an entertaining read. So if you’re looking for a sexy arranged marriage trope with a real alphahole of a hero, definitely give this a go!

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Review: Chasing Bliss by Lexi Blake

April 24, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

CHASING BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #7
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: April 23, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Gemma Wells came to Bliss, Colorado, after a scandal cost her everything. Utterly lost, she’s built walls so high, she thinks no one can get through them. She’s done with love and friendship and all matters of the heart.

Jesse McCann and Cade Sinclair have floated through life, enjoying the world around them, but not becoming a part of it. One look at the pretty attorney and Jesse realizes he’s found a reason to stay put. Cade is crazy about her, but his dark past keeps him at arm’s length. He wants her, but he’s sure he doesn’t deserve her.

But a secret from Gemma’s past threatens to wreck their futures. Her fiancé is back and brings danger with him. Time is running out. Jesse and Cade have to melt this Ice Queen’s heart or she might not leave Bliss alive.

AMAZON

The one who hugged me is Jesse McCann, and he’s apparently a bit of a pervert. The one who’s running away is the man formerly known as Bare-Chested Ape Man. His real name is Cade. Sinclair, I think. Apparently he likes to be naked. Like a lot. This place is weird.”
Naomi grinned. “This place is awesome. So you’re being pursued by a nudist and a Dom?”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series is my crack. A guilty pleasure read that always leaves me satisfied with just the right amount of action and suspense drizzled around an enticingly sexy MFM romance. The fictional town of Bliss makes for a charming background filled with quirky and vivid secondary characters that I’ll never get enough of.

After meeting Cade and Jesse in the previous book, I was more than ready for their story. Two sexy mechanics? Bring it on, I say. Of course, in true series fashion, one of them will ultimately be the damaged one and the other be pushing forward for love. And while it may sound formulaic, it never gets old for me. Cade is the standoffish one to Jesse’s lighter side. Though Jesse definitely has his own frustrating quirks himself. And while admittedly I got tired of Cade’s constant push back, I liked the way that Jesse’s easy going demeanor balanced out the dynamic.

Gemma is a heroine that was impossible not to like for me. The woman hides a soft heart beneath a brash and snarky exterior. And yes, this may be because I found her to be my spirit animal, but i just couldn’t help but find her endearing. This is a woman that’s been through a lot and life hardened her edges. She’s slow to trust and she has no problem putting someone in their place. It takes a lot for Jesse to find get to that delicate center she hides so well. And when Cade discovers that she’s not quite the ball buster big city chick that she comes across as, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

I loved the way Gemma gave them both hell and I definitely loved the way they both worked for her in their own right. While I did get frustrated with each of them at some points in the story, I still couldn’t get enough. The action and suspense was perfectly paced and of course I loved more glimpses of my poor broken Michael. I can’t wait for his book! As for this one, it was another fantastic addition to one addicting series!

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Review: Pure Bliss by Lexi Blake

March 5, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PURE BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #6
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: March 5, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

The town of Bliss, Colorado, offered Hope McLean a second chance at life, a gift she cherishes every day. Her past was dominated by dark secrets and regret, most of which centered on a man named Christian Grady. All of that was behind her now, years of horror distilled down into the occasional nightmare or a random feeling of being watched. Surrounded by new friends, she tried hard to leave the past where it belonged—in the rearview mirror.

Raised together, James Glen and Noah Bennett were the best of friends. They dreamed of growing up in Bliss, finding love, and settling down to share their lives on the Circle G ranch. James would manage the day-to-day operations of the ranch while Noah served the town as the resident veterinarian. Everything was perfectly planned out, until a woman came between them and their future shattered. Noah left Bliss for New York City and James was left to struggle to keep the Circle G alive on his own.

Noah returns to Bliss on a mission to rebuild his life. When he sees Hope, he knows his return home was meant to be. Hope’s kindness shines like a beacon calling him to her. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only man interested in Hope. James is also interested in the beautiful girl with a mysterious past. He can’t be forced to choose between the woman of his dreams and his best friend again.

As romance begins to bloom, a dark specter from Hope’s past returns to claim her. To save Hope, and themselves, James and Noah will have to rebuild the relationship they lost and fight for their future with Hope together.

AMAZON

She’s going to learn her place.” Hope gasped, an irritated sound. “And where is that?”
“Between us, baby,” James said, taking over where Noah had left off. “Always between us.”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series is one of my favorite guilty pleasure reads. It packs emotion with sizzling hot MFM romance, wonderfully broken and multi-layered characters, and a perfectly paced suspenseful underlayer to make for one page-turner of a read!

James has been a character that I’ve been curious about since he first made an appearance in the series. I loved the fact that James himself was the son of a triad family dynamic. Sharing is pretty much in his blood. And while Noah isn’t his brother by blood, their fathers shared their stepmother, and showed them that a happy relationship with three people is possible. Noah and James are brothers in all ways that count. That is until a woman comes between them and severs a bond that they thought was unbreakable.

Years later, James is still not over the wound his brother’s leaving left. None of his relationships have been more than a night spent between the sheets. Which is also why he’s been avoiding Hope, because he knows without even trying, that she’d be so much more. But when a promise to keep her safe puts him fully in his crosshairs, he knows he can’t stay away. Then the sudden reappearance of his brother throws everything for a loop, especially when he seems to want Hope as much as he does.

I really loved Noah, even more than James at times. This man had his heart and trust broken by a gold digger, and yet he doesn’t let that color his future. He still believes in love and happily ever after, and while his ex wife left a stain, she didn’t ruin him. I adored him for this. James is definitely the cynical one in this relationship. I loved the push and pull he and Noah have with Hope. They truly fought like two siblings only could over a desired possession. But Hope was having none of it. I loved that she gave as good as she got. She’s not afraid to put either brother in his place.

There’s the added layer of suspense with Hope’s past and the mystery of what happened. I couldn’t wait to unravel all of her secrets and to see what happened to make her run so fast and hide.

Pure Bliss was everything I’ve come to expect from Lexi Blake; sexy, suspenseful, emotional, and a total page turner. I can’t wait for more in this series!

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