Seductive Shadows by Marni Mann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis

My Review

I don’t even know where to start with this book. Truly. I’m fucking speechless, though not in a bad way. This book was something else. It was unlike anything I have ever read before, and I have read some dark and fucked-up books. It’s not exactly what I was expecting, but fuck me sideways if I will be forgetting it any time soon. All that aside, if you’re expecting a romance novel, boy are you in for a rude awakening. I’d say this was more of an introduction. An introduction to Charlie, to Cameron, and to the catalyst to the story.

Meet Charlie. She is unlike any heroine you’ve read about before. Virgin?! HA! Forget about it! The woman has the sex drive of a cat in heat. No joke. Everything turns her on. I’m pretty sure a stiff wind would get her going.

If from my description you’re thinking that she’s some vapid, two dimensional character, you would be very wrong. There is a reason that Charlie is the way she is. She was a dark and complex heroine, though it does take a bit of time to really begin seeing below her surface. Charlie is dealing with an alcoholic and terminally ill mother and no small financial problems. Until the answer to her problems walks into the door of her work and offers her a very intriguing way out.

The Mansion
But it comes with some rules
You do not talk about The Mansion.
You DO NOT talk about The Mansion.
You’re constantly monitored.
Based on your cycle, you will get a whole week off, but get compensated during that time.

Oh and then there was the teeny tiny little detail about the audition: having to do a little something with the recruiter…who happens to be a chick.

And if you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking…

This may seem a bit extreme to most, but for Charlie it was the answer to everything.

The Mansion and everything about it is shrouded in mystery. But when that mystery begins to get unraveled. Holy.Shit. Your head will spin

It took me a while to get into the story. It was extremely descriptive, which I don’t typically mind. But in the case here it got to be almost too much. The hero doesn’t enter the picture until about 30% into the book, and their relationship takes even longer to develop. This was not a love story. It didn’t read that way, and it didn’t feel that way until pretty much the last few chapters.

Beautifully written, Seductive Shadows is a dark and provocative story about the journey of a woman struggling with hiding in the shadows and a dark and turbulent past, learning how to find her dawn, forgiveness, and redemption.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to give myself a much needed mental health break before diving into Seductive Secrets. And I thank you

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**

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Race to Kill by Rachel Kall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis

My Review

Well looks like I just found me a new Romantic Suspense author to love.

Race to Kill was a thrill ride from beginning to finish. It will keep you guessing until the very end with a mystery that draws you in from the very first chapter.

I happen to have a few triggers when it comes to reading books, “Delta Force Operator turned FBI agent” happens to be one of them. What? I happen to have a type here.

(though Navy men do it for me too) Well, you get the idea here. Moving on!

Given that I tend to like my books on the Rated R level, the fact that I devoured it and it was more PG 13 tells you something. Don’t get me wrong, while it might not have been as steamy as my pervy little self is used to, it was still fantastic. The connection and sexual tension between Marc and Viv was almost palpable.

Although I am not typically a fan of political reads, I couldn’t put this one down. I love a book that will keep me guessing and filled with twists and turns. Vivian was a fantastic heroine. She was independent but not stupid. It was so refreshing to read about a heroine without the TSTL syndrome. She was not above asking for help or seeking protection in a dire situation. She wasn’t perfect. Her previous relationship left her doubting herself and relationships. So it was easy to understand her hesitancy in getting involved with Marc.

Marc was just…*dreamy sigh*. He was fiercely protective but not unreasonable. I loved watching him fall for Viv.

It was great to see a realistically written relationship development with these two. My biggest pet peeve with RS, is the whole “oh look, we’re being shot at, let’s go at it like monkeys” scenarios. It was lovely to get a love story that was seamlessly woven within the suspense plot. The center of the story was the mystery, and the romance was the perfect icing on the cake addition.

I also liked the supporting characters. I really hope to see a book for Scott. The second I read about an ex Navy SEAL with commitment issues, I knew I’d be all over that book.

If you are a fan of fast paced Romantic Suspense, with great characters, and steamy romance, definitely give this one a shot.

**ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review**

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Four years ago Jess Albert got the news that her husband Jeff was killed in action in Afghanistan, and a painful void entered her life. The more time passed, the more acutely she felt that emptiness. But when Tyler Brown, former military hero and all-around alpha male, shows up a year after she’d last seen him, Jess gradually begins to realize there is one thing that can make her feel whole again—love.

As they’re planning their wedding and new life together, Jess receives shocking news: her husband is alive, under the care of a young Afghani woman hiding him from the Taliban. Even as he sees their happily-ever-after slip away, Ty arranges for the One Eyed Jacks and Black Ops, Inc. teams to make a daring and dangerous rescue mission to bring Jeff home. The hardest thing Ty or Jess has ever done is to let the other go.

When Jeff returns to Jess, broken physically and emotionally and with no memory of their history, they try to heal their marriage and each other. But as time brings them together more as friends than lovers, an unexpected development helps them see the true way home, to the people they love.

AMAZON

“What can you do that I haven’t been able to do in three and half years?”

“I can give you a reason and enough time to get used to the idea.”

I’ve been a fan of Cindy Gerard since her Bodyguards series. Her name has become synonymous with Romantic Suspense for me. Her books have never failed to keep me at the edge of my seat with suspense, action, and just enough steam to make it even better.

This book was different. But in the case here, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it was not quite what I had suspected, I enjoyed it immensely. It was a little less on the action and the suspense, and a little more on romance. It was a heartwarming and poignant story about love and second chances It was, in a word, wonderful.

When Jess lost her husband four years ago, the last thing she expected was to see Tyler Brown again. Lost in a dark emptiness that has become her life’s companion, the only thing that Jess feels is empty.

I adored the way that Tyler pursued Jess. He wasn’t pushy, he respected her boundaries, but at the same time he knew just what to do to get past them. As much as I wanted to get irritated with Jess at times and the way she seemed to almost push Ty away, I could’t help but feel for her. I understood her hesitancy, but I loved watching her walls slowly crumble for Tyler.

But then the news that the husband she had thought was killed in action is actually alive, Jess and Tyler’s world comes to a crashing halt.

I wasn’t quite sure how I would like having a dual story, but Miss Gerard pulled it off seamlessly.

My heart broke for Jeff and everything that he has been through. Reading about his captivity and struggle to survive after was not easy, nor was his struggle to pick up his old life after being rescued. I’m not going to lie, I spent quite a few parts of this story a blubbering and crying mess. Nothing was glossed over. It was real, gut-wrenching, and incredibly emotional.

It was great to get some more of my favorite characters from previous books; Mike Brown, Jonny Reed and Nate Black. But this book was not about action and suspense, or even the steam that we’ve gotten in Gerard’s previous books. And I did not mind one bit.

What we did get was a wonderful and emotional story that I enjoyed from beginning to finish.

**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Sing by C.D. Reiss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book. Holy fucking shit! THIS book. I was a pathetic, blubbering, ugly crying mess when reading it.

         

And no, dammit, I’m not even slightly exaggerating. The angst just about did me in.

                                                               True Story                   

How do you even go reviewing a book that effected you so much, and not reveal any spoilers? You don’t. So I’m not even going to attempt it. Nothing that I write can possibly do it, or this incredible series, justice. I’m not even sure how to describe it. But if I had to use just a few words?

Beautiful
     Emotional
          Gut wrenching
                Keep you on the edge of your seat
                      Incredible
                            Brilliant
                                 Enchanting
                                      Poignant
                                           Unforgettable
                                                Beautifully erotic
                                                        Unputdownable
                                                                  Compelling
                                                                              Literary

Want me to take you on my emotional journey through this book? No? Well I’m going to anyway.
I went from

To

To

But mainly, it was a whole lot of

I loved this series, I devoured each new installment, but THIS book. This book deserves a standing ovation. The emotional journey that it took me on. I was ugly crying all over my e-reader. My poor husband thought I was having an emotional breakdown. And at one point, I’m pretty sure that I may have been.

C.D. Reiss,

I worship at the altar of your brilliance. No really. You’ve ruined me. This series will be giving me the mother of all book hangovers. And I’m sitting on pins and needles in anticipation of your next book. Fair warning though

Book 1: Beg (my review)
Book 2: Tease (my review)
Book 3: Submit (my review)
Book 4: Control (my review)
Book 5: Burn (my review)
Book 6: Resist(my review)

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Control by C.D. Reiss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better, C.D. Reiss goes and gives us dual POV’s.

I am not often at a loss for words, but these books are so spellbinding, I can barely tear myself away to write a review. I’ve read some incredible series this year; The Original Sinners, Consequences, and I can now add Songs of Submission to the list.

Want me to describe these books for you in 2 words? LITERARY.ORGASM.

Book 4 finds Monica and Jonathan delving even further into the boundaries of their relationship. As terrified as Monica was of the word “submissive”, she is finding herself not only comfortable in the role, but craving it.

He was the ache between my legs, the desire in my belly, the tingle on my skin, the very embodiment of my gratification.

And Jonathan is finding that Monica is not quite the casual relationship that he first thought she would be.

“What you’re breaking isn’t some little, meaningless coupling. We aren’t some casual fuck, and we never were. Not from the first night. Not from the first time I laid eyes on you. You were built for me. I denied it as long as I could, but we were meant to be together. You are the sea under my sky. We’re bound at the horizon”

What I love the most, well besides Jonathan of course, is how Monica is portrayed. It is so refreshing to read about a heroine that owns her sexuality, as opposed to being meek and shy.

Her sexuality wasn’t coy or cute. She wasn’t saucy; she was feral. Her very presence on the earth stirred me.

Now as much as I would love to sit here and gush some more, I need to get back to book 5. Be thankful I was even able to give you that much. And I thank you

Book 1: Beg (my review)
Book 2: Tease (my review)
Book 3: Submit (my review)

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Submit by C.D. Reiss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis 

My Review

I wish I could give you a long and lengthy review that this book rightfully deserves, but I can’t. One, because I can’t seem to tear myself away from reading the next book and two, well because nothing I say will simply give it justice.

Book three in the SoS series picks up immediately where Tease left off. We get answers to some of the questions we were left with immediately at the end of Tease. But at the same time, left with many more questions.

C.D. Reiss has an incredible gift with words. The woman is able to weave and spin words to build an incredibly erotic picture in your mind. It’s genius. It’s brilliant. It’s addicting.

You’re both the best and worst submissive I’ve ever met.” 

“And you’re the only dominant I’ve ever met.” 

“I want to be your last. I want to ruin you for other men.”

In Submit, Monica finds herself struggling between friendship and the growth of her career. But she also finds that a lot of her thoughts are dominated by a certain sexy millionaire.

Jonathan is absolutely amazing. With each new book, I just fall for him harder and harder. He is sexy as hell, yet also incredibly sweet. He has a very dominant presence, yet never comes off as domineering or overly possessive. He is, for lack of a better word, delicious.

Monica can try to fight it all she wants, but you just can’t walk away from a man like that. You’d have to be crazy.

Now jumping straight into Control.

Reviews from previous books in series

Book 1: Beg (my review)
Book 2: Tease (my review)

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