Knots by Chanse Lowell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis

My Review

Whenever I read BDSM Romance my first thought always is – I really hope this isn’t another book with a hero with a spanking and light bondage penchant calling himself a Dom. I’m an avid BDSM Romance reader, so I tend to get picky. Having never read a book by Chanse Lowell before, I wasn’t really sure what I was walking into with this book. My thoughts once I finished? It was a beautiful and highly erotic story of true love.

I don’t typically enjoy reading about insecure heroines with frequent water works. Jeanie’s constant guilt, insecurities and doubts at times made me want to throttle her. The fact that at the end of the book I not only grew to like her, but to feel for her, says a great deal of the amazing job the author did with characterization.

The entirety of the book focuses on Mark and Jeanie’s relationship development. It was real, at times heart breaking, heart melting, and erotic as hell.

Mark…I don’t even know where to start with him. He was…he just…GAH! I want to lick him! The man was just perfection. He was sweet and patient when need be

God, he wanted her wrapped around him right now—to be able to embrace her and free her soul from years’ worth of guilt she never should’ve had.

But when the man got down to business…holy mother of orgasms! The things that he would say and do…my ovaries barely survived it.

Deep inside that pussy, there’s an ache for me, and I’m gonna find it…You’re gonna give me every breath as I fuck you with my fingers.

I think what I truly loved about Mark was how understanding and caring he was with Jeanie. The was no commitment issues, overly domineering caveman antics or jealousy. He simply made his feelings clear and hid nothing.

You’re a part of me, and I can’t let go of that part, because it’s the best fucking piece of my soul. Before you, I don’t know if I even had half a one. But now, I look at you, I breathe in your scent, and I know I have one because I only want what’s best for you—to see you smile, hear you laugh, watch you come undone with pleasure.”

I really loved this story. I enjoyed watching Jeanie’s character grow from an insecure, guilt-ridden woman to someone stronger. While this wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me, it was a very strong 4 stars. I will gladly pick up Chanse Lowell’s future books.

Buy Links

Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis:

My Review

Let me start out by saying I am not usually a reader of “sweet” romances. I like my romances with a kick, preferably a dirty one. But every now and then, a girl needs some sweet, and I got the perfect dose of it with this book.

I went into this with zero expectations, having never read a book by Jessica Lemmon before. After finishing, I can definitely say I will not hesitate in picking up any of her future books. I fell in like with this book. No, it wasn’t quite ‘sing the book’s praises from the rooftop’ love, but I liked it a whole hell of a lot.

So you read the book blurb, and you might be expecting Aiden to be some type of heart-breaking, womanizing, man-whore, right? No? Odd…I did. Maybe because that seems to be all I read lately. Aiden was NOT that. I LOVED Aiden. He was the perfect combination of sexy as hell, sweet and yet also endearingly vulnerable. My heart broke for everything that he went through. I really loved that the reason he left Sadie a year ago was not your typical commitment phobe issues.

When she’d first met Aiden, hot-handed, dead-sexy-smile, two-hundred-pounds-of-delicious-golden-muscle Aiden, he’d been to hell and back. Now he’d been to hell and back, and returned for one more round trip with frequent flyer miles. And he was still clawing his way out of the depths.

He recognized right away the mistake he made and now that he has another chance, he’s determined to show Sadie that she needs to take another chance on him.

He had so many things to say. Like how sorry he was, how he’d do anything to take back the day he’d lost her for good. How he wanted her with an intensity time and space hadn’t been able to erase.

Sadie was tough, quirky and sassy. I love heroines like her. When Aiden left her a year ago, he left her with a broken heart. She’s determined not to let any other man in again, especially the sex on a stick Aiden. So what happens when Aiden starts chipping away at all her hard built walls?

I loved how Aiden pursued Sadie. He wasn’t pushy, domineering, or high handed. He simply wore his heart on his sleeve and made no attempts to hide it from her.

Love wasn’t hard for him. Love was simple. Love was yes, followed by a hundred more yeses. What was so damn complicated about that?

But don’t get me wrong, while this book was sweet, it still had some steam. And Aiden definitely delivered on that end as well.

This book was just what I needed. It was sweet, with a side of steamy, and a fantastic hero.

We were also introduced to Aiden’s brothers, the broody millionaire Landon and the angry, grieving Evan. I hope that we will be getting their stories next, because the set up already has me intrigued.

This book, while part of a series, can be easily read as a standalone.

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

Buy Links

Tie Me Down by Tracy Wolff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book Blurb

My Review

Well, this book had a lot of sex. No really. It had A LOT of sex. I am not usually one to complain about something like this. I do love me my smutty smut. BUT I need a little plot to go along with it. And in this book, the plot was pretty much lost within the never ending sex. I swear, Cole had an energizer dick. It just kept going, and going, and going.

This had all the makings for a fantastic read, a suspenseful plot, great characters, but unfortunately it just fell flat. If you’re looking for a steamy read, look no further. This book was HOT. The sex scenes were incredibly erotic, and VERY frequent. If I was to rate this on the sex alone, hell it would have been 5 stars, easily. But I read so much erotic romance, that I expect a little bit more substance in my books to make them stand out.

Relationship development? Nope! Just sex.

Conversations between the two characters that allow them to learn about one another? Nope! Just sex.

An argument arises between them. Do they communicate to resolve it? Hell no! They have sex!

I like steamy books. Oh who am I kidding? I love them! But I also like to feel a certain level of sexual tension between the characters. A connection that goes beyond just a physical joining. There was none in this book. These two go at it within the first minute of meeting each other. At the 30% mark my interest was pretty much gone.

Then there was Cole’s newly acquired Dom penchant. Basically I’m expected to believe that a man in his 30s that has had zero experience with D/s, all of a sudden develops an uncontrollable urge to dominate and control Genevieve because the sex between them is THAT hot.

So he goes to a sex store, picks up supplies, and VOILA, he’s an expert in Shibari just a few days later.

What? Did he google it? Watch a youtube tutorial?

Right then. Moving on.

The suspense part of the book could have been good. Unfortunately I figured out who the bad guy was pretty early on. So the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me.

As for my rating?
I’d give 5 stars for the sex, and 2 stars to the actual story. So let’s just make that 3 stars for the whole package. This was my first book by Tracy Wolff, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style so I plan to try another book by her. This book wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t a 5 star read for me.

Buy Links

Convicted by Aleatha Romig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Blurb

My Review

This book was…I thought…And maybe…uhhhhh…To sum it up…
FUUUUUUUCK! My brain hurts! I need a mental health vacation. I need unicorns and rainbows. I need a hug. I need a drink. I need my sanity back. Actually, that’s probably long gone now.

Having read all 3 books back to back, I can tell you all one thing. If you plan on doing the same, I suggest having reinforcements.

I imagine, that if I had a conversation with Ms. Romig, it might go something like this.

Me: Any words of advice for the readers about to pick this book up?

Aleatha:

Me: Allrighty then…I’ll take that as a no??

So what was going through your head as you were writing convicted?

Aleatha:

And there you have it. But guess what? That’s all that you’ll be getting from me too. It’s impossible to fully review this book without revealing spoilers, so I’m not even going to try.

What I can tell you? This series is unlike anything you will ever read. It’s dark, twisted, convoluted, fucked up, and so brilliantly written that even when you’re curled up in a dark corner and rocking yourself back and forth, you’ll still want to continue reading.

Aleatha doesn’t ease you in with Convicted. Fuck no! She throws you right into the deep end of crazy and doesn’t let up up until the end. There are so many twists, the book will keep you at the edge of your seat until the last page. It is not every day you can pick up a book and get a hero that by all accounts you’re supposed to hate, yet somehow the author makes you fall in love with him. Stockholm? Maybe! This series has taken over my life for a week. I will never be the same after finishing it.

I cannot think of words that will give this book the justice that it deserves. Is it something that I would read again? Not even if you paid me. I think that if I pick this up again, they will be carting me away to the nearest psych ward. Is it a series that I will ever forget? Not in a million years. I hated it. I loved it. I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall. I wanted to rage, scream, cry, and beg for mercy. But it never let up.

I had to sleep on it before leaving a rating. After much deliberation, I know one thing: Any book that makes you feel and think as much as this did, deserves nothing less than 5 brilliant stars. Yes, it was one crazy ride. But damn, it’s not one I will be forgetting anytime soon.

Me right after I finished
Review to come. Once I get some of my sanity back. Which might take a while. Or never? I don’t even know. Who are you? Where am I? Who’s that? What was I talking about? Tonyyyyyyyyy

la la la la la la la la

Buy Links

Amazon I Barnes & Noble

 

Book Blurb

It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same. 

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

 

 

   

I’ve been this way for a long time. I make responsible choices. My life is neat and organized and my heart rate stays constant. I like it that way most of the time. I should be proud of where I am in my life. But the truth of the matter is sometimes I feel like I’m suffocating in my perfunctory life.

But beneath the perfect layers lies a dark past with an even darker secret. And if controlling her environment allows her to keep it buried and wake up without nightmares, then that is what Elle will do. But then Nico Hunter walks through her office doors, and everything changes. Nico was a six-foot-three, two hundred and twenty-one pounds, green eyed sex on a stick. When he sees Elle, he knows what he wants and the man knew damn well how to go after it. I have to admit he certainly had a way with words.

Why do you want to have dinner with me?” “Aside from the obvious, that you’re gorgeous?” “When I look in your eyes I see a little light flicker…” He pauses for a second. I look at him, but still don’t speak. “And for the last twenty four hours all I could think about was what it would take for me to turn that flicker into a flame.”

 

You’re a beautiful, smart, strong woman who is used to being treated like a lady.” I’m confused at his words and Nico sees it on my face. He pulls me to him and buries his face in my neck. His breath is so close to my ear when he speaks, I feel the words throughout my body as he speaks them. “But when I finally get you underneath me, I’m definitely not going to treat you like a lady.”

If you follow my reviews, you know I have a soft spot for the dirty talkers, and Nico did not disappoint in that department.

Ride me. You’re so tight and wet.  I’m going to fill up that sexy little pussy and make it mine. I want my smell on you. In you. So that the whole god damn world knows you’re mine.”

 My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. There was no unnecessary angst. They didn’t play games with each other. I loved that even though Nico had a womanizing past, he doesn’t hesitate to stake a claim on Elle. He was a straight shooter and didn’t have commitment issues.

The relationship between Nico and Elle was not a perfect one since they are both characters that are trying to deal with a past that has scarred them. While Elle knows the nightmares that haunt Nico, Nico doesn’t realize the darkness that Elle hides. While we learn what haunts Nico pretty much right away, there are only hints and pieces alluding to Elle’s past. I had a feeling about what it was from the beginning, but I don’t think it was meant to be a big secret. But still, when I found out the whole story, my heart broke for her. 

My only complaint? I really wished the author gave us some sort of physical descriptions on the supporting characters. Aside from a description of what they wore, I never noticed anything mentioning what they look like: hair color, eyes, anything. When I read a book, I like to have an image in my mind of what I’m reading; to feel like the author is showing me a story as opposed to just telling it. Don’t get me wrong, the writing itself was fantastic. I suppose I just wanted a little bit more from it. It wasn’t something that bothered me so much that it took away from the story, but it was enough for me to notice it. I’m a reader that likes to have a visual in my head of every character I read, not just the main hero and heroine. The book itself was fantastic, I enjoyed the characters and the story. This is definitely a series that I will be following. If you enjoy steamy stories with sexy MMA fighters, definitely give this one a shot.

Buy Links

About the Author

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work.  She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night! 

Connect with the Author

Facebook I Website I Twitter I Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Truth by Aleatha Romig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Blurb

My Review

Let me start out by saying that I hated…no that’s not right. I despised…no, that’s not quite accurate. I LOATHED Tony in Consequences. I kept asking myself how in the fuck people could be team Tony with such a cruel, brutal, and in my eyes irredeemable asshole. (Now I should probably admit that my internal masochist was silently hoping that he would redeem himself. That bitch is eternally optimistic and has a thing for irredeemable assholes. I just didn’t think it was possible with Tony.)

So imagine my surprise where halfway through this book I not only began to feel for him, and actually (gasp) like him, but became a full fledged team fucking Tony.

This book fucked with my head.

Claire once read that time doesn’t pass at normal speeds within a black hole. If one were to travel into a black hole for only moments and return again, centuries would have passed. That explained the sensation she felt, once again peering into his dark gaze.

Tony was a giant magnet. His pull affected everything, from the rotation of the earth, to her mind’s ability to reason.

Oh Claire, I feel for you. I was right there with you.

I’m not even sure how to go about reviewing this book without revealing any spoilers. So I’m not even going to try. I was questioning where Aleatha Romig would take this series. I struggled through some parts of Consequences. It was one tough fucking pill to swallow. This book? I have one thing to say to you, Ms. Romig

I forever worship at the altar of your greatness.

Holy shit. I’m speechless. My mind? Blown! My sanity? Well what little of it was left…gone! I will never be the same. Truth was a crazy thrill ride filled with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. And then when you read the end?

This book will keep you guessing until the end, it will make you question EVERYTHING and you will still not be close to what the truth is. I couldn’t put it down. My brain hurt. I was going crazy. I needed a shot or 5 of vodka once I finished. But FUCK! What a ride!

Buy Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bared by Him: by Red Garnier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Blurb

My Review

He’s as powerful as Zeus, but has the disposition of Hades

Something in her gaze snared and trapped him. There was passion in there, in those eyes. Kindness. Compassion. And something deep and wounded.

I have been addicted to this series ever since book 2, Taken by Him. And I have been looking forward to the brooding and man of few words Cade ever since. I had a feeling that his story will be a good one, and I was not wrong. While book 2 still continues to be my favorite in the series, this was the most emotionally charged one.

Cade West lost his wife to cancer 10 years ago, and continues to grieve her loss. Though it’s not as much sadness that he feels, as it is anger; anger that he wasn’t able to help her, that no amount of money and treatment was able to save her from death at such a young age.

So when the beautiful Ivy barges into his office demanding that he donate to her cancer research charity, his rage hits an all time high. He wants to throw the ballsy blonde out of his office but there’s just one problem, he wants her, and he hasn’t wanted a woman like this in as long as he can remember.

So what does he do to take care of this problem? Well he challenges her to a game of strip poker and promises his donation if she wins.
Ivy can’t help but feel an intense pull to Cade. She knows the wounds that he has, and she want to get to the man behind it, so she takes him up on the offer.

But when the game begins, all bets are off.

This novella, like all the others, was incredibly steamy and sexy. Cade may be a man of a few words but when he’s in the bedroom…well, let’s just say he says ENOUGH.

Ivy was a wonderful heroine. She was hesitant to get emotionally involved with Cade, but I can completely understand why that was given the information we find out about her in the end of the book. There was no unnecessary angst, which was refreshing as well.

Cade was dark and broody, but when he finally recognized his feelings for Ivy…I just fell even more for him.

I want you, Ivy. I want you more than I’ve wanted anything in my life – I take you in my sleep. I take you any way I can get you, any fucking time I can.”

While the sexy, womanizing, manwhore Luke continues to be my favorite in this series, Cade definitely came in in a very close second.

Each novella is told in dual POV and can easily be read as a standalone. Though I highly recommend reading them all. Red Garnier has this fantastic writing style that allows the reader to not only get a feel for the characters in 100 pages, but to fall for them as well.

And let’s be honest here, these books are friggin HAWT with a capital H.

Buy Links