Review: Entice by Ava Harrison

September 17, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

ENTICE
Genre: Contemporary, Forbidden Romance
Author: Ava Harrison
Release Date: September 16, 2019

Eight years ago, I gave Grayson Price a piece of my heart.

To him, I was the strange girl whose mom had just abandoned her.

To me, he was a savior, an anchor, someone who stood beside me on that beach.

The next time I saw him, I was twenty, and he was thirty-six.

He didn’t remember me.

And when he flirted…

I didn’t tell him.

By the time he found out, it was too late.

We tried to deny our desire, but our attraction was too enticing.

Eight years ago, I gave Grayson Price a piece of my heart.

Too bad he’s my dad’s best friend.

AMAZON 

 

She was an itch I needed to scratch, an addiction I needed to kick, but I needed a few more fixes before I gave her up.

The second I read the blurb to Entice, I knew this would be my first Ava Harrison book. I’m a sucker for a forbidden romance, and it just doesn’t get more forbidden than your father’s best friend.

An age-gap romance is not always an easy one to pull off, but Ava Harrison handled this effortlessly. With fifteen years between them, there’s something about the connection that River and Gray share that just makes sense. Even though River is only twenty-one, she’s definitely mature beyond her years. Having the childhood that she had with a flighty hippy mother and a teenage father that she didn’t know until she was over 12 years old guaranteed that. River struggles with plenty of abandonment issues, but she’s not some spoiled brat, even though she had all the luxuries when she came to live with her father.

Gray is her father’s best friend. Even though they had a falling out years ago, Gray and Tyler are attempting to build their friendship back. Gray is assisting Tyler with a business deal that can make or break Tyler’s life. This added element adds an additional deliciously forbidden layer to River and Gray’s connection.

This is a slow burn since Gray spends a good chunk of the story fighting his attraction to River but ultimately not being strong enough to resist the pull between them. I loved his brooding intensity, even though he had plenty of moments that I wanted to shake him for his stubbornness and cold and hot demeanor.

I really enjoyed the story, though I did feel for how slow and somewhat dragged out the relationship development was, the ending felt a bit rushed and glossed over. I would have loved for the family dynamic and some other things at the end to be further fleshed out. But as it was, it still made for one enticing read. Ha!



Ava Harrison is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

When she’s not journaling her life, you can find her window shopping, cooking dinner for her family, or curled up on her couch reading a book.

 

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Website: http://avaharrisonauthor.com/

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Review & Excerpt: Need You Now by Molly O’Keefe

September 12, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

NEED YOU NOW
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: M. O’Keefe
Release Date: September 12, 2019

MARCO

I have loved Rosa since I met her in high school English, even though the odds have always been stacked against us. She is the child of criminals, resigned to a bleak future. I’m the heir to a successful construction company and am not afraid to go after what I want.

And I want Rosa. Always and forever.

ROSA

I broke the law to make sure Marco got custody of our daughter, and I paid the price. But now that I’m out of jail, I’m terrified my ugly past might bleed into our daughter’s future.

The only way to ensure that doesn’t happen is staying far away from both of them.

But Marco isn’t letting me run from him. Not again.

 

A stand-alone, contemporary romance.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO 

He looked at me across the room and slowly shook his head. “I don’t want to love you,” he said.“I know.”

“Half the time I hate you.”

“I know.”

He looked away from me, his hands in fists, and I could feel the tension across the room, the fragile control he had on himself. How he was barely holding on. And I knew that he would never hurt me. The thing he was trying to stop himself from doing was touch me.

“I’m leaving,” he said and crossed the room in three angry steps. Everything in me told me to get out of the way. To let him go. But I didn’t. I stood right in front of the door in my gold vest and hot pants.

His face was flushed. “Get out of my way,” he said, and my mouth was full, my throat closed, and I shook my head. “Don’t make me,” he said. “Don’t make me touch you.”

It was exactly what I was doing, because I would take his touch any way I could get it.

“Fuck, Rosa,” he groaned. “Fuck you.”

And he put his hands around my arms and pulled me up and into his body so my breasts touched his chest, and between my legs I felt the hard pressure of him. I gasped and he turned. I expected him to let me go. I expected him to shove me away but he didn’t. Oh god, he didn’t. He lifted me off my feet and took two steps forward, pushing me against the wall. Not gently. But not rough. And then he leaned against me, his entire body against mine. And I was electrified. Every inch of my skin burned where it touched his.

I burned so hot I burned right through all the years. All the pain fell away and it was just us. Marco and me and the desire so pure it kept changing the course of both our lives.

He held himself so still, so carefully, and he was going to walk away. I knew he was. He would walk away and this moment would never happen again.

“Please,” I begged, because it was all I had left. No more pride. No more distance. I was only need.

What do you want?” she asked, like she honestly didn’t know.
“What I’ve always wanted. What I’ll want for the rest of my life,” I told her with the same intensity I’d used to say my vows four years ago. “You.”

Man, but Molly O’Keefe know how to serve up some feels. This was another heartfelt standalone in the same world as The Debt series If you’ve read and remember the pregnant teenager that the group met in their foster home, than you’re already familiar with the heroine. And if you haven’t read that series yet (I highly recommend it), no worries, because this is definitely written as a standalone. But if you’re like me and binge read that series and salivating for more Bates, this will definitely deliver. Because OMG Bates!!! But I digress. Let’s focus on the story here.

Once upon a time she’d send a glance my way and I knew exactly what she wanted for lunch. Or that she didn’t like the person she was talking to. I could read her feelings in the set of her jaw. Yeah. Now? Not so much. She wasn’t a mystery, she was a stone wall.

Marco and Rosa’s story is certainly a tearjerker. My heart broke for Rosa and everything that she goes through. This woman is a survivor and I loved her endearing combination of strength and vulnerability. Rosa made the necessary sacrifice to protect the love of her life and future baby by risking everything and going to jail. This is a woman that has always had all the odds stacked against her. A violent neo-nazi father and brother that threaten everything she loves and forcing her into a life of petty crime that she can’t escape. Pregnant at 16 and living in foster care with a terrible man and his wife. Rosa makes the choice to sacrifice her freedom in order for Marco to get custody of their baby and after serving a four year sentence the only thing cemented in her mind is that she doesn’t deserve anything good in life, especially not Marco and their beautiful daughter. Not when her family still threaten everything.

Marco is so angry with Rosa at first. He doesn’t understand why she stayed away all this time since getting out. But soon the resentment turns into determination and he wants nothing more than his wife back.

I loved the angsty and highly emotional thread between these two. I liked the the story is clearly broken up in past and present and doesn’t have the usual flashback song and dance. It was more impactful this way. I also loved Marco’s quiet intensity and the way he fights for Rosa and her self-sacrificing.

This was such a satisfying romance with plenty of feels and a dash of sizzle. Of course I was salving for more Bates and I’m damn near ravenous after the additional peek we get of him here. If I don’t get his book next, I’m pretty sure I’ll be shaking in a dark corner somewhere.

Molly O’Keefe is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances. She lives in Toronto Ontario with her husband, two kids and rescue dog.

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Connect with Molly:

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Review: How To Love A Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

August 28, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS
Series: Devil You Know #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Release Date: August 27, 2019

These men are dark, bold, and brave. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees…

Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But nobody would ever expect that she has darkness in her past—one that she pays a blackmailer to keep buried. Now, with her family nearing bankruptcy, Alexandra strikes upon a solution: Get married to one of the empire’s most wealthy eligible bachelors. Even if he does have the reputation of a devil.

LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERS

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is seeking revenge and the first step is securing a bride. Winning a lady’s hand is not so easy, however, for a man known as the Terror of Torcliff. Then, Alexandra enters his life like a bolt of lightning. When she proposes marriage, Piers knows that, like him, trouble haunts her footsteps. But her gentleness, sharp wit, independent nature, and incredible beauty awakens every fierce desire within him. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe in his arms.

AMAZON

Kissing Piers Gedrick Atherton was like standing at the mouth of the Nile and realizing the scope of it was beyond comprehension. That the beauty matched the peril, and in the awe-inspiring danger existed its own strange appeal.

Who’s a reader that will jump on whatever book Kerrigan Byrne writes but was even MORE excited for a brand new series?
Spoiler alert; it was me.

I’m obsessed with Byrne’s historicals and when I saw that she’s coming out with a brand new series, I jumped on it so quick I’m pretty sure I left a dust trail behind me.

The premise to this series is definitely delicious with three friends bonded by dark secrets that threaten to ruin them all.

We are eternally bound,” she repeated. “By secrets, blood, and pain.”
“And by trust, passion, and revenge,”

And while Byrne is a master when it comes to creating tortured and broken heroes, it was a nice change of pace to get that from the female character. Lady Alexandra Lane is a heroine that grabs your attention immediately and you can’t help but bond with. This woman is a survivor in every sense of the word, and I loved that extra zing of fierceness to her. I loved how Byrne took a delicate and yet poignant subject and shed all the more light on it. Alexandra’s past is not an easy one, but it’s not laced in morbid detail either. The author gives the reader just enough of a glimpse to set the tone and boy did it set the tone.

His entire life, he’d never quite had a sense of belonging. Had never known what the words “home” or “family” meant, or why they meant so much to others. Until here. Until her.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is exactly how he sounds from the blurb; intense, brooding, and driven by revenge. His potential bride is not exactly thrilled at the idea of marrying the Terror of Torcliff, particularly since it clashes with her own agenda. So color him surprised when her friend strikes a bargain to marry him in her stead.

Alexandra and Piers were everything. EVERYTHING. I loved watching this brooding man fall harder and harder for her even though he fights it at every turn. Alexandra has dark secrets and Piers is full of preconceived ideas due to his past. There’s a dark undercurrent to their union, paved with deadly secrets and scorching chemistry.

I was immediately enraptured with this world and these characters. I’m so excited for the next book in the series! If you’re looking for a Historical Romance with a dash of grit, suspense, and plenty of action, you need this book in your life.

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Review: Untamed Delights by Suzanne Wright

August 7, 2019 by ·

UNTAMED DELIGHTS
Series: The Phoenix Pack #8
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Suzanne Wright
Release Date: July 16, 2019

Return to the sensual and feral stirrings of the Phoenix Pack as a woman who’s already bound to one man is tempted by a wolf who’s bound only to his nightly desires.

Cat shifter Mila Devereaux can’t help but see it as a betrayal. That her one true mate imprinted himself on another female was hard enough to accept. Struggling to be at peace with her loveless fate, she doesn’t fight the suggestion of entering an arranged mating. Then she meets Dominic, a pack enforcer with a notorious reputation. It’s in his very scent. This irresistible playboy—and delicious badass wolf—is making Mila’s fantasies come alive again.

Alarming, compelling, and heady with sensual energy, Dominic is an expert at making women shed their inhibitions. Now everything about him—his killer smile, his perfectly sculpted body, and his smooth-as-honey voice—is drawing in a captivating new catch. But for the first time in his life, Dominic is feeling more than a fling. He finds himself tantalized by a female who makes him think of forever. He wants all of Mila and won’t be satisfied until he has it.

As the passion grows wild, so does the risk. They’re falling in love in the shadows and secrets of their pasts. And it’s threatening to destroy everything Mila and Dominic are fighting for. And are destined for.

AMAZON


I’ll bet you’re one of those guys who gives his cock a name.”
“I call mine ‘the truth.’”
“The truth?”
“Because women can’t handle it.”

Finally, my favorite goofball of the Phoenix Pack gets a book and he did NOT disappoint. Dom has been one of my absolute favorite secondary characters in this series. The man can deliver a cheesy pick up line like no other.

As it happens, my Alpha is considering having me committed. Especially since I keep claiming my watch is magic. But it really is.”
She gave him a droll look. “Is that so?”
“Oh yeah.” He glimpsed at his watch. “According to this, you’re not wearing underwear.”
Her brows drew together. “Actually, I am.”
“Really? Hmm.” Frowning, he tapped the watch. “Must be an hour fast.”

But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was a little afraid to read his book because of this. While Dom was great in small doses, I wasn’t sure how the author would pull off an entire book that may be full of his goofball tactics. So color me surprised when I learned that Dom is easily one of the most multi-layered characters I’ve read in this series. Seriously, y’all, the man’s layers have layers, and they’re DEEP. You think you know him, but there’s a wealth of pain that he keeps hidden under the goofball facade. And if you think you know what that pain is, you couldn’t be more wrong.

If there’s one thing that I love about Suzanne Wright, it’s her ability to deliver some of the sassiest and feistiest heroines ever. And when it comes Mila, she was no exception. I love the cute and fluffy yet vicious dynamic of the pallas cats, and Mila was awesome! This woman can kick some serious a$$ and look adorable doing it.

The story definitely didn’t disappoint either. Both Mila and Dom had a super intriguing story line. First with Dom’s love em and leave em past coming back to really bite him on the butt. And Mila dealing with the fallout of meeting her true mate but after he falls in love and imprints on her cousin.

In true Wright fashion there’s plenty of sizzle in this quick paced and action packed romance. Dom and Mila together were incendiary. I loved watching him really have to work for a female for once. And Mila sure mad him work. This is a woman that doesn’t give in easily, but when she does? FIREWORKS!!!

If you’ve been eagerly anticipating Dom’s book like I have been, you definitely won’t be disappointed with this one!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, PNR · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Nothing But This by Natasha Anders

July 30, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BroNOTHING BUT THIS
Series: Broken Pieces #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: July 30, 2019

A married couple yearns to rediscover lost love in this novel about forgiveness, reconciliation, and emotional growth.

It’s always been complicated between Libby Lawson and Greyson Chapman—and married life isn’t any simpler. But when Libby gets pregnant, she at last sees a bright future ahead. There’s just one problem: Greyson says he’s sterile.

Furious, Greyson abandons the young family. Equally furious and deeply hurt, Libby cuts all ties with him. After all these years, it seems their relationship has finally expired. But love is resilient and endures even when you don’t want it to. Greyson still longs for Libby, and though Libby’s heartbroken by Greyson’s lack of trust, she holds out hope for a complete, happy family.

And so they embark on the journey back to each other, wary of all the obstacles between them. It’s been a long road already—one strewed with fear, doubt, and misunderstandings. Will they keep looking to the past, or will they look to each other and walk hand in hand toward a broad new horizon?

AMAZON

I’ve been trying to find the right words. The proper combination of sounds that would make you forgive me, that would make up for what I said and did. But those words don’t exist.”


Ever since Natasha Anders introduced Grey and Libby in More Than Anything, I’ve been completely enamored and invested in their story. If there’s one thing that I love more than a hero that royally screws up with his woman, it’s watching him grovel to get back into her good graces again. And this book? It’s one long, delicious, and emotional grovel.

Now I love a good alphahole as much as the next girl, but this book didn’t focus on that. You get plenty of Grey’s generally cold disposition in the first book. Enough of it to know that when the man makes a mistake, it’s the biggest mistake of his life. This book focuses on him dealing with the repercussions of that mistake and trying to grovel his way back and somehow make amends. You get flashbacks of what transpired to bring Grey and Libby to the point where they are now. I loved that Libby really grew into herself in this book. She goes from a besotted girl to a woman that’s not afraid to make him work for it. She’s not willing to forgive and forget, nor should she. I mean, the man thought their child was the result of an affair.

The flow is really organic and the pacing is superb. It highlights every bump along their road and twists and turns your heart right along with them. Their journey is painful and emotional and totally enrapturing.

Nothing But This was a painfully beautiful story of second chances. It was sweet, funny, and utterly gut wrenching in parts. It wasn’t an overly angsty read but it was certainly an emotional one. I really loved this book. It was a gripping and charming and hits every single feel.

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Review: The Guy On The Right by Kate Stewart

July 29, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

THE GUY ON THE RIGHT
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult Romance
Author: Kate Stewart
Release Date: July 29, 2019

Strike One-My mother named me Theodore after her favorite chipmunk.

Not cool, Mom.

I‘ve spent most of my life answering to Teddy, because I couldn’t make Theo work.

Except for here. College. The place where all bets are off, and I’ve managed to redeem myself.
There’s only one problem, my new roommate, Troy, is football royalty and looks like he stepped off the set of an Abercrombie shoot.

Doesn’t matter, I cook a mean breakfast for his panty parade, and we get along well.
And anyway, this year I got the girl. And she’s perfect.

That’s right. Theodore Houseman, former band geek, now marching band rock star has finally landed the girl of his dreams.

Everything is perfect.

That is, until Troy takes a good look at her.

I’m not going down without a fight. As a matter of fact, I’m not going down at all. As glorious as these days may be for my all-star roommate, Laney is my end game.

I may not know much about play strategy, but I’ve been the good guy my whole life. I’ve been listening and I know exactly what women want. Framed in a picture standing next to me, Troy may seem like Mr. Perfect, but he’s underestimating the guy on the right.

Spoiler alert: In this story, the underdog is going to win.

AMAZON

We shouldn’t fit, but we do, and our fit is nothing short of spectacular. There’s no wool in the world thick enough to make me blind to that. 

If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, this is simply a must read. The Guy On The Right was one of those books that sneaks up on you and makes you fall head over heels. It’s cute, light and somewhat unassuming at first. You meet Theodor, Teddy to his annoying sisters, and his fall fast and hard for his subtle and down to earth charm. The guy is roommates with the biggest manwhore on campus and football royalty. So he’s used to flying under the radar of Troy’s hotness. After his last relationship left him decimated, he’s not exactly the most confident of guys. But then an accidental meeting changes everything.

I’ve most definitely been friend-zoned, or in my case, Teddy’d.

Laney just got out of another disastrous relationship. After coming to the conclusion that she’s been dating the wrong men, she decides that a break from penis is exactly what she needs.

I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m done with Batman.”
“What?”
“It’s a syndrome. A type. I’m done.”
…
“Think about it, Batman is the booty call superhero. Sexy-half face, looks amazin’ in the uniform, BUT, he only answers to the signal, at night. He never takes off his mask and only reveals his true colors once he’s already bedded the girl. I’ve been dating nothing but Batmen.”

When Theo accidentally overhears her drunken breakup and later runs into Laney again, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them. This soon turns to something that catches both of them unaware. The bond between them becomes so strong that it soon leads to the realization that there’s definitely something else beneath the friendly jokes and camaraderie. Something that Theo and Laney are both too nervous to act on so that they don’t ruin their friendship.

Admittedly, the first 40% of the book had a lot of dialogue. The buildup between these two was very much a slow burn. While I love a good slow burn, I did struggle a little to get into the story. There’s a lot of camaraderie that happens that was cute to read about but didn’t feel…necessary. At least not for me. But then, right around the 40% mark, the story totally snuck up on me and clobbered me over the head with the cute feels. I was completely enamored with the characters and the story and couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. I was totally sucked in!

The second half of this book was absolute swoony perfection. I loved watching Theo really come into his own and let that hidden dominant side out. I loved that he was a genuine nice guy but still very much an alpha. I adored his protective and sweet side. And I absolutely fell head over heels for his insecure and vulnerable side.

Laney was a wonderful heroine. I loved her sass and backbone and the way she wasn’t shy about fighting for Theo, even if it was Theo himself. I loved how she loved him. But I especially loved watching their relationship slowly and organically blossom into something more. At first I was afraid that she had more chemistry with Troy and Theo would fade into the background. But I was so happy that wasn’t the case. Theo was very much the center of the story.

This was one of those light hearted and funny romances that’s slow to start but sizzles oh so hot when it finally gets going. Adorably sweet with just the right amount of sexy, it stole my heart and kept a smile on my face from beginning to finish. I can’t wait to get Troy’s story next!

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New Release & Review: Lies by Kylie Scott

July 21, 2019 by ·

LIES
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Author: Kylie Scott
Release Date: July 21, 2019

Betty Dawsey knows that breaking things off with Thom Lange is for the best. He’s nice, but boring, and their relationship has lost its spark. But steady and predictable Thom, suddenly doesn’t seem so steady and predictable when their condo explodes and she’s kidnapped by a couple of crazies claiming that Thom isn’t who he says he is.

Thom is having a hellish week. Not only is he hunting a double agent, but his fiancé dumped him, and thanks to his undercover life, she’s been kidnapped.

Turns out Thom is Operative Thom and he’s got more than a few secrets to share with Betty if he’s going to keep her alive. With both their lives on the line, their lackluster connection is suddenly replaced by an intense one. But in his line of work, feelings aren’t wanted or desired. Because feelings can be a lethal distraction.

AMAZON

Now I find out you’re some weird vigilante assassin ninja super-spy, I don’t even know what exactly.”
“Just ‘operative’ is fine. Fits onto a business card easier.”

This book was so much fun! It reminded me of the movie Knight & Day, except it was actually good. *smiles sheepishly* What? That movie was ridiculous. But I did love the concept. And Lies delivered on the delicious promise the blurb brought. Full of action, steam, and enough laugh out loud moments that kept you glued to the pages from beginning to finish!

The story is uniquely fun:
Girl meets boy.
Boy turns out to be a snoozefest.
Girl leaves boy because she doesn’t want to settle.
Her apartment blows up. She gets kidnapped. She gets thrown knee deep into a dangerous game of espionage and betrayal.
Girl finds out her safe and boring (ex)boyfriend is a super agent extraordinaire that’s been lying to her the entire time they were together. Boy turns out to be not so boring after all.
Girl’s entire world gets turned upside down.

Intrigued yet? You should be!

Betty and Thom were so much fun. I loved Thom’s intensity when the real him finally appears and his fierce protectiveness of Betty. This is one badass, people. This man kicks some ass and takes name, and barely breaks a sweat doing it. Man but I loved him.

Betty was one endearing ball of quirk. I loved her character. She’s fierce in her own right and she doesn’t exactly take it easy on Thom when she finds out the huge lie he’s been keeping from her. Plus, considering the woman is a civilian, she certainly handled the whole kidnapping by secret agents and being thrown into a dangerous game of spy kill spy rather well. I mean, I’d probably be peeing my pants in a corner somewhere. But this chick had some tough skin. She managed to come off both vulnerable and yet like she can handle her own and I loved that. She wasn’t perfect and those faults totally worked in her favor and completely endeared me to her.

The story is one action packed ride full of bullets, steam, and secrets and I loved it! If you’re looking for something different but with plenty of the signature Kylie Scott humor, definitely pick this one up!

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: ,

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: Justified by Jay Crownover

June 26, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

JUSTIFIED
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Western
Series: Loveless, Texas #1
Author: N.E. Henderson
Release Date: June 25, 2019

The New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers a romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy…

Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’s determined to do everything by the book–until he’s called to Aspen Barlow’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…

Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’s nothing Case wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

AMAZON

She was the last woman I should have my hands on, but she was the only one who could make me lose all sense of reality.

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and boy did this book bring it. I will admit, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a Jay Crownover book and I’m not even sure why. I forgot just how much I missed her writing until I dove into this one. Having said that, while there’s some carryover from her other series, I had no problems diving right in.

This starts out with a real bang with Aspen representing Case’s ex wife in their divorce settlement. She’s a phenomenal lawyer, but she can barely stifle the guilt over her skill at her job being responsible for the woman getting full custody rights from the man that’s devoted to his son. It’s been years since that moment, but Case has never forgiven her and the animosity has only grown. You can’t help but feel for Aspen. She was the awkward new girl that fell for the town’s golden boy in high school. Only to be the object of his anger years later.

A lot of things have changed over the years. Case now has full custody of his 17 year old son and Aspen is dealing with a divorce of her own supposed perfect. But when her office gets trashed and her life seems to be in danger, none other that sheriff Case can get to the bottom of it. But protecting her also forces them to finally deal with all the years of pain and anger between them and to finally give into the passion that’s been brewing right along it.

The beginning is a bit of a slow build and there’s a lot of backstory that fills the pages, but I really enjoyed that part. I loved seeing Case’s anger slowly defrost and the cloud of judgement begin to dissipate until he sees Aspen for the woman she really is.

There’s a lot of story that’s set up here for some secondary characters that I’m already chomping at the bit to get books for (especially one particular MC). There’s plenty of action and suspense to play along with the evolving romance, and I devoured it. The only quibble I had was with the ending. There’s a certain twist that happens that seemed just way too OTT and grand for be to fully buy into it, especially taking all the other dynamics into account. It felt more like shock value rather than a true twist to me, and it took away from my engrossment of the story a little bit. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait for book two, I just could have done with a different twist. But this is an entirely subjective thing and I’ll probably be in the very minority with my thoughts. Either way, I can’t wait for the next book!

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Review: Enchanted by Lexi Blake

June 23, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PROTECTED
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #18.5
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: June 18, 2019

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake comes a new story in her Masters and Mercenaries series…

A snarky submissive princess

Sarah Stevens’s life is pretty sweet. By day, she’s a dedicated trauma nurse and by night, a fun-loving club sub. She adores her job, has a group of friends who have her back, and is a member of the hottest club in Dallas. So why does it all feel hollow? Could it be because she fell for her dream man and can’t forgive him for walking away from her? Nope. She’s not going there again. No matter how much she wants to.

A prince of the silver screen

Jared Johns might be one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, but he lost more than a fan when he walked away from Sarah. He lost the only woman he’s ever loved. He’s been trying to get her back, but she won’t return his calls. A trip to Dallas to visit his brother might be exactly what he needs to jump-start his quest to claim the woman who holds his heart.

A masquerade to remember

For Charlotte Taggart’s birthday, Sanctum becomes a fantasyland of kinky fun and games. Every unattached sub gets a new Dom for the festivities. The twist? The Doms must conceal their identities until the stroke of midnight at the end of the party. It’s exactly what Sarah needs to forget the fact that Jared is pursuing her. She can’t give in to him, and the mysterious Master D is making her rethink her position when it comes to signing a contract. Jared knows he was born to play this role, dashing suitor by day and dirty Dom at night.

When the masks come off, will she be able to forgive the man who loves her, or will she leave him forever?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

AMAZON

There was no other woman he wanted to see, no relationship he wished to get a feel for. There was only her, and it had been that way for a long time.

FINALLY! After what feels like a forever of a wait, we get the story for Jared and Sarah. I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since we first meet Jared in his older brother’s book From Sanctum with Love. Although, in that book, you didn’t get quite the full effect of the man in that book. You get Jared John, famous actor. But this book gives you Jared Ferguson, the man.

She was it. She was the one, that mystical part of himself that had been missing all along.

Jared and Sarah had a brief…something…before it ever got the chance to go anywhere. But then so much happened; Jared discovered his career is flailing and his best friend is a serial killer. He didn’t have anything to offer Sarah, so he left. But it didn’t take him long to figure out she’s the woman he needs. The only problem is, she’s not quite as open for anything with him now.

Sarah is taking things one day at a time while dealing with life altering news. She doesn’t have anything to offer Jared, but he’s determined to wear her down. Even if he has to do it behind a mask if only to prove to her what they have between them.

I’ve learned in life we don’t always get what we want, Princess, but I am a man who will fight like hell for what I need and that’s you.”

This was definitely a satisfying HEA for the couple, but I couldn’t help but wish we got more of them. Although to be be honest, I’m not sure if there was enough story there to make a novel rather than the novella it was, so this is more of a selfish thing than a book thing. I loved Jared’s sweetness and Sarah’s sassiness. I loved the two of them together. The majority of the story is Jared and Sarah dealing with everything between them and finally coming to terms with their feelings for each other and Sarah’s secret. The epilogue packed a tearfully emotional punch. All in all, another fantastic addition to the story.

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