Flashback Friday: To the book that started my angst addiction

Flashback Friday-Angst

The only reason you brought me here tonight was because you thought it would appease me. Throw the vicious dog a bone and it’ll soon be eating out of your hand!”

“More like vicious bitch,” he muttered beneath his breath and when he realized that she had heard him, he shrugged unrepentantly. “If you’re going to be using animal metaphors, you may as well get it right.”


So if you follow my blog or my reviews then you already know that I’m a self professed angst whore. I’m talking make it hurt so good kind of angst! The having me deciding whether to reach for the nearest bottle of booze or a xanax kind of angst. The rip my hair out and scream at the ceiling then rock myself in a corner while babbling incoherently kind of angst. Basically, unless it leaves me feeling like I need to be carted off to the nearest institution after I’m done reading it didn’t angst me enough, mkay?


I think you catch my point here. I love me some angst. So a few weeks ago I gots to thinking, when was it that it hit me just how MUCH I enjoy the angsty reads? Does it track back to a particular book? So I went on to Goodreads and scrolled…and scrolled some more…and kept scrolling and lo and behold it all started right. Here. With this book.


 

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No one had ever looked at her and seen perfection—until now.

Delicate, titian-haired Theresa Noble has met her father’s associates in the past, but the gorgeous, Italian-born Sandro De Lucci leaves her speechless. Eighteen months into their marriage, however, Sandro has turned to ice. Desperate to escape a relationship that has proven to be as stubbornly passionate as it is cold and hateful, Theresa summons up the courage to ask for a divorce. But before he’ll grant her request, Sandro demands something from Theresa: a son.

The stalemate sickens her. Never mind that Sandro has yet to introduce Theresa to the large family that means so much to him. Or that Theresa overhears her husband on the phone with a mystery woman. Most damning is that Theresa senses, in Sandro’s treatment of her, the behind-the-scenes machinations of Jackson Noble, her cruel father. From the depths of her anxiety, Theresa must seek an empowering truth about the husband who calls her, with such cold affection, his cara, his beloved.

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Now don’t let the cover or even the synopsis fool you here, this book is angsty with a capital A. It’s also a total guilty pleasure read. Alessandro is a grade A asshole for a good chunk of the book and I gobbled it up like the angst starved whore that I am. It was seeeeeeew gewd.

I’m your husband…”
“No. You are not my husband,” she interrupted in a voice thickened with hatred and tears. “You have never been my husband. A husband loves, honours and cherishes! A husband is a lover and a champion….Look into the next room if you want to see what a real husband is, because you are no such thing!” 

It’s like Harlequin presents meet angst fest. I mean, total guilty pleasure. If you’re read it then you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, I’m really not sure what you’re waiting for. This is not a fluffy read by any means. We have an arranged marriage, an asshole husband that thinks he knows who his wife is and treats her in kind, and a wife that’s the innocent stuck in a web of deception and lies. Oh, then we also have the epic grovel to beat all grovels? Can it possibly tick off any more of my YES buttons? I ask you?!

Do you remember the book that started your obsession with angst? What about your favorite angsty read? I’d love to hear about all of it in the comments below 😉

Flashback Friday with @mstessabailey

FBF-Dirty TalkersConfession time: I. Love. Dirty. Talkers. True story. The filthier their mouths, the more I lust after them. And when it comes to dirty talkers, let’s just be honest here; no one writes them quite like Tessa Bailey. There’s a reason I say that Tessa Bailey books make my ovaries happy and her dirty talkers are the biggest reason for it. The woman is the queen of dirty talk. I’m not even kidding. I tried to think back to the book hat truly started this obsession for me, and the only name that kept popping up in my mind was Derek Tyler. Hot cop and dirty talker extraordinaire. Now I’ve read plenty of erotic romance before this book, so I’ve read my fair share of dirty talkers before it as well. But then there was just something about Tessa’s dirty talking alphas that just flipped a switch for me. So no matter how many other alphas I read before this, I can say without a doubt, that Derek Tyler is the one that truly began my confession with dirty talkers. I read this pretteh the day it was released in February of 2013 and still remember everything about it like I read it yesterday.

Let me be clear, Ginger, since you insist on talking in circles. I want you underneath me in my bed. I want to be buried inside you so deep that I have to remind you of your own name. And I want those motherfuckers leering at you from the other side of the bar to smell me on you for a week afterward.”

Got your attention now? Good! So let’s talk about this book a little, shall we?

The longer it takes me to get between your thighs, the rougher I’m going to be when I finally get there. Understand?” 

Yes, Derek, we got it. Quit interrupting me, I’m trying to gather my thoughts here! Gawd. Where was I?

That was for the hard-on I’ll be walking around with tonight. And you’ll goddamn wear the imprint of my hand on your ass for it.”

Dammit! Now I lost my train of thought again….

If you’ve read this book, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about here. And if you haven’t, I’m pretty sure it’s getting a little dark under that rock you’ve been living under and you need to crawl out and finally see the light.

This book had everything! A sassy heroine, a super sexy, dirty talking hot cop, great banter, hot sex, and an awesome story to boot. It was what first began my obsession with this author and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve read her entire back list for fuck’s sake and I’ll never get enough of her alphas.

What color are your panties?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Why?”
“Baby, if I’m going to take you into a room full of men wearing that dress, I’m damn well going to be the only one who knows the color of your panties.” 

and because I can keep these coming ALL DAY LONG, here’s another Derek quote

Listen to me, baby. From the time we walk in the door to my apartment, you will have less than a minute before I put my cock inside you. No foreplay. No kissing. There won’t be any time, because you’ve got me strung so damn tight I can barely think straight. I need you to keep yourself wet for me on the ride home. Starting now.”

I swear I’m done now. I’d love to hear about your favorite dirty talkers in the comments! 😉


About The Book PROTECTING WHAT’S HIS
Series: Line of Duty #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 25, 2013add-to-goodreads-button3

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She’s running from the law, and the law wants her bad.

The opportunity was just too damn delicious for Ginger Peet to pass up. The purse full of money she finds—$50,000 to be exact—could give her and her teen sister the new start they need. So she grabs the cash, her gothy sibling, and their life-sized statue of Dolly Parton, and blows outta Nashville in a cloud of dust. Chicago, here we come…

Turns out, Chicago has some pretty hot cops. Hot, intense, naughty-lookin’ cops like Derek Tyler, who looks like he could eat a girl up and leave her begging for more. And more. Tempting as he is, getting involved with the sexy homicide lieutenant next door poses a teensy problem for a gal who’s on the lam. But one thing is certain—Derek’s onto her, and he wants more than just a taste.

And as far as he’s concerned, possession is nine-tenths of the law

Buy-Links10Amazon / B&N / iBooks

Flashback Friday with Linda Howard

FBF-After The Night

You know that whole adage about not judging a book by its cover? Well this is the perfect example of that. This cover may not look like much, but inside is one of the most memorable and incredible books ever written. If you’ve met Gray Rouillard than you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. My reading binge first started with PNR and then short after moved on to Romantic Suspense and then to Contemporary Romance. Linda Howard was THE first contemporary romance author I read, and this was my first book by her. To say that I then binged on all her other titles would probably be a mild understatement. But this book? This book had, hands down, one of my favorite asshole heroes to date. Period.

He was a strong, healthy young man, with a sex drive that had shown no signs of slacking off since his middle teens. it was a persistent burning in his guts, a hungry ache in his balls. He was lucky enough to be able to get women to ease that hunger, and cynical enough to realize that his family’s money added to his sexual success.

There’s one scene in this book that stands out in particular to me because holy sex scene batman! I’ll tell you this, it involves a porch, a column, and one of the hottest standing sex scenes evah!

I want to fuck you,” he muttered indistinctly, the sound low and harsh as he hoisted her a bit, adjusting her position. “Let me in. Now.

I love a book that gives great banter, and the hate lust thing that was happening here? *Pervy dreamy sigh* One of my very favorites. Faith grew up as the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks that’s always been in love with the rich and unattainable Gray. Twelve years ago her life was shattered by him, but now she’s back to right the wrongs even if that means coming back to the town that shunned her. To say that Gray is less than happy to see her would be an understatement, but the chemistry between them is absolutely scorching from the very first meeting. This is no insta-love story, but gawd did it have some of the best sexual chemistry and banter I’ve read in a while.

Danger glittered in those dark eyes, and before she knew it, he was right in front of her again, almost playfully pinching her chin. “You’re a ballsy little babe, aren’t you? Maybe too ballsy for your own good. Don’t take me on in a fight, sweet thing, because you’ll get hurt.


 

Her opinion of him wasn’t very high, he thought wryly.
Hell, why should it be? On a steamy summer night twelve years ago, he had ground her into the dirt. After that night, she probably thought of him as the devil incarnate.


I first read AFTER THE NIGHT back in 2011, and to this day it’s probably still one of my most re-read romances. I must have read it at least 5 times in the years since. It’s my go-to when I need a guaranteed winner and a good dose of alphahole.

You haven’t listened to my… suggestions yet.”
“I don’t intend to, either. Go back to your table and leave me alone.”
“I’d planned on doing the first.” He stood and trailed a long forefinger down her cheek. “There’s no way in hell I’ll do the last.”

About The BookAFTER THE NIGHT
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Linda Howard
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FAITH DEVLIN:

A poor, outcast child in Prescott, Louisiana, she’d always adored the town’s golden boy from afar. But he called her white trash that sultry Southern night when his rich, respected father disappeared, along with her pretty Mom. Now Faith wanted to hate Gray Rouillard…not to feel a powerful surge of desire. But she couldn’t quench her passion, any more than she could hide the truth about the past she had waited so long to unravel.

GRAY ROUILLARD:

Even when he raised hell, he did it with style. Reckless, charming, and backed by Rouillard money, Gray controlled the town of Prescott — and Devlin was a name he never wanted to hear again. But when he gazed at Faith Devlin, all he saw was a swirl of tangled sheets and her silken flesh beneath him. To care for her was impossible, unthinkable…because Gray Rouillard planned to use all his power to ruin

 

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Have you read After the Night? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below 🙂
Or just tell me about some of your favorite alphahole heroes and books

Flashback Friday with Susan Elizabeth Phillips

FlashBack Friday Aug 7

I wanted to switch things up here in DGR land. I know I post lots of new releases and reviews, but what about the oldies? No, I’m not talking taking you back to the 80’s here, but those fantastic books that aren’t recent releases that made me fall and fall hard. So now every Friday I’m going to be taking you guys back with me to remember the books that truly made an impression on me. Whether it be my favorite Friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, favorite sex scene (uhem), favorite anti-hero, favorite dirty talker, enemies-to-lovers, suspense, PNR, you get the idea here 😉

When I was thinking of what book I should start off there was honestly no other book that stood out to me more than IT HAD TO BE YOU by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. It Had to Be You was book 1 in Susan’s Chicago Stars / Bonner Brothers series and quite honestly it was THE book that made me realize just how deliciously perfect a well written enemies-to-lovers book could be.

“I must have your promise, Coach, that you won’t hurt her.”
“I promise.”
“You spoke a bit too quickly for my taste. I don’t quite believe you.”
“I’m a man of my word, and I promise that I won’t hurt her. When I murder her, I’ll do it real quick, so she won’t feel a thing.”
Viktor sighed. “That’s exactly what I was afraid of.” 

That quote right there gives you just the right taste of the tone of this amazing book. Fabulously snarky, wonderfully humorous, and with a sexual tension that’s so fiery hot that it’s pretty much guaranteed to turn every ovary within a 20 mi radius blue.

”I guess we’re oil and water.”
“I’d say we’re more like gasoline and a blowtorch.”

Dan and Phoebe are still two of my favorite contemporary romance MCs. Then there was Pooh and his nervous peeing on a grave during a funeral…Seriously. I think I had a goofy smile on my face the entire time reading it. Dan is the perfect combination of grumpy and swoony, and Phoebe was an absolute bombshell. I adored her! If this book hasn’t hit your radar yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a must read!

About The Book


It Had To Be You
Series: Chicago Stars #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 13, 2009add-to-goodreads-button31

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The Windy City isn’t quite ready for Phoebe Somerville—the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not ready for the Stars’ head coach, former gridiron legend Dan Calebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Calebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises—a meddling bimbo who doesn’t know a pigskin from a pitcher’s mound.

So why is Dan drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach’s good ol’ boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied…and ready to fight?

The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious “prequel” to This Heart of Mine—Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s New York Times bestselling blockbuster—It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.

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READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

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