Book Review: Magic's Daughter

Book Title: Magic's Daughter
Author: Ann Gimpel |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 80

How I got it: Blog Tour

My Rating:★★★★☆
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Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Publisher
Erotica Rating: 

Synopsis:

Destined to be surrounded by magic yet have none of her own, Cassie walks a thin line between love and danger. Her mother is dying and her boyfriend has turned into something which terrifies her. By the time she wakes up to the danger she’s in, it’s nearly too late. Cassie’s friend, Jeremy, warns her about her scumbag boyfriend, but she doesn't listen until deeply disturbing events unfold and her life hangs in the balance. With few choices left, she and Jeremy join forces to battle the darkness threatening them. Meanwhile, Cassie warms to Jeremy in ways she never could have anticipated. Love was there all along if she’d just opened her eyes and looked

My Review:
Let's just start with, ain't no way someone was pushing me out of my house or making me feel uncomfortable & I didn't fight back.  Cassie's life just went to hell in a hand basket, even more than she realizes, her mother is a shadow of her former self and Cassie is desperate to find a way to reach her, so she quits her job and creates the e Quija, yeah it's complicated.

For such a small book I was pulled in from the start, Cassie seemed to be struggling to keep her head above water, considering she's swimming with sharks and she's a dolphin, she's doing a decent job.  My only problem with her is her complete reluctance to get help, why why when your drowning aren't you screaming for the lifeguard in the form of her close friend Jeremy??   I can totally understand the feeling like a fool part, and not wanting to admit you were wrong, but man oh man did it really hit the fan.

For a fun fast read, it was well written, engaging, & funny. The characters were well written and drew you into the story from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down.  From the crazy talking bird to the wild cat and even the villain was pretty well written *in a way that clearly made him the villain*.

I really enjoyed the novel and the glimpse into a world inhabited by Druids who would do the CIA proud with their abilities to keep secrets. Fae hell bent on well what Faes are always hell bent on.

I heartily enjoyed it and hope you do to.
Check out more of Ms Gimpel's books on Goodreads and on her website linked above.

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Thrill Ride

Book Title: Thrill Ride
Author:  |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 352

How I got it: NetGalley, 

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository| Publisher
My Rating:★★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: 
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Synopsis:

He's Gone Rogue Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose. She Won't Back Down Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

My Review:
I'm so in love with the Black Knights. Where can I meet them?? This is the second book by Julia Walker I have read and I love her writing.  Rev It Up was my introduction to her and I loved the Jake the Snake so much I went and got all the other books in the series that I didn't have right away.  I really loved the glimpses of Rock and Vanessa we got in the book.  I love that each book gave you a preview of the next Black Knight to fall in love.  I'm so intriqued I can't wait to read the next one.

In reading Rev It Up, I had some serious expectations for Rock & Vanessa's story and Julie delivered on them all.  Rock is just that man who is so awesome but doesn't take himself too seriously, he's confident but not arrogant, and he fell hard for Vanessa although he didn't think he should act on it.  Vanessa fell for the hot cajun the minute she walked into the Black Knights building, she wanted to be a tough operator and she did her best to toughen up so she could fit in.  She totally kicked ass when she needed to, and even though her goal was 'tough operator" she was still in touch with her feelings; & still knew when she was totally out of her depths and allowed Rock to lead where Rock led.

That moment in Eve's house?!?!?!?! OMGawds, even though I knew what was happening I was still devestated right along with her. I was totally invested in the story and couldn't put it down, Poor Vanessa, she probably lost like ten years off her life.

It took one day to read this because I dived right in and didn't come up for air until I finished it.   The characters are so well written and it's so engaging, the wit, the funny stories, I can't wait to read Steady's story by the way, "details are superflouos" indeed, I loved those glimpse into each character's personality.  I loved the inner monologue of both Rock & Vanessa, they are so awesome, I so couldn't stop reading that garage scene then when Ghost caught them?!!! The laugh was pretty loud when I read that scene. Heck I'm smiling now writing about it.

Eve looks like shs's going to be a great character as well. I can't wait to read the story between her and her guy, it should be totally interesting. Now excuse me while I catch up with the rest of the Black Knights I'm heading to Becky's first then I hear Ali's story is kick ass as well. See you guys. Have fun!!

 

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: Guarding The Princess

Book Title: Guarding The Princess; Sahara Kings #5
Author: Loreth Anne White |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $3.82, $4.95

Purchase: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Publisher| The Book Depository
Pages: 288

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★★
Erotica Rating: N/A
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Synopsis:

"You're not just a job anymore." It was supposed to be a 72-hour mission, in and out, until Brandt Stryker got stranded in the arid African plains with predators before him, a killer at his heels and an exotic princess by his side. Dalilah Al Arif stirs his blood, makes him crave things he'd lost long ago - but she is off-limits, promised to a sheik. Dalilah's wedding contract stipulates she must wed before her 30th birthday - just months away. It's a duty she accepts. But in the arms of her handsome protector, she's torn between her sense of duty and honor, and her freedom. And as the terrorists close in, she fears the most dangerous creature in the savannah is Brandt himself…...

My Review:
I haven't read any of the other books in this series and I so need to get on that.  This book is so awesome. I loved Dalilah as an character, she was strong, she knew what she wanted and when it looked like her life wasn't going the way she wanted she made the tough choices and did what made her happy.

OmGosh I so fell in love with them as a couple, and with the landscape as it was being described. I so fell into the story and felt like I was right there with them as they struggled to make it out of the country.  Brandt was so well described ( I love the show Arrow on the CW and he reminded me of the man who was teaching Oliver you know the hot Aussie para military guy, yeah him hotness) so that's who I pictured Brandt as, and man oh man I totally understood his dilemma,, but I personally really did feel bad for that girl she was a class A idiot. And she left Brandt with scars because of her stupidity. Just some people really don't deserve a good thing when they have it.

I loved the story of Jock & of South Africa, of Brandt's home. Poor Brandt had a tough life, and I never really thought of what it meant to be a princess and seeing Dalilah's choices and the brutal life she and her family has had was heart breaking.  I loved that they fought for their happiness, as it wasn't easy.  I loved that she faced the practicality that it was lived with her ideals and die or  do what was necessary to stay alive (even though she was a little stubborn at first).

In the end the intensity of feelings expressed in the book drew me in, I am intrigued enough to put her brother's stories on my list of books to read sometime in this lifetime.  This has been a first time read from this author, and her writing is so beautiful that I will be checking her out again ( at least four more times as those are the books in the series).  ohhh I also learnt something I never knew about giraffes, that was pretty interesting.  I loved how the Safari played just as much a part in the story as the characters did as well.  And the symbolism at the end of the book wasn't lost on me either. Yeah the Lions have certainly returned.

Highly recommend it my loves, so enjoy it and fall in love with Brandt, Dalilah and the beautiful Safari.

 

***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Lucretia & The Kroons

Book Title: Lucretia & The Kroons
Author: Victor LaValle

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau via Random House Digital
Format: ebook
Genre: Adult Fiction

Cost: $0.99

Pages: 100

How I got it: Publisher via NetGalley

My Rating:★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

From one of the most acclaimed young writers of fiction in America today comes a fast-paced and fantastical novella about a young girl's journey into a dark netherworld to find her missing best friend. This eBook edition contains an exclusive excerpt from Victor LaValle's new novel The Devil in Silver, about which Gary Shteyngart raves, "Literary horror just found a new master." Lucretia's best friend and upstairs neighbor Sunny-a sweet pitbull of a kid, even as she struggles with a mysterious illness-has gone missing. The only way to get her back is for Lucretia to climb the rickety fire escape of their Queens tenement and crawl through the window of apartment 6D, portal to a vast shadowland of missing kids ruled by a nightmarish family of mutants whose designs on the children are unknown. Her search for Sunny takes Lucretia through a dark fantasyland where she finds lush forests growing from concrete, pigeon-winged rodents, and haunted playgrounds. Her quest ultimately forces her to confront the most frightening specter of all: losing, forever, the thing you love the most. Lucretia and the Kroons is a dazzlingly imaginative adventure story and a moving exploration of the power of friendship and the terror of loss. This all-new novella serves as the perfect companion piece to The Devil in Silver, a thrillingly suspenseful work of literary horror that continues the story of Lucretia.

My Review:

"Being young doesn't protect you, horrors come for kids, too"

It took forever to get to this book, and it's one of the few novellas I have read that went as fast as it did.  I've never read this author before, so his writing style was new to me. The story just jumped right into it, now pretense or build up, it just went right to it.

Now this is a very different kind of book for me, a bit of a magical realism, yet very different.  Loochie is a kid who doesn't realize that the world is kind of harsh; her best friend was sick from leukaemia and dying and she still doesn't understand just how bad the disease is.  When her older brother visits just before her friend comes over to celebrate her birthday, he shares with her the story of the Kroons as a way to scare her about being alone in the house for the first time by herself.

I was kind of confused reading this book, what would have happened if her brother didn't tell her about the Kroons?? How would have this worked out?? How comes she didn't hear the sirens and think anything about it?? I knew immediately what was wrong, but she was completely clueless.

I felt so bad for her knowing what was going on and she didn't know.  Then the Kroons happened and I was just engrossed in the story. Holy Crap, I just...WOW.  What a story. I was still confused reading it, the main thing that stuck out to me was the fact that if her brother didn't tell her this story about the Kroons would the rest of it happen??

It's an okay story, engaging while you're reading it. The ending didn't make any sense, why not say ok maybe I was dreaming; but she refused to back down even when it meant she was going to get into trouble.

Enjoy while reading, he's an interesting author.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: About Last Night

Book Title: About Last Night
Author: Ruthie Knox | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Publisher: LoveSwept, Random House Digital
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 248

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it, and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go . . . in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her. Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine—even her name turns him on—with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies. When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?

My Review:
I'll be honest, I didn't get much work done yesterday because of this book. It was slow at work so I read while I should have been doing 'busy' work, you know the crap that normally doesn't get done during a regular week, you do when there is nothing left. Yeah I said screw that & stuck my nose to the phone screen so I could read this book.

I was totally engaged and engrossed I almost didn't get any sleep trying to finish this book.  I knew I loved this book within the first chapter when Cath had me laughing out loud on a crowded bus.  Cath is witty, sarcastic, funny and the kind of woman I could totally be friends with, so I loved her as a character.   Plus she works with the arts, like knitting and the awesomeness of history and knitting, yeah I was all over that.

City, good gawd City, can I have one of him served up please??!!! What a guy, what a man. I just wow, He was everything awesome that scene with them after he blind date?? Especially when she said 'don't murder me" I was laughing and snorting so much on the bus, the guy next to me moved.  You could feel the chemistry from them, they were great from the first. Especially when you realized City liked her as much as she liked him

I really wanted them to get together, I just knew that the crap was going to hit the fan when he took her home.  I couldn't wait to read the fireworks between Cath & his mother, they were also awesome, especially when they went head to head, then Cath did what she does so well.  If I was Nev I would have kicked my siblings' a**, you not pulling this crap round here. Nope not going to happen sir..

It's a good engaging read. I had quite a few laughs at Cath's expense, I totally get that she doesn't want anymore mistakes, and Nev's answer to that just floored me.  I love them together, I really loved the ending, I personally loved that Cath had extensive tattoos and was such a buttoned up woman at work; & that Nev's job was so boring but he was such a passionate artist. Just goes to show you never know.

A definite must read, it was extremely fast and funny, & wasn't too outlandish like so many other romance scenarios now a days, which made it even more fun to read, because you could totally see this happening.

Have a fun time reading my loves.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Stolen

Book Title: Stolen
Author: Shiloh Walker

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Format: ebook

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 400

How I got it: NEtGalley

My Rating:★★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

Shay Morgan has stayed hidden for a long time. Living a reclusive life in Earth’s End, Alaska, she’s as far away as she can get from the trauma of her childhood and the man who hurt her long ago. But terror takes over Shay’s life yet again when an unknown stalker steals away the fragile peace she’s built for herself—targeting not only her but the one man who’s ever managed to get past the walls she’s built around herself. Elliot Winter has lived through being falsely accused before—it ruined his military career. Now it’s happening all over again. And this time, his accuser is a twisted impostor who’s targeting his ex-girlfriend, Shay. Despite a fierce mutual attraction, Shay and Elliot broke up because Shay couldn’t let her guard down, couldn’t let Elliot in. But now they both need to trust each other to confront a psycho who seems to know all their secrets.

My Review:

Coming in here had been a BFM. Big fucking mistake. She should have just waited in the car…“I miss you." Closing her eyes, she whispered, “Don’t.” His lips brushed across her brow. “Don’t want? Tell you that I miss you? Miss us?”
“Us?” She laughed hollowly as she turned to face him. “There is no us, remember? You said that. There’s me…and there’s you…and sometimes we’re together, but there’s no us.”
His gaze held hers. “I never wanted it to be that way. And maybe there was more of an us than I realized. Seeing you…” he paused, took a deep breath. “Seeing you just drives that home.”
Those intense, hypnotic eyes held hers. Her heart kicked up a few beats, stealing her breath away. As he started to dip his head, Shay stood there, frozen. Shit. What now…
His mouth, so warm, brushed against hers. She gasped and then almost wished she hadn’t as he used that opportunity to tease the inside of her lips with his tongue, moving deeper and deeper. His hands came around her waist, tugging her closer.
This is a bad idea…
The warning was already screaming in her head. She couldn’t give him what he needed. And he couldn’t accept what she had to give. They would just hurt each other again—

OMG.. this book is so good, so heart wrenching you become hooked from the get go. Just amazing. best description of the emotions you go through with plagiarism. 20% in and I'm going to say it's ...yep I picked out the killer from the beginning. See I just knew it!! That biotch is just cray cray.  This however highlights that you can't shove your head in the sand then be surprised when it all goes to shyt around you.


Shay's had a pretty awful life upon until this point, really bad things have happened to her. And in response she has hidden herself away, instead of facing it head on. This made her the perfect target, she never knew what hit her; this hiding away?? Yeah it clearly didn't work out either.  Shay need some serious therapy, lots and lots of it.  Her family is just so wrong, my heart just broke for her, while reading this, I'm devastated for her as everything was revealed.

I loved Elliot & I really liked Shay.  Shay was both strong & stupid I mean she makes some seriously dumb decisions just so she doesn't have to face reality (at least at first).  Most of what happened could have been prevented if she would listen to advice and gotten justice and closure instead of ...well  I'll let you read and see.

I'm happy for them but Shay's going to have her work cut out for her in this relationship; and so is poor Elliot.  I loved him, he was the perfect boyfriend, he was patient when she needed it, he gave her the room she needed and boy oh boy he let her have her way when she needed him to let her do so.  Reading from Elliot's point of view it made me wonder about how partners deal when their lovers are harmed and they can't do anything.  Especially when they meet and marry wo/men who have survived childhood abuse.  It made me heart sick for those whose partners are raped,  and they are left to pick up the pieces, left to deal when their partners flinch each time they come near, or look at them with terror if they do something unexpected. I have to admit i never really thought about the partners who are left with wounded lovers.

This book was excellent for highlighting that, the strain on the relationship  the daily terror that some victims live with.  How people shut down to cope. She kinda reminded me a bit of Eve from the In Death series, & gave me a better glimpse of what Roarke must go through with her.

Slight Cons:
We needed more from Elliot. He started off strong but then he kinda became just a shadow there to help her along but not really his own character, he seemed to only be there thinking about her feelings and what she needs from him, never what he needs (which is let's be real a human trait).

I also would have loved to get more from the other characters, more background on Angie & her 'bad-ass cop" & Lorna & her cop Mark.  We really didn't learn much they were just on the periphery of her life.  Integral but not at the same time.  The background information about each character was only enough to let us know how the interact with Shay.  We only know enough about Elliot to know he's a good guy,and I noticed there were hints to some damage done to Leslie as well but not much information  was given about her either.

Even without all that it was still a great book and one I can see reading again. Ohhh I really really loved that he was just an 'average' guy, not picture perfect six feet tall and ripped, he was a little over five feet ten, yeah that really caught my eye.  This is my first time reading this author and I have added all her books to my list. Yep it was that awesome.

It's a must read, have tissues handy book. Enjoy my loves!!

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: Three Musketeers: Midnight Heat

Book Title: The Three Musketeers # 3: Midnight Heat
Author: Donna Kauffman

Publisher: Loveswept: Random House
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 240

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Friendship is the most important thing in Dane Colbourne’s life—apart from his job as a determined investigator who never leaves a case unsolved. After the near-catastrophic midair collision of two planes, Dane focuses his laserlike intensity on the air traffic controller who appears to be responsible. But when she claims innocence with equal ferocity, Dane knows he may finally have met his match. Adria Burke has gone over the details of “the incident” in her head: She is certain there was a third plane in the air at the time of the collision, and that she actually saved hundreds of lives with her commands. But how can she convince Dane of the truth? As they try to ignore the fact that there is an undeniable spark between them, together Adria and Dane uncover evidence that there was something else going on in the sky the night of the incident. But will their passion leave both of them permanently grounded?

My Review:
Good story, this is the first book in the series that I read & I am looking forward to reading the rest. These men seem captivating.  This story in particular had well written characters, it's also apparently picking up where Born to Be Wild left off, which is great if you have read the other story (which I haven't done so yet).

Donna writes in a way that draws you in and allows you to fall in love with her characters.  they are so well written & rounded that you feel like you know them.  In this book she smoothly brings back the other characters without them taking over the book, but enhancing this story at the same time.  I enjoyed how Adria & Dane met, especially because they both had to hold back their natural inclinations: to be a smart ass in Adria's case and rampant curiosity & attraction in Dane's care. Right away you could tell they were going to be a fun couple to read & they didn't disappoint.

Adria's & Dane's love & passion for flying planes & being around planes provided them with great common ground & so did their past, both having had tough times with deep loss.  I loved that they were drawn to each other & decided to explore it.  Despite everything going on around them they still made the decision to be together.

Adria has a few issues she needed to deal with and when it seems like Dane has gone against everything she thought they had, she decided to take matters in her own hands.  That final confrontation between then was both sad and endearing because here were two people trying to decide if they were in it together or if they should stand behind their pride.

Poor Adria, her whole career in the balance, being threatened, a co-worker who allowed her to take the rap for him, considering their job, she actually was being foolish there, but I get helping out your friends. The only thing good out of this situation had to be meeting Dane, and the family he brought along with him.


This is perhaps out of the two I read that is most dated, they talked of beepers, and payphones, while talking about cellphones, but I get it, some places still have payphones (not DC where they are but some still do)

A very good, quick read, I highly recommend this one as well as the rest of the series.

Happy Reading my loves

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark

Book Title: The Three Musketeers # 1: Surrender the Dark
Author: Donna Kauffman

Publisher: Loveswept Harlequin
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 240

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: 
Synopsis:

They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Jarrett McCullough values those bonds as seriously as he values his job heading a covert group of operatives skilled in handling sensitive international information. But his current mission has suddenly gone very wrong—and he finds himself wounded and near death in the last place he ever expected to be. Rae Gannon is stunned to find her ex-boss bleeding from a gunshot wound, mere paces from her front door. It has been two years since her move to the remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where she tried to erase the memories and the pain she suffered from having been part of McCullough’s team. Yet as Rae tends to Jarrett’s battered body she realizes that the air between them is still sizzling with a slow-burning need. But this time there are more than just hearts at stake. The mission that almost got Jarrett killed threatens to put Rae back in harm’s way. And if they surrender to their desires, it may cost them their lives.

My Review:
It's a re-issue that has been updated for the times, this is the first time I am reading it however.  I read this book after the third in the series, so I got a glimpse of the characters before reading their story. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's emotional, the characters are well rounded and written in a way that makes them easy to love.  Of the three men who grew up together Jarrett is the one who goes into military intelligence, it's a job that suits him, it gives him something to look forward to and is a way for him to honor his father, his inspiration & hero.

It's a beautifully written story about the healing power of love, of knowing that there is one person in the world to whom you matter and who matter to you.  Rae got out of her job away from those she considered a family two years ago, when all that was important to her was tainted.  Lost, confused & broken, she retreats to the seclusion & safety of the mountains.  Using crafting as a healing therapy  she slowly comes to create her own haven & finds peace.

Then a little pup comes knocking at the door & with it her old world comes crashing back in.  She does what she has to do to protect the wman who trained her with the goal of kicking him out the second he's conscious  but it all changes and slowly they both learn to open up to their emotions and to each other.  It doesn't take long before the walls begin to crumble and in their place stand two lonely and world weary people who are battered by their fight for justice and the battles that has chosen them.

It's a beautifully written story that bring you in, this glimpse of Jarrett & rae was both heartbreaking & endearing, they both desperately wanted to belong to someone but feared sharing their world with anyone, because who else would understand what they need from each other?  I liked that the characters are well written, well rounded & fully vibrant. They clicked well, which made their sparing moments awesome & when they stripped themselves raw you just felt the emotion.

I loved it.   The emotions felt so real and were strongly described, the sense of growth, of love of belonging, just amazing. I especially loved that they were strong separate but choosing each other made them even stronger; which then of course made their intimate moments beautiful.

Because it's a re-issue some of the 'age' shows especially in the comment about women and equality and fighting in the front. Sadly even though this was written many years ago it's still applicable to now. It's an amazingly fast read as well, so make sure to go get it!!!

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: A Scandal, A Secret, a Baby

Book Title: A Scandal, A Secret, a Baby
Author: Sharon Kendrick

Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Format: ebook

Cost: $3.82

Pages: 384

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★ 1/2
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

One sinful night…Dante D'Arezzo is the last person famous songwriter Justina Perry wants to see at her best friend's wedding. The wickedly sexy Italian is ruthless to the core. He broke her heart once; she won't surrender to his insatiable desire again. But what Dante wants… One very big scandal! Justina's pregnancy hits the front page and Dante knows he's the father. He'll make her pay for trying to keep his child from him. His Miss Independent is about to become completely dependent…on him! This Italian will claim his heir and—if he wants her—a wife! Plus a Sharon Kendrick reader-favorite: Marriage Scandal, Showbiz Baby!

My Review:
I'm a huge murder`mystery  paranormal & erotic romance lover. I love reading book that get your adrenaline kicking, heart racing, and your mind engaged, but every once in a while i need to gear down and read something simple, for that I read simple romance like these, they are little bites that aren't too deep, too drastic or too overwhelming   It's like sniffing coffee beans after smelling lots of perfumes, it just cleanses the palate.

I liked this book, it's simple and it's actually two books in one.  I believe the male characters are related they both have the same last name anyway, but there was no real mention in the second book of relatives.  so I can't be sure.  Each book is about famous people and the rigors of that fame.  Personally it did kind of make me feel sorry for those in the spotlight but then I thought about it, you choose that life. The first story really pulled me in because these were two headstrong people who just didn't know the meaning of the word "compromise".  The situation that they found themselves in could have been prevented if they talked about it, but you know hindsight being what it is, they never realized how much they had until it was gone.  Dante' believed women should have their lives then marry and then their lives become their husbands and their children, Justina is a woman who grew up with a broken mother who found herself through the men she snagged from their wives, so Justina swung the other way trying not to be like that AT ALL.  Control became her savior and her success kept her together.  I get why she was like that, I understand her fear, but I just don't understand Dante' hard line, like did you not grow up in the 21st century?? I get it your old school but umm my man, no, just no.

As for the second book??? Once a cheater always a cheater, I don't care how or why you cheated. You made the  decision to step out on your partner, that makes you the bad guy.  As for Jennifer, she wanted to prove that she wasn't just there because of her husband's fame, and she then took her great relationship and threw it away. Just because other women are idiots and disrespect your marriage doesn't mean you have to blame your partner, he choose you, and he's here with you, so what if the waitress is giving him the eye balls?? Stop being an idiot.

I love these books because they are small and quick to read, but because they also remind of what the heck not to do. Both of these women had me rolling my eyes at their stupidity  then sympathizing because let's be real, how many of us have done the same thing?? *raises hand*  I'm not sure if I like Matteo, he was a bit of an ass, but i did like Dante' because he really strives to change when he realized he lost the woman he loved because he was archaic in his views, Matteo?? he cheated I'm not sure I can forgive that.  Although his panic at the end?? Yeah I totally liked him a little better since he wasn't so damn sure of himself.

I do however give mean O_o to the mothers of both the women in the story, lets just say broken women raise broken children. Get your stuff together and stop passing that crap on. Grrr also one to Dante's mother too but for being such a know it all.

So there you have it, I liked the book, it's a check it out when you have a chance, and if you love little romance books that are quick reads; then this is perfect.

Happy Reading

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

ARC Book Review: Lana's Lawman

Book Title: Lana's Lawman
Author: Karen Leabo

Publisher: Random House/ Loveswept Classic Romance
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 320

How I got it: NetGalley

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: 
Synopsis:

Though it’s been years since Sloan Bennett has seen Lana Gaston, time melts instantly when he comes to her rescue during a Texas thunderstorm. Lana was everything a teenage bad boy couldn’t have . . . but she felt like his for three magical weeks. Then she broke his heart—and Sloan walked away from Destiny, Texas. But now he’s back, wearing a badge, and wondering if fate has decided to give him another chance. A struggling single mom, Lana can’t help looking back at all the wrong choices she made. With Sloan so close again, she’s filled with old regrets and deep new longing. Could the silly souvenir of a policeman’s badge, given to her by a fortune-teller, have more meaning than she ever dared to dream? Once, Lana didn’t have the courage to tell Sloan how much she cared. So she hurt him instead. But as his sensual lips dare to kiss away yesterday’s pain, she’ll risk her heart to let him know that this time, she’s his forever.

My Review:

Ohhh boy, bad boys who become good boys & ride motorcycles, & wear uniforms. Who wouldn't love that?? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it in like one day. The beginning of the story was so engaging I started adding the other books even before I started reading the rest of the book, I just knew it would be good!!

I was hooked from the prologue and the book didn't disappoint at all. I loved catching up with Lana & learning her story; a pretty good catch~up on what happens to the high school's most popular student, & it doesn't always have a happy ending.

Much like Lana I thought she was the one who delayed getting married, but nope she was the second of the three in the prophesy.  She was actually pretty good as a character, she was strong but very vulnerable, floundering in knowing who she was after a relationship that was devastating.  Finding herself means giving up all she was known and comfortable with, & going all in with everything she has to make a better life for herself and her son.

In walks her old love, her first love, the bad boy, Sloane who became a cop & man oh man do the sparks fly. I loved that their love wasn't perfect as soon as they met, they had to work at it. Lana was a woman who had a hard first marriage & isn't trying to make the same mistake. She fights hard not to dive in and give up her freedom, or her independence, but wants a relationship, she has to learn how to balance being able to lean on someone and just giving up completely to someone.  She lacked confidence in herself & her decisions & saw anyone's help as a threat to her independence (even when it wasn't)

Sloane was an amazing character, he is more comfortable relating to people as a cop than as a man, because he has never known what it is to have someone love him down to his bones. He's had a pretty tough life until a good man took an interest and gave him something to strive for.   Even though he had done everything he wanted coming home to Destiny & finding Lana there brought him back to those teenager years after she broke up with him.  He had his doubts as well but still he made the decision to go full throttle especially with Lana's son Rob.  Sloane was an amazing role model in that situation  I felt so deeply for him when his incident happened.  I'm glad it brought them together

I enjoyed the story, even though there was a moment after Rob got into trouble that I wanted to slap Lana for her reaction; eventually she got her head on straight but still it took an eight year for her to see it;  out of the mouths of babes is all I can say.  I loved Sloane as a character & Lana was pretty good as well.  the ex husband wasn't fleshed out, but then he was only a background character anyway.  I wanted more about her friends and I can't wait to read Millicent's story especially ( I mean have you seen that cover??) 

Enjoy the read my loves

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Book Review: Million Dollar Mistake

Book Title: Million Dollar Mistake (Million Dollar Men #1)
Author: Meg Lacey

Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Format: ebook

Cost: $3.44

Pages: 229

How I got it: Pump Up Blog Tours

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: N/A
Synopsis:

Taking care of business may cost him his heart. Million Dollar Men, Book 1 In addition to overseeing the financial affairs of the wealthy Kristoff family, Nicholas Demetrious specializes in hauling its rambunctious members out of trouble. Especially his distant cousin, Raven Rutledge. The tabloids love her bad-girl antics, sexy pout, and body made for sin. Nicholas would love to spank the bejesus out of her, but this time the situation is too serious to entertain such a fantasy. A lucrative business deal with the Exeters is in jeopardy, and Jackson Exeter Sr.’s ultimatum is clear: Remove this man-eater from my country house, or the deal is off. Raven is in way over her head. She accepted the invitation to the Exeters’ Adirondack house party as a refreshing change from her jet-setting lifestyle—until she learns the guest list includes his entire family. His ex-girlfriend. And the junior Exeter’s intention to propose. If ever she needed suave, sophisticated Nicholas’s persuasive powers, it’s now. Then he’s there with a plan to get her out of this tangle: sweep her off her feet. But their pretend passion turns all too real. And what started out as a weekend of fun threatens to shatter into betrayal and heartbreak. **Product Warnings** Contains a tabloid sweetheart who loves to be bad, a sexy hero with little patience for mind games, and a game of strip pool that will make you rethink your weekend plans

My Review:
I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the two main characters, Raven & Nicholas.  Raven is your typical woman having fun with her life, she has no husband & no children so nothing to tether her to earth, she seeks attention by making the biggest splashes she can and her distant cousin Nicholas always comes to haul her out of it.  This time she is in way over her head and doesn't even know it yet. Asked by her father to entertain Jackson, she goes on what she thought was a fun sku trip which turned out to be a family weekend which ends up being snowed in due to a huge storm.  Luckily for her Nicholas is here to haul her out of there to save a massive business deal he had been working on.

raven is at first a ditz, she doesn't seem to have a good grasp on anything, but as the novel progressed you learnt why she was the way she was, she is the younger child who wasn't ever good enough for her mother & she was also the pudgy one; who everyone was forced to bring along on events & parties.  As  she grew up & lost weight, she transformed into the gorgeous swan instead from the ugly duckling and it went ot her head like strong wine.  Hence all the tabloid fodder.  I loved that she was looking for a way out when Nicholas came in and that moment between them at the door, had me cracking up.

The secondary characters were also well written in the story, even if they were a bit cliched. Personally I thought Loraine was a bit naive & gullible  I certainly wouldn't have waited around that long without letting him know I existed and if a man treated me the way Jackson treated her?? Yeah I would gotten over him a long time ago. Jackson was as Loraine put it acting like a child, he stubbornly refused to accept that Raven wasn't interested in marrying him or even was looking at him that way.  He really had his head up his read parts if you asked me, I get it he didn't want to do what his father wanted but instead of saying that to his father he rather act like a child.

The Grandmother was awesome, because she saw everything and knew what was going on and set about playing matchmaker, her interference helped move the story along quite nicely. I particularly loved when Jackson finally friggin came to his senses, it was of course like a typical idiot in a moment when he almost lost Loraine. Nicholas was also a little slow, he came to his conclusion around the same time as raven, but he still wanted to do his duty, he had the perfect moment to tell Raven the truth in the barn but chickened out and it lead to the best/worst moments of his life.

I enjoyed that Nicholas has a little gypsy in him and that made for a fun addition to the story. I loved Raven's boldness and her slightly crazy style of doing things, she's certainly going to be keeping Nicholas on his toes for a long time.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Erotica Book Review: With This Collar

Book Title: With this Collar Mastered Book 1
Author: Sierra Cartwright

Publisher: Ebound
Format: ebook

Cost: $5.18

Pages: 167

How I got it: Author

My Rating:★★★★☆
Erotica Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:

Book one in the Mastered Series Julia Lyle will have nothing to do with domineering men, no matter how tall, dark, and sexy. But Dom Marcus Cavendish will be satisfied with nothing less than collaring the fiercely independent Julia. Nothing could have shocked her more… Julia Lyle is invited to her best friend’s wedding and is stunned when Lana kneels to accept her husband’s collar. When Julia starts to object, firm, relentless hands land on her shoulders. The man behind her threatens to turn her over his knee if she interrupts. She’s outraged, but there’s no doubt he’s serious. After the ceremony, he offers her a glimpse into her friend’s lifestyle, if she’s brave enough to accept. Master Marcus Cavendish is everything she doesn’t want in a man—dominant, self-assured and arrogant. So why can’t she resist him? Telling herself that learning about the lifestyle will make her a better friend, Julia agrees to submit to Master Marcus, but only for the evening. Firm and unrelenting in his handling of her, he introduces her to his tawse and the pleasure/pain of a spanking delivered by a competent Dom. The experience unnerves her, making her question everything she thought she knew about relationships, and his forced orgasms leave her shattered. No doubt the scene seduced her, and that makes her doubly determined to avoid him. She has fought hard for her freedom and vowed only to date nice men, and Master Marcus is anything but safe. Marcus is undeterred. Julia is a natural sub. The way she responded to his touch, his voice, his punishment proved it. Now he has to convince her to yield to him, submitting to his tawse as she kneels to accept his collar.

My Review:
Holy Hotness Batman!! I remember reading Sierra's Dangerzone from the Hawkeye Series. ( I constantly re-read it, because woozer that Dom is hot!!) It's a good, well written story &amp it flows well, the characters were realistic and very good together.  So when she mentioned that she had gotten her author's copies in of her newest book, I was all over it.  My only other information about the story was "do you like hardcore BDSM"??  Do I ??!! Hell Yeah!! O_o  I do  have to say was good Goddess it is HOT!!

I'm glad I had no preconceived notions about the book, but then the book would have kicked them to the curb anyway.  It's only a little less than 200 pages. It took me 3 days because life just kept intervening.  Sierra managed to do an introductory BDSM while showing the possibilities of sub life, she captured just how (boring) & necessary all the talking can be while still making it erotic not an easy task but one that is done rather well if you ask me.  Master Marcus did well in showing Julia the different types of types of relationships that were there & allowed her to set the pace while still being the Dom.

That first scene at the wedding was both touching & hilarious because of Julia's reaction. Her inner monologue sounded a lot like mine, which is probably why I like her so much.  I liked that she was willing to take a chance & learn something new.The scenes between Julia & her Dom were good, I mean really good ( and realistic). My favorite part has to be her learning to put the Dom's feelings first, even her reactions to it were very real & right on point for the character's previous behavior 

I loved that Master Marcus made the dungeon specifically for Julia & that even though he's had a bad relationship he was still willing to move forward when he realized that Julia was it for him.  I loved that Lara was so real with Julia and made her see the truth without being a know it all.  That final scene when she slipped in " as many over the knees as you desire" had me cracking up, still hanging on to her independence even while submitting.

I do know I would love to read Lana's story & I can't wait to read Master Damien's story & of course Gideon's as well.   Those stories should be ...well let's just say 'fun' is too tame a word.  I can't quite convey how good the story is. You'll have to read it don't just take my word for it.

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***FTC Rules require I state that I received this as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**** 

Erotica Book Review: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Book Title: good Cop, Bad Cop
Author: Lily Harlem

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Format: ebook

Cost: $3.99

Pages: 237

How I got it: Kindle Freebie via Author

My Rating:★★★☆☆
Erotica Rating:★★★★☆ 
Synopsis:

Fame and fortune is a blessing that, for me, has changed its taste from sumptuously sweet to murderously bitter. Leaving me no choice but to look over my shoulder at every turn and question the scruples of even my most faithful friends. I would give up all the glowing adoration from my fans in a heartbeat in exchange for not running for my life. But fate doesn’t deal cards that way, and instead I find myself far out at sea and being bounced between two hot cops—one so chilly just his glance gives me frostbite, and the other showing a kindness that barely covers his own demons. So with nowhere else to turn, quite literally, I have to trust two men I hardly know with my life and cope without the luxuries my status usually affords me. But it’s not long before I discover when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Turns out these cops are not only the wrong guys to mess with, they also have partnership skills above and beyond the requirements of their day job. And for once, while just being me without the frills, I get to discover that they are as sinfully bad as they are dreamily good in every department, and it seems, I am the one they want cuffed and controlled at the same time as they are protecting and serving.

My Review:
An erotic quick read.  This book has some seriously erotic scenes & then some random 'action' scenes. India Moore is a country & western singer who has been receiving a few pieces of hate mail, recently they have increased in number & their threats have gotten worse. As time passes she become increasingly agitated & paranoid, so much so that when she is at dinner with friends she thinks she is being followed and jumps out the bathroom window.  While running from a stalker India climbs on to a random boat & luckily for her it belonged to two cops Jose & Dillon.  Jose is starstruck when his favorite country & western musician India is found on his boat, he is willing to do whatever necessary to keep her safe.  His friend Dillion however isn't fond of celebrities because the ones he had to work with were too high maintenance for his taste; which made him a bit harsh with India when he discovered who she was. Jose & Dillion decide to help her even though Dillion isn't on board at first.

Dillion at the start was a little bit of a jerk because she was a case when he needed some serious down time. Then when he's faced with giving her up he decides that he rather take care of her himself.

It was good, the erotica took over the story (you will hear no complaints from me that's what I'm here for).  The stalker angle was good it helped move the story ahead; giving the heroes a chance to be 'heroes'  I particularly loved the Dominant in the situation & then I'm left wondering if there is going to be another story, based on how it ended. That shower scene?? Yeah all kinds of hotness.

Cons:
Although the stalker angle allowed them to meet, when it kept cropping up during the story it broke the continuity.  I get it, you want to indulge in each other but with your life on the line & you have no idea who the criminal is, why not call for help??  Why not return to land where you can get some back up & take on the case more seriously? Then there is trusting this random stranger to tell them where to go??  How do you know it wasn't a set-up with more than one assailant??

The random guy we tracked them down?? India not listening & putting them all in danger?? It just didn't go with the story.  I think it should have just stayed an erotica, with the action kinda taking place in the background or off stage. Putting it in didn't really spice up the story; especially because the end seemed rushed to just hurry up and get him out of the way.  While I really liked the erotica/love affair, I could have done without the 'action'.

It's a good romp & a quick read. Enjoy!!

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