Showing posts with label Adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adult. Show all posts
{Review} TWO OF HEARTS by Christina Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Christina Lee,
Contemporary Romance
·
Title: Two Of Hearts
Author: Christina Lee
Published: 5th May 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5
BLURB:
From the author of the Between Breaths novels comes a gripping romance about finding yourself while taking a second chance at your first love…
Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional —not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.
Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.
Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.
A culturally diverse & passionate romance mixed with plenty of suspense and intrigue!
REVIEW:
The story:
After just loosing her father, the last thing Dakota and her family need is pressure from their Native American community to sell their family casino. Dakota belives she can do her father proud and carry on his work at the casino and within the community, but as the pressure mounts, threats against her and their family highlight just how dangerous the situation is getting.
But Dakota has an unexpected person in her corner. Ex boyfriend and US Marshal, Shane, is back in town will stop at nothing to protect Dakota. But as he starts to investigate her father's death, he starts to realise just how much he cares for her and questions what he wants for the future. The question is can they overcome their past difference and the escalating danger to make their relationship work?
The characters:
Dakota is a very serious character. She wants to continue the success and their family casino and is dedicated to being the best she can. She very proud of her Native American heritage, which was fantastic to see. And I loved seeing her vibrant personality come to life around her friends & in particular with Shane.
I loved Shane so much. He's such a strong alpha male type guy on the surface, but he was never dominating with Dakata. While he wants to protect her, he always sees her as an equal - something I love to see!! He's also very respective of the Dakotas heritage and has he's own place in their community - which added a really interesting element to the story.
Also so exciting to see lots of Dakota's brother & best friend, Kai & Rachel (from Christina's previous book Whisper To Me)!! Kai & Rachel actually have their own mini side story that was extremely emotionally and had a real effect on me.
The romance:
I love second chance romances, and it was so obvious to everyone around them that these two were made for each other. The chemistry was perfect and they just seemed so natural together. Lots of misunderstandings and confusions between them make for a complicated reunion - they needed to learn how to talk to each other! But it all felt worth it in the end!
The writing:
I love that Christina knows how to balance a romantic storyline between sexy and sweet. This is an adult novel (not New Adult) and as a result the characters are a little more mature and this is evident in the dialogue between all characters. It was also exciting to see the Native American elements throughout the story. I found the cultural storyline fascinating and it's just so refreshing to see some diversity!
FINAL WORD:
A culturally diverse & passionate romance mixed with plenty of suspense and intrigue!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / several sex scenes
Violence: medium / minor assault
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} CHANGING HIS GAME by Megan Erickson
Labels:
5 Stars,
Adult,
Book Review,
Brazen,
Chick Lit,
Contemporary Romance,
Megan Erickson,
Nerds
·
Title: Changing His Game
Series: Gamers #1
Author: Megan Erickson
Published: 28th April 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided from publisher for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
He controls the game, but she’s rewriting all the rules…
Marley Lake is no stranger to awkwardness, but getting caught watching a dirty GIF by the company’s hot new IT guy exceeds even her standards. That is, until she realizes he's as turned on by it as she is. But with a big promotion on the line, she refuses to let her current dry spell be her downfall. Maybe.
Austin Rivers has no business lusting after the irresistible editor of Gamers Magazine. He's a secret partner in the business—and technically Marley’s boss. One look at that GIF, though, and he’s ready to install a whole lot more than just software…as long as she never finds out who he really is.
But reality’s not as virtual as it seems, and when Austin’s identity jeopardizes Marley’s promotion, he has to change his game or risk losing the only woman with the cheat code to his heart.
A dirty talking nerd, strong intelligent heroine, and steamy geek lovin'!!
REVIEW:
The story:
Marley, an editor for a video game magazine, is hard at work when her computer freezes. When IT guy, Austin Rivers comes to help her out, possibly the most embarrassing thing happens, he sees the erotic GIF on her computer that she'd been looking at earlier. But instead of laughing or shaming her for it, it turns out Austin is just as turned on by it as she is.
Marley doesn't want to risk her job, or her chances of a new promotion, but the attraction between her and Austin is like nothing she's ever felt before. Austin dirty talks his way into Marley's life and before she knows it, she's starting to fall for him. But Austin is hiding a secret, one that could risk everything Marley has worked so hard for. Can these two sexy nerds overcome his secrets?
The characters:
Marley is a strong, intelligent women. She's driven and determined to be successful in her job, which she loves. She's also a nerd, one who loves gaming and cosplay. Yes Marley may be the most awesome heroine ever! But behind closed doors she likes a man who can take charge, and it's not until she meets Austin that she'd trusted a man with her fantasies.
I'm going to admit it right here right now…nerds are my absolute weakness and Austin Rivers is oh so nerdalicous. He might be a socially awkward nerd, but that doesn't mean he's not sexy…oh no, Austin is one of the sexiest dirty talkers ever. Some of things he said made me spontaneously combust on the spot! Austin is a nerd who likes to take control…he's an Alpha Nerd!!
The romance:
While Marley & Austin both have a lot in common, like their love of video games, I loved that they were still very different characters. She's a lot more outgoing, while Austin is quite reserved and shy. Marley brought out he's fun side, making him smile and laugh, both things he hasn't done in a while. These two also heat things up in the bedroom…or cinema lobby, or supply room…oh yeah, these two have some very sexy little adventures! The best part about their romance is that fact that it's not all sexy, the actually chemistry between them is perfect and makes it all so much hotter!
The writing:
I am a huge Megan fangirl and when I discovered she was writing a Brazen novel I couldn't have been more excited! This book has all the charm and wit as her previous novels, but with that wicked dirtiness we all love from a Brazen book! I love how Megan incorporated both character's nerdiness into their love scenes, like the one while playing a video game, phew that was hot! Oh and a cosplay love scene may be one of the most amazing things to happen in the history of ever!!!!
FINAL WORD:
A dirty talking nerd, strong intelligent heroine, and steamy geek lovin'…CHANGING HIS GAME is the perfect, intelligent, steamy romance novel!!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} Shaken, Not Stirred by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Title: Shaken, Not Stirred
Series: Last Call #5
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 17th Mar 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Casey Markham is a man-eater in a rut. Swearing off relationships may keep her heart safe, but she's beginning to question if her casual flings will ever leave her satisfied. She's wondering if it's finally time to let go of the past and stop letting history control her future.
Bad boy biker, Tenn Jennings can't get Casey off his mind. A chance encounter with the beautiful blond has left its mark, and now he's determined to prove her wrong about everything she thought she knew about men.
It’s safe to say… Casey Markham has met her match.
Hero is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - enough said
REVIEW:
The story:
We've all read the story of the MC who is against love & commitment, but I just love that this time it's about a woman. Casey is all about having carefree fun and has her rules about not getting too close to any man. But all that starts to change when she meets, Tenn. He's a ex marine, bikie who grew up on his family's ranch, and the perfect guy to shake up Casey's world.
Casey's past pain goes much deeper than being dumped or cheated on. It's more about being made to feel worthless and underserving of true love. Never wanted to feel cheap again she's locked her heart away and jumps from one casual meaningless fling to the next. At the first sign of commitment she runs. But Tenn is having none of that. He challenges her in all aspects of her life and for the first time she's starting to believe that maybe she could have more. However Tenn is hiding things about himself, fearing it will scare her away, but when she finds out, will their new relationship be strong enough to convince Casey not to keep running?
The characters:
On the surface Casey is a just a wild fun loving girl, and her aversion to relationships is simply her not wanting to be tied down. But as we get to know her better we see that she's been hurt before and isn't willing to risk her heart again. On some level she also doesn't believe she's good enough for true love and will always be a man's fling. But I really enjoyed watching Tenn show her that she deserves better and that he can be the one to give her that.
Tenn is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - what a lethal combination. Or as Casey says: "You like have all the hot guy tropes covered." Despite his initial description making him sounds like a typical bad boy hero, he's actual extremely sincere and a really sweet guy. He has a 14 year old daughter from an ex wife and absolutely adores her. He's not at all a cliche character and has a really unique personality, and sometimes almost came across as shy. I really loved this guy!
The romance:
After being hurt in the past Casey has a very negative outlook on love. Despite her being upfront from the beginning that she's not interested in a relationship, Tenn knows there is something special between them and is determined to capture Casey's jaded heart. The chemistry is off the charts and slowly Tenn manages to break down her walls and show her that love and respect is something she deserves.
The writing:
I love how Sawyer's books are always new and exciting, and it never feels like your reading the same story with slightly different leads. She also continues to find new and interesting ways of writing love scenes. No one can possibly accuse her of being repetitive or boring. Two words: Horseback ride… *slow claps*
FINAL WORD:
Hero is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - enough said
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / descriptive sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild / several scenes set in bar
{ARC Review} The Only Way by Magan Vernon
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Magan Vernon
·
Series: Only #4
Author: Magan Vernon
Published: 18th March 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads | Amazon
BLURB:
William "Tripp" Chapman has always been the black sheep of his family's political dynasty. His oldest brother works on Wall Street, his youngest-groomed for the senate. And Tripp is the brother known for wrecking his Porsche after a drinking bender and winding up in rehab.
On the night of his father's presidential election he takes a detour and meets a waitress at a local hole-in-the wall. Samantha "Sam" Green is just as broken as he is, but covers it up with enough snark so no one tries to get too close.
When Sam gets kicked out of her apartment, Tripp agrees that she can crash on his couch until she gets on her feet. But as they grow closer physically, the ghosts of their past threaten to burden their new relationship
The Only Way they can overcome their demons is to face them instead of running. Can Sam help Tripp find his way or will their own battles bury them further?
The Only series is a series of standalone novels. You do not need to read one in order to fully understand the other. M/F. HEA
The Only way is a beautifully raw and gritty story on the dark world of addiction and mental illness, and provides the reader with a sense of hope.
REVIEW:
The story:
Tripp has hit rock bottom, after checking out of rehab for drug addiction and depression he's trying to rebuild he's life. But being the black sheep in his family and feeling shame for dragging his family's political name through the mud, recovery is anything but easy. And meeting a feisty waitress by the name of Sam certainly wasn't in his plans, but he can't deny his attraction to the sexy red head. After helping her out of sticky situation and offering her refuge on his couch until she can find a new apartment, the two develop a close friendship. However they are both reluctant to pursue anything romantic and destroy the first real friendship they've ever had. But how long can they deny their true feelings?
The characters:
Tripp may be the black sheep of the family, but he still has a heart of gold. He wants to change his life and be able to help others who a dealing with similar issues. But he does have a self sabotaging personality. As soon as something positive happens, he has a tendency to destroy it. He grows a lot and still has a lot more work to do, but he definitely works hard to become a better man.
Sam comes across as a tough, confident character who just gets on with life. But underneath that tough exterior is a girl who's desperate to find her place in the world. She a has a dry and wicked sense of humour, which I just loved.
The romance:
I really loved the the romance between Sam & Tripp doesn't 'heal' Tripp's addiction. While Sam is supportive in his recovery they both realise this is something he needs to do for himself. It was also great to see them develop a friendship first, before anything romantic really happened, it made their chemistry much more believable.
The writing:
Mental illness and drug addiction are not easy topics to write about. Finding the balance between light and dark, while being realistic with the approach is tricky. I loved that Magan didn't make the journey easy on the both her characters or the reader. But at the same time, I was left feeling hopeful about Tripp's future, which as a reader is extremely important.
FINAL WORD:
The Only way is a beautifully raw and gritty story on the dark world of addiction and mental illness, and provides the reader with a sense of hope.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: strong / main subject has drug addiction
Other: main theme addresses mental illness and depression
{ARC Review} GARRETT by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
5 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #2
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 17th February 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Roamnce
Source: eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.
Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.
Garrett is an incredibly heartfelt story with emotional depth and one of the best epilogues I've ever read!
REVIEW:
The story:
Olivia has just discovered she is about to face one of the biggest challenges life can throw at you. She's dealing with a life threatening illness and romance is the last thing on her mind. But after meeting hockey star, Garrett, romance may not be that far away. Things start out casual, and Olivia is reluctant to share her life threatening issues with a man who's known for he's philandering ways. She also believes it's unfair to to start a relationship with him, knowing that her future is uncertain. But Garrett's not willing to let her go that easily, and for the first time he's acutely thinking about the future with one woman. But will Olivia's secret tear them apart or bring them closer together?
This story was extremely emotional and I found myself in tears several times. This wasn't a simple light hearted, fluffy romance. There is depth and heartache and yes some sexy times too.
The characters:
I loved Garrett from the very beginning, which I found strange since I'm not really a fan of 'the player' heroes. But Garrett's attitude to the women was what made the difference, he's respectful and just looking to have some fun. I also adored the way he treated Olivia, he was so kind and caring and protective a her. Simply put, Garrett is awesome.
Olivia is a creative and vibrant character, and despite facing an uncertain future she has such a positive attitude. She still had her fragile moment (as anyone in her situation would), but she didn't let it change her. She shows incredible strength and determination and was a really inspiring character.
The romance:
Their relationship might have begun as one fun night, but it was clear neither of them would be able to leave it at that. Garrett turns into such a sweetie and becomes very protective of Olivia. And while Olivia's cousin and his best friend Alex, warn him to stay away from her, I was so happy to see him defend his relationship. These two deal with a lot of ups and downs, but it's those challenges that made their connection so much stronger.
The writing:
Sawyer's writing is always very emotive, but this is her most powerful story yet. Illness is never an easy topic to write about, especially when trying to balance realism with that all important HEA, but I think Sawyer found the perfect mix. And absolute top marks for that EPIC epilogue, I can't even begin the describe how simply amazing it was. Possibly one of the best epilogues I've ever read - it was exactly the ending this book needed to give the reader closure.
FINAL WORD:
Garrett is an incredibly heartfelt story with emotional depth and one of the best epilogues I've ever read!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / several sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium - strong / frequent f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{Tour Review} WITH A TWIST by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Series: Last Call #4
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 6th Jan 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Wyatt Banks is ready to give one woman the world. Unfortunately, his job as a cop tends to interfere with other goals. When Wyatt is sent deep undercover to investigate a sex slave ring, he doesn’t have time to do anything but focus on staying alive in a dark and dangerous underworld.
Wyatt isn’t alone though in his quest to save the women that are being sold into sexual slavery.
His partner, FBI Agent Andrea Somerville, is immersed just as deeply as he is, and she’s the bait to lure the sex slavers out into the open, as she poses as an erotic dancer in an attempt to snare the enemy. But danger runs as high as the sparks between them, and now Wyatt is caught between the job he loves and the woman he wants.
A fast paced suspenseful romance filled with intrigue and raw passion!
REVIEW:
The story:
I must admit this story surprised me, as the first half is very different to the rest of this series. While the first three books are relatively light and breezy romances this one is much grittier and had some real bite to the story.
Local cop, Wyatt, has been sent undercover to infiltrate a sex slave ring, that is believed to be kidnapping dancers from their strip club and selling them to wealthy customers. FBI agent, Andrea joins the investigations, posing as a vulnerable stripper, ripe for kidnapping. As Wyatt and Andrea work together to set the trap and catch the criminals, their strictly professional relationship gets complicated when the sexual attraction between them grows. Crossing that line may not only risk the investigation, but also their lives. But how long can these two deny their connection…and more importantly can it survive away from the intense undercover operation?
The characters:
When Wyatt and Andrea first meet, he's a little gruff and standoffish, not hiding his uncertainty that Andrea may not be able to handle the job. But it soon becomes clear that he's rough exterior is no more than an undercover persona he's created. He's also very protective of Andrea, and tries to shield her from as much of the heinous actively going on in the nightclub. Wyatt is surprisingly sweet and unlike many male NA characters, he's actually looking to find love and settle down.
Andrea is a strong and passionate heroine. She's not afraid of hard work and shows sheer determination to catch the criminals she's investigating. I also loved that when it came down to it, Andrea showed she had the lady balls to take charge and make the first move. She's a very empowering character.
We also get to see the rest of the Last Call cast of characters is the second half of the book which was excellent! Sawyer's always fabulous at creating a family characters that you just wish you were a part of.
The romance:
The attraction between these two was obvious from the beginning. But working undercover in a strip club makes things difficult. Despite feeling attracted to Wyatt, Andrea is convinced Wyatt's interest is purely professional. But after being forced into a compromising (and oh so hot!) situation, they struggle to deny the attraction. The romance between these two is very seductive, but also has a few very sweet moments too.
The writing:
Sawyer has a real knack for creating unique and interesting stories and this one is no exception! The first half of the books was very fast paced with lost of suspense and intrigue, and as the story progresses, their is a nice balance of light romance that has been excellent throughout the whole series.
FINAL WORD:
With a Twist is a fast paced suspenseful romance filled with intrigue and raw passion! Looking forward to the next book in the series for Casey's story.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: strong / several descriptive sex scenes, references to sex slaves and assault
Violence: medium / kidnapping, gun violence and murder
Language: medium-strong / frequent f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / drug use
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
{ARC Review} SPEND THE NIGHT by Elizabeth Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Elizabeth Lee
·
Series: The Hotel Collection #1
Author: Elizabeth Lee
Published: 20th January 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads | Amazon
BLURB:
Spend the Night – Episode 1
Welcome to The Wellesley-Crawford...
Hannah Wellesley has spent her entire life running the halls of her family-owned hotel, the infamous and opulent Wellesley-Crawford. Noted as one of the city's richest, most luxurious hotels in Chicago, the WC is what Hannah has devoted her life and career to.
The hotel’s Annual Masquerade Gala is the event of the year, but this year Hannah’s evening involves more than just handing out masks. After a mysterious rendezvous in a secluded stairwell with an irresistible and unidentifiable man, Hannah becomes consumed with discovering the identity of her masked lover. Just as she’s about to give up the search, two men blow back into her life with drastically different intentions. They both have secrets and uncovering them will lead Hannah down a darkly dangerous path.
Drawn to both of the intriguing bachelors, she’ll have to determine which one is after her heart and which one plans to do her deadly harm before it’s too late.
Exciting beginning to a mystery romance serial!
REVIEW:
The story:
This is the first episode of a 3 part serial following hard working hotel heiress, Hannah Wellesley. On the brink of taking over the reins of the hotel Hannah has one night of crazy fun, hooking up with a mysterious masked man at The Annual Mask Gala. But months on and she's unable to forget that night of passion with the stranger she has never been able to find. Trying to move on she meets up with new chef, Carter who may or may not be her mysterious man. Also entering the scene is fellow heir to the Wellesly-Crawford Hotel, Trent Crawford. Both bring their own secrets and it's unclear what their real motivations might be.
The characters:
Hannah has always done the right thing. She's hard working, passionate and very good at her job. But she's yet to find that one man to give her heart to. That one night of reckless passion, has opened her eyes to something exciting and she's determined to feel that excitement again.
Trent Crawford appears to be the typical arrogant heir. He's cocky and is used to getting what he wants. He could sometimes come across as a bit of an ass, but I personally believe that's a bit of a cover, and we are yet to see the 'real' Trent - the one that 17 year old Hannah remembers.
Carter is a little mysterious, we don't really know that much about him yet, but he's kind and seems to really like Hannah.
The romance:
We have a bit of the makings of a love triangle here. Carter is new in Hannah's life and he brings something fresh and exciting. On the other hand, Hannah has known Trent all her life and they have 'history'. I have to admit I'm very much #TeamTrent!
The writing:
I really loved the writing format Elizabeth used with Hannah's POV telling the majority of the story and a few chapters told by 'Him', the mysterious man. We can assume that it's either Carter or Trent, and it's so exciting trying to pick the clues and guess who it is and whether or not they are the 'good' or 'bad' character!
FINAL WORD:
Exciting beginning to a mystery romance serial! Can't wait for episode #2…go #TeamTrent!!!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / descriptive sex scenes
Violence: none
Language: mild-medium / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} Alex by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Title: Alex
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #1
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 14th Oct 2014
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5
BLURB:
USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett scores big-time with the first novel in a sexy new series hot enough to melt the ice.
Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.
As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.
Alex kicks off what is sure to be an explosive new sporty romance saga!
REVIEW:
The story:
From the very beginning we are told that Alex Crossman is asshole, or MVP: Most Valuable Prick. But Alex is kidding himself if he thinks that's all there is to him. After being raised by an uncaring and abusive father, who pushed him to be 'perfect' at hockey, Alex has lost the passion for the sport he once loved. It's that lack of passion that makes him hate his life and take it out on the people around him, including his teammates and fans. But when he's team management force him to work on a drug awareness campaign with social worker Sutton Price, he starts to see the world with fresh eyes. Despite Alex not wanting a relationship, and Sutton not wanting to mix business with pleasure, their mutual attraction is undeniable. It's not long before their professional relationship starts to cross the line into something more, but the question is can Alex leave behind his childhood trauma and open up to a future with Sutton.
The characters:
Alex can be a bit of a douche, but for the most part he's actually a really decent guy. He's negative view of the world is challenged by Sutton and from then on we see the real man underneath the cold hearted exterior. He wants to be a man worthy of Sutton's love, and he most certainly accomplished that.
Sutton was a fabulous heroine, and I absolutely loved that she doesn't take any crap from Alex. She didn't have it easy growing up either, with a drug addicted father, but she didn't let it ruin her future, instead it inspired her. She's determined to make a difference in the lives of children affected by drugs. Her positive attitude was incredibly inspiring.
We also get to meet Alex's teammate, Garrett, a confidant, fun loving womaniser. He seems like a genuinely happy man, but I just know that there is so much more going on under the surface and I'm so glad he's book is next!
The romance:
These two are like the yin and yang of romance. The closed off attitude of Alex and the vibrant energy of Sutton complement each other perfectly and creates such a dynamic relationship. Sutton shows Alex how to enjoy life again, and he brings out a sultry seductive side that Sutton never knew she had. There were some seriously hot scenes and also a couple a sweet tender moments, creating a perfectly balanced romantic story.
The writing:
For me I don't think Sawyer can do no wrong. She writes incredible heroines, swoon worthy heroes and gives her characters powerful story lines to work through. The variety in love scenes is always impressive, never becoming repetitive or boring!
FINAL WORD:
Alex kicks off what is sure to be an explosive new sporty romance saga! I can't wait for Garrett, the next book in the Cold Fury Hockey series.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium-strong / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / mention of overdoes etc, drug use is a common theme throughout (but not overly detailed discussions)
{Review} Sugar On The Edge by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Title: Sugar On The Edge
Series: Last Call #3
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 28th July
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
He’s utterly alone…
Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.
She’s running in place and getting nowhere…
Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.
Two unlikely lovers…
He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.
Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?
*SUGAR ON THE EDGE can be read as a stand-alone*
A is collision of raw FILTH and SWEET romance!
REVIEW:
The story:
Best selling author, Gavin, has moved to the US from England to finish writing his next book. After a traumatic incident leaves him emotional scared he uses his writing and alcohol to numb the pain. That is until Savannah walks into his life. She's a breath of fresh air and makes him feel like he can breathe again after drowning in his past for so long.
Savannah & Gavin couldn't be more different. Sav is softly spoken, artistic and has a hidden inner strength she rarely shows. Gavin on the other hand, is raw and gritty and oh so wickedly dirty. But when he hires her to clean his new house, their worlds collide in hot and sexy fireball!
But despite knowing that he's attracted to Savannah he's not sure he's good enough for her. Can Gavin overcome he's past and open himself up to a future with Savannah, or will his demons rip them apart forever?
The characters:
Gavin Cooke is a dark and tormented man and is all kinds of filthy.
“Are you ready for my brand of filth?” - Gavin
He's lost in a pit of emotional turmoil and is struggling to deal with it all. But spending time with Savannah brings him back to life and we get to see him grow from angry and frustrated, into a sexy and kind man. He still makes plenty of mistake and sometimes I felt like shaking some sense into him, but he won me over in the end.
At first glance Savannah is a quiet, unassuming girl. Gavin describes her as the 'anti-heroine' when her first meets her, because he sees her as a bit of a push over and not strong enough to make her own story. But Savannah is anything but weak. She's made it through difficult times in her past, but she's toughed it out and is making a life for herself. I loved seeing her prove Gavin wrong and show him how much of a strong heroine she could be.
The romance:
The romance between Savannah is sort of backwards and messy, but just seems to work perfectly for these characters. They are so completely opposite to each other and challenge one another in every aspect of their lives.
But let me just say… my brand of filth compliments Savannah’s sweet very well. It’s a match made in heaven, I’m thinking.” - Gavin
The love scenes between these two were seriously HOT! There is also some light bondage etc, but not a lot. I would still classify this as a romance not erotica.
The writing:
Sawyer's romance novels are fabulous! The is always the perfect balance of sexiness, warmth and humour. The witty banter was excellent and strengthened the believability of the quick paced romance. I loved their nicknames for each other, Filth and Sweet <3 They never changed who they are, but instead they fit together like to puzzle pieces.
FINAL WORD:
Sugar On The Edge is collision of raw FILTH and SWEET romance! If you love opposites attract romances, don't miss this one!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several descriptive sex scenes, some minor bondage
Violence: mild
Language: strong / frequent f words etc
Drugs & alcohol: medium-strong / main character drank heavily in the past
GIVEAWAY:
GIVEAWAY:
Have you read any of Sawyer's books?
{Tour Review} Deep Surrendering by Chelsea M. Cameron
Labels:
3 Stars,
Adult,
Book Review,
Chelsea M. Cameron,
Contemporary Romance
·
Title: Deep Surrendering
Series: Deep Surrendering Episode #1
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron
Published: 20th Mar 2014
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 3.5/5
BLURB:
She's all about rules. He lives by none but his own. When these two meet, the results could be disastrous.
When Marisol Everly’s friend Rory sets her up with Fin Herald, Marisol doesn't expect that it will amount to anything, .but that was before she saw Fin's searing blue eyes and mischievous smile. Not to mention, he seems absolutely fascinated by her mundane life. He's everything that a girl could want, but there's something else that ripples under the surface of his flirty behavior. Something darker. Something that fascinates Marisol, but scares her at the same time. Is she willing to risk falling into an abyss she might not get out of?
A Cute Romantic Story With Quirky Secondary Characters
REVIEW:
The story:
Deep Surrendering is a spin off from the Sweet Surrendering series and will be written as part of a serial with short novellas released each month (roughly 12 novellas). We follow Marisol and Fin after their mutual friend, Rory sets them up. Their is an immediate spark of attraction between them, and after a fun night out Marisol would like to see where things could go. But Fin is very hot and cold, flirting with her one minute and brushing her off the next. The only clue to his erratic behaviour is Fin claiming he's all dark & twisty and not good for her.
The characters:
Marisol is the kindhearted good girl. She always takes the safe option and never takes any risks. That is until she meets Fin. She knows that he scares her a little bit, but she's also oddly drawn to him and his mysterious personality. And for the first time in her life, she's taking a risk.
Fin was a bit of a surprise character, especially already having met him in Sweet Surrendering. On the surface he's a confident and powerful business man, but we soon learnt that there are some dark and angry things lurking in his past that makes him a very intriguing man.
The romance:
The romance between Marisol & Fin started out quite normal - meeting through friend and going out for a fun and flirty first date. But when things start to get more intimate, that's when it gets interesting.This book is a lot hotter than her others, with some mild domination even making an appearance.
The writing:
After reading most of Chelsea's other books, I've come to know and love her writing style. However this book is her most steamy one yet! I think she may have been channelling her inner Fifty Shades of Grey!
FINAL WORD:
I've been excited to read Marisol & Fin's story, and although it wasn't quite what I was expecting I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I'm going to like the whole domination thing as I'm not really of fan of that sort of book, but am looking forward to learning more about Fin's past and will wait & see where the story leads!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: strong / sex scene - mild domination
Violence: none
Language:
Drugs & alcohol: mild
ARC Review: Incinerate by Tessa Teevan
Labels:
5 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Tessa Teevan
·
Series: Explosive #2
Author: Tessa Teevan
Published: 18th Feb 2014
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5
BLURB:
When Knox Wellington opens the door to Charlie Davenport, he's not expecting the fiery brunette with whiskey colored eyes and a feisty personality. Sparks fly immediately, even though their initial meeting is nothing but hostile. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the chip on Knox's shoulder threatens to destroy any hope of him wooing the sweet, southern volunteer sent to help with his rehabilitation.
Little does he know she's no Southern Belle, as she gives as good as she can take. As unexpected circumstances push them closer together, heads butt, patience is tested, and flames ignite as they dance around their mutual attraction, both of them jaded from broken pasts.
They've both been burned before, so when their feelings of lust, desire, and wanting are inflamed in the heat of the moment, will they finally be able to get over the pain of the past or will their relationship be reduced to ashes before it can ever really begin?
REVIEW:
The story:
After being injured in the military, Knox has to go through some major rehab to recover from his injuries. Used to being the a tough independent man, it's not easy for him to adjust to needing help with everyday tasks like getting dressed. Especially not when that help comes in the form of a feisty woman named Charlie! She's assigned to Knox by the volunteer agency, but the two of them don't get off on the best of starts. After a failed attempt and chatting him up in a bar the night before, Knox is the last person on earth she expected to see again. They clash heads, numerous times but attraction between them is undeniable.
While spending so much time together, they start to realise they have more in common than they thought; football, kick-boxing and a broken heart from an ex. Charlie caught her fiancé cheating on her and is left with an untrusting heart. While Knox was hurt by his girlfriend cheating with Knox's own brother, who are now married. And because of this Knox doesn't speak to his anyone in his family, apart from a younger brother Cohen. Knox doesn't want a relationship, afraid he'll only get hurt gain, but with sparks flying in every direction, it's only a matter of time before things EXPLODE!!
The characters:
Charlie is pretty much every guy's dream girl, she's a sexy, confident, drinks beer, and loves to watch football and kick-box with the boys. However after her fiancé cheated on her, she's not exactly the most trusting person. But she has a feisty kick ass personality and doesn't take crap from anyone, especially not from Knox! She speaks her mind and always stands up for herself - the perfect kind of heroine!
Knox is one sexy Rugged piece of eye candy, but he has a major chip on his shoulder when we first meet him. He resents having to have people help him with his injuries and is still bitter about his ex girlfriend cheating on him with his brother. But Charlie is the best thing to ever happen to him - not only does she teach him to love again, but her strong relationship with her father inspires him to reconnect with his own family after their falling out years earlier.
The romance:
Knox and Charlie are absolutely perfect for each other! As Jace so wonderfully put it, Knox needs a girl with balls of steel, and Charlie certainly fits that description!! They challenge each other in every way possible. They both have major trust issues after having been cheated on in the past, it makes them reluctant to start anything new. But the sexual tension between them was off the charts!! With two big personalities in one relationship there are lots of tifs and misunderstandings. But that just allowed for some yummy make up time...and oh my was it yummy *fans self*. They make each other better people and I loved that!
The Writing:
This book was a little different than Ignite, which dealt with the heavy topic of grief. Incinerate is a little sexier and also has more humour in it, which I really enjoyed! My favourite thing about Tessa's writing is her use of dialogue - her character's personalities shine through, and each character has a different voice - rather than them all blending together. I especially loved Charlie's dialogue, because it shows her feisty kick ass personality that I loved!
FINAL WORD:
Incinerate is fun and sexy little romance, with flirty verbal foreplay, a fiery heroine and a rugged hero to swoon over!! This is one awesome read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series, Inflame, that follows Kale & Lucy's story!!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes
Violence: very mild / passing references to war scenes (no descriptions)
Language: medium-strong / frequent f words, p*ssy etc
Drugs & alcohol: mild
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