This is a fun, smexy as hell, quick read where fans of the Powertools series as well as the Hot Rods series will get to catch up with***4 Stars***
This is a fun, smexy as hell, quick read where fans of the Powertools series as well as the Hot Rods series will get to catch up with their favorites and see what the future may hold for some of them. And for those who aren’t totally caught up with either series (me included...shhhh) or haven’t started on either...we’ll you’ll end wanting to figure out a way to rearrange your TBR list so you can dive into these books.
Since I am one of those that falls in the latter category I cannot comment on the evolution of the characters or their relationships, but I can say that I love what they have going on. Is it conventional? Nope, and that’s probably why I love it so much. The sex is HOT there is no doubt about that and that opening scene is EVERYTHING, but there is so much more going on. The commitment they have to each other and how they support each other is definitely an experience.
So if you’re looking for a quick, panty destroying read for the holidays then this one is a definite must read!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Merged review:
***4 Stars***
This is a fun, smexy as hell, quick read where fans of the Powertools series as well as the Hot Rods series will get to catch up with their favorites and see what the future may hold for some of them. And for those who aren’t totally caught up with either series (me included...shhhh) or haven’t started on either...we’ll you’ll end wanting to figure out a way to rearrange your TBR list so you can dive into these books.
Since I am one of those that falls in the latter category I cannot comment on the evolution of the characters or their relationships, but I can say that I love what they have going on. Is it conventional? Nope, and that’s probably why I love it so much. The sex is HOT there is no doubt about that and that opening scene is EVERYTHING, but there is so much more going on. The commitment they have to each other and how they support each other is definitely an experience.
So if you’re looking for a quick, panty destroying read for the holidays then this one is a definite must read!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~...more
Since the description is all kinds of ambiguous, to say I didn’t know what I was getting myself int***5 ‘We Bought Our Ticket In the Sun’ Stars***
Since the description is all kinds of ambiguous, to say I didn’t know what I was getting myself into with Sol is one of those statements that will have most doing the heavy sigh/duh thing, but it’s true because what I guessed at was only a very, very small portion of what really would happen throughout the story. It was an emotional rollercoaster of a ride about redemption, forgiveness, freedom and learning just what it means to love and to be loved by someone.
I adored Trent from the first moment of meeting him. He has a quiet strength and once he chooses a path he sticks with it, even if it means take a few unexpected detours along the way. He has a huge heart, which jumps off the page throughout the book, but what I loved the most about him was how genuine he was about his feelings, wants, needs and even doubts.
Dani, overall I really liked the woman. I loved her carefree, I’m not afraid of taking on the world personality. I’m not sure if I could do all that she had done, but I loved that she did. But on the flip side, while she was adventurous, it was also a shield that she used to keep people and experiences and truths out and that drove me a little batshit because it poked holes in her “I’m all about freedom” spiel.
Their journey is all kinds of bumpy and is one that you need to go into blind to experience. What I will say is that they were very well matched in every way. The chemistry between them was hot and I loved how they not only balanced each other out, but helped the other grown and become stronger because they truly saw each other for who they were and loved unconditionally.
While this isn’t my first time reading a book by Leslie McAdam, it is the first where she is the only author and I really enjoyed the experience. The writing was engaging and flowed well. The pacing of the story was good and I enjoyed the dual 1st person POV. And while I enjoyed being apart of Trent and Dani’s evolution, I have to admit that where their story takes place played a large part in my love of it. Having spent time there many moons ago and having the time of my young life, it was fun to revisit it and I thought Ms. McAdam did a wonderful job at bringing the sights, smells and feel of it to vibrant life.
~ Copy provided via L Woods PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Merged review:
***5 ‘We Bought Our Ticket In the Sun’ Stars***
Since the description is all kinds of ambiguous, to say I didn’t know what I was getting myself into with Sol is one of those statements that will have most doing the heavy sigh/duh thing, but it’s true because what I guessed at was only a very, very small portion of what really would happen throughout the story. It was an emotional rollercoaster of a ride about redemption, forgiveness, freedom and learning just what it means to love and to be loved by someone.
I adored Trent from the first moment of meeting him. He has a quiet strength and once he chooses a path he sticks with it, even if it means take a few unexpected detours along the way. He has a huge heart, which jumps off the page throughout the book, but what I loved the most about him was how genuine he was about his feelings, wants, needs and even doubts.
Dani, overall I really liked the woman. I loved her carefree, I’m not afraid of taking on the world personality. I’m not sure if I could do all that she had done, but I loved that she did. But on the flip side, while she was adventurous, it was also a shield that she used to keep people and experiences and truths out and that drove me a little batshit because it poked holes in her “I’m all about freedom” spiel.
Their journey is all kinds of bumpy and is one that you need to go into blind to experience. What I will say is that they were very well matched in every way. The chemistry between them was hot and I loved how they not only balanced each other out, but helped the other grown and become stronger because they truly saw each other for who they were and loved unconditionally.
While this isn’t my first time reading a book by Leslie McAdam, it is the first where she is the only author and I really enjoyed the experience. The writing was engaging and flowed well. The pacing of the story was good and I enjoyed the dual 1st person POV. And while I enjoyed being apart of Trent and Dani’s evolution, I have to admit that where their story takes place played a large part in my love of it. Having spent time there many moons ago and having the time of my young life, it was fun to revisit it and I thought Ms. McAdam did a wonderful job at bringing the sights, smells and feel of it to vibrant life.
~ Copy provided via L Woods PR & voluntarily reviewed ~...more
This was a really sweet, fun and quick best friends to lovers read with just the right amount of heat and drama to keep things intere***4 Stars***
This was a really sweet, fun and quick best friends to lovers read with just the right amount of heat and drama to keep things interesting. Sam and Maggie were fun and likable characters whose chemistry ~ as friends as well as more ~ jumped off the page and had me, along with the rest of their friends, chomping at the bit for that moment when they finally took the plunge into being more than just friends.
The fun part of this novella for me was watching as both Sam and Maggie finally start to realize that there is more between them than just friendship, that though they are besties, there could be more if they can trust in it. Nothing about their journey felt forced or over the top, it really was about two people who have always been more but due to their own obliviousness as well as the timing not being right hadn’t realized that what they were both looking for was right in front of them.
So, if you’re a fan of the best friends to lovers trope and are looking for a quick, low on angst read, then the Bed Mate is the one for you!
~ Copy provided by the author via InkSlinger PR and voluntarily reviewed ~
Merged review:
***4 Stars***
This was a really sweet, fun and quick best friends to lovers read with just the right amount of heat and drama to keep things interesting. Sam and Maggie were fun and likable characters whose chemistry ~ as friends as well as more ~ jumped off the page and had me, along with the rest of their friends, chomping at the bit for that moment when they finally took the plunge into being more than just friends.
The fun part of this novella for me was watching as both Sam and Maggie finally start to realize that there is more between them than just friendship, that though they are besties, there could be more if they can trust in it. Nothing about their journey felt forced or over the top, it really was about two people who have always been more but due to their own obliviousness as well as the timing not being right hadn’t realized that what they were both looking for was right in front of them.
So, if you’re a fan of the best friends to lovers trope and are looking for a quick, low on angst read, then the Bed Mate is the one for you!
~ Copy provided by the author via InkSlinger PR and voluntarily reviewed ~...more
So, it took me about 2 hrs or so to devour this baby, yup. Two. Hours. I devoured it and I loved Caleb and Daphne, I did, but sweet b***4 Stars***
So, it took me about 2 hrs or so to devour this baby, yup. Two. Hours. I devoured it and I loved Caleb and Daphne, I did, but sweet baby Jesus did they give me one hell of a headache in the process. They were all kinds of fun, quirky and smexy and watching them both fall when they didn’t want to was all that and a bag of chips...but my head.
Caleb and Daphne. These two. Caleb comes off as a manwhore, and for the most part he is, at least at the beginning of the book, but as his past and present are exposed you can’t blame the man for not wanting a committed relationship, I couldn’t in all honesty. But despite his aversion to the “C” word, the man has a huge heart and probably deserves the big “C” more than anyone. Daphne is all kinds of strong, independent woman and I love that she wasn’t afraid to go after what she wants, but she was burned in the most brutal way possible and has layers of kevlar around her heart.
Caleb and Daphne’s journey was all kinds of crazy. When it was good, it was GOOD, but dear lord. Their “Thing” drove me batshit crazy. The first time, even the second time, I was okay with it, but after that..their “Thing” was most definitely not mine. It may end up being yours and more power to you if it is. But outside of that, they had mad chemistry together and despite a lot of pushing and pulling, they were both very good for each other in the end.
I think the frantic feeling I had upon finishing Enticing Daphne made its way into the review, but that’s what the book did to me. It is, at times, OTT but overall it was a fun read that I couldn’t put down. There was an interesting little twist to one of the secondary plotlines, which I thought was well played out quite well. This book does take place at the same time as Seducing Lola and Tempting Sophia, so there is an overlapping going on with them as well as a couple of other characters, Deacon and Fiona, who’s book needs to get here ASAP. So, if you love it when characters who state that then will never fall in love and then end up falling hard, then this is the book for you!
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
I was all kinds of excited to get my hands on this book and I knew that once I started it there was a huge chance that I***5 ‘Demovation’ Stars***
I was all kinds of excited to get my hands on this book and I knew that once I started it there was a huge chance that I wouldn’t be able to put it down. So, I waited for the perfect time to start it, which of course never came because life always gets in the way, and finally decided to just ‘do it’ and about 2 - 2.5 hrs later I was done. I DEVOURED this baby. I knew I had things to do (#workthingsbutshhhhdonttell), but I became so invested in Nikan, Jenny and their journey that I just couldn’t make myself put the Kindle to the side and wait. Their story was everything I didn’t know I wanted out of a second chance romance and loved how everything played out and came together for the characters.
I adored Nikan and Jenny. Both have been through hell and back, and though they may have stumbled more times than they’d like to admit, they have come out of it stronger than they could ever believe possible. They both have huge, though bruised hearts and I loved how they both made it a priority to give back and help kids who happen to be in the same situations they had been in.
Their second chance romance was not what I expected it to be, well not fully, but I loved the direction it went in. It was emotionally charged, but it never dove fully into the agnst arena because both Nikan and Jenny actually acted like the mature adults they are. There was a bunch of push and pull going on, but there was also a lot of communication which helped temper the drama. But there was also that spark between them that showed if the trust that was broken could begin to be repaired then they had an good chance that spark would become more than either could ever hope for.
It’s no secret that I’m a fangirl of Scarlett Cole’s books in general. I enjoy her writing style and voice and how I always find myself hooked by the words she lays down. Part of my enjoyment was catching up with the rest of the Preload guys and their women as well as Ellen and Maisy and getting to know the the boys who now live in the home. I love how the family dynamic jumps off the page when they are interacting, but also liked seeing how that dynamic has changed as each band member has found his own HEA. Lennon is the last man standing and that little tease of his book at the end was all kinds of WTF?!? So...how many more days will I be waiting for his book to drop into my hands???
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
I’m in something of a conundrum over this one. It’s been a day or so since I finished it and I’m still waffling over th***3.5 ‘#TeamKira’ Stars***
I’m in something of a conundrum over this one. It’s been a day or so since I finished it and I’m still waffling over the rating and what words to put down to convey how I felt/feel about the book as a whole. It’s honestly quite distressing. But I’m going to give a go and see what comes of it, even if it turns into something more akin to verbal vomit rather than something coherent.
Kira, I adored. She hasn’t had an easy life, but she has also made certain choices that have ended in tragedy, but the woman who has come out of all of that has accepted her role and wants to be more. She wants to be someone who brings change and understanding instead of chaos. Lorenzo is, as far as the world is concerned, stone cold. He is curt, cold, intimidating and calculating...all of which he isn’t ashamed to admit to. But underneath the ice, he’s living with so much guilt it’s suffocating and though he cares about more than he’d ever admit to, his fear of letting any of that out has him keeping it on complete lock down.
Kira and Lorenzo’s journey was an interesting one considering all the ties that bound them together. I’ll admit that there were times I wanted to smack Lorenzo, but it was all part of the process and it was always intriguing to see just how much Kira’s reactions, or lack thereof, affected the seemingly untouchable man. Things take a while to catch fire, but once it does the chemistry between them is undeniable and I found it interesting how they both ended up waking and becoming who they were meant to be in the end.
So, that ended up being more coherent that I thought it would be, so YAY me *grin* but now for why I was waffling. This book started out great, but somewhere in the middle my interest waned when it came to the story and I got a little bored. Things did pick up, and I obviously pushed through and came out liking the book, but I can’t ignore the fact that I did skim a bit in hopes that I’d stop on something that would have me wanting to continue. (Okay, that is all kinds of vague, but I warned you) This can be read as a standalone, but I was very happy that I read The Billionaire Beast since Nero does pop up in this book and does a little arse kicking which only made me love him more.
While I didn’t absolutely love The Billionaire’s Intern, I still enjoyed it and thought that, for a novella, was well done and gave more of an emotional gut punch than I thought it would. So, if you’re looking for a quick, smexy read with heart then I’d give this one a go!
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
Three Blind Dates was such a fun and addicting ride! I couldn’t, and didn’t, put it down until there were ***5 ‘Your Heart is Never Blind’ Stars***
Three Blind Dates was such a fun and addicting ride! I couldn’t, and didn’t, put it down until there were no words left to read. It brought out all the feels along with lots of laughter and a good dose of smexyness as I followed Noely in her journey to find the one that made her heart soar.
I adored Noely. There were times where I had to question her judgement and sanity, but outside of those moments she was open, honest, funny and had a quirky and just snarky enough wit that had me grinning from ear to ear. But what made her so likable was how comfortable she was in her own skin and stood her ground when it came to what she felt she deserved.
Now for #TheRebel, #TheSuit and #TheJock. I honestly loved all of them. I know that it appears to be a cop out, but I really did like each of them. Going in the jock had a bit of an advantage because I had already met him in Back in the Game (Team Player Anthology) but by the end of the book, they’d all set up shop in my head and heart and I wanted them all to get their own HEA, even if it wasn’t with Noely.
As far as the journey Noely goes on to get to her HEA. It was filled with everything you could imagine would happen on a blind date and more...and I do mean EVERYTHING, especially with three different men in mix. Is the one Noely picks in the end the one I would have picked for her? Yes and No, I know it’s vague, but I feel that you need to go into this blind and experience each man as you meet them. But I will say that the chosen one is the one who fits her perfectly
When Three Blind Dates was announced I was quite curious as to how Ms. Quinn was going to hand the dates and I really liked how she did it. There will be those that won’t like it, but I think it was done perfectly because it gives the reader the opportunity to really get to know each guy and how they affect Noely. As always, the secondary character were unique and were highly entertaining...highly and I do hope that we get to see them again in the future. As for the two who didn’t snag Noely’s heart? Well...it looks like we’ll be seeing them both again sooner rather than later and I for one cannot wait to see what’s in store for them and the woman who’ll bring them to their knees!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
This was definitely quick and all kinds of dirty goodness with a good dose of heart and characters that kept things interes***4 ‘Villain’ Stars***
This was definitely quick and all kinds of dirty goodness with a good dose of heart and characters that kept things interesting as I kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next.
Miles is all kinds of dominate, smexy, growly alpha male with a good heart ~ which of course makes him that much more alluring. Olivia, I won’t say she’s a mature 18 year old because she does a couple of things that had me doing the heavy sigh/shaking of the head thing, but she does know what she wants and doesn’t waffle over her decisions.
Their journey is somewhat predictable, but it was still a fun and oh so panty destroying one. While there was the whole experienced vs inexperienced thing going on, they were actually well matched in their stubborness and what they wanted, not only for themselves but from each other. And their HEA? Well, it is promised and I had no issue with it.
I’m a huge fan of K Webster and taboo, smexy treats, so it’s no surprise I thoroughly enjoyed this baby. But I will state that one thing in the beginning gave me, and is quite honestly, still giving me “Huh? How…” moments of...confusion. The situation is used as a catalyst to jump start things between Miles and Olivia, and really shouldn’t be causing me much internal debating time, but it is. I’ll get over it soon. As for the secondary characters, they were all interesting and I’m wondering if a couple of them will get their own dirty bit down the road. So, if you’re looking for a quick and deliciously dirty read, then this one is definitely something you should check out.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed
It’s taken me a few days since finishing A SEAL’s Strength to sort out how I feel about the book and I’m still waffling over a few th***3 Stars***
It’s taken me a few days since finishing A SEAL’s Strength to sort out how I feel about the book and I’m still waffling over a few things, but if I don’t attempt to put the words down they’ll never come, so here goes nothing…
Overall, I liked the book. Hell, if I’m honest I had a hard time putting it down, but I found that as much as liked it, I didn’t love it like I wanted to based on how much I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve already ready by Ms. Stewart. A SEAL’s Strength was, as all of Ms. Stewart’s books have been for me, a fun, quick and easy to get lost in read, but something was just off for me while reading it and even at the end I felt like I needed more.
I liked Gabe and Steph, but I didn’t fall in love with them. Steph has had her heartbroken (twice) and yet she still has hope that she’ll get her HEA. She’s sassy, comfortable in her own skin and with her sexuality and, for the most part, isn’t afraid to speak her mind when necessary. Gabe is in limbo. He is still mourning the loss of his wife and has no desire to date, but at the urging of his sister and daughter he decides to at least attempt it to make them happy, even if he’s only looking at it as a one and done kind of deal. Here’s the deal with Gabe, when allowed himself to be happy, he was all kinds of charming and sweet, but when he slid back into feeling guilting about moving on, he put up so many walls it was crazy. Now, I don’t believe that there is a time limit on grief, and some pain never goes away, but sometimes it suffocates and that’s what was going on with Gabe.
Now here’s the difficult part. I really liked Gabe and Steph when there were together. Really LIKED them together. The chemistry between them was evident in every way. My problem was that I kept feeling as if Steph was being given the short end of the stick. I didn’t have an issue with her wanting at least a little something with Gabe, but it felt like she was giving him her all and he was just giving her scraps. It happens and at least they were both upfront about it. But then the explanation as to why he was “the one who got away” and the reality of his marriage...yeah, I honestly thought Gabe should have grovelled a lot more. A LOT. I am happy that she, despite everything, did stick to her guns and though she was bending, she wasn’t the one to break in the end.
I guess there always has to be that one in the bunch that doesn’t work for you, it appears that A SEAL’s Strength is that one for me. But regardless of my “It’s not you, it’s me” issues, I still enjoyed the writing and I love the whole Military Match concept and cannot wait to get my hands on A SEAL’s Honor.
~ Copy provided by the publisher & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
Claiming Bailey was filled with all kinds of swoon worthy moments, not that I’m all that surprised considering we are***4.5 ‘#TeamNathan’ Stars***
Claiming Bailey was filled with all kinds of swoon worthy moments, not that I’m all that surprised considering we are talking about a Susan Stoker novel, but this one had more aww moments than the previous two novels and the dopey happy sigh happened many, many times. Add in a good dose of suspense and it made for a page turning read right up until the very add.
Oh Nathan. I swear I fell in love with the man in the first chapter. He’s honest to a fault about how he sees the world and how he see himself, even if it is a bit harsh at times. He has a huge and compassionate heart and way more patience than is probably humanly possible. And for all of his adorkable-ness, he has this alpha side that comes out and makes him absolutely irresistible.
Bailey absolutely blew me away, in a good way. This woman made some bad choices as a teenager, but once she got a huge reality check, she made a vow to get out and do everything in her power to ensure that she and her brother never went back. Her guilt at all she’d done was huge, but watching as she worked to create a better life for herself and her brother had me admiring and adoring her.
If you love slow build/burn romances, then you are going to love Nathan and Bailey’s journey. While, on the outside they appear to be absolute opposites, they have more in common than either of them could ever imagine. I’ll admit that there were a few too good to be true moments between Nathan, Bailey and Joel, Bailey’s brother, but regardless, each moment brought out their true personalities and why they were all perfect for each other.
As typically happens with a Susan Stoker novel, my interest in Claiming Bailey was peaked at the end of Claiming Alexis and I was hooked from the first chapter and thoroughly enjoyed how everything played out with Nathan and Bailey as well as the Inca Boyz/Donovan storyline. There were a few moments that had me going ‘Hhhhhmmmm’ but they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. And that ending definitely has me wanting to get my hands on Claiming Felicity sooner rather than later.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
The cover and title peaked my curiosity and when I saw that the book fell under the romantic suspense gen***4 “Beautiful, Peaceful Chaos’ Stars***
The cover and title peaked my curiosity and when I saw that the book fell under the romantic suspense genre I had to check the blurb out. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of the whole love triangle thing, so after reading the blurb I waffled because of the whole two men going after the woman aspect of it, but my gut said to get over it and give a try and I’m very happy I went with my gut. Whore was a pleasant surprise all around. It was nothing like I expected it would be and I enjoyed every word of it.
I’ve waffled a bit on how to proceed with this review because when I attempted to do it with my typical MO, I found that I was being kinda spoilery and this really is a book you need to go into blind, or at least semi blind so we’re going to do a semi short and sweet thing here. I adored Soti, there really is no other way to describe it. It’s been 24 hrs or so since I finished the book and his name makes me smile. Lilith absolutely fascinated me. There was so much she has experienced and yet she hasn’t ever truly lived. Her journey, her evolution was definitely an experience. Nico...he was probably the one character that didn’t surprise me, but still kept me captivated as I read the book because while his motives were transparent on one side of the coin, he was still surrounded by mystery throughout.
As for the romance side of things...it was an interesting mix of slow burn and hello that was quick, but it worked for me. All three evolve in one way or another throughout the book and where they end up is exactly where they were all meant to.
This is my first read by Willow Aster and I really enjoyed it all from the writing style to how the story unfolded. She has a way of bringing the characters to life, even the secondary, that made me want to spend more time with each of them. There are triggers in this book, so reader beware, but they worked within the framework of the story. So, if you’re looking for a good romantic suspense with well written and intriguing characters then you should definitely give this one a go!
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
This is the second installment of Bree’s journey into figuring out what kind of Unknown she is while navigating her way through her***3.5 Stars***
This is the second installment of Bree’s journey into figuring out what kind of Unknown she is while navigating her way through her new life as a trainee for the Undercover Protectorate and while I thoroughly enjoyed the first chapter to her story, I struggled with this one. I just couldn’t get lost in the story and that made things drag a bit for me. The details of the new places we got to explore with Bree and the new characters we met along the way, were all well written and there are a couple of characters I hope we come across again like Emrys and Melusine and even Rocky, but the hook just wasn’t there for me this time around.
Even though it took be a bit longer to finish the book, I will say that I liked how everything with the curse and the type of Unknown that Bree is was woven together and played out. I’m quite interested to learn more details as to what Bree is, how her new knowledge of what she is and newly acquired powers will shape her and the trials she will face because of it.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Balen and Autumn put me through a Cat 4 emotional hurricane...at the very least. The ups, downs, sideways and ***4 ‘Touching the Rainbow’ Stars***
Balen and Autumn put me through a Cat 4 emotional hurricane...at the very least. The ups, downs, sideways and inside outs were all kinds of crazy and yet their story was absolutely addicting. You have the sweet and smexy mixed up with a heaping amount of angst, because lemme tell you Balen and Autumn gots lots of baggage, and then you’re hit with these bouts of humor and heart that just make you keep turning those pages until the very end because not knowing how everything turns out isn’t an option.
Balen and Autumn...these two. I honestly loved both of them, but they had lots of baggage to sort out. Balen is all about living in the moment and not letting life slip by him. Autumn is about playing it safe and sticking to what she knows best. They both had be wanting to reach out and smack some sense into them throughout the book, but when they forgot about what they thought they wanted and were just in the moment, they were really amazing and insightful humans who needed to learn that the past didn’t define their present and future.
So, their journey to their HEA was all kinds of angsty. The push/pull was real and dear lord did it jack up the sexual tension between them. But even with all the crazy going on, what ended up happening was that they helped each other heal and work at moving past the demons plaguing them and crazily enough finding that despite everything they have the kind of connection that goes soul deep. Of course there has to be a big ole bump in the road, you can kind of see it coming and when it does it’s a doozy, but one that rocks both Balen and Autumn and forces them to really figure out what they really want. Thankfully, things don’t get dragged out and I loved where they were at when the book ended.
Even though One and Done gave me a really good case of emotional whiplash, it was an enjoyable character driven read and I loved watching as both Balen and Autumn evolved throughout the book. The writing was engaging and the pacing good, though there were a few places it dragged for me and the dual 3rd person POV was done well. As for the secondary characters, Summer, Conner and Cullen all have my interest peaked and crossing my toes that they’ll all get their own HEA’s as the series progresses.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
After finishing Dirty Little Promise I was more than a little curious to see what was going to happen with Cooper and***4.5 ‘#TeamCooper’ Stars***
After finishing Dirty Little Promise I was more than a little curious to see what was going to happen with Cooper and yet when Torrid Little Affair landed on my Kindle, I had a moment of...hesitation...anxiety....because of all the ways his story could go, and believe me there were many, many paths open considering where Coop was when we left him. But, I needn’t have worried. I did a bit at the start, but soon found myself getting sucked into Cooper and Corrine’s story. It was all kinds of sweet and swoon worthy with the perfect amount of drama and smexyness to keep me turning the pages.
I swear Cooper sent me on a roller coaster of a ride that started in Dirty Little Secret, got crazy in Dirty Little Promise and finally evened out in Torrid Little Affair. The man is all kinds of alpha male goodness. Goodness being the focus of his alpha nature. He is a fixer and wants to be that man that helps to make things easier for those he considers his.
Something must of have been in the air because Corrine took me on as much of a ride as Cooper...though her’s had a more nervous/always ready to run energy about it and was filled with more than one WTF?!? Moment but I still loved the woman. She has a heart and how much she gave of herself to the people and causes she loved, but the walls she constructed around herself did more than just keep people out, they kept her from...everything. As her pasts unfolds, it did become easier to understand the why’s to her actions, but I definitely enjoyed watching those walls fall.
I must say that Cooper and Corrine’s journey to their HEA was not one that I could have predicted, but was a fun one to bear witness to. It had quite a few bumps throughout, but as everything came together in the end it was all worth it. They were exactly what the other needed and as their lives started to intertwine (though neither said they wanted that) they both became not only stronger, but happier in every way. As for that lovely little plot twist...I definitely didn’t see it coming, but it absolutely worked in so many ways and I loved how everything worked out for them in the end.
I do have to say a HUGE thank you to Ms. Ryan for how the issues with Cooper’s heartbreak were handled and worked out. I can’t even express how happy I am that she took that route with him. So THANK YOU! Quinn is still the Kingsley I want more of, but I loved catching up with Gavin and Emma, and meeting Mauve and Aaron and I’m kinda hoping Alyssa will be getting her own HEA down the road because she’s pretty badass. But for now...bring on Quinn!
~ Copy provided by the author/InkSlinger PR & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
I must admit that I while I was excited to dive back into the Dragon’s Gift world, I was also a little hesitant because as much as ***4.5 Stars***
I must admit that I while I was excited to dive back into the Dragon’s Gift world, I was also a little hesitant because as much as I enjoyed Cass, Nix and Del’s as a whole, I had my fair share of ups and downs with each and really hoped that I’d start out on the right foot with this one and I’m happy to say I had nothing to worry about! Bree and Ana’s stories (though Bree is the main focus right now) started out with a bang and though there were a few slow parts (a total it’s not you, it’s me thing) I had a great time meeting and learning about this new group of characters and this new
I really liked Bree and Ana from the first time I met them in Nix’s journey and learning about what they’d been through as children and all that they’ve been doing since made me like them even more. Both are strong, resilient, unfailingly loyal to one another and both have strong personalities and a good dose of snark and sass. Trust issues abound for both Bree and Ana, but they aren’t too proud to accept help when necessary. As this one does focus more on Bree, I loved her honesty and her gung ho nature and find her quirks quite amusing.
As for the other characters that we meet in this one, Cade ~ the God of War ~ is already an intriguing character and will make for an interesting partner as the journey progresses as well as a love interest. I’m looking forward to getting to know more about the Undercover Protectorate and those who are apart of it, especially Caro, Ali and Haris and seeing just how destructive the Pups of Destruction will turn out to be.
The story itself was well paced and Ms. Hall’s attention to detail brought the world to life and the lagged I felt at times was due more to my own impatience to find out what was coming up next than anything to do with the story itself. And since it appears that we may have a slight advantage as to what kind of Unknown Bree is (maybe) it’ll be fun to see how everything plays out and just how it will impact everyone around her.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
We all have that list of books that we are dying to read, but for one reason or another we keep putting off because of***5 ‘Chaos Theory’ Stars***
We all have that list of books that we are dying to read, but for one reason or another we keep putting off because of that strange and beautiful 6th sense knowing that this particular book is one that needs to be read with as little distraction as possible because having to put it down for longer than a potty or drink break would mess up the spell that the book was sure to caste over you.
Well, The Butterfly Project was one of those books for me and even though I am very happy I waited for that perfect moment to dive in, I’m also kicking my own ass for not getting to it sooner. I was shoved down the rabbit hole immediately and had no desire to claw my way back out. It brought out all the feels (even those of the sniffly, teary eyed variety) and I was totally caught up in Beckett and Zelda and needed to experience these two broken, but good souls go from simply existing to living once more.
Beckett and Zelda both broke my heart and then pieced it back together again. They were both apart of situations that, while very different, ended up bruising and battering their hearts and souls and they live with the guilt every day of their lives. I ended up adoring both Beckett and Zelda because at their very core they are good people that bad things happened to, regardless of their how they were involved, and I was rooting for them to find a way to forgive themselves and find redemption so they could move forward and start to carve out lives where experiencing happiness wasn’t something to be upset about, but to enjoy.
Their journey to their HEA is all kinds of slow building goodness and I was very happy that it was because Beck and Zelda were dealing with so many things that had they jumped into anything remotely looking like a romance it would have felt wrong. But as they go from strangers to friends to more, they find that they are kindred spirits and that it’s not only empathy that they feel towards one another, but understanding and that understanding is that catalyst that starts them both on the path to true healing and more possibilities than they could ever hope for. I have to say that it was simply fun to be with them because even when things were awkward between them there was a kind of flow to their interactions that made you want more and when they finally cross the line and go for more from each other, it was all kinds of heart (and panty melting) goodness. There are a good number of bumps in the road for them separately and together, but I liked how everything played out in the end for them.
The Butterfly Project was simply all around goodness. The writing was engaging, pacing was good and I really enjoyed the dual 1st person POV. There are a couple of topics that come up that may be triggers for some, but are handled with respect and are not used gratuitously. The secondary characters are all well written and though this is a standalone, one of them has recently gotten her own book, which I am dying to read. So, if you are looking for a slow building, character driven romance with characters that you’ll fall in love with almost instantly then this is a definite must read! ...more
I swear I’m in a puddle of swoony, twitterpated, panty incinerating goodness***5 ‘It Had to Be You’ Stars***
O.M.G.
Cole and Rachel are EVERYTHING.
I swear I’m in a puddle of swoony, twitterpated, panty incinerating goodness thanks to these two. Edible pulled out every feel known to man and was absolutely phone app worthy in every way possible right up until the very end!
Cole. Proper, punctual, deliberate and oozes a kind of confidence that has a way of unsettling a person all while awakening the need to find out what lays underneath the well put together image...only to find out that it isn’t an image. It’s very much HIM. He is all KINDS of smexy, dominate Alpha AF male who is way to observant for his own good but has a heart so golden that you find you will do anything to bask in it’s glow.
Rachel. Unique, talented, sassy, a little crazy and a little lost. I loved how vibrant and strong Rachel was even while being vulnerable all at the same time. She had no problem with the whole giving as good as you get. She knew that if she was going to throw down, then she needed to be able to take it. She may waffle over certain things, but once her mind, and heart, make a decision she goes all in and doesn’t look back.
Now as I stated in my review for Exquisite, I’d already met and liked Cole and Rachel thanks to the Temptation series (Mmmmm Logan and Tate) but to finally experience their journey to their HEA made me adore both of them! I loved how on the surface they had the whole opposites attract thing going on, but on the inside they fit each other so well and though things started out on an interesting foot and progressed quickly, there was no doubt that they were destined to be together. Watching as they broke down each others walls and helped to put the pieces back together again to make them stronger was all kinds of heartbreaking and heartwarming. And then there was the sexual chemistry between them...it was simply nuclear.
I have to say that Edible may just be my favorite Ella Frank romance, which is saying a lot considering I’m a huge fangirl of all her works, but this one just hit every one of my ‘Yes! Give me more’ buttons. It was smexy as all get out, but more importantly there was a lot of heart throughout the story and while there was drama, it never hit that OTT angsty level. I could go on and on, but I’ll save you from that and simply say that Cole is the ultimate #BookBoyfriend and Rachel is on my #GirlCrush list and if you haven’t gotten up close and personal with these two...then you are truly missing out on an Epic romance!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
Now. I thought Lena and Mason gave me a good case of whiplash, and they did...dear lord did they ever, but they***3.5 Stars***
Ahh Shelly and Josh…
Now. I thought Lena and Mason gave me a good case of whiplash, and they did...dear lord did they ever, but they just got beat out by Shelly and Josh. I liked them both, I did, but did they put me through the wringer. Their journey was all kinds of up, down and sideways, but there was something about it that kept me turning the pages until the very end.
As batshit crazy both Josh and Shelly made, I couldn’t help but like them. Josh is a compassionate man with a good heart and just enough alphaness in him to give him a smexy edge and once he figures out just what he wants, he won’t stop until he gets it. Shelly is sassy, outspoken and daring...but has a tendency to tamp it down in certain situations. I’ll admit that she drove me a little more crazy than Josh, but part of that was because she was struggling with the whole who she wanted to be vs. who she thought she should be based on issues in her personal life.
As I’ve already said, Josh and Shelly’s journey made me all kinds of crazy. Sometimes it was in a good way, sometimes not so good, but they always kept me on my toes. They were addicting because when they stopped fighting each other and themselves, they had a kind of chemistry that burned bright and showed that if they dropped their walls and took a leap of faith they’d find that holy grail of relationships.
Now, I’m a huge Ella Frank fan aka fangirl, but Entice is, at least at this point in time, not my fav of her books. The whiplash was real and that combined with a situation that happens later on in the book that had me going “WTF?!?”~ which I will admit was huge turning point for Josh and Shelly ~ had that enjoyment dropping a bit. But in the end I did enjoy it, just not as much as I want to.
Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed...more
I honestly don’t remember the last time a couple gave this bad of a case of whiplash, but Mason and Lena, (***4 ‘Peaches’ Stars***
Hello, Whiplash!
I honestly don’t remember the last time a couple gave this bad of a case of whiplash, but Mason and Lena, (mostly Lena in all honesty but Mason got a few good twists in there) most definitely are that list of couples who should be paying for my next massage. But, despite the pain (or maybe because of it???) I couldn’t put this book down. The need to see these two make it was imperative and thank god for that ending because it made the pain worth it.
I have to be honest and say that I was #TeamMason throughout the entire book. Even when he slipped, I was #TeamMason. I’m not sure if it was his charm or his stubborn determination that did it for me, or maybe just a combo of the two, but talk about a good man. Lena on the other hand...she tried my patience. H#^l, I think she broke my patience because even I, a self proclaimed bitch, had a difficult time with her b%tchin@ss. I empathized with the reason behind it, but I just couldn’t find a way to be okay with her outbursts of meanness. What saved her, even before she got her sh^t@ together, was the knowledge of how bruised her heart was over the incident that basically shut her spirit down and getting those little glimpses of the woman she could be if she found a way to, not get over what happened, but come to terms with it.
Their journey was filled with emotional landmines, some good, some not so good, but regardless it was addicting. The chemistry between them was intense and even when they were not at their finest, it was clear there was something brewing between them that could be amazing if they simply let it happen. The sinkholes in their journey were huge, but through sheer stubborn determination they both made it out alive, thanks to a lot of help from their family and friends, and I was very happy with there they ended up.
I know for some having a character, or characters, drive them b@tsh%t crazy would more than likely downgrade their enjoyment of the story as well as the rating, and I’ll admit that has happened for me in the past, but Ms. Frank pulled off that...thing...where you get an understanding of not only what made them that way, but also what they could be if only they could come to terms with whatever demons are riding them and peaked my interest in wanting to see them evolve. But outside of that (and the intense frustration) I enjoyed the book as a whole, especially meeting the characters I’ve already met in the Temptation series (Yeah, I’m going backwards, but at least I’m getting there) and I cannot wait to delve into Entice and Edible (especially Edible because Cole…).
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~ ...more
Where do you really start a review for the last book in the series that you adore?
Do you start by saying how much y***5 ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ Stars***
Where do you really start a review for the last book in the series that you adore?
Do you start by saying how much you hate that this is the last time you’ll be reading about these specific characters? (Though that is still up in the air)
Or do you start by say how excited you were to see that baby waiting for you on your Kindle and did a happy squee silent dance (I was at work...don’t judge) even though you had to wait to read it because of the #workthing but once lunch was one you couldn’t put it down and did the #phoneappworthy thing? (shhhh...don’t tell)
See the dilemma? Especially since it been six books, SIX BOOKS, filled with the up, downs and inside outs of Tate Morrison and Logan Mitchell as they navigated their way to their HEA and despite the fact that they are fictional characters, they became important. They became those people you wanted to spend time with and just see how they been doing. So to say that True caused all the feels to simmer and boil over in me is an understatement, but I couldn’t have conjured up a more perfectly imperfect way to give these men the HEA they so richly deserved.
I’m not going to get into detail about all that goes down, but be prepared for a ride only Tate and Logan (and the mastermind behind their creation) could take you on. The sweet is in full force, as are the decadently dirty smexy times, but there are a few bumps in the road that cause a bit of havoc, and in the end everything works out the way it was always meant to be. And for the record...that scene, that song, those words...I teared up then and fought to hold them back (and yes I was doing the blink, blink, hand fanning the face thing) and I’m tearing up now as I think about that scene...THAT’s how much of an impact these characters have made and I refuse to say good-bye to them, so I am going with what we say in Hawaii ~ A Hui Hou...until we meet again.
But I can’t end this review without mentioning the cast of characters that have been apart of Tate and Logan’s lives. Will, I simply want to hug...a lot. Cole and Rachel are amazing ~ and dear lord COLE!! If I didn’t already adore this man, this book would have pushed him into that zone, because...DAMN! And then we have Robbie and Priest, who seem to be the most speculated about characters lately...will they? Are they? What will happen? Does anything happen? Alls I can say is...stay tuned *BSEG* ~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~