What a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seemWhat a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an agenda.
Merged review:
What a mind f*uck. A dark erotic PNR that pushes boundaries and blurs the lines between good and evil. No one is who they say, nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an agenda....more
The third book in Crane’s The Devil’s Keeper series is another opposites attract romance with a splash of sexually fueled antagonism. Not everyone dC+
The third book in Crane’s The Devil’s Keeper series is another opposites attract romance with a splash of sexually fueled antagonism. Not everyone dreams of being someone’s old lady, especially one woman whose own experiences with MCs have made them enemy #1 in her world. But when the only man to rev her engine is the enforcer for the local MC, well, it’s always better with the devil you know. Lightly erotic with a nice balance between the romance and the main storyline, this is probably my favorite of the series so far. The heroine is the star of the story. ...more
Killing June wasn’t at all like I expected though I’m not complaining. This author’s debut dark romance is far more nuanced and layered than I suspected; highlighted by a cast of intriguing and flawed characters who live in the gray area between right and wrong. More than just a BDSM themed erotic romance; it is a journey of one woman’s self-discovery as she learns about forgiveness, salvation, and redemption. Bridges does address some heavy and dark subject matter so some readers may want to proceed with caution.
Heavily character driven, the arc itself is interesting-one woman with two distinct and opposite lifestyles must find away out- but the characters are the stars in here, even when it doesn’t serve the storyline best. Bridges set the stage as we are immediately introduced to the main players and we get a hint at what’s to come. Intriguing narrative popped me easily right into the story as a strong forceful voice and smooth pacing kept me hooked. Even though Bridges switches between Alex and June regularity, the transference is very smooth and organic.
Alex/June isn’t the victim of a split personality but rather the shame of enjoying pain with sex. Having discovered this as a teenager, Alex and her best friend Robert explored various kink clubs in their search for gratification. A series of assaults in Alex’s past fractures Alex, blurring the lines between consent and force and forcing Alex, in her mind, to create June. Alex uses June as a tool to deliver and receive punishment. She also uses her as a bargaining chip. Robert helps Alex find clients and takes a cut in exchange for helping her locate someone from her past. As time passes, Alex struggles to keep herself and June separate. Especially when she has victimized again and learns that Robert hasn’t been honest with her.
Bridges does well in her development of Alex and June and highlighting their contrasts and similarities. The psychology behind it all is fascinating. Alex is an intelligent, well liked business woman with two loving parents whom she goes to church with once a month. In contrast, Ms. June is a mysterious dominatrix who offers her clients the pain and pleasure of the whip for a steep price and her own gratification. Their contrasts seem extreme until you get to know them. The crossovers in their personalities slowly emerge and we see how much Alex’s past reflects on the decisions June makes.
Cade and Robert are both interesting characters though not as dark as the blurb leads you to believe. Both are deep into the criminal underground. Robert is the local drug czar and loan shark while Cade is a freelance enforcer. We meet them both in violence. Cade bursts in on June during a session as he has been paid to collect her client for an overdue debt. We soon learn Robert set it all up when June goes to confront him. Cade, though styled as an anti-hero, isn’t really a bad person though he is extremely comfortable in his lifestyle. He sees the maelstrom surrounding Alex and does everything he can to try and help her, even when he discovers the extent of her issues and learns the hard way you can’t force someone to change. Robert, in contrast, comes off somewhat sad and pathetic. You don’t doubt he loves Alex but his love has become corrupted and he has been controlling her through June. He’s like a little kid who has it all but is always unhappy.
Sexually, Alex and Cade are as explosive as unstable dynamite. Their chemistry is off the charts and Bridges makes sure to explore that chemistry while slowly developing their romance. Cade tries so hard to be what Alex needs and is more than able to satisfy her both physically and emotionally though he pushes her constantly in an effort to help her heal. I love that the BDSM is not made a flaw and interweaves with the romance flawlessly. It is an essential part of Alex’s sexuality and while her methods are suspect, her being a masochist is not.
The drama and suspense all boil together softly, increasing its roll till we reach the end and its climactic finale. I did feel it took way too long to get to the cusp of Alex’s issues. I knew what it was right off the bat. Also, Alex’s blackmail problem was more an annoyance and she could have nipped that in the bud from the onset. The longevity of the conflicts felt a bit manipulative to the storyline. The ending felt rushed but I did appreciate the thorough clean up of plotlines and settling of the romance. This is the first book of the series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward to reading more from May Bridges in the future.
Going Nowhere Fast strikes you in the heart repeatedly as you watch a pair of enemies fall in love against their will. Intense sexual tension + emotioGoing Nowhere Fast strikes you in the heart repeatedly as you watch a pair of enemies fall in love against their will. Intense sexual tension + emotionally fuel fights = the ultimate romantic and swoony erotic make up scenes ever. I loved the journey Wilde takes this couple on. She doesn't give them an easy out. They have to run the gauntlet and it's rough. I love Aspen. So wonderful and easy to connect with. Strong, loyal, and VERY forgiving. She gave wholeheartedly but knew when to draw the line. Bram is the ultimate growly alpha with a VERY dirty mouth and the skills to back it up. YUM I did take issue with him and his sister, Bethany. Both of them take repeated advantage of Aspen and laid a lot of their own uglines at her feet. It was hard on the heart to watch. :(
Reagardless, readers looking for a fast, fun, emotional, and sexy antagonistic romance are sure to enjoy Kati Wilde's latest book-Going Nowhere Fast. This is loosely tied to her Hellfire MC series.
Fans of the hit show Empire and deliciously outrageous soap operas will gobble up Lisa Marie Perry’s latest erotic offering like it’s their last suppeFans of the hit show Empire and deliciously outrageous soap operas will gobble up Lisa Marie Perry’s latest erotic offering like it’s their last supper. Featuring a hip hop record company on the brink of failure, a pair of siblings reunite to take back the company that was stolen from them by their so called friends and lovers. Though the romance is a strong element, readers will willing ride this crazy train through all the drama of heartbreaking betrayal, firefueled revenge, blistering hot erotic sex, and a crazy cast of characters who you will love to hate and hate to love....more
Favorite Quote: “I was worth more than a three day dance.”
Lila has moved to Oklahoma to escape a bad break-up and some even worse life choices. When she is hired on at the Marked Men, an MC owned tattoo parlor, Lila is determined this will be a fresh start for her. Meaning no more bad boys. But she didn’t count on meeting Dare. The manager of the Marked Men, a member of the Jericho Brotherhood MC, and one of the hottest bad boys she’s ever met.
Dare isn’t called Dare for nothing. He takes what he wants and he wants Lila. But Dare has secrets, secrets that could destroy him. Dare and Lila burn up the sheets with their passion but when the club wants to bring Lila deeper into their fold, Dare gets scared and pushes her away. Now he has to watch as his brothers try to take what was once only his.
As Lila tries to navigate the MC world while staying true to herself, Dare will have to decide if committing to her is worth his complete fall from grace.
Enough is the first in Jade Chandler’s new Jericho Brotherhood series. This erotic romance builds an extremely sexually based relationship between an MC member and their newest employee. Heavily character driven, Chandler focuses mainly on the protagonist’s opposites attract romance while slowly building the world and what looks to be a potentially long-running subplot involving the MC itself.
This story reveals itself in two parts. The first part is the introduction of the characters and the evolution of their relationship. It’s primarily sexual. There is A LOT OF SEX. Almost too much at times but it works once you get to part two and see the contrast Chandler seems to be striving for. I liked Lila right off. She is funny and smart. She wants to make a new life for herself and do it on her own terms. She owns up to her mistakes, takes nothing at face value, and shows a healthy amount caution when dealing with the MC and Dare. Her internal monologues are amusing, especially the arguments she has with herself concerning whether being with Dare is the smart thing for her to do. I loved that she actually considers her job in the decision. She has already been down that road many times where she has had to leave a job because the romance went sour.
Dare is your typical biker. Alpha, overly confident, forceful, and flirty. He sees Lila and wants her in his bed for a night or more but she fights the attraction and he has to rely on more than just his looks and MC status to impress her. He maintains a strong presence in the MC, especially with his relationship with the president’s son, Jericho. They are close and you learn exactly why towards the end. There is something almost methodical about Dare in the beginning though he becomes more individualized in part two. The story is told from dual POVs, Lila’s voice being the most predominant of the two. I felt she fleshed out far better than anyone else in this story.
The transition from part one to part two is rather a dramatic affair, ensuring the reader knows this is where the conflict begins. We go more in-depth into the world Lila is becoming a part of and meet all the men who make up the MC. There is more external interaction and angst. Dare and Lila’s relationship crosses the line from physical to emotional, causing Dare to run from his feelings and hurt Lila in the process. I found his willingness to hand her over to the MC callous; excusing his actions as being protective when in reality he didn’t want to have to deal with her or her feelings. I liked that Lila doesn’t just roll over and bare her throat. She shields herself with her independence and doesn’t suffer Dare’s or the MC’s foolishness lightly. It’s here where Dare’s voice asserts itself, letting us see how he really feels about the changes that are happening around him and the reason he is so scared to commit to Lila. I (and Lila) guessed pretty early on what his problem is though you don’t realize the true extent of it till the end.
A varied cast of secondary characters help to round out the story and propel it in the direction it needs to go; filling in some blank spots and helping to develop the plotlines. The MC brothers are introduced and their own problems and/or peculiarities are highlighted for future reference. Jericho, Dane’s best friend, and the president’s son, is a dark horse whose manipulative personality is kind of awe-inspiring while Lila’s new friends help her to discover her home is worth fighting for.
The ending is a dramatic all or nothing affair that finally brings everything out in the open. Dare spills his secret and he and Lila are able to work towards repairing their broken relationship. While I agree Dare’s secret was terrible and I felt bad for him, I didn’t feel it completely excused all his actions.
Enough is an entertaining erotic romance though I wouldn’t call it dark or particularly deep. A little frantic at times as it struggled to find its pacing and there are a few subplots and scenes that left me wondering what the author’s motivation was. While the romance is the main ingredient, there was an underlying unpredictability with the MC storyline that kept the story from becoming too predictable.
Chase's Lord of Scoundrels is a laugh out loud sheer delight. A jaded, disillusioned Marquess meets his match and loses harshly when he falls4.5 Stars
Chase's Lord of Scoundrels is a laugh out loud sheer delight. A jaded, disillusioned Marquess meets his match and loses harshly when he falls for a strong, practical heroine whose take no prisoners attitude turns the Marquess and his life upside down. ...more
Empire is Sergio's well-deserved and earned HEA. Fans of this series will want to read Elude first to understand the dynamics of Empire. HeartwrenchinEmpire is Sergio's well-deserved and earned HEA. Fans of this series will want to read Elude first to understand the dynamics of Empire. Heartwrenching but filled with humor and hope, Empire gives a man hardened by grief a second chance a love as his deceased wife attempts to right some wrongs from the grave. ...more
I liked this one though wasn't blown away. It consisted of the protags arguing most of the book. There were a few odd plotlines that didn't seem to haI liked this one though wasn't blown away. It consisted of the protags arguing most of the book. There were a few odd plotlines that didn't seem to have a place in the story beyond being used as filler or fizzled out with no explanation. I was also put off by Begley using Penni and Shade's sibling relationship as a way to excuse some of Penni's odd behavior. To me she just had an anger issue. ...more
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a humorous sports contemporary romance that uses an antagonistic relationship between the hero and heroine to build a fThe Wall of Winnipeg and Me is a humorous sports contemporary romance that uses an antagonistic relationship between the hero and heroine to build a foundation for friendship and eventually romance. Lots of laughs and some bittersweet moments will keep readers engaged as Zapata pits an emotionally lacking football player who readily admits he's a self-absorbed arsehole against his personal assistant-a young artist who spends a majority of her time plotting his death. It's only when she's had enough of his attitude and quits does the real fun begin.
Though some readers may find the romance lacking-it really doesn't develop till well towards the end-it's the characters and their journey towards self-discovery that makes this such a fun and enjoyable read. ...more
Our heroine, Lucy “mini fitzpatrick” Fitzpatrick, is the sister of the Ronan, the hero in book one. She hates rugby and has a slight sticky fiGrade: B
Our heroine, Lucy “mini fitzpatrick” Fitzpatrick, is the sister of the Ronan, the hero in book one. She hates rugby and has a slight sticky fingers problem that is exasperated by her mother and stress. Her hero, Sean “douchewaffle” Cassidy is a rugby star whose attitude and bedroom skills are both boo worthy. When Sean catches Lucy in the act, he blackmails her into spending time with him, hoping he can convince her to tutor him in the arts of love making. Of course, one thing leads to another and these arch enemies soon develop feelings for one another. That’s when the real fun begins. No one does strong heroines, odd alpha heroes, or a-dorkable romances like Reid and Cosway. The Player and the Pixie is the second book in their sexy, funny, emotionally awkward rugby romance series that will leave you giggling and swooning with abandonment as they guide their reluctant lovers to their happily ever after....more
Recently I was discussing romantic comedies with some friends, and I was recommended this series by Has from the blog Book Pushers. Similar to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series Emma Hart delivers the same strong family oriented storyline chalked full of humor, mystery, over the top dramatics, and a strong antagonistic romance but without the dreaded love triangle and a competent heroine.
I enjoyed Twisted Bond though I did have a some issues. Hilarious hijinks galore as Hart blends a sexually tense VERY slow burning romance (slow as in there is no resolution to the romance element) with an intriguing multi-faceted whodunnit jam-packed with mayhem and murder. Standing in the middle of all this is Bond. Noelle Bond. PI extraordinaire. Noelle is a heroine you can’t help but enjoy all the while rolling your eyes at her antics. Intelligent, snarky, full of life, strong-willed, and alpha to the core. She doesn’t take any flack from anyone and always says exactly what’s on her mind. Single and loving it, the only man who makes this gun touting, cupcake devouring, clothes horse burn with lust is her worse enemy.
Drake Nash.
Detective Nash is the lead homicide detective for Holly Wood sheriff’s department. He despises Noelle and makes no bones about it. An alpha male from head to toe, he has a very low opinion of women that spills over onto Noelle frequently. When his murder investigation coincides with her client investigation, he goes to extreme lengths to keep her out of the loop, forgetting she has three brothers on the police force. Watching Noella and Drake verbally battle one another will keep you in stitches though at times it got a little to verbally violent (especially on Drake’s end). They volley insults at one another with the skill and speed of professional pitcher; zinging them left and right until the tension becomes so unbearable that kissing each other is their only recourse.
“I’d advise you not to work against me, I have no problems putting you in cuffs.”
And I have no problem spending the night in lock-up for impaling your penis with my stiletto.”
An eccentric cast of supporting characters only adds to the overall appeal. Noelle’s employees are a lively bunch whose antics (and cupcake demands) keep Noelle busy while she solves crimes and evades her overbearing Nonna who is convinced that Noelle will only be happy when she is married and pushing out babies for her husband. Preferably an italian catholic husband. Noelle’s brother and father have her back in every way; especially when a certain detective crosses a line that leaves the men in her family up in arms.
“Remember Officer Bond, that I’m your superior.”
“Remember, Detective Nash, that you’re not my superior, and I’m more than certain that mine will accept me defending my sister after the way you treated her last night. So, until you are my superior, step back and stay the hell away from my her.”
“The way I treated her? I was doing my job, Bond, and I was utilizing the resources available to me.”
[…]
“La famiglia e tutto, “ Devin says, ignoring me entirely. “Family is everything. Do your job, but don’t fuck with my sister while you do it. She’s the only woman in town who demands respect, and by fuck, Detective, I’ll die makin’ sure she gets it from everyone who thinks they’re above it.”
The mystery is a solid device, moving fast and sure as Hart gives us plenty of clues, evidence, and misdirection to make sure we never see this villain coming. The ending resolves the mystery but leaves readers unsure of the path Noelle and Drake will be taking.
Overall I enjoyed this first installment. The strength of the story is the characters. Noelle and her family are over the top entertaining and Hart does a fantastic job on the mystery and it’s development. As I stated earlier, I did have some issues. At times I felt Drake’s and Noelle’s bantering became abusive-especially on Drake’s part. I found his reasons for the intense dislike he harbored for her bordering on ridiculous. I could understand Noelle’s dislike as it was in reaction to Drake’s treatment of her but we really don’t get a clear reason to exactly why Drake almost hates her. I found the shooting of the foot excuse a bit too mild for his actions towards her. Also, the repetitive nature of the author telling us how great Noelle was with guns annoying. I want to add I have already read book two, Tangled Bonds, so I know that both of the main issues are toned down considerably. YAY.
When I read an Alexa Riley book, I know what I'm getting. My expectations aren't high. I'm not saying the books aren't good because they are in terms When I read an Alexa Riley book, I know what I'm getting. My expectations aren't high. I'm not saying the books aren't good because they are in terms of what your getting. And what you are getting are short hot fast erotic reads that doesn't focus too much on plot or execution. It's the literary version of a "wham, bam, thank you, ma'am.". :) And I'm fine with that. Usually. This one however just didn't do it for me. The hero was a selfish, whiny, man-baby whose need to wallow in self pity and dispair caused him to abandon the heroine not once but twice. When she accepted him back the first time I was semi okay. Young love makes you do stupid stuff and it had only been a few months. When she takes him back the second time, with no groveling or even one kick in the nuts? No. I understand he had PTSD and other issues and had he left to straighten his self out then I would have been more forgiving. But instead he spends all his time drinking and doing drugs. He only goes to find her BOTH times because he suspects she might be hooking up with someone else. Meh. ...more
First off I'd like to say if you are looking for something similar to Ward's BDB series, this isn't it.
I grew up with primetime soap operas-3.5 stars
First off I'd like to say if you are looking for something similar to Ward's BDB series, this isn't it.
I grew up with primetime soap operas-Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon's Crest, Melrose Place, etc...and devoured these cheesy, melodramas that defied logic and sense with a large spoon. That being said, I liked this. I'm all about the cheese sometimes and this was cheesy. Reluctantly likable characters, multiple subplots, ridiculous plot twists, plot holes the size of Montana, snort out loud scenes, and an antagonistic romance filled with mistrust, conflicts, and secrets. Rich people drama with all the over blown trappings and class barriers you could ever want. It took awhile for me to get into the characters, but Ward does a good job of developing them in the proper prime time fashion; slowly with clues dropped like they are going extinct. I liked Lane and Lizzie (our protagonists) though I didn't buy into their grand romance at times. Both seemed so tired by it all and the chemistry was lukewarm. Gin and Edward, Lane's siblings, offered more dark drama and flair as you learn of their secrets. I look forward to their stories. There were some aspects I found troubling-the slut shaming and basic attitude that purveys that women are lying gold diggers and men are abusive cheaters. It of course ends on a cliffhanger, as all proper soap operas do.
Will I read the next one? Probably. It's really a no brainier contemporary fiction that entertains without demanding much in return. ...more
This book is exceptionally written but the hero has to be one of the biggest bastards I've read in a while. Even though we are told why he is the way This book is exceptionally written but the hero has to be one of the biggest bastards I've read in a while. Even though we are told why he is the way he is and why he does what he does, his actions towards the heroine were unbelievable and in my opinion nothing he did ever redeemed him in my eyes. ...more