Lauren's Review of Sinful (Sinful Surrender Quartet #1) by Katherine Hawthorne

I do not usually give out 5 star reviews but this one deserves it! It took me Labor Day weekend to bang out this book and I had to even hide during some of the barbecues to see what happens next. Books like this is what keeps me going in life.  I loved every second of this book and I did not want to put it down. The writing is phenomenal, and the love triangle had me pulled in every direction.  Not sure who I wanted more; Sin, the bad boy, smoking hot cop or Xander, the epitome of elegance, charm and sophistication??? I see why she gave in to both!

I am usually very hesitant when it comes to trios and ménage romances. Sometimes they come off too corny or way too unrealistic. Hawthorne does an amazing job keeping the plot suspenseful and the characters appealing and believable.  I am very curious to see how this is going to play out because that scene with all three was intense!  Put me to bed now!

I am glad I read some of the reviews before…HOLY CLIFFHANGER! Luckily, we do not have to wait too long! Book #2 looks like it is going to be out by October 2! That’s going to be one long ass month!  #TEAMSIN

Check it out on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41134349-sinful?from_search=true

Purchase here on Amazon (Kindle ONLY $0.99!!): https://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Surrender-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B07G4958R5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536067837&sr=8-1&keywords=Sinful+Hawthorne

Lauren's Review of Indigo Nights (Nights #3) by Louise Bay

Summary: The only thing better than cake is cake with a side of orgasms.

Dylan James has no expectations when it comes to relationships. He uses women for sex and they use him for his money and power. It’s quid pro quo and he's good with that. It works.

Beth Harrison has been burned. She's tired of the lies and the game playing that men bring and has buried herself in her passion—baking which keeps her out of the reach of heartbreak. As she begins her career as a TV baker, a new world opens up to her.

Dylan and Beth both know that casual sex is all about giving what you need to get what you want.
Except that sometimes you give more than you need to and get everything you ever wanted.

Rating: 4 STARS

What I liked: Two lovable characters! I instantly fell for both of them and envied the chemistry between them. This was a smooth and light read that captivates you immediately. Beth is fun, dependent, and not afraid to tell it like it is while Dylan is strong, beyond caring, and will make you want to splurge to sit first class just for a chance to meet him. You’ll get a kick out of watching this couple’s relationship grow from FWB to the real deal.


Favorite Line: “So have fun. If you’re not in the same city, he’s not going to be able to hurt you. Assume he’s dating other people and don’t expect anything but his cock and an orgasm.”

Not so much: The only thing I can think of is that the story had no pizzazz. It is an excellent story and easy to read but it is a very typical romance story. Also, someone who eats THAT much cake cannot be described as having a tiny waist. I don’t think she ate anything but cake and desserts the whole story ;)

Overall: A friends with benefits to serious relationship love story that tells a simple love story around desserts and travel.

Lauren's Review of Arouse (Spiral of Bliss #1) by Nina Lane

Summary:  "One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me," he said. And he did.

Struggling with a tormented past, undergraduate Olivia Winter once led a practical but isolated life. Then she met Professor Dean West, a brilliant scholar of medieval history who melted Liv's inhibitions and taught her the meaning of both love and erotic pleasure. But after three years of a blissful, lusty marriage, Liv and Dean now face a crisis that threatens everything they believe about each other. And when dark secrets and temptations rise to the surface, the fallout might break them apart forever.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Anyone wanna make a souffle?

What I Liked:  This story is real.  The characters are believable people who you can relate to and you feel you could be friends with anyone of them.  I think it is safe to say we have all had similar relationship issues like Liv and Dean.  I also liked the flashbacks that gave us a glimpse into their past and how they fell in love with each other.  By far, my favorite character was Kelsey.  Everyone needs a Kelsey in their life. A true friend that’s not afraid to be blunt and tell you like it is.

Favorite Line: “Maybe this was meant to

happen, this discovery of cracks where now a different, new light can shine through.”

Not So Much: Ahhh Liv! That girl was not for me.  First of all, she was all about INDEPENDENCE. Growing up with a mother who relied on men for everything, you would think she would have stayed on path and developed a way for her to support herself first.  Instead, she took a step back from her dreams to let Dean pursue his.  What the F!!! Find your own way first.  This is one of the main reasons I felt that Liv kept looking for reasons to be mad at Dean; like she wanted a reason for the relationship to fail.  Sneaking around and going through his things like she can’t trust him when she is the one who can’t be trusted. If Liv had stayed on course and became who she wanted to be, I don’t think the relationship would have been so rocky.

Because the story focuses so much on their troubles and it really dives into the depths of their relationship, it loses the thrill and can drag.  Sometimes I like to write my review while I’m reading so I don’t forget to include certain points I want to make but the whole time I was reading, I had no idea where I was going to go with this review. Some parts keep you eager to keep going and other parts my eyes wandered over the text. To me, the book was eh.  Nothing to write home about.




Overall:  If you are looking for something real world – pick this one.

Lauren's Review of The Bossman by Renee Rose

Summary: Sophie Palazzo steered clear of the mafia after her father's involvement ended with his murder. Fifteen years later, Joey La Torre, the Don's brother himself, shows up unannounced at her massage studio and wheedles his way into a date. She has no interest in aggressive, macho men like Joey, or so she tries to tell herself, but her body just doesn't get the message. When Joey takes her in hand with a firm bare-bottomed spanking, she ought to be furious, instead, she's aroused. As she explores her physical desires to be dominated, she tries to keep Joey at arm's length emotionally.


Joey knows he wants Sophie for keeps from the moment he walks into her life. She is hot, classy and full of fire, even though submission turns her on. But his involvement in the mafia is a hard limit for her, bringing to conflict his own dedication to the Family, the code of silence and his relationship with his older brother. Can he reconcile his duty to the organization and his growing need for Sophie to remain in his life permanently?

Rating: 3.5 Stars

What I Liked: Holy Moly! Be careful where you read this! This book is filled with super-hot moments and lots and lots of spanking. If you enjoy spanking, this book is definitely for you. I was reading it at the hair salon and I had to cross my legs and make the font smaller so my hairdresser couldn’t read over my shoulder.


Because of my Italian nationality, I was interested to dive right into some Italian mafia hotties. I There is something so sexy about a tough guy who will fuck your brains out but then cuddle with you right after. I fell for Joey immediately in the first scene at the massage parlor. He is the perfect blend of dominant bad boy without crossing that line of becoming a douche. I wouldn’t mind a guy like Joey putting me over his knee once in a while.


The story flows and the writing is descriptive and engaging.


Favorite Line: “You’re a good girl. You don’t want anything to do with a bad boy like me. Except bad boys can be exciting…don’t you think?”


Not So Much: Towards the end of the book, it gets frustrating how many times Sophie overplays how she can’t be with someone that is in the mafia but she continuous puts herself into situations with to be involved with them.


Joey sums her up perfectly when he says, “Sophie was a little package of enigmas. She needed the money, but didn’t seem to like it. Had a college degree, but preferred to work with her hands. She resented his aggression, yet craved being spanked. She was of the Family, yet against it.”


Apparently, Joey is doomed for a lifetime of confusion.


Also, there needed to be spacers between the writing at certain points. POV would change within a sentence without a break and it would get confusing at times. I am not sure if this was just my copy but it would throw me off when it switched so close together.



Overall: Leave the gun, take the book.

Lauren's Review of Educating His Bride by Cara Bristol

Summary:  From college coed to a professor's naughty bride... It’s the 1950s. Never much interested in her studies, Margaret Atwater attends college hoping to graduate with an Mrs. degree instead of a bachelor’s. When she catches the eye of English Professor Henry Thurston, she’s thrilled to marry him, drop out of school, and begin a new life as a married woman and faculty wife. However, Henry is a kinky man who has much to teach his eager young bride—in, and out, of the bedroom. As Mrs. Henry Thurston, Margaret’s sexual education has just begun

Rating: 4 Stars

What I Liked:  Isn’t it fun to be bad once in a while? YES!! What an engaging, entertaining, and fun short story!! I am not one for historical romances but I am a fan of the 50’s and who doesn’t love a good hot for teacher story.  I instantly fell for Margaret and Henry’s love story.  I love how they explored their sexuality together; something that I think most couples lack in their relationships today.  Why not try some spanking or a butt plug?? You’ll never know if you like it unless you try it.  As a supporter of women’s rights, it took me awhile to get over the gender roles and society’s views of women back then. But once you get past it, you find yourself laughing as Margaret and Henry experience their fascinating married journey.  Sex scenes will not disappoint either!


Favorite Quote: "You look beautiful," he said huskily, cupped her face, and kissed her. She clutched his biceps, one finger caressing his skin. At the small touch, heat waves coursed through his lower body. He pulled her closer, inhaling her floral scent, savoring the taste and feel of her. My wife." 

Not So Much:  I WANT MORE!! I want to know more backstory about Margaret and Henry.  The book starts with them already together but I would love to know how it came about.   I wasn’t paying attention to how far along I was and when the story suddenly ended, I was not a happy reader. Only complaint is that the book was way too short and there was definitely room to add content without making it too fluffy.

Overall:  A short read but definitely worth the trip back to the 50’s!

Lauren's Review of Belonging to Him by Lucie Babikian

Summary: A dark past haunts Bella Valenti and she vows never to open herself to a man again. When she meets billionaire playboy Lorenzo Moretti at a Rome nightclub, she wants nothing more than to escape his magnetism and the vulnerability his presence arouses.

Still, the passion between them can’t be denied, and their first date is electric. She knows his reputation -- this will not last. Lorenzo, for his part, finds himself surprisingly intrigued by the puzzle that is Bella.

He whisks Bella off to Monaco, where they succumb to their desires. But Bella’s past catches up with her when the brother of her ex-fiancé, accosts her at the casino and Lorenzo nearly kills him in his fervor to protect her. He demands to know what happened to her in the past, but Bella, worried he will judge her, at first refuses to tell him. It is only after another night of sensual lovemaking, that they both realize that something deep is happening between them, and Bella takes a chance and opens up.

As their love deepens, what neither of them realize is that soon Bella’s dangerous history will no longer remain in the past, and will threaten Bella’s safety, their love, and in the end, both of their lives. Will Lorenzo be able to save her in time? Will they both live through it?

Rating: 2 Stars

What I Liked: Bella is a challenge for Lorenzo and I appreciate that in this story. It’s so important to not do what is expected and that is exactly what Bella does. She doesn’t call when he tells her to and she doesn’t chase him like the other girls do and I love that.

Not So Much: I felt like I jumped right into the story way too fast and the rest of the book kept that pace. The couple only had one date and they both claim to know each other so well. After the first date which consisted of dinner, some short lustful moments, a breathing view, a dramatic departure and a car nap, Lorenzo claims, “He admired Bella a great deal.” How does he know that? They barely exchanged dialogue with each other.

The writing. Show me! Don’t tell me! Use your descriptive writing to make me come to conclusions on my own. Everything was written for me so plain and simple that the book was boring. Plus, some of the lines were a bit cheesy and over-the-top for me.

“For her, getting involved in any way with a man like Lorenzo was like gambling. And the stakes were very high because she wasn’t left with anything to give but what was left of her heart. And if it was taken away from her and broken this time, she would be left with nothing and she would be as good as dead. But, if she won, Bella had a strong feeling that he could also be her salvation.”

Lines like this, made me want to put the book down. The plot has potential but the writing jumped around too much and there was no flow to it.


Overall: I really struggled to get through this book. While I respect anyone who decides to write a book, the writing just could not hold my attention. Just my opinion.

Lauren's Review of The Lessons (Off Limits #1) by Elizabeth Brown

Book was provided by Netgallery in Exchange for an Honest Review

Summary

Question: What happens when a thirty-year-old virgin hires a sex surrogate to take care of her "little problem"?

Answer: Lots of laughs and tons of heat. You'll be left wanting a Dr. Ryan Andrews of your own.

Rating: 4 Stars

What I Liked

I loved reading this book. I wasn’t sure how I would feel reading a book about a 30-year-old virgin but it has been awhile since I felt this way about a book. When reading a lot of erotica/romance stories, it means so much to me when everything comes together and clicks. Natalie reminds me a lot of myself (obviously not the virgin part) especially her sense of humor. I found myself giggling with some of her internal dialogue.

“You came!” he said, slowing to a walk as he saddled up to me grinning.

Uh, yes, right now. Practically.

I immediately felt a connection with her and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book. Ryan had me at hello. He had a good balance of making me want to hug him and hitting him upside the head for some of his decisions. Most importantly, there was so many cross-my-legs while I’m reading steamy sex moments. The elevator scene might have you drooling a little so be prepared!

Not so much

San Francisco is a large city. The only thing that seemed odd to me is how much Natalie kept running into the same people. And I could have used more Josh in the story.

Overall

A highly recommended read with lots of sexual tension and a desire to google sex surrogates in your area. Looking forward to reading #2!

Lauren's Review of The Perfect Escort (On Call #1) by Lynda Belle

Summary: Sydney is a city where anyone could find love. But like most techies, Amanda doesn’t have time to date. She’s an American in a foreign country with a Mom reminding her about the ticking clock. But in the twenty-first century, women have more options.

Her co-worker shows her the perfect alternative, a male escort. Why not?

Jayden Holt is a gorgeous, model quality male escort. He has no strings attached. Amanda thinks she might have hit the jackpot. But will she get too close to something that is too good to be true? Will he be man enough to not let her?

Rating: 

What I Liked: Initially, the plot drew me to the story.  I have read and reviewed books where the woman is the escort (The Arrangement Series comes to mind) but the idea of a role reversal was intriguing to me.  It is a short story and it did not take me long to read at all.  The main character Amanda is likeable but it was hard to establish a connection with her because we really jump right into the story.  No real character development.  This story has so much potential but it was hard to capture it in such a small amount of pages.

Not So Much:  The writing was eh.  It’s not horrible but I wasn’t very impressed with the sentence structure. A lot of short, choppy non-descriptive sentences that left little to the imagination.  The more I read the more I notice that sometimes the author writes so beautiful that the words float off the page into my mind but the plot goes absolutely nowhere. This story was the opposite for me – I felt the story has so much potential but the writing was just okay.  

“Of course, I was good with the ball-busting career woman attitude. I’d worked hard for where I was. I was at a successful tech company, and living in a foreign country. I had all the student loans still to pay off to prove it.” 

Do you see what I mean? 

Overall: I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are looking to add a quick book to reach your book reading goal for the year. 

Lauren's Review of Bang & Echo (Black Lotus #1 & #2) by E.K. Blair

Hello did you miss me???? I am back!!!! Here is my review for Bang: 

Summary: They say when you take revenge against another you lose a part of your innocence. But I’m not innocent. I haven’t been for a very long time. My innocence was stolen from me. Taken was the life I was supposed to have. The soul I was born with. The ruby heart embedded in a life full of hopes and dreams.

Gone.
Vanished.

I never even had a choice. I mourn that life. Mourn the what-ifs. Until now. I’m ready to take back what was always meant to be mine. But every plan has a fatal flaw. Sometimes it’s the heart.

Rating 4.5 Stars

What I Loved: This book instantly reminded me of the television show, Revenge, so if you enjoyed the show, I think you will also enjoy this book. E.K Blair does an amazing job of wrapping you into the story right away.  The book goes back and forth from the present to the past with a few surprises in between.  As a lover of erotica, the storylines get a bit repetitive after awhile and I was cruising for a book with a twist and Bang did that for me. The every character is unique and has so depth and intensity. You finish reading and question to yourself; can a person really be capable of doing something so horrifying?   

Not So Much: Some scenes in this book seem a little farfetched.  I don’t know that I completely understand Elizabeth’s character and her actions.  I don’t think I would describe this book as a “mindfuck” but it is different and it will keep you wanting more (isn’t that why we read these books?!?!).

My next review will be for Echo (Black Lotus #2) so stayed tuned!

Lauren's Review of Three, Two, One (321) by J.A. Huss

Summary:

 

ONE GIRL
Battered, barefoot, and huddled under a bookstore awning in the pouring rain, Blue only knows one thing. After fifteen months of captivity, finally… she is free.

TWO FRIENDS
Self-made millionaires JD and Ark are not out to save anyone when they stumble upon a wet and shivering girl one early Sunday morning. But when you sell sex for a living and salvation rings your bell… you answer the call.

THREE SOULMATES
After years of searching, love lifts the veil of darkness, and three people—with three very big secrets—find themselves bound together in a relationship that defies the odds.Or does it?

Love. Lust. Sex.

This trinity might be perfection… but not everything should come in 3’s.

Rating 4.5 Stars

J.A. Huss first captured my attention when I read the Rook and Ronin series. As soon as this book came out, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. Not only have I enjoyed her previous books, but a story about a love triangle. I'm all in!!

What I Loved:

The HOT, STEAMY, DETAILED  three way sex. Let's be honest...what woman has not fantasized about having two men in bed?? These scenes will definitely turn you on if your not conservative when it comes to sex. However, if you are, you should not be picking up a book about a three-way relationship.

"Lick her until she's comes all over your face, JD. And then kiss me motherfucker. And I better taste that come, or I'll stand you in the corner and make you watch me fuck her blind from behind."  HOT!!

The backstory. How did these three individuals wind up together? Each piece of the puzzle is slowly revealed throughout the book. Just enough to keep you on edge but not enough to bore you. It is fascinating how each character is so different from other but how they grow to love each other for their own personal reasons. I often think of myself as having two sides to my personality so I sympathized with Blue and how she loved both men but for two completely different reasons. They fulfilled something in her that she could not have received from just one. I wouldn't want to let that go either and I would prefer to remain in that environment for as long as possible.

"Everybody's got a past. Everybody is running from some demon or another. Everybody needs a second chance. If there's a person out there who has not fucked up royally and needed a second chance...well, that person hasn't lived yet."

 

Not So Much:

Far-Fetched. Yes, I think that finding a girl on the street and convincing her to give you a blow job and join your sexcapades is a rare find. It did however make the story more interesting. As I was reading, I was cursing J.A. Huss, in a nice-friendly way of course, don't you dare end this without a HEA. I really did not know where this story could go. How can a three way work in a happy ending? Doesn't someone always feel left out and eventually there is jealous and betrayal?? It was a little too HEA for me. It left me questioning the whole development of Blue and why she initially needed both JD and Ark but eventually only needed one.





CLICK IT TO READ IT!!!

Lauren's Review of If I Were You (Inside Out #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

Well, hello there!!! I took a little break from reading but jumped right back in with this one.  I have a long list of books on my TBR list and I always struggle with what to read next. This one has been on the list for a while and I figured it was time to start it.  I put it on hold because I knew it had a cliffhanger (thanks Laura) and I hate to start a book and then wait for the next one to come out. I prefer to hold off and then bang out the series in one shot. So...I am back to reading, blogging and ready to dive back into all the fabulous books that are out there. I really am at peace when it is just me and my book.

Summary: How it all started…

One day I was a high school teacher on summer break, leading a relatively uneventful but happy life. Or so I told myself. Later, I’d question that, as I would question pretty much everything I knew about me, my relationships, and my desires. It all began when my neighbor thrust a key to a storage unit at me. She’d bought it to make extra money after watching some storage auction show. Now she was on her way to the airport to elope with a man she barely knew, and she needed me to clear out the unit before the lease expired.

Soon, I was standing inside a small room that held the intimate details of another woman’s life, feeling uncomfortable, as if I was invading her privacy. Why had she let these items so neatly packed, possessions that she clearly cared about deeply, be lost at an auction? Driven to find out by some unnamed force, I began to dig, to discover this woman’s life, and yes, read her journals—-dark, erotic journals that I had no business reading. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read on obsessively, living out fantasies through her words that I’d never dare experience on my own, compelled by the three men in her life, none of whom had names. I read onward until the last terrifying dark entry left me certain that something had happened to this woman. I had to find her and be sure she was okay.

Before long, I was taking her job for the summer at the art gallery, living her life, and she was nowhere to be found. I was becoming someone I didn’t know. I was becoming her.

The dark, passion it becomes…

Rating: 4 Stars

 

What I Loved: This book has all the goodies we love to read about. The characters are so dynamic and I can't wait to find out how everything is tied together. The book is one big secret and I am eager to start book two so I can learn more about everyone. Most importantly, I want to know more about Sara's past and what happened to Rebecca to make her leave everything behind. I am all for the dominating males and this story not only had one but two and I completely enjoyed their obvious cockfights over Sara. And why not fight over a girl who says, "All I want is here and now, this piece of time. And please save the pillow talk for someone who wants it. Contrary to what you seem to think, I'm no delicate rose." Love it!!!  Plus, there definitely are so hot and steamy parts, especially that journal!! I am looking forward to book #2!!

Not So Much: I feel like I have read this storyline before (Alpha millionaire with a troubled past meets girl next door with troubled past). The only thing that seemed different was the Rebecca part. I don't mind it but sometimes parts of the book reminded me of other books I have read.

What's Next: I am moving on to Being Me (Inside Out #2) Look for my next review!

Lauren's Review of Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

Summary: You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you. When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be. I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here. I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room. But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night. Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California. It had been years since I’d seen Elec. When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again. And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane. I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Rating: 4 Stars

Overall: I was hesitant to read this book but the high rating swayed my decision to pick it up and I am very glad I did. I am always leery of a book that deals with relationship between step siblings. Something about the idea of step-siblings hooking up, kind of grosses me out. I know they are not related but just the word brother/sister in a romance novel throws me off. However, I got over it quickly with this one. The beginning of the novel is so-so but it did pick up for me in Part Two. Some of the dialogue and actions in Part One seemed outrageous for two high school students. The banter back and forth between Elec and Greta was amusing and it was cute watching the two of them grow closer.






Part Two had all the good stuff though...the drama, the emotions, the sex!

"You want more? I was going to ask her to marry me tonight at her sister's wedding. I was supposed to be engaged right at this very moment, but instead, I'm in an elevator fighting the urge to back you up against this wall and fuck you so hard that I'll have to carry you back to your room." OHH man! That got me going!!

So I do suggest reading this book, if you can hang in there. It is an engaging storyline and the characters are captivating I especially liked around 90% in when we get to the real hot sexy scene!

Lauren's Review of Tall, Tatted and Tempting (The Reed Brothers #1) by Tammy Falkner

Summary: She’s locked up tight. But he might be the key. Logan Reed is tall, tatted and tempting. Kit’s a woman with a mean right hook and a secret. Kit wants a tattoo, but Logan sees more than she intends to share in the drawing of the tat she wants. He sees her in ways no one ever has. Logan’s not disabled; but he hasn’t spoken in eight years. He hasn’t needed to. Until he meets Kit. Logan doesn’t know everything about Kit. Kit doesn’t know anything about herself, until she has to sacrifice all she ever wanted to save what’s most important to him.

 

Rating: 4 Stars

 

What I Loved: I finally got to this book!!! What drew me to this one…umm the title? Who doesn’t want someone tall, tatted and tempting? I really connected with this book. It is hard for me to pinpoint what it was about this book that kept me so absorbed. Falkner does an amazing job at slowing down the story; just enough to keep us entertained but slow enough to fall into the characters and their lives. I was invested in them and wanted everyone to come out ok.  There was a closeness between the characters that I could relate to. Coming from an Italian family, I love a story that focuses on family. I got a kick out of watching the dynamics between Logan and his three brothers.

While I could drink up Logan all day, I was really fond of the chemistry between Matt and Kit. I felt an emotional connection with this story and maybe it is because it was my time of the month while I was reading but some parts really resonated with me.

Not so Much:  I missed the hot sex! There is so much sexual tension in this book!! I was left with some blue balls by the end of this book.  So hopefully, there is more action in book two. Also, I thought the characters should have been older.  The dialogue and maturity level did not fit a 19 & 21 year old.  I find it hard to believe that a father would try to marry off his 19 year old daughter in this day and age.    

My Next Book: Moving right along to Smart, Sexy and Secretive (The Reed Brothers #2) by Tammy Falkner

Lauren's Review of Mystery Man (Dream Man #1) by Kristen Ashley

Summary: While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping. This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen.
Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length. And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams

Rating: 3.5

 

What I Loved: I recently discovered Kristen Ashley when I finally read one of her books, Own the Wind and all the good reviews I was seeing from my fellow bloggers and readers.  One of my hardest decisions in life (which I guess is a good thing) is trying to decide what to read next. I have almost 600 books in my TBR list and 83 are in my “need to read now” shelf and I still struggle picking up a new book.  Kristen Ashley has now become one of my go-to authors when I do not have something lined up or I am feeling stuck.  Overall, the story has a good plot that keeps you going.  I wouldn’t say I was blown away but it’s an engaging read, there were some dull moments.  The characters are entertaining and I did have a couple of chuckles throughout the book.  You can’t go wrong with an alpha male in my opinion. There is just something so hot about a dominant male telling you what to do and Kristen Ashley seems to nail that male character for me.

Not So Much: While a mystery man is one of many women’s fantasies. I cannot imagine letting a man sneak into my bedroom every couple of nights for a year and half and not get suspicious.  This ate at me throughout the story.  It just seemed kind of silly to let a man sneak into your house, fuck him good and then have him leave. It might be hot once or maybe even twice but to let that shit go on for a year and half seems kind of stupid, no? Oh, and then when he sees her in the daylight...magically falls in love in her. 

Next Read: Tall, Tatted and Tempting (The Reed Brothers #1) by Tammy Falkner

Lauren's Review of Black Lies by Alessandra Torre

Summary: Brant: Became a tech billionaire by his twentieth birthday. Has been in a relationship with me for 3 years. Has proposed 4 times. Been rejected 4 times.

Lee: Cuts grass when he’s not banging housewives. Good with his hands, his mouth, and his cock. Has been pursued relentlessly by me for almost 2 years, whether he knows it or not.

Go ahead. Judge me. You have no idea what my love entails. If you think you’ve heard this story before, trust me – you haven’t.

Rating: 4 Stars

What I Loved: I have to be extra careful with this review because there is so much going on and I do not want to ruin this book for our followers. I love when a book is so captivating that I secretly read in places I shouldn't be because I just HAVE to keep going. Alessandra Torre gives us a new perspective where every turn of the page, I was trying to figure out where this story was going. There is a big secret which I did figure out relatively early in the book and while I like to think I am a smarty pants, there are enough clues to figure it out before it is revealed. I wouldn't say this is a five star read but it does offer an original story that keeps you immersed. And in all honesty, what woman wouldn't mind having a little bit of Brant and Lee in their lives. I actually wouldn't mind having a little more Lee in my life. "I'm worried I'll fuck you so well I'll ruin you for life." Well c'mon baby, ruin me for life ;)




Cons:
The book drags a bit in the beginning and it does get a little annoying at the end of each chapter when the characters keep discussing the "lies". Once the secret is revealed I don't think there is much left in the book. The "secret" is what kept the book flowing to me and once I confirmed what I was thinking, there was not a lot of places the story could go for me. Also, there were was too many moments when I wanted to punch Layana in the face that kept this book from going any higher than a four star read for me.

My biggest issue with Layana is how she stressed in the beginning of the book that she was a child of wealth and she was expected to go off to an Ivy League school to meet her future rich husband. She wanted nothing of that world and tries to avoid it with a couple of wild nights with strangers but then she ends up with Brant, a billionaire with limos, multiple houses and private jets. It seems like everything she didn't want to become is everything that she became and that just annoys the hell out of me.