Review and Giveaway: Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster

Love Undercover Series:

Book 3:

Getting Rowdy: Rowdy Yates and Avery Mullins

Purchase on Amazon: Lori Foster – Getting Rowdy (Hqn)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Charismatic bar owner Rowdy Yates isn’t the kind of man women say no to. So when he approaches waitress Avery Mullins, he fully expects to get her number. However, the elusive beauty has her reasons for keeping her distance-including a past that might come back to haunt them both.

Avery spends her nights working for tips…and trying to forget the secret Rowdy is determined to unearth. But when history threatens to repeat itself, Avery grows to rely on Rowdy’s protective presence. As the sparks between them ignite, she will be forced to choose between the security she’s finally found…and the passion she’s always wanted.

Review:

Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster was an enjoyable ride of a book, I enjoyed it more than I expected too. I knew I liked Avery going into this book, she is a feisty character who wouldn’t let Rowdy treat her for less than she is worth. It was Rowdy I was concerned about, going into this book I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Sure he is a manwhore, I don’t have any problems with that, I enjoy a reformed manwhore story, I think it was more of as soon as Avery would let him down he’s go fishing in the same pond. Dude, Really?! You’re interested in a chick, like really interested but then go hit on chicks right in front of her. Eh, not cute. So I think that was my problem with Rowdy. In this book, while he starts off as still a manwhore we kind of get more reasoning behind it and while it is still not cute, he starts to prove that he is more than his man parts. I love how loyal he is to his sister and his friends. He might reluctantly be friends with cops but he will go out of his way to help any of them if they had need. He also shows he’s a freak’n bleeding heart where it comes to abused children, it’s quite touching actually. Rowdy ends up redeeming himself, at least to me. Avery, I liked coming into the book, as mentioned I wasn’t worried about her. She is feisty, take no shit kind of girl, but she wasn’t always that way. What surprised me is that Avery has a history of her own and not all of a good one. She comes from an affluent background but something happened that made her turn her back on all of money and society, she struck out on her own looking over her shoulder. When trouble comes, and it always comes, she is fiercely protective of Rowdy and cares for him as no one else has ever done. She rocks Rowdy to the core. She doesn’t do anything he expects her to do, leaving him off balance. Watching these two push and pull is highly entertaining.

The story is fast paced and pretty much has some sort of action throughout. Rowdy can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. There are shoot outs, bar fights and other such things to keep you thoroughly entertained throughout the book. All the usual suspects also return, so you can catch up with some of the previous characters. I don’t think you will be disappointed with this installment of the Love Undercover Series, I know I wasn’t!

Rating:

*This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on Where the Night Kind Roam blog.

Now for the good stuff! I’m giving away a copy of this book! The rules: comment (and make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win) on this post about anything you want to be entered. It would be nice if you followed this blog on WP or “Liked” our Facebook page as well as Lori Fosters but it not required. This giveaway ends 11/03/2013

This is only open to US residents. Sorry friends, but international shipping can get expensive.

Review: Anna Campbell – A Rake’s Midnight Kiss

Sons of Sin Series:

Book 2:

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss: Sir Richard Harmsworth and Genevieve Barrett

Purchase on Amazon: Anna Campbell – A Rake’s Midnight Kiss (Sons of Sin)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

It Takes A Lady
Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father’s academic articles has always been her greatest deception—until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn’t reveal that she recognizes her father’s devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all…

To Catch A Thief
Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish façade to show society that he doesn’t care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father’s identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard’s heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure…

Review:

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell is the second in the Sons of Sin Series which is about a group of three friends whose circumstances of birth are questionable. Richard may have had it worse than his two friends as his “father” was gone for 18 months when he was born and his mother never bowed down to the Ton. Born and raised in scandal. One night Richard determined that by obtaining a family jewel that had disappeared he would finally get the redemption that he so badly needed. Enter in Genevieve, by a strange twist she inherited Richards family jewel and she has refused to sell to him multiple times. He will stop at nothing to get his jewel, even if it means seducing the delectable Genevieve.

From the beginning I liked Richard, he is pretty hard not to like. He is affable, a bit rakish but a good guy underneath it all. He cares about his friends and would do anything for them. You feel his pain on how he grew up, you definitely understand the façade he has had to develop to deal with his birth circumstances. From the first he sets out to charm Genevieve, she’s a hard sell but he cracks her armor little by little. He definitely puts in the work; it very quickly becomes less about the jewel and more about the woman. As a character he grows and finds himself, consider him a late bloomer. Genevieve as a character I had trouble relating to for a while. She can come off as cold and hard to please. After a while she started to grow on me, she starts to thaw out a little bit. She has basically grown up with her own father ripping her off on a regular basis, that’s got to hurt. He doesn’t particularly care about her and her well being is not one of his priorities unless it directly affects him. So I get it. Richard does a pretty good job on getting her to lighten up little by little. So by the end of the book you even like her, if not love her.

For about the first quarter of the book I had troubles getting into the story, it was a bit on the slow side. After about 25% it starts to pick up and I found myself really getting into the story We get some betrayal, thefts, passion and a case of opposites attract. Our two characters develop a lot over the course of the book both together as well as apart. Anna Campbell remains one of my favorite historical authors. She writes very well, her characters are fully developed, her stories passionate as well as humorous. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in this series!

Rating:

This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on http://paranormalromancenovel.com

Review: Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich

Hard Feelings Series:

Book 2:

Feel the Rush: Meagan Mitchell and Reed Porter

Purchase on Amazon.com: Feel the Rush: A Hard Feelings Novel (InterMix)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier…

Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful—and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads, it’s time to find Mr. Safe…

Army Captain, Reed Porter, lives for the thrill—he’s an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not in his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid…

As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill? Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?

Review:

What a great story! I read the first book in the series and really liked it, but I got to say this one was better! I had loved Ronnie’s hard ass attitude but adored Meagan soft heart. We met Meagan in the Valentines Arrangement, she was Kale’s friends with benie’s before he found Ronnie. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of her coming into this book, but I found she was a pleasant surprise. She has a great sense of humor, she’s that kind of quiet one that out of nowhere cracks a smart ass comment and has everyone laughing. That’s almost my favorite kind of humor because you never quite see it coming. Romantically, her dating life has been a disaster. She is coming up on the big 3-0 and always thought she would be married with kids by the time she was 30. To escape a bad dating pattern she picks up and moves when her best friend Eva (who I also loved btw) came up on orders. Only, she falls right into the arms of her very first one night stand, Reed Porter, only its 8 years later and he doesn’t recognize her. This time Meagan is determined to break the pattern and to not sleep with the irresistible Reed. But Reed has other plans for her.

Reed is our adrenaline junky! Meagan nicknamed him Mr. Thrill and it fits. He will do anything for a rush, and right now chasing Meagan is giving him a rush of a lifetime, but he’s not a forever type of guy. Meagan has made it clear what she is looking for, but Reed wants to give it a go anyway. Although Reed comes off as a fun loving guy, he has demons of his own. There is a reason he doesn’t form many lasting attachments. When you lose the other part of your soul it leaves a pretty lasting impact. Reed leads on a fun pursuit of Meagan and it is definitely fun to read, the push and pull between these two strong willed characters is entertaining. I didn’t want to put the book down and when I did I couldn’t wait to pick it back up to see what these two get themselves into next. Ultimately I saw the general outcome coming, yet not. Kelsie Leverich definitely threw a wrench in what I thought was going to happen. I have to admit it brought a tear to my eye and I’m sure it will bring others to a full out ugly cry. But this made me love Meagan and Reed all that much more. Ultimately Reed has to decide if his adrenaline filled lifestyle is worth his happiness whether he thinks he deserves it or not.

This was a fun entertaining ride which was enhanced by the side characters. I loved each and every one of them! And I am looking forward to each and every one of their books! So yeah, Kelsie Leverich, Im going to need you to get on these books ASAP!

Rating:

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on http://paranormalromancenovel.com .

*And on a side note, I met the lovely Kelsie Leverich at the Naughty Mafia Las Vegas signing and she is a super sweetheart!

ARC Review: Jessica Sorensen – Breaking Nova

Nova Series:

Book 1:

Breaking Nova: Nova Reed and Quinton Carter

 

Expected publication: September 3rd 2013

Purchase on Amazon:  Jessica Sorensen – Breaking Nova

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she’s getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn’t want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he’s done, what he’s lost. He’s sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he’s too damaged to get close to her, yet she’s the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

Review:

Jessica Sorensen has quickly climbed the list to one of my favorite authors. She creates such in depth emotional characters. From the very prolog we are taken on one of the most emotional books I have read in a while. I swear I was almost crying from the prolog, I mean seriously who gets emotionally attached to the characters from a prolog, but it is IMPACTFUL!

Both Nova and Quinton about break my heart, the sadness and loss they both carry around just tears at your heart. Nova and Quinton are both characters that will pull at your heart strings and you’ll remember long after you’ve finished the book. In fact I’ve been thinking about these two since I finished the book about a week ago. While I was reading the book I didn’t want it to end, I saw the ending approaching and I was dreading it.

I’m not going to say a whole lot happens in this book, because not a ton does. This story is about the characters and their emotional journeys. Nova lost her dad at a young age, she was there when his heart gave out, that stayed with her. When she met Landon her new neighbor, he quickly became her best friend and then later her boyfriend. When he left her too, what was left of her heart was shattered and man can you feel it. Her pain is palpable, when she gets to college, things get a little better but come crashing around her when she goes home for the summer. At home, everything is too raw and fresh and she starts on a downward spiral.

Quinton, his pain if possible is worse than Nova’s. A year ago, he was a good guy with ambition and a drive to do well, he wanted to be an artist and to marry his girlfriend Lexi. **spoiler** Then an accident happened that killed Lexi, his cousin and…him… only Quinton was able to be revived. **end spoiler** Since that fateful night, Quinton has been doing his best to forget life and to slowly drown himself in alcohol and weed. The angst, oh the angst.. so good is this angst…

I’m not usually all about the angst, but with this book it was so very good. Nova and Quinton find in each other kindred spirits. Both are carrying around so much loss and heartbreak, as each spirals further out of control in each other they find some peace, but the guilt they carry around may destroy them both. Through the entire book you want these two to find the peace they both so desperately need. Nova and Quinton take you on this emotional rollercoaster that will have you in tears or close to it. There are certain aspects of this book that I really identified with. **spoiler** having lost three friends from suicide I could really identify with the thoughts that swirled around in Nova’s head when it came to Landon. The thoughts of were there signs? Was there something you could have done to save them? Why didn’t they love everyone enough to stay? **end spoiler**

The only thing I didn’t adore was the constant references to smoking, it gets to the point, where you are like ok, I get it, they are all pot heads. LOL! At times it was over emphasized but the rest is so good, I could live with it. When you pick up this book and you definitely should, make sure you have your Kleenex handy!

Rating:

 

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*You can also view this review on http://paranormalromancenovel.com 

There is this song that reminds me so much of Quinton. Its by Stone Sour – Bother. I don’t usually include video clips but in this case it is so perfect I can’t resist.

 

 

 

ARC Review: Christine D’Abo – Choose your Shoot: An Interactive Erotic Adventure

Long Shots Series:

Book 5:

Choose Your Shot: An Interactive Erotic Adventure – Tegan, Master Grant, Eli or Adam

 

 

Purchase on Amazon:  Choose Your Shot: An Interactive Erotic Adventure (Long Shots)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Come explore the newer, naughtier Maverick’s, where you are in control of the story.

It’s been a year since the decadent BDSM club was gutted in a fire. Tegan has scored an invitation to the grand reopening, where she can finally indulge the needs she’s ignored for too long. On her wicked wish list: a thorough spanking, adventurous playmates and complete erotic satisfaction.

As a switch, Tegan can find pleasure as either a sub or a Domme. The question is, what—and who—is she in the mood for tonight?

Master Grant: dominant and drop-dead gorgeous, he hasn’t forgotten their last encounter. He’ll make sure Tegan gets what she craves—if she submits to him alone.

Eli: the sexy switch has always wanted more from Tegan. But taking their relationship to the next level could mean risking their friendship.

Adam: the last man Tegan expects to encounter at the club, but one she’d love to see more of—if he behaves…

Choose which ending you want for Tegan, or explore all of the sensual possibilities.

Review:

What a great concept for erotica, you get to choose where the story goes; you can pick different scenarios and then go back and try something new. Due to the nature of the story(s) I’m not quite sure how to go about reviewing this book but I’ll do my best. . It’s like 3+ stories in one. I did go back and try different scenes and take Tegan through different possibilities. It was quite fun, I do have to admit.

So the choose your own adventure part of the book is fun and intriguing you get to take Tegan through her paces. Decide you don’t like one of the scenes, that’s ok, go try a different one. There are several scenes within scenes that you can choose from making this all sorts of fun.

As for the story(s) itself, I have been a fan of the Long Shots series by Christine D’Abo for a while so I was excited to see this one pop up. Mavericks is back after a year absence after the fire, only now Paul is in charge. If we met Tegan in one of the previous books, I don’t remember her, but that’s ok. I like that Tegan is a switch that allows for more opportunity to choose your own adventure. For me I preferred the scene as her as a Sub, I have to admit, I found Master Grant sexy. So this was my favorite scene, I also tried her out as a Domme. For me the Domme scenario didn’t seem as natural to her. I do admit that I skipped the Eli scenario, I was curious about him but I read the Master Grant scene first and Eli lost his appeal, I’ll probably go back to it but for now, I’m letting it lie. Adam was enjoyable as a character, he’s a sub, but not too submissive. He really just wants to please a woman, he gets off on it. Who wouldn’t want a man that all he wants to do is make you happy? It’s an intriguing concept, but as mentioned this scene felt a little more forced.

What I didn’t like about the choose your adventure is I felt like we didn’t get to know the characters as well. It’s like little snippets of who they are. The endings are also very abrupt to me. The romance lover in me wanted to see more of a conclusive outcome for each of the scenes. I think that could have been elaborated on more, instead of.. BAM “The End”. I didn’t feel like I got my HEA with any of the scenes, we were on our way to it, but it gets cut off.

Overall, I really enjoyed this concept which may not be new in general, but is new to this genre. It is different and fun. I do feel like there is some room for improvement, but it’s a great start and if Christine D’Abo decides to do another, I’d probably read it. Do I want to see all my erotica this way, no not really, but as a once in a while treat, sure. Maybe, we can get a Tegan 2^nd go around to see how these scenes turned out after they leave the club or all new scenes.

Rating:

 

 

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

Review: Susan Mallery – Three Little Words

Fool’s Gold Series:

Book 13:

Three Little Words: Ford Hendrix and Isabel Carlisle

Purchase on Amazon:  Three Little Words (Fool’s Gold)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Isabel Carlisle thinks she’s cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another…man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she’ll pursue her real dreams. At least, that’s the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again….

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can’t take his eyes-or his lips-off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool’s Gold forever-if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same….

Review:

Another hit in the Fools Gold series, I mean really you can’t go wrong with this series when you are looking for something light hearted that will give you a little pick me up. Like the rest of the books it is quirky and humorous. In this one, Ford a Navy Seal is terrified of no one or nothing except his own mother! TO get her off his back he manages to convince Isabel to be his fake girlfriend. Isabel isn’t quite sure how he gets her to convince her to be his pretend girlfriend but here she is doing girlfriend duty. From the start of the arrangement it doesn’t really feel fake to the reader. The chemistry between Isabel and Ford is anything but fake. I like the angle of Isabel writing to him all of those years and a young girls letters becoming his anchor in the midst of war. It’s very sweet! This whole book is sweet. I really enjoyed how the whole book played out.

As an added bonus we also get Consuelas Happily Ever After. Consuela and Kent get almost as much page time as Isabel and Ford, which really picks up the pace of this book. Two books in one, score! Consuela is tough as nails but has always wanted a normal life, but her’s has been anything but. When she meets Kent she is terrified of him and what he makes her feel. There is no way someone as normal as Kent could ever go for a rough around the edges killer like her. Kent is great! He knows that Consuela has done some things she is not proud of, but he never lets that get in the way. He always treats her like a cherished female. He knows she knows at least 50 ways to kill him, but he trusts her with not only his body but his heart as well. We don’t get to know Kent as well as we do Ford, but you have a pretty good picture of him by the end of the book. This is not our first rodeo with Consuelo so we know more about her. It’s good to see her soften a bit, but not too much because that’s just not her. She stays pretty true to her character.

Three Little Words is another great installment in the Fools Gold seriesthat I thoroughly enjoyed! Great job Susan Mallery, we have come to count on your light hearted romances that will give you a good chuckle!

Rating:

*This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Olivia Cunning – Wicked Beat

The Sinners On Tour:

Book 4:

Wicked Beat: Eric Sticks and Rebekah

Purchase on Amazon:  Wicked Beat (The Sinners on Tour)

Summary:

From goodreads.com

From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners’ new front of house soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks knows he has to make Rebekah his. Unfortunately, she’s too busy trying to seduce guitarist Trey Mills to pay him much attention. Rebekah never planned to fall for the tall, goofy drummer with the weird sense of humor and a heart the size of the galaxy. But Eric makes her laugh and his constant attention makes her feel sexy and irresistible–exactly what she needs after the things her last lover said to her. A woman who gives as much as she takes, Rebekah makes Eric feel like a total stud–exactly what he needs after surviving a decade of watching the incredibly talented members of Sinners from the wings.

Review:

So I’m sad for the end of this series. It’s been a crazy ride but alas all good things must come to the end and since we are out of band members it time to move on, thankfully we still have Exodus End and they are on tour with the Sinners, so we’ll still get glimpses of our guys!

Eric, up until now has been a bit of a mystery we don’t know that much about him. We know he is the creative genius of the band, yet probably the least celebrated as the drummer of the band, oh and we know he LOVES to watch! We probably saw the most from him in Jace’s book and I think my heart broke a little for him when he was so despondent. I think of most of the guys, he’s the one that wanted someone to love the most. As an orphan who was bounced around the system he never really had any love and he is more than ready for it. Who would have thought that goofy Eric is really a hopeless romantic? I didn’t really see it coming, but he turns out to be such a sweet one he had me in tears at the end of the book which is why this one gets a five! (if I hadn’t cried, I would have given it a 4 or 4.5 but I have a rule!) I really enjoyed Eric! He’s not my favorite Sinner, but he definitely moved up the list after this book.

Rebekah may be my favorite Sinner chick of the series, which truthfully isn’t really saying that much. The women of this series are not my favorite heroines of any series but Rebekah she was fun and spunky. After she almost lost her life she has such a zest for life and to live it to its fullest. She attacks things head on and really goes for it. She’s a bit of a tomboy and a car enthusiast. When she first goes on tour with the Sinners its Trey she has a thing for, but as Eric makes her laugh he quickly turns her hear in his direction which makes me happy. Trey would have been all wrong for her. At first I had a bit of a problem with how she just started the job and she is messing around almost immediately but whatev’s I decided to take it all in the spirit that its intended. Rebekah is very patient with Eric, he is a bit quick on the trigger, be she is more than willing to work with him on it. In fact she likes his excitement. When we meet Rebekah I am sad to say her self-esteem when it comes to her sex appeal was in the toilet. After what her ex said to her, I don’t blame her. Eric’s enthusiasm goes a long way to healing those hurts.

As a couple, I really enjoyed Eric and Reb. They are all sorts of fun, I loved all the costumes and role play, it adds a bit of humor to an act that tends to not lean towards humor but I think every couple should have a bit of fun in the sack. I am afraid we have to live through some insta-love in this book. I will say it wasn’t obnoxious like a lot of other insta-love situations and it sorta worked since both characters are pretty loved starved, but I would have preferred that they held off a bit on the exclamations on love. The sex was hot hot hot, which was the main plot of the book. For as much as this book centered around sex, I’m surprised we knew the characters as well as we did, but there wasn’t much else that happens in the book. Don’t get me wrong it’s still entertaining and I highly enjoyed this book. Overall, it’s not the best book in the series but it is a solid one. It was a good way to end the series. Now I want to re-read the entire series in order.

Rating:

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review; no other compensation was provided.

Review: Katie Lane – Flirting with Texas

Deep in the Heart of Texas:

Book 5:

Flirting with Texas: Beau Cates and Jenna Jay Scroggs

 

 

Purchase on Amazon: Click here for Flirting with Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas)

 

 

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM HOME, COWGIRL

On her own in the Big Apple, Jenna Jay Scroggs can handle herself when trouble arises. But when she tries to rescue a horse, the passionate do-gooder ends up on a runaway Central Park carriage ride with a hunky stranger. With his sexy drawl and well-worn Levis, Beauregard Cates is doing his darnedest to make Jenna homesick for the small western town she’s spent years trying to forget. And it’s working: She’s dangerously close to falling head over boot heels for the rugged rodeo star with hair the color of moonshine.

Beau came to the big city to escape his past and live life to the fullest. Yet the leggy blonde with eyes as blue as a western sky causes a real hitch in his giddy-up. So when the well-meaning folks of Bramble plot to bring Jenna home, Beau will need to convince her that she won’t ever get Texas out of her blood – or one good-time, ever-lovin’ cowboy out of her heart.

Review:

Katie Lane is among my favorites when it comes to contemporary westerns. Her stories are light fun and always amusing. Beau and Jenna were such a cute couple. Jenna is a tomboy who never really felt like she fit in anywhere. When her and her parents got in a tiff over her choice in boyfriend she ran off to New York with him, where she has been ever since. Beau is running from his own demons. A cancer survivor, with a suspicious mass looming over his head he is determined to run as far and as fast rom Texas as he can. If he can’t have the one thing he wants; he’s going to spend what is left of his life “living life to its fullest” aka running away from his family.

The Hens send Beau after Jenna claiming she is a “Hen” and that they need her address. When Jenna and Beau meet it is memorable to say the least. It involves her kicking his a$$! Jenna is feisty as hell and a crusader. Always championing the underdog she is always getting herself into trouble. Beau is an expert in getting himself out of trouble, but the minute he meets Jenna he realizes that some trouble you just don’t want to get out of. When Beau and Jenna are kidnapped by the crazy town of Bramble, Texas a wild ride ensues. Both Jenna and Beau take a journey to self-discovery that leaves them both a bit uncomfortable.

As separate characters I loved both Jenna and Beau. Jenna is that go getter with a kind heart, she’s a champion of the underdog and you just can’t help yourself. She has such a big heart you love her almost instantly. Beau we met before and I don’t know about you, but I fell in love with him in the last book. He survived cancer and now he is determined to live life. He’s more than a little aimless; but when your future is so uncertain I think it is almost a natural feeling to try to pack everything you can in while you can. He’s been wandering the world for two years not really caring and avoiding his family. As couple, I like Beau and Jenna even more. They are just so cute together. I don’t even know what specifically makes them such a cute couple, but they just are! Beau is happy go lucky and laid back, Jenna is a go getter and somehow they enhance each other, plus their attraction is explosive. At the end when Jenna and Beau are “fighting” it had me cracking up! Jenna was definitely making Beau fight for it!

The only issue I had with this book was the Marcy plotline, it wasn’t very believable and it distracted from Jenna and Beau. I wanted more time with Beau and Jenna and less with Marcy, but I guess it had its place. What I liked with this book, as with the rest of the books in the series is the town and all the townspeople. Like Susan Mallory’s Fools Gold series, the town is almost its own character. The towns’ people are more than a little bit crazy but it’s so entertaining! I very much enjoyed this book!

Rating:

 

 

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review no other compensation was provided.

Review: Jessica Sorensen – The Redemption of Callie and Kayden

The Coincidence Series:

Book 2:

The Redemption of Callie and Kayden: Kayden Owens and Callie Lawrence

Purchase on Amazon: Jessica Sorensen – The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

Summary:

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse, he’s facing charges for battery. The only way he stands a chance against the charges is if Callie speaks up, something he’ll never ask her to do.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But saving him means admitting her secrets aloud. Callie and Kayden are stronger than they think, especially when they’re together. Together they move forward, face their demons, and finally start to heal from their traumatic pasts.

Review:

Jessica Sorensen as done it again, Sorensen has quickly become one of my favorite authors and by far my favorite New Adult author. Callie and Kayden wormed their way into my heart in the first book. Both are just so damaged but trying to make the best of their situations. When we left the first book it was on one of the worst/best cliffhangers ever! It was doozy. When we pick up this book it is right after the events of the previous book. We find out pretty quickly the fate of Kayden.

Even though Kayden survives the knife wound in his side it is played off as a suicide attempt and he is separated from Callie. The beginning of this book is the struggle between Callie and Kayden as they adjust to Kayden’s new situation. When they finally come together it is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Each is so terribly broken, but together they become stronger both as individuals as well as a couple. Together, yet separately they face the demons that have had them running for so long. Sorensen takes on an emotional journey along with Callie and Kayden; she is a master at making you feel what the character’s feel. You laugh, you cry, and you feel frustrated all along with the characters. I definitely cried in this book, tho I cry in almost all of Sorensen’s books. When Kayden recounts his childhood you cry for the child he was and for the man that he is becoming.

Callie also makes you tear up, she opens up more to Kayden about her own trauma and again you feel a loss of a childhood, innocence torn from a young girl. You’d have to be ice to not feel anything for these damaged characters. When Callie opens up to those she needs to most it’s a bit anti-climactic, but at that point it was almost a perfect way to approach it. By this time, Callie was healing, she was moving past her 12^th birthday, and she was starting anew and no longer living in her fear. When it all went down, she became the strong one, she had to be. Kayden was there with her in spirit and in body.

This book was definitely steamier from the first and Callie explores her sexuality with Kayden. Although Kayden was the one the experience when he is with Callie, it’s almost like he’s experiencing things for the first time as well. While Callie and Kayden take their emotional journey Seth and Ethan of course are right there with them. Luke, in particular is still a bit mysterious and we want to know more about him; which is a good thing since his book is next and I cannot wait for it. It looks like it’s going to be GOOD and I would not expect anything less from Jessica Sorensen.

Rating: 5 Romanticals

*This copy was provided through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Tiffany Reisz – The Mistress

The Original Sinners Series:

Book 4:

The Mistress: Nora Sutherlin

Expected publication: July 30th 2013

Purchase on Amazon: Tiffany Reisz – The Mistress (The Original Sinners)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

There’s punishment-and then there’s vengeance.

Nora Sutherlin is being held, bound and naked. Under different circumstances, she would enjoy the situation immensely, but her captor isn’t interested in play. Or pity.

As the reality of her impending peril unfolds, Nora becomes Scheherazade, buying each hour of her life with stories-sensual tales of Søren, Kingsley and Wesley, each of whom has tempted and tested and tortured her in his own way. This, Nora realizes, is her life: nothing so simple, so vanilla, as a mere love triangle for her. It’s a knot in a silken cord, a tangled mass of longings of the body and the heart and the mind. And it may unravel at any moment.

But in Nora’s world, no one is ever truly powerless-a cadre of her friends, protectors and lovers stands ready to do anything to save her, even when the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak….

Review:

So I just finished the book and at the very end, i kept clicking thinking there was no way she was going to end the series like that! click click away until I finally had to admit defeat and alas it was the end. =(

Love her or hate her you have to admit that Tiffany Reisz can write a damn book! The characters are developed the scenes so real you feel like you are there with them. Surprisingly funny and yet intense at the same time. She pushes your comfort zone sometimes to places you don’t want to go, but you can’t stop reading anyway. Although this is probably the tamest book in the series sex wise this series as a whole is not for the squeamish.

For me this book pulls things together, the things that may have made you uncomfortable in previous books are brought into better light in this book, more understanding behind the feelings or thought processes of some of the characters. Tiffany Reisz has this way of explaining the lifestyle in a way that I think even the most “vanilla” would have an easier time understanding, they may not agree with it, but they have a better understanding of the kink lifestyle.

As previously mentioned kink wise this book is probably the tamest but it s still highly entertaining. Nora becomes our sensual story teller as she takes us through some of her previous sexcapades. In the Prince sometime the the switching from present to past was jarring as you are yanked out of one scene into another, this time the transition is more fluid and natural. You don’t feel jarred as we move from the present into story telling mode. For me the transitioning between timelines and characters was flawless and I expect nothing less from Reisz. I loved this book as much as the previous. By the end I was pretty satisfied with everyone’s paths and there a few extra surprises thrown in. It also looks like Reisz left it open for some novellas for the future as this is supposed to be the last full length of this series. Although Griffin and Michael aren’t in this book much and I missed them. They are my favorite M/M couple!

Rating 4.5 Romanticals