ok, really, this one was a 2.5 for me, but I'm rounding up to a 3 because I still love this series, although I thought this particular book had many problems. Let's start with lack of plot. Not much happens in this book. Eric meets someone and they have sex. A lot of sex. pages and pages of it. too many pages of it, if that's possible. There are a few key scenes that are full of emotion and conflict and what I come to expect from an Olivia Cunning book, but then they just turn into yet another sex scene. Lots of wasted opportunities to have a real plot. There was not enough conflict in this, and when it did appear, it seemed contrived from characters that were acting very much out of character. Rebekah... at times I liked her, and other times, like when she's acting like an incredible slut, I didn't like her all that much. I got that she was trying to live life to the fullest, but it came across as slutty, not sexy. One minute she into Trey and then next Eric? And in a position for a three way minutes after meeting these guys? It just felt wrong. At there were spots in this book I thought, "who are these guys?" For the second time in this series, OC has written a character that I've loved in the past book, and made me not like them. Trey's behavior in this seemed very out of character to me. I've always seen him as more of a seducer, and I didn't feel he was portrayed that way in Wicked Beat. But there were a few bright moments, and glad that Eric got a Happily Ever After. Overall, too much sex used to mask lack of plot, mixed with odd characterizations. Not one of my favorites in this series.
I love this series. It’s got really incredible characters, action-based plotlines, an interesting world and last but not least, some of the hottest, dirtiest, and creative erotic scenes I’ve read. Really, my review could consist of three words… Go READ this! Beyond Pain is about Bren, an O’Kane with a reputation for not only kicking ass in the cage, but for servicing the women afterward. He’s got some pretty serious baggage. Good thing he has his O’Kane family to watch over him.Six is still trying to put her life together after years of abuse at the hand of Wilson Trent. She’s not sure about trusting anyone, even the O’Kane gang that has taken her in, but she is willing to help Dallas as he moves into Sector Three and she’s developed feelings for Bren that she is struggling to understand. I thought Beyond Pain to be a bit more visceral than Beyond Control, and I liked that. As a reader I liked the intimate view of these two as they worked through their issues about trust and sex. I just love this world that the ladies called Kit Rocha have created. They’ve done something very interesting with sex here and how its viewed by the O’Kanes. Sector four is everything Eden isn't, and that includes open sexuality. The views on sex in this world are twisted just right for me, making it both subtle and in-your-face interesting. The erotic scenes are fresh, sexy and dirty and have a natural quality to them that this world promotes. It’s really done well, much better than I’m explaining it here, but the world building in this series is just outstanding in my estimation. I always feel get the sense that I’m watching the action in this series from eye level, right down in it, instead of above like a spectator.The complex and interesting characters in this series are fabulous too. The buffet of bad boys as I’ve called them since Beyond Shame didn’t disappoint in this installment. And kudos to Kit Rocha for continuing to include the characters from the previous books as the series continues. We get a great look at Dallas, now he has his queen Lex at his side. Even Lex’s role as Dallas’ queen isn’t your traditional view, with her counseling him in private. No, she’s front and center, running things right along side him. I’m kinda hoping that we get to see what happens when that dynamic gets challenged. There’s plenty of Ace, Cruz and Rachel in Beyond Pain, setting up for the next book in the series. Ace continues to be one of my favorite characters, and we get to see some of his other talents (and Rachel's too) in Beyond Pain. Overall, LOVE this series. One of the best reads for me this year. Big thanks to Donna and Bree from Kit Rocha Kitrocha.com for giving this reader something dark, sexy and full of action, just the way I like it.
I just loved this book. I found it captivating and could not put it down until I hit the last page. I like Charlotte Stein’s heroines, maybe because I can see a bit of myself or my friends in them, but mostly I like that she takes the reader deep into their thoughts and feelings. Run to You is told in first person, present tense from Alissa’s view point. She’s an ordinary girl, with a boring job, a boring life and not much to look forward to. She takes a chance and decides to check out a mysterious appointment in her friend’s calendar, where she bumps into the enigmatic and rich Hungarian, Janos Kovacs. More about Janos later. .Alissa’s commentary about the world around her and how she feels was very engaging to me. Her inner thoughts were often lyrical. I loved how she phrased her observations and I had loads of quotes highlighted that struck a chord with me. It was hard to choose, but these were some of my favorites.“It’s bad enough that I’m surrounded by all of this opulence. I don’t want to smear my poverty and inelegance all over it.”“I’ve somehow slipped into Bluebeard’s cupboard without knowing it, and now I’m dancing amidst the dead girls.”“Or maybe I’m just really easy to read. I’m a neglected book that’s been left somewhere damp, swollen to twice its size and suddenly filled with enormous words. Most of them probably ask for help. Some might mention loneliness.”“I want to go too far. I’m tired of living in the land of not far enough. Janos is rich and sexy, exactly the opposite of how Alissa’s sees herself. Yet, there is a charm to him, as he peels back her layers, and gets her to open up to even deeper thoughts and feelings. And then Alissa turns the spotlight on Janos and does the same to him. It’s really quite lovely, how they fall in love. And still Alissa doesn’t believe, can’t hope for what is happening to them. So she does what she has always done, and she runs. We don’t really get to see much of Alissa’s life beyond her interactions with Janos until the very end, when her friend Lucy has a very frank discussion with Alissa. I liked that Charlotte Stein brought Lucy back at the end. It was nice closure and set up for the wonderful ending. I really liked Janos Kovacs. Yes, he’s rich, manly, gorgeous, but he wasn’t like so many of the other billionaire heros I’ve read lately. He is able to bring something out of Alissa, and out of himself because of her. He also has some awesome lines, and I think I fell a little in love with him myself when he says to Alissa, “If it’s so easy -- if it only takes a day, a moment, a new dress and some shoes and a hairstyle that didn’t suit you -- to transform someone into something that fits into my world, why on earth would it matter to me at all?”Overall, I thought this was a sweet story that I couldn’t put down. It is appropriate that through most of the book there are really only two voices in this, Alissa and Janos. The sex is scorching hot too, with light BDSM elements. The book left me with a good feeling, so if you are in the mood for a love story, and like to get deep into the characters thoughts and feelings, this might be a good choice. Run to You is probably my favorite Charlotte Stein title (so far) .
Ok, Loved Ty and Zane but this book had many technical issues that should have been fixed before going to the reader. The first 85% is slow, and there were times I just didn't even understand the dialogue. The serial killer plot was obvious, as was the killer once Ty cracked the code. If it wasn't for the incredible chemistry between Ty and Zane and their personal story, I would have put this down before finishing.
Amy is on the run when she meets Liam, a super-hot billionaire with a past (where have I seen that before) and in spite of knowing she shouldn’t, she lets him into her life. She’s got a shady employer, and even shadier “handler”. There are so many questions, its no wonder she has blackouts. Everyone she meets is suspicious in some way.Most everything in this book is laying the groundwork for book two, and it ends in a decent cliffhanger. Some elements of the story have been exposed, but its clear there is more to come. Who is trustworthy is the big question. I can honestly say after finishing the first book I still don’t know and I like that.There isn’t really anything new here plot-wise, but what I liked about this book was the writing, especially Amy’s inner thoughts as she is struggling with the consequences of falling for Liam. Some of what she has to say was almost poetic for me.I’m not sure how I feel about Liam. He’s hot in the bedroom, and he knows how to use his domineering personality to get what he wants. Amy is right to be suspicious of him. And then there’s the hot neighbor, Jared, who reminds her of someone from her past, and seems to turn up just at the right or wrong time. Who’s the good guy? I’m not sure. Liam does seem to fall in love rather quickly and we’ve seen the billionaire Dom in other titles, but I liked Amy and my interest in what happens to her overrode my annoyance at the overused character type. So, overall, if you like your erotic romance with a bit of mystery, you might like this. I will definitely be looking for book 2 of this series. Thanks to Julie Patra Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t very far into this when I realized how much I love Colleen Hoover’s writing. Even though I knew the story from reading Hopeless, I was sucked right into this. And while Hopeless has all the major reveals, Losing Hope takes us deep into Holder’s feelings. If Holder captured your heart in Hopeless, he will definitely seal the deal with this read. I loved the creative use of the journal. I thought it was a great way to show Holder’s grief and guilt over his sister and his falling in love with Sky. It really worked for me. It was an important part of Holder’s closure. I’m always nervous about reading a separate book from another POV since its tricky to find the right formula between new and known material. I think there was a nice mix here. I didn’t find myself wanting at the end. I enjoyed this book. It made me want to go and re-read Hopeless. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced reading copy, in exchange for an honest review.
The story is nicely paced, keeping this reader turning the pages to the end. There were a few surprises, too. It is also brutal and sad but the author does a good job with balancing the darkness with light and hope. If you are in the mood for something dark with a graphic depiction of captivity as a sex slave and its aftermath, then this might be the book for you.
Okay, so most of this book is improbable...unbelievable.. and even inconceivable and yet, fun. Not quite up to other books in this series, but I did find myself charmed with Xander, Javier and London. They were all incredibly mixed up in their own way and they sorta fit together for me. My biggest complaint was the scene at the club. The boys just behaved badly and got what they deserved. The ending was even more out there. You can't take Ours to Love too seriously. The best part of this book was the liberal use of characters from previous books in the series. :)
Oh, I liked this! Gwynneth Ever After is a sweet little fairy tale, only instead of an evil stepmother, there's lots of real life baggage. Babysitters and limited funds, broken cars and precious children with chickenpox. Gwyn Jacobs takes it all in strike. Oh, and she's got her own architectural firm she runs from her home too. Frankly, I wasn't sure how she did all of it. Gareth Connor is a successful actor. His baggage includes a failed marriage, an uncooperative ex-wife, and tons of paparazzi. When Gareth and Gwyn meet one afternoon by accident, they are both drawn to each other in spite of their different worlds and the fact that Gareth is only visiting for a few weeks.They fall for each other in spite of themselves, and it takes lots of work to make it work for them. I loved how Gareth came to Gwyn's rescue, and the fact it wasn't by throwing around his money or position was absolutely lovely. I think I may have fallen in love with him myself. Gwyn has a hard time accepting what is happening to her and her family as a result of Gareth's presence, and I really could sympathize with her situation. Having to do what's best for the children isn't always easy. The supporting characters were a great addition to the story. Sandy as Gwyn's friend, Gareth's cousin Eric and Amy were awesome additions to the story. I absolutely loved that Amy comes to Gareth's aid at the end, along with help from an unlikely source. That little scene put a huge smile on my face. And no, I'm not saying who Amy is because I don't want to spoil it!I was actually in the midst of another book when I accidentally opened this on my reader and read the first few pages. I was hooked and ended up putting the other book aside and finishing this in a day. It's not overly long or complex, but I loved it for its simplicity and realism.This is a sweet happily-ever-after that is a lovely one-day read. The story and writing is engaging and lets you fall right into Gareth's and Gwyn's situation without effort. Very glad I took the time to read this.Arc courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the Burn is a terrific erotic thriller with plenty of action, a chilling villain and an awesome tattoo. There’s great chemistry between Jay and Charlee and it didn't take many pages to care about what happened to them. This is a dark and sexy thriller with one of the most memorable opening sequences I have read in a long while. It’s gritty and graphic and made me immediately intrigued with the main characters.The secondary characters are great too. Nathan was just super, and I loved him and his dedication to Charlee. She probably wouldn’t have made it against the truly sadistic villain that is chasing her without him.I really liked Beneath the Burn. It’s got a great mix of action and introspection, very nice pacing, and characters that are interesting and original. Great job with the erotic content, too. It was creepy when it needed to be, sexy and romantic when it needed to be. That's not easy to do.Great cover too!
The Story Guy is a sweet little story of taking chances and not giving up even when life has put some really serious stumbling blocks in the way.Carrie is a librarian. She's not unhappy, but there's something missing. She browses the online dating ads, mostly for fun, but when one catches her eye she goes for it. The ad has all kinds of potential disaster written all over it. What sort of person is willing to settle for just kissing at noon in the park? Is he a story guy, like Carrie's friend Justin suggests?When she meets Brian at the park she finds out he's great at kissing, and eventually discovers why he is unable to give more than that. One of the charms of this story is that the reader doesn't get all the answers right away, so I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free. I liked the chemistry between Carrie and Brian, and for a good part of the book I read and held my breath hoping that all that potential disaster didn't turn into a real heartbreak for Carrie. It would have been easy to tell this story without ever revealing Brian's circumstances, but the author doesn't disappoint and the reasons for Brian's unique ad are revealed. It would be easy to look at Brian as a martyr, but I didn't see him that way. It is the gradual unveiling of his circumstances, Carrie's reaction to them, and Brian's response that had me liking this story. I will admit that this novella didn't grab me in the first few pages, mostly because of the present tense writing. But when it did I became fully invested, turning the pages hoping that all was going to end with a smile on my face. It's a sweet little love story. I would have liked to know Carrie and Brian a little better, so the story could have been longer, but really, that's my only wish for this. This is a terrific little read guaranteed to make you feel. I will definitely look forward to reading other stories from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Loveswept for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tiffany Reisz’s family of perfectly imperfect kinksters are back in The Mistress, picking up where The Prince left off. Nora is missing, and everyone is a mess without her. So begins the story.I can’t say much about the plot without spoiling, but it’s intricate and delicate. Tiffany Reisz does an outstanding job of crafting this story. There were small parts that were big moments, and big moments that changed outcomes. There is a lot of talking in this book and that slows down the pace a bit, but that’s okay because it gives the reader more time to spend with these incredible characters.Since I don’t want to spoil any of the plot, because really, you want to read this, I will comment on two themes that I personally liked in The Mistress and throughout the series. One was the theme of family. It is very clear that all these characters are family to each other. They care for one another at that blood level, without actually being blood relatives. I really felt the love between them in The Mistress.The capacity for love and the who, and when and the how of it is another part of this story that made an impact on me in The Mistress. Nora, Soren, Kingsley and Grace make some truly wonderful points about what it means to love someone, but the best comes from Nora who says something that captures what I felt as I read this book. “Love versus love, King. you’re comparing infinities. There is no ‘more,’ That’s not how love works. If it’s love, it’s infinite. You can’t count it.”The Mistress might be my favorite book in this series. My heart was happy and full of unmeasurable love for these characters when I got to the end. It’s a classic. Go buy it and read it. You won’t be sorry.Thanks for Harlequin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I've gotta say that I'm pretty much been enthralled with this world of lawmen and bikers that KA has created in this series and the follow-up Chaos series. They've been great reads when I need something with action and romance. While Mystery Man was enjoyable, it had some problems that made me glad that I read other books in this series first, because I might not have continued on just on the basis of this book alone. Gwen has been sharing her bed with a "mystery man" that she met a restaurant. He comes to her bed, unannounced, sleeps with her and then disappears. When Gwen's sister gets in some major trouble, Gwen finds out just who she has been sleeping with. Hawk comes and goes as he pleases. He's all alpha, and what I did like about Mystery Man is learning more about the connections between Hawk, the cops, Mitch and Brock, and Tack and Chaos. Having read Motorcycle Man already, it was nice to fill in the background between Gwen and Tack.That leads into two problems I had with this story. First off, Gwen goes from having to resort to an unknown man in her bed, to having 3, yes 3, hot guys lusting after her openly. While I did find Tack's persistence endearing, it just seemed over the top that there were 3 guys after her. What bothered me most was Hawk's treatment of Gwen. He basically dumps her, and I mean he dumps her after one of the worst days she's had since she's been involved with her sister's problems. He's cold and cruel about it too. Then he expects her to just forgive and forget that because he explains it to her later, and when she doesn't, accuses her of not being compassionate. Granted, he has a big piece of baggage he carries around, but still, that was a disturbing sequence in the book. So, overall a solid 3 for me. Loved learning a little more about Tack and the Chaos gang.
What do you get when you put together four characters each with a big load of baggage, add in some drug dealing, white water rafting, mountain climbing, car chases and a dash of romance? Freefall. I really enjoyed this. There was a ton of action, which I love, and the pacing supported it very well. The first 75% of the book is pretty much non-stop action, with plenty of twists and turns I didn’t expect. I thought the action scenes were well-written and exciting, and it was hard to put the book down.As for the romantic elements of the book, I found the relationship between Hope and Sam to be believable. They are both hiding from the things they don’t want to face, and both had a sense of honor that brought them together. There was chemistry between them, and I didn’t have any issues with it when the “L” word came up. Javier and Faith made an interesting couple as well, and their part in the story was a pleasant and welcome surprise. The author did a good job of making me like the “bad guy”.This was a fun summertime read. If you like action adventure with a touch of romance, you might like this too.Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I should have known when I read “for fans of 50 Shades of Grey” that this would be the usual formula of rich, hot, billionaire with virginal heroine just waiting to be sexually awakened. There’s no real new material here as far as story goes. Delaine has a sick mom, an unemployed dad and a heart of gold. She decides to sell her virginity and two years of her life to the highest bidder. Enter Noah, the billionaire. After scene after scene of sex featuring his colossal manhood and Delaine’s mind-of-its-own coochie, they fall in love. That’s about it. Oh, and there’s a interfering, big-mouthed, well-meaning employee that stirs the pot every once in a while.My biggest complaint about this story is that there was very little story. Lots and lots and lots of sex though, and sometimes it just seems physiologically impossible. There’s too much gushing on both sides and Noah might want to see a doctor to have that constantly hard monster of his checked out. I would have loved some tightening of the amount of sex in this, and more character development. Would have been nicer if they had fallen in love more gradually, instead of two week insta-love based solely on sex. I’m even wondering what this story would have been like had the other high bidder been the winner. Now that story might have been interesting. Noah seemed to have too many assets to make his purchase of a woman for two million dollars believable.So overall, if you are looking for an easy read, and something steamy with a copious dose of body fluids, this might be the read for you.
Ok. I liked this one. I've been intrigued with Kellen since Share Me. There's a lot of emotion here and I think Olivia Cunning does a good job focusing on Kellen's heartache (which seems a bit drawn out, but eh), instead of the sex and by doing so,creates a lovely story about Kellen's first steps in rebuilding his life. It makes the sex fresh and something more than just a "insert tab a into slot b" physical act, which it was getting to be with the last two books. Sometimes the "insta-love" thing doesn't work for me in this series, but in this case, it isn't insta-love, but something else and it worked. I liked Dawn's character. She was smart and accomplished and there was good chemistry on the page between her and Kellen. I also liked how Kellen's bandmates understand his frame of mind and help him when they can without pushing too hard. (except for Owen, he's a little bit pushy..) But please, can this pregnancy storyline be wrapped up? So this is one of the better offerings in this series. My only complaint is that the ending was a bit too abrupt. I needed a little more at the end to leave me with that "wanting more" feeling.