Friday, July 14, 2017

Review: Brooklyn Blues

Brooklyn Blues Brooklyn Blues by R.E. Hargrave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a short and sweet--and well written--office romance with a bit of BDSM thrown in.

I listened to this and let me tell you that I LOVED the narration. LOVED IT.

You meet Brooklyn and you learn she has a small crush on a guy in the office, but she's also exploring her submissive side with someone she found online. She loves exploring and living this side of her life with her Sir, but what about the cute guy at work?

And really, what about the creeper at work?

Does she want to meet her Sir in person or is their relationship better off kept in the dark?

Find out what happens when Brooklyn's worlds collide in this quick and easy read by RE Hargrave!

View all my reviews

Friday, July 7, 2017

Review: Good Boy

Good Boy Good Boy by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 "You make Blake Riley Smiley" Stars

I think I called it quits with my last Sarina Bowen book. I called it quits not because the book was disappointing, but because the book was perfection. And this is no less perfect. Blake Riley and Jess Canning are amazing together. Now, don't get me wrong, no one can replace Wes and Jamie, but damn Jess and Blake are rightthere with them.

Blake is a great guy. And I mean amazingly awesome, no one can compare. He's sweet, kind, generous, always puts others first, and is willing to look like the bad guy if it means the other person will be happy. In short?
He's.
Fucking.
Perfect.

Jess Canning is a hot mess of hot messes. She loves fiercely, wants the best for everyone she knows, and doesn't want to settle in any aspect of her life. Not one for relationships, she was perfectly content letting Blake Riley stay firmly planted in the 'one and done' column. Until she wasn't okay with that. Until life changed course. And that's when she decided she had to have him. Well, part of him.

Because you can't wish a relationship into existence and Blake Riley is her brother's teammate and she doesn't do relationships and school is hard and her roommate is horrible and and and.

Yeah, that's basically what it's like to live in Jess's head.

Don't let that stop you though because as crazy and hectic as it may be, it's filled with love and longing and the heart of someone seeking approval.

I found myself laughing out loud while reading this. I just couldn't hold back. The characters are hilarious, Mama Riley is loud and boisterous, and the Rileys almost an excellent replacement for the Canning Clan (except no one is better than the Cannings). You'll find yourself cheering for Blake when he's on the ice and when he's pursuing Jess.

You're gonna want Blake to win. You're going to want to see his persistence pay off.

You want this to happen.

Hey, meet Blake, he's my boyfriend.

If I keep saying it, it has to happen. Right? Right?!

View all my reviews

Review: Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet story about first love.
Sweet story about young love.
Sweet story about a girl who meets a boy.

It's fairly predictable. I'm not sure if this is because I spent the better part ofthree years reading YA fiction or if it's because I've spent the last two years reading romance, but I was not shocked by the surprise in the story. In fact, I was waiting for it.

That doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. I liked watching the two characters find themselves and each other amidst the craziness of their home lives. I thought it showed the effects of a not normal or happy home life and how children live their lives for others.

View all my reviews

Review: Hot as Puck

Hot as Puck Hot as Puck by Lili Valente
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Friends don't let friends get eaten by cats Stars

I'm hitting up a bunch of firsts here lately and this is my first Lili Valente book. Can I say I'm mad at myself for this? This is one of those light and fun reads that just leave you feeling good about life. You want to be a part of their circle and you wish you could curl up and call them when you need something. The characters make you feel that good. They are sweet and caring and would do anything for each other.

Including a little bit of hands on sex-ed.

Because what's a little sex between best friends?

Libby, our sweet, sweet Libby wants to know more about sex. She wants to feel beautiful and sexy and confident. She doesn't want to be a bumbling idiot with the opposite sex any longer. And who better to help her than her best friend, hockey hotshot Justin Cruise?

Friends don't let friends get eaten by cats, and Libby's been my friend for too long for me to say no when she needs me to say yes.
Because Justin really is a nice guy and he really doesn't want to disappoint his best friend, he goes for it. It's just going to be a little coaching and confidence building, right? He won't touch her. He won't. Nope. Hands off Libby.

But why is she all of a sudden so appealing? Why is he looking at her like that? Why is that forbidden fruit always the sweetest?

I don't want to lose her friendship, but I don't want to live the rest of my life without knowing what it feels like to fuck her, either.
Because sometimes that girl you shouldn't touch, is just too good to resist.

These two are so freaking cute together. They do cute, creative things together--and not in a dirty way, you perv--and they are overall just a fun couple. Like I said, this book gives you all the good feels in all the best ways.

Sometimes you want to be kissed like you're the only woman in the world, touched like you're irreplaceable, and made love to with a passion that makes it clear you are the answer to every question, the balm for every wound, the dream that will still be beautiful and true when all the other dreams have gone yellow and faded with time.


View all my reviews

Review: Impossible

Impossible Impossible by Laurel Ulen Curtis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 "Hot summer days are my new favorite things" Stars

My first Laurel Ulen Curtis book, but not my last.

Wow, the fact that this book is available for free blows my mind. She shouldn't be giving this stuff away. I fell head over heels for Coleman Cade. Junior and "the original." This makes me want to travel to middle of nowhere and see what those cowboys are all about.

Because, yes, this is a book that features a bull ridin' alpha male. And cowboys aren't typically my thing, but day-um, Coleman Cade is my thing.

"Finding the right woman is a lot like ridin' a bull. You'll know in a little over eight seconds whether they're worth a second ride or not. And, as you know, the best ones usually buck you off a few times before givin' you the ride of your life."
I don't know if I've ever heard someone compare a woman to a bull before, but this is one of those times when it works.
It.
Just.
Works.
And it works because it is so Coleman that it's almost expected. And Coleman is nothing like I expected.
Turns out he isn't anything that Roni expected either.

Roni. Crazy storm chaser running from the demons of her past. We all have a past, but not everyone's is as tortured or painful as Roni's. Not everyone can understand loss. Not everyone faces the pain--and Roni is one of those people who run. And she runs as far away as she can possibly go. She carries her possessions with her, staying at hotels, and never putting down roots.

Until she stumbles upon Coleman Cade, Junior.

"You drive like a crazy person. Seriously, bat shit, round the fuckin' bend, crazy."
Well, she chases storms, so it makes sense. And she's running from something, so again, it makes sense. But when someone finally decides she's worth more than what she's been doing, what does she do? What does she do when she finally feels the pull of something greater than her pain, her past?

"I need to go." He chuckled, actually chucked, and murmured, "Yeah, I bet you do."
She runs. But she doesn't necessarily run away, she tends to run back. Back to the Cades, back to CJ and Nan and Coleman. It isn't until she realizes those pesky feelings are in play that she runs the other way.

But they've left an impression.

"I don't want you to be sorry for claiming me, I just want you to be sincere while you're doin' it."
Because the Cades aren't the only people to leave an impression. Coleman has been known for his womanizing ways and those women don't take kindly to the new girl in town catching his eye. And Roni isn't a big fan of having those other women throwing themselves at the guy she's interested in--even if she is pushing him away.

So, jump on this crazy, Impossible ride and fall in love with Coleman Cade--both of them. You'll love Nan and you'll love Roni, even when you think you won't.

And did I mention that Mrs. Curtis actually surprised me. I thought I had it all figured out, I thought I knew what was happening and how it would end, but she caught me off guard. She threw a curveball when I was expecting a fast ball. So, thank you for a pleasant--and sad--surprise.

"A lady should only ride two things, sweetheart. A horse and her man. But only after she has a solid relationship with both."


View all my reviews

Review: One Fear

One Fear One Fear by Belle Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what I was getting with this book, but I couldn't put it down.

I will acknowledge the fact that I went into this story blind. I didn't read the blurb, didn't read early reviews. I'm so glad I knew nothing of this book.

This is a psychological thriller. You're going to be taken on a crazy ride where you don't know what is happening, who is chasing you, or what kind of game you're playing.

You're going to love it. And you're going to be terrified.

And you're going to want to know what happens when it's all said and done.

Great job, Belle Brooks, for giving me a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next book.

View all my reviews

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Review: The Independents II

The Independents II The Independents II by Aaron L. Speer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 punishment Stars

Wow. Just wow. Aaron Speer did it again with The Independents. I am blown away by the detail and the imagery given in such a short story. It's clear, concise, and I want the next installment yesterday.

Ben has submitted his book to a publisher. He swears it's his own creation.

But what happens when the guy who originally penned the novel comes forward and tries to tell the truth?

Is Ben punished? Or is the other guy punished? Who is in the wrong? How do we prove it?

Those questions are asked every day--more so in this indie book community than others, it seems. Those authors who work hard, put their heart and soul into something, only to have that hard work stolen right from under them.

It's happening.

What isn't happening?

The Independents aren't really there to serve justice. They aren't there to protect the innocent. They aren't there to squash the lies.

I'm sending my thanks to Mr. Speer for allowing me into this little world where the truth is more important than anything else.

View all my reviews