Let's Read Romance

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Review: Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part Three

Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part Three by T.M. Frazier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.75 "My name is Samuel Clearwater." Stars

I'm torn. Really. It's not that I didn't like this book because I did. It's just that I didn't LOVE it the way I loved the others. I don't know why. It just feels as if this fell a bit flat for me. I'm one of those who would have loved to see these 3 stories made into 2 books. I can understand why it was made a 3 book set, but I feel like it was a touch (a very tiny touch) drawn out.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The way back will be paved with blood.>

Part 3 picks up where Part 2 left off. Dre is in trouble. But really, she isn't in trouble for long. We all know Preppy will come after her. And I feel sorry for the idiot on the receiving end of an enraged Preppy. He's out for blood. And he will have it.

Passionate.
Relentless.
Rough.
Frenzied.
We were all of that and more.
So much more.

They really are. I've found that all of the couples are more than just a couple. Bear and Thia. King and Doe. Nolan and Rage. Each couple is more. But Prep and Dre? They take the cake on this. They have their own demons to beat. They have their own past to overcome. And they have each other. Which is more than many people can say.

He'd shattered me.
Thoroughly.
Beautifully.
Crazily.
I never wanted to be put back together.

These two go through some hard times. And not the 'how are we going to pay our bills or feed the kids' kind of hard times. They go through the 'I've been kidnapped, people are shooting at me, on the run' kind of hard times. They have to fight to keep themselves together.

"The greatest gift I was ever given, was death. Because only then did I learn what it meant to truly live."

View all my reviews

Monday, May 1, 2017

Review: #Swag by Cambria Hebert

#Swag by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.75 My only limits are my own Stars

We first meet Joey and Lorhaven in #Junkie, the story of Trent and Drew. If you're anything like me, you instantly fell for Joey. Lorhaven? Well, not so much. In fact, if you're like me, you hated Lorhaven.

I think that hatred I had for Lorhaven didn't lessen until #Rev when he sees Trent and Drew in that garage. Lorhaven's loyalty and love only extends to his brother. We see that loyalty through all three books.

Joey is the female pro driver who wants to join the NRR. She wants it because the division seems more open and understanding of outsiders. Plus, who wouldn't want to race with no rules?! Win-win. She just has to prove she should be there.

And what better way to prove that than by dealing with 'the man who thought he was so epic he only needed one name'?

Lorhaven.

Oh, how I fall hopelessly in love with Lorhaven in #Swag. I didn't think it was possible, but Cambria Hebert proves me wrong. I'm so glad she proved me wrong. It's a show of excellent writing when you can take a hated character and make the reader fall for them. And fall I do.

Desire became tangible. It transcended the physical; though, the physical pull was definitely there.

Lorhaven and Joey slowly become more. They are no longer two lost souls who are looking to prove themselves. They become a united front. They become friends and lovers. They become Jace and Josie.

He reeked of sex. Like he'd just had it, like he wanted it right then...And the way he moved promised he'd want it again in just an hour.

Yes, Lorhaven is sex on a stick. But so is Josie. Put these two together and sparks ignite. I'd like to take a moment to appreciate the very first sex scene between these two.
*closes eyes, reflects on sex scene, fans self*
Okay, I'm back. Oh, it's so hot and so fucking dirty--but in the best possible way. God. I just, words. I don't have them. And I won't spoil it for you either. You just need to read it to understand.

I said his name until it was the only word I knew, and then he told me to say it again.

Like I said, the sex is on fire. In the best possible way.

Sometimes in order to shine on your own, you need the support of someone else.

View all my reviews

Review: Consumed

Consumed by Taryn Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Consumed picks up where Destroyed left off. I really don't want to give too much away because it'll spoil Destroyed if I talk about this one.

So, things you need to know:

Simon is in love with Margot. Which we knew in the beginning, but it takes him a long time to figure it out.
Margot is in love with Simon. Obvs. He brings out a side of her she didn't know existed.
Simon and Margot have some seriously hot as fuck sex. Hot. All over the place. Whenever they want. They chemistry they share on stage bleeds into the bedroom--kitchen, hallway, stairwell, wherever.

You want to read this book. Or listen. I listened. Kai and Wen are fantastic. Simon and Margot are fantastic.

Read it. Enjoy it. Buy the next book.

View all my reviews

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Review: Shacking Up

Shacking Up by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 The Church of Bane Cock Stars

Leave it to Helena Hunting to give me laugh out loud comedy while forcing me to look for a fan--and not for my face. Bancroft. Shit. What that man does with his mouth and his hands and...well, you get the idea. I want to throw myself at the feet of this man. Wish I was kidding.

Bancroft and Ruby are absolutely perfect. Accidental make-out session notwithstanding, these two have all the chemistry and witty banter to keep you up late into the night. You'll be laughing and you'll be angry, but mostly you'll be happy. And maybe a bit turned on.
Okay, a lot turned on. Whatever. Bancroft has a dirty mouth--and we all know that's my weakness.

"I'm going to tongue fuck your pretty pussy until you come all over my face."

Ummmmm....well, okay. If you insist, Bancroft. Who am I to tell you no? No one. Exactly. So, yeah, you go ahead and do whatever you want. My body is yours. And if you'd read this book, you'd throw yourself at the man too.

Like on a scale of one to ten he's a seven million.

Can I just say that the points system is perfect for this couple? Ruby is freaking hilarious. She is a no holding back kind of girl. She says what's on her mind--on purpose AND on accident--and she's great for a laugh. She's also a feelings kind of girl. She isn't just out to hit it and quit it. So, the feelings she has are real. The way she wants this man is real. The way she plays with this man--and not in a bad way--is real. No games, that's Ruby's way.
And it's so much fun.

"I can be a white knight with a dirty mind, can't I?"

Yes, yes you can. In fact, this is exactly how I prefer my men. And he has one hell of a dirty mind. One I wouldn't mind diving in head first.

I love it when she says my name.

View all my reviews

Review: Destroyed

Destroyed by Cari Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I admit that I didn't want Simon's book next. I'm impatiently waiting to see Nick and Lila realize they have a serious love for each other. But that's not how these authors played it, so here I am listening to Simon Kagan.

And I'm not sad at all. Honestly. I don't know why I didn't want his book. He's the man-slut of the group. The sex is bound to be hot and heavy and dirrrrrty.

And it is.

Simon and Margot are complete opposites. But you know what they say about opposites. They definitely attract in this book.

And you want to see how quickly they come together. And how slowly. And you want to see all the moves Simon has at his disposal. For real. I don't even know why they cut this book into 9 hours (I listened to it) because I could have kept going (which I did with Consumed ).

View all my reviews

Review: Endurance

Endurance by Amy Daws
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Have you met the Harris twins yet? Did you meet Camden in Challenge? If you did, then I know you noticed his hottie, hot twin brother, Tanner Harris. Yep. Twin brothers. Their banter and loyalty to each other was on point in Challenge. Endurance only strengthens that bond.

But this isn't the story of two brothers. No. This is the story of Tanner Harris and Belle Ryan. You remember Belle, Spec's BFF in Challenge. If you're anything like me, you fell in love with her too.

The banter in this book. Oh. My. God. They are perfect. Belle and Tanner are explosive. Combustible. On freaking fire. The chemistry is off the charts. I don't know if this is because I was able to listen to this or if it's because Amy Daws knows just what the fuck she is doing, but either way, it's impressive. I couldn't stop listening. If I had the time, I'd have thrown in the ol' ear buds and stayed in bed all day listening to this British perfection.

I love a good book that forces the couples into a situation that is less than ideal. For them, at least. For the reader and those surrounding the unfortunate couple, it's comedic gold.

I love this book. There. I said it. I want to bottle it up and wear it like Harris brother sweat after a match (it's a match, there, correct? Not a game? Ugh--language barriers!). No joke. I know, it's gross, but they're just fucking perfect.

So, yeah, 5 stars. I can't wait for the next Harris brother to hit my kindle/audible library!

View all my reviews

Monday, April 24, 2017

LIFT Auction is LIVE!!

It’s LIVE!! The LIFT 4 Autism Auction is open for bidding!

charityauction.bid/lift4autism

Win a $25 Winner’s Choice Gift Card in the LIFT Celebration Giveaway!

The Lift 4 Autism Auction is a bookworm’s dream! Featuring hard-to-get, much-sought items from romance favorites like Nicola Yoon, Kristen Ashley, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Corinne Michaels, T.M. Frazier, Marie Force and more than 200 others in celebration of Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month.

Authors Ginger Scott and Kennedy Ryan founded LIFT 4 Autism a few years ago as a charitable initiative rallying the romance community around autism. All proceeds go to this year’s charitable partner Kulture City, who is doing amazing things for the autism community. Learn more at kulturecity.org.

Specifically, LIFT 2017 will benefit Kulture City’s lifeBOKS program, which provides families with free kits to curtail wandering, a common and potentially life threatening challenge. Proceeds will also benefit Kulture City’s tablet program, which provides iPads to improve communication for non and limited verbal children on the spectrum to families who cannot afford them.

Learn more about the mission of Kulture City and the dangers of wandering in today’s USA Today HEA feature here.

Watch the lifeBOKS video:

https://www.facebook.com/AutismOnTheMighty/videos/1591316364511099/

HOW WILL WE RAISE FUNDS?

1. Online Auction, featuring many of your favorite romance authors!

Browse all the amazing items up for bid here:

charityauction.bid/lift4autism (Must register to bid)

Auction Frequently Asked Questions:

http://lift4autism.com/auctionfaq

Find the full Author list here: http://lift4autism.com/contact.

The auction is LIVE until Friday, April 28, 8:00pm.

2. Make a financial donation through the LIFT Campaign.