I’m not sure how to rate this. Certain aspects worked but others didn’t. I think for now I'm going to go with a 2.5 round up because it did keep me reI’m not sure how to rate this. Certain aspects worked but others didn’t. I think for now I'm going to go with a 2.5 round up because it did keep me reading even if I hated Grayson at the beginning. She did make me believe his feelings for Clementine by the end and that took a herculean effort, so props for that. But I'd only recommend this if you're in the mood for trashy soap, not a fleshed-out romance or redemption arc.
The blurb pretty much sets up the entire outline, but I’m going tag the rest in case you want zero deets. (view spoiler)[
Clementine has been married to Grayson for two years when she catches him screwing with his coworker and learns their marriage has been a farse. He’s an FBI agent that has been undercover trying to gather info on her father. Then we FFW to five years later with Grayson volunteering to be her protection and is SHOCKED because now his shy/sweet little wife is va-va-voom HOT.
Ok. I’m not even going to touch the writing style or editing because this is KU trashy smut, so your expectation shouldn’t be super high.
Another one I should’ve written the review several weeks ago. (I’m SLACKING) This reminded me of another book, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on iAnother one I should’ve written the review several weeks ago. (I’m SLACKING) This reminded me of another book, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. We’ve seen this scenario SEVERAL times, H wanting to keep his relationship with the h on the DL (I have a review on deck with the same layout) for some reason. Nash’s isn’t for a nefarious reason which works since we have limited page time to work through issues, but it also generates miniscule amounts of drama and no angst.
The H and h are from two different hotel/resort families that have recently merged. Delilah/Lily (21) has been sleeping with her dad’s business partner Nash for several months. I’m not sure that we’re ever told how old Nash is, only that he’s 10 years younger than her dad, so I guessed a 15 year-ish gap. Stuff happens followed by assumptions and misunderstandings.
Bottom Line- Ok but nothing great. The plot had some potential, there just wasn’t enough page time to dig deep enough for anything to sink your teeth in to. ...more
And another book I read a couple weeks ago that I never got around to writing a review on. I was looking forward to this one because in all my years oAnd another book I read a couple weeks ago that I never got around to writing a review on. I was looking forward to this one because in all my years of reading this is my first time with the Yukuza/Japanese mafia. And I was all for seeing Hoka and his take as a mob boss, and he was definitely swoony, but the plot itself was sort of stale.
Violet is a 21-year-old trying to catch a break having a TERRIBLE day when she is literally almost ran over by Hoka. Hoka is a 34-year-old billionaire that runs the Japanese mafia. He instantly recognizes her as his ikigia/soulmate and steps up to save the day. The couple have many obstacles, she’s an outsider, his uncle wants him to marry another, he’s a mob boss, that generates some drama, but the insta vibes are heavy in this one.
This was so boring. The H and h meet when they are 13/22 nothing happens but they both think the other are hot. They meet again at 18/27 and DNF @ 39%
This was so boring. The H and h meet when they are 13/22 nothing happens but they both think the other are hot. They meet again at 18/27 and almost have sex but are interrupted by something that causes a rift between their clubs. I don’t mind age gaps, my own husband is almost a decade older than me, but I met him as an adult. I don’t like these barely teen meetings followed by hooking up after they get legal. (3rd book recently) It feels sort of gross. A lot changes physically between 13 and 18 in what a grown man would/should find sexy. IMHO...more
OK, long story short… I wrote my original review yesterday based on my initial read that was after a few cocktails with my friends. I’m too lazy to reOK, long story short… I wrote my original review yesterday based on my initial read that was after a few cocktails with my friends. I’m too lazy to rewrite it, so I’m leaving it all as is (review/rating), but I picked this back up and skimmed over it this am when I was lazing in bed… and I’ll just say it felt a smidge less kickass and more cringe. It’s very… Who are you—your worst nightmare vibe-y. (and there’re some editing issues) but is in KU if you have it.
****Original Review**** This was a quick mc read. It was alright, there wasn’t much to it. I didn’t read the first book, and I could feel that I was missing part of the story at times. It wasn’t super hard to follow along and figure out what happened, but I definitely don’t think these are supposed to be read as standalones with the MC stuff.
Cat meets Demon when she's 13 and visits her brother at his MC. She’s instantly drawn to him, but it’s not written yet that they’re attracted to each other TG cuz he’s 26. All that changed when she turns 18, but Demon is determined to push Cat away (too old, against the rules, too dark), but she has other plans.
I liked both main characters and I thought they were PERFECT for each other. Demon had demons and Cat was crazy.
Bottom Line- Super quick, nothing deep/no feels or angst, but I found it entertaining enough. (but I won’t continue it looks like the next one is a mess) I love a badass h. Safety- (view spoiler)[ There’s one scene (BJ) with an OW they’re not a couple but both like each other. Cat sets it up to put Demon into a situation that backfires on her. (hide spoiler)]...more
I’ve been on a motorcycle club kick lately and snatching up anything I come across on KU. I didn’t notice the author when I started this and have beenI’ve been on a motorcycle club kick lately and snatching up anything I come across on KU. I didn’t notice the author when I started this and have been critical of this author in the past. She tends to drop cheat-y/dicey stuff for shock value but frequently brushes over it without ever having the characters address it. And for someone who lives for the drama, it is SUPER frustrating, but this was pretty tame. And I’ll be honest after reading these two losers, Jackass 1 AND Jackass 2 … King was a nice change of pace.
King/Elvis is the VP of the Dark Horse MC. He's older, 38, and I didn’t find him particularly filthy or overly alpha in an obnoxious way. He wasn’t what I’d call nice by any means, but he doesn’t cheat on her and genuinely tries navigating a relationship when he has no clue how to be in one.
Shawn is young, 23 and has had a hard life with her abusive junkie mom. She’s a mix of clueless and tough. She feels like a dingbat at times especially when running her failing bakery and going along with King, but she also has the will of someone that’s waded through a sucky life.
The two meet and have an instant attraction, and King decides he wants to get in her pants. Little does he know what starts as a challenge will knock him on his ass.
Bottom Line- I thought this one took a bit to get going. The beginning was a smidge boring with some keg business. It felt sort of lame for a badass biker club but provided the meeting for the mcs. What I liked best was King learning to be a good partner. These guys are used to being dogs and so there’re growing pains like him stopping at the strip club for a lap dance, but what I loved is that he doesn’t act on it. Even when he’s confused and panicky with these new grown-up monogamous man feelings, he never strays. He said it best…
Even though she knows the score about clubwhores and all that shit, I know it would hurt her. And I don’t want to hurt her. Ever.
Now THAT is a couple that is believable unlike jackass 1 and jackass 2....more
I don’t even know where to start with this one, so this will be pretty brief. I haven’t read a ton from this author, but what I have read, I haven’t lI don’t even know where to start with this one, so this will be pretty brief. I haven’t read a ton from this author, but what I have read, I haven’t loved. Cheating isn’t a deal breaker for me at all, but I do require DRAMA. It can be trashy, but I need some OTT shit going on. And I don’t consider the H constantly banging OW OTT or dramatic because the h is clueless.
It honestly got annoying because it went on too long and happened too frequently to make the couple’s feelings believable. It’s hard to believe Hangman’s constant thoughts of Justine being “THE ONE” when (view spoiler)[ he’s banging Shannon before/after dates and everywhere in between. (hide spoiler)] It also ruined all Justine’s spunk when she tolerated it. She suspected it and acted like an ostrich then let him off way too easily. The reconcilement was a joke, (view spoiler)[ the break lasted a week during which they had zero real conversations. Then she’s like “I don’t know how I can forgive you” *they have sex* then when he says sorry, the only time he apologizes for cheating on her "Stop bringing it up. I forgive you." WHAT??? Five pages ago you didn't know how you'd forgive him. (hide spoiler)]
Bottom Line- If you’re looking for romance… skip. If you’re looking for safe… skip. If you’re looking for real authentic grovel, not the “I’ll change but give you space to cool off” variety then an “event” forces the reconciliation… skip. I was still going to round this up because it kept me somewhat entertained in a wanting to kick Hangman in the nuts sort of way, but I skimmed the next book and to say I was PISSED is an understatement.
MAJOR SPOILERS… (and Safety) (view spoiler)[ After reading this asshole cheat on her for almost an entire book… (almost all sex is with the same clubwhore Shannon)
14% sex w/ OW -S 23% sex w/ OW -S before date w/ h 28% claims Justine in front of club 37% BJ w/ other OW 43% Justine- I don’t do cheaters 51% H says exclusive don’t fuck others 57% Shannon bitchy to Justine at club about screwing Hangman. h pissed; H takes her home comes back scolds OW-S then has sex with her but tells her she can have his cock, but she can’t say shit to Justine. 63% He claims her as his Ol’ Lady Here we get her (Shannon) POV there’s been a time jump since the Shannon/Justine confrontation (few months + been a month) so I’m guessing 4 months, she states she and Hangman had sex last week, so I’m assuming they continued to have sex frequently during that time because Justine’s POV said he had been spending more and more time at the clubhouse. 67% BJ from another OW 69% Caught having sex with Shannon
… then listening to him VOW to be a better man and being assured he’s a changed man because almost losing the love of his life scared the shit out of him. We learn in the epilogue of Rage’s book…
HE FREAKING CHEATS ON HER AGAIN WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO chicks on a run. AND she FREAKING FORGIVES HIM AGAIN super quick. Think he’s a changed man?
Here’s a bit from Dirty’s book…
“None of us can, but we try. Hell, my fuck- up was just as bad as yours. I committed to Justine and still fucked it up. We’re used to this way of life. If I could break away, I would. Instead, every day is a struggle with all the hot snatch around.”
I’ve read a few of these. They are very smutty and not really historically accurate. This one is my least favorite as it was low on plot and smut. AndI’ve read a few of these. They are very smutty and not really historically accurate. This one is my least favorite as it was low on plot and smut. And the teased OW drama (vindictive woman) part is marginal at the very end of the book.
Rachel meets Gray when he saves her by wrestling and incapacitating a charging bull (Regency bulls must’ve been much smaller than what we have in the US) where he calls her an idiot and spanks her bottom right there in the town square. So of course, she’s in love. He’s smitten too but their love is forbidden… or is it.
Bottom Line- It wasn’t super entertaining. There just wasn’t much going on. The other ones I’ve read had loads of smut, action, and OW drama, and this one fell flat. It was a bit of a snoozer. ...more
Not bad, fairly solid stalker romance that I might’ve/probably would’ve 4⭐’ed had I not skimmed a large chunk of the middle.
I do love a crazy OBSESSENot bad, fairly solid stalker romance that I might’ve/probably would’ve 4⭐’ed had I not skimmed a large chunk of the middle.
I do love a crazy OBSESSED stalker H with questionable/zero morals, and Tyrant Mercer was my kind of anti-H. The dude is a total psycho, but he’s so crazy about the h.
The book is divided into 3 parts and had a unique layout, but I wasn’t digging it. I’m not a fan of the backtrack flashback (I’m an impatient reader), and I REALLY disliked it. My issue was that I didn’t feel that it flowed. The first 40% takes place in the present with Tyrant and Vivienne pretty much already being a couple (ish). We might not have all the specifics, but we know the gist of how they came to be. So, I wasn’t happy to get a "timeout" when it was getting really good forcing me to backtrack for another 40% to fill in crap I didn’t care about leaving me to skim HARD from 40-80%. Things pick up again for the last 20% when we restart the timeline with major Labyrinth vibes.
I’ve been in a bit of a book funk, so I decided to go for easy book trash. This consists of three very similar novellas. Most of her books are trashy I’ve been in a bit of a book funk, so I decided to go for easy book trash. This consists of three very similar novellas. Most of her books are trashy smut and this is no different, the problem was each story was almost identical.
It took a few chapters to realize that I’ve already read this with a different title. I’ll attach that review because I’m too lazy to rewrite one for It took a few chapters to realize that I’ve already read this with a different title. I’ll attach that review because I’m too lazy to rewrite one for the same book. It was ok, I have a soft spot for Diana Palmer (the plot is very similar to Lawless), so I enjoyed parts, but was also dreadfully bored for a good chunk of the book. My biggest complaint was how long the conflict was sustained by miscommunication and assumptions. Chapters and chapters and chapters of back and forth because these two couldn’t communicate like adults.
This is a dark, twisted tale of a forbidden relationship with an age gap romance. It’s not pretty or healthy, but the H and h are dedicated and OBSESSThis is a dark, twisted tale of a forbidden relationship with an age gap romance. It’s not pretty or healthy, but the H and h are dedicated and OBSESSED with each other, and they get their version of a HEA.
To enjoy this, you really need to be in the mood to be entertained immorally by psychos and just go with it. The h is not endearing or really likable. She does terrible things to both guilty and innocent people… like killing, blackmailing, and even screwing her BFF’s dad just because she wants to break his 20-year faithfulness to his wife… who she liked… and be able to compare father and son.
The flow flips between the past (two years earlier) and the present and is told by the h’s POV.
Bottom Line- I thought it was ok. I love reading crazy people, they’re super fun… I just thought this was missing something or was 70-100 pages too long. Maybe having the H’s POV would’ve helped. ...more
I’ve put off writing this because I like this author but had a WTF did I just read experience. Maybe I’m in a mood or I dug too deep, but I’m way off I’ve put off writing this because I like this author but had a WTF did I just read experience. Maybe I’m in a mood or I dug too deep, but I’m way off from most reviewers, so keep that in mind. I know I’ve mentioned in the past that C.C.W. tends to stay in safe/vanilla waters… but she definitely veered away from vanilla with the consensual non consent kink… and I do LOVE old school soapy reads… but this didn’t work for me.
I’ll try to be vague, but will spoiler tag the rest, so please stop if you want zero details. (view spoiler)[
Ok, I have so many thoughts but want this to be somewhat quick, so I'm going to try to lump it all together. Like I said, I LOVE soapy reads, especially the older ones. I grew up with no cable and a stack of my mom’s VHS tapes filled with day and nighttime soaps, and as a grownup I spent years watching 80-90’s telenovelas with my MIL when she was ill. Simply put, I am down with this genre even the OTT whacky ones.
BUT I prefer the drama to be generated by the insane secondary character/villains. ✔️wannabe OW ✔️ jealous ex ✔️evil twin ✔️ wicked family members --- YUM. What I don’t love is the drama coming from a crazy, immature, violent leading lady. She’s supposed to be the good one rising above everyone’s shit not the cause of it. He’s supposed to be an asshole, but only because he’s scared of the man feelings his sweet little h stirs.
Unfortunately, that’s not what happened here, and I couldn’t stand Marco or Diane. He was a total dud/non-event, and she was unstable with violent coping skills. Both were unlikable.
She bares her teeth, and with her free hand, she smashes the cup and saucer toward me with her open palm. Hot water splashes my chest, the burn stealing my breath.
She rises from her seat, her face blooming red, and she slams her palm into my chest exactly where the tea splashed me.
I wish I felt something about the baby—a wave of protectiveness, smug satisfaction, dread, anything. So far, I feel like I ate a big lunch that didn’t settle right, and now it’s sitting in my stomach like a rock.
“You’re being childish.” He doesn’t come any further. I stick my tongue out at him.
Get my shoes? Oh, I will. I duck, grab one by the strap, draw it back, and pitch it at Marco’s head as hard as I can.
And instead of the secondary characters making trouble with sneaky machinations, they sat in the background like evil caricatures not really doing anything. Leaving the mc’s to bring about the drama which usually consisted of Diane physically abusing Marco until he had rough sex with her.
I don’t mind kink. I haven’t read much with consensual non consent, which is basically rape roleplay, but I’d assume like anything would require open communication, trust, safe words, and everyone on the same page. Here, Marco holds back because he feels guilt and rather than talking to him, Diane just smacks, slaps, bites, headbutts him until he’s pissed enough to be forceful then tells him no/fights him.
“Diane, I mean the rough stuff is over. Not our marriage.”
I throw an elbow back, and it slams into his chest. I cry out, and he grunts deeper.
The back of my hand cracks against his jaw. My heel drives into his shin. “Diane,” he rasps, panting. “I’m not playing with you.” “It’s not safe for the baby.” “Then stop. Go away.
I throw my head back and clip his jaw. He hisses and tries harder to wrestle me into submission, but he’s hampered by his care of my belly, his unwillingness to really, truly hurt me.
He manages to catch a wrist. My pussy spasms with anticipation, and before he can wrangle the other, I slap him in the face, just like I did Chiara, and just like then, I’m not sorry.
That’s unhealthy not sexy. And OMG, the anal sex comment… ew.
“There was stuff. On your thing. When you took it out.” She squeezes her eyes closed. “And it made that noise.” I’m instantly hard. I’d never fucked a woman in her ass before, and perhaps there are techniques that I lack. We did make a mess.
Bottom Line- The opening chapter was great, but it went downhill from there. This just didn’t feel like C.C.W., there was no character or romance development. (something she excels at) The characters felt flat. I never felt like I knew either or understood where they came from or why they were even together. There was no romance, no chemistry and the smut was ick. I do wish the MIL, SIL, and PA would’ve had a more active part of the plot, specifically that their manipulations were the cause of the couple’s problems. When really the dysfunctional relationship was the reason, so I don’t see it improving with their removal. (hide spoiler)]...more
I was curious how this author would handle a different genre, and I was pleasantly surprised. I can’t say I LOVED it, but it doesn’t feel soapy/HP at I was curious how this author would handle a different genre, and I was pleasantly surprised. I can’t say I LOVED it, but it doesn’t feel soapy/HP at all, IMHO.
The book starts with a sister swap wedding when Catalina is forced to step in for her younger sister (Carlotta) to mob boss Severu. I’ve read a few books somewhat recently with the sister swap fiancée theme, (The Wrong Bride & The Wrong Wife) the difference here is that Severu was always attracted to Catalina and never had feelings for the sister. (I think this is the dynamic in The Sweetest Oblivion)
I found both mc’s likable. Catalina is smart and resilient and has an unsinkable soul thing going on. Severu is a total besotted jellybean when it comes to her. They had chemistry, and the two have a lot of sex.
My biggest complaint is that (for me) there wasn’t enough plot to fill up 300+ pages. The couple have no real obstacles. The sister was portrayed as self-centered and spoiled but was hardly around. I kept hoping she'd pop back up wanting to claim him and try to cause trouble, but that never happens... and when they finally find the little witch, she gets rewarded rather than punished… There is a small mystery regarding the family business, but that felt like background noise.
Bottom Line- It was good but not great. I needed something more... mobster action or more drama... even if he was occasionally a prick, but he was such a softy with her. Everything felt safe and vanilla. ...more
This is standard JS with the sweet 5’0 baby girl virgin with DD’s (Jessie) and the badass 6’5 H packing 13.5 inches (which may be a record for her dudThis is standard JS with the sweet 5’0 baby girl virgin with DD’s (Jessie) and the badass 6’5 H packing 13.5 inches (which may be a record for her dudes-Creed), and it probably would’ve worked out if she would’ve kept it to short smut, but this bad boy is 400+ pages with a 200 page plot.
The storyline is broken down into three (unofficial) parts, and I only found one enjoyable. (view spoiler)[
I have several of these coming (novellas)… I’ll own it… I have OCD and it’s NOVEMBERand I still have 22 books left on my reading challenge and my RLI have several of these coming (novellas)… I’ll own it… I have OCD and it’s NOVEMBERand I still have 22 books left on my reading challenge and my RL is crazy busy… so I’m freaking out. And since my crazy brain will not accept me not finishing but has ZERO issues with me cheating… I’ve got 7 of these novella reviews coming.
I tried to spread it around with different genres which was difficult because A LOT of them are smut based. I acknowledge that 60-100pgs isn’t a lot to work with, but some authors definitely do a better job working it out.
I read Dipped in Holly with My Stalker, My Protector because both had similar page count and were smut based, but that didn’t work out so well for DiH because (IMHO) there is no comparison in the depth of storytelling.
I do have a disclaimer, I didn’t realize this was a series, and I didn’t read the other books (same couple), so maybe their storyline improves. This one just sort of drops off, but it didn’t bother me because the book is basically one long sex scene, so I wasn’t invested in a plot anyway.
It opens with Holly dressed as a slutty Mrs. Clause costume crying in a bathroom because she just got dumped by her longtime live-in boyfriend. I never understood the reason for this because Christmas doesn’t usually have costume parties and I missed if anyone else was dressed up, but regardless, she’s pulled out of her pity-party when Nick the silver fox bar owner knocks on the door.
The rest is very little conversation, relationship development, events, obstacles, or explanation for the illogical sequence of events you’re just going to have to go with.
Bottom Line- This was a miss for me. I like smut but prefer something else to be going on… OW drama… crazy people… a change of scenery… something other than sex. As I said above, I've read 7 of these and when comparing all of them, DiH just doesn't hold up. There's nothing entertaining (crazy, psychos, violence, action, OP drama, sizzling chemistry) going on to keep my interest. I can go with a lot in PretendLand, but I don't even feel the connection or why they're even drawn to each other. It was sort of just blah....more
I found this on KU while looking up second-chance widow romance… I’m a sucker for the trope. I didn’t realize it was part of a series or so short, andI found this on KU while looking up second-chance widow romance… I’m a sucker for the trope. I didn’t realize it was part of a series or so short, and things didn’t shake out how I predicted, but I still enjoyed it.
The blurb sets this up, Bear just got out of jail after serving 15 years for killing the man that murdered his wife when he meets a little girl and her mother at the cemetery. I did not read the other books, so I’m not sure how long he’s been out or what the story is behind the murder, but he’s already dealt with the death and isn’t broody or hanging onto guilt.
Bottom Line- This was a clean/easy romance. Not clean in terms of content (they have sex and kill people) but clean in that it’s not a messy dynamic. Both are widows, both are open to new relationships, there’re no OW/OM issues at all, no obstacles, etc. Basically, there’s no angst, but I found them both likable and there is action/suspense to keep the plot moving. *It was obvious that I was missing some backstory with the baddies, but I never felt lost. I may look back at some of the others, I think the audiobooks are on Everand, but I’ve maxed out most of my listens for the month. ...more
Reread 3/10/2024- I still think this is one of her best books. I love it, I just wish DP did a better job with OW comeuppance. This is my 5th reread, Reread 3/10/2024- I still think this is one of her best books. I love it, I just wish DP did a better job with OW comeuppance. This is my 5th reread, so I'm rounding up to 5 ⭐'s cuz I keep coming back. The only negative is that I recently noticed many of her books bumped up in price and they're really expensive now. This one is available on Everand (formerly known as Scribd) if you have it.
***Original Review*** 4-4.5 Stars The story of Claire and John is set in 1900’s Georgia. It’s classic DP, a broody older H with a virginal h secretly pining for him. Throw in that he’s still hung up on his gold-digging ex and a MOC and, you’ve the plot.
Claire is living with her uncle when he dies suddenly. She soon finds herself homeless with no way to support herself. John is also in a messy situation. He came home from war to find his beloved fiancée married to his boss, and after sharing some longing looks and an unsupervised dinner… people are talking. Realizing a MOC would solve both their problems, the two are quickly married.
In a move straight out of the skank from The Velvet Promise’s playbook, Diane pulls John aside at the wedding to confess her undying love and beg him to wait for her. This ruins all plans of making the best of their marriage and turns John into a giant, resentful jerkface.
John is an ass. He ignores Claire, caters to Diane, and is insensitive to the fact that he knows Claire loves him. Claire doesn’t take his crap. She goes about her life and tells him off any chance she gets. I liked Claire… a lot.
I was REALLY loving this, but then just when things are getting good… the plot is hijacked by a stupid bank robber sideplot!! Literally, at 75%, the focus completely switches to a mystery, which eats up our grovel page time.
Bottom Line- I enjoyed it, but it could’ve been a 5-star read had the bank mystery been replaced with John groveling and Diane receiving comeuppance… or even being humiliated publicly....more
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