Well, color me surprised! I really liked this book! I have a love/hate relationship with Paranormal romance. [image] I looooove some of them, but eye rWell, color me surprised! I really liked this book! I have a love/hate relationship with Paranormal romance. [image] I looooove some of them, but eye roll at many of them. I love suspending belief and I love when the rules of the world change so that a whole new world is created. I love the insta love that comes with mating bonds, I love the *idea* of drinking blood, I love the possessiveness that comes with shifter mating or vamp instict, and I love the hierarchies created within groups of paranormal creatures. And guess what? All of that was in this book.
So yeah, I really, really enjoyed this story.
I'm not one of those people who scoff at insta love. My husband and I felt that instant connection twelve years ago. I absolutely believe in it happening, albeit rarely. The fact that it could be a mystical, chemical connection between these two is a titillating excuse to push them together. Naya is a vampire princess, in line to be queen and of an age that her parents are pushing for a mating with a male of their choosing. She feels eyes upon her one night at a club, and later meets Vaughn, with whom she has some strong and sexy urges and proceeds to act completely out of character with when she brings him home for a one night stand.
Naya is an easy character to like. She's not outstandingly dynamic, I don't think, but that's also part of her charm. I could tell right off that she may have been groomed to be queen, but her heart wasn't in it. Not in the way her parents wanted her to be. She volunteers at an animal shelter, likes her alone time, and has a human (gasp!) as a best friend.
Vaughn, on the other hand, is such an outstanding guy. He's alpha but not a jerk. I kind of wish he's been a bit more outwardly alpha, but on the other hand, part of what I like about him was that he was quietly powerful. Rarely did he throw his power around. It's that calm, cool demeanor and his decisive actions that make him a fantastic leader. Well done.
Why not five stars? I felt like some things were glossed over and I was left very frustrated. The ending in particular. There was this huge build up to a big...something...and I kept looking at my page numbers, watching them dwindling and wondering how the heck they were going to wrap all of this up in so few pages. I finally realized that there was no way they could, and sure enough, that build up was all for the next book. Which is okay, I guess, but I was left wanting. I just wish that was handled differently, or possibly that the next book was out already :D:D Greedy? Of course :D:D
For me, my favorite part about the story was all of the secondary characters and subplots going on. There is a LOT taking place in this story! I see the setup for many more books to come, and I haven't been this excited about a paranormal series since Aline Hunter's Alpha and Omega series or...dare I say it...Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series. In comparison, there is a simply fantastic group of men and women who are already standout characters, already having certain pairings in the works, and have me intrigued enough to be clamoring for the next book.
Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review....more
I don't even know what to say...this is such a short story to pack such a powerful punch. I mean, I had tears in my eyes over a couple that I've only known for 23 pages! Ah, the power of words from a talented writer. If this is the first example of things to come from this author, I cannot wait to read more.
This is a sci-fi/dystopian M/M romance, but you're not really hit over the head with any of that. I literally sunk into this world in seconds...felt like I already understood everything that was happening, which allowed me to really focus on the message conveyed. This is a love story, written by a man to his new lover; a lover who forgets about him over and over again, a lover that he may never actually see again when this story ends. And that's all I'm going to say because I think it needs to be experienced.
What I think is seriously made of awesome...well, besides this author...is how this story came about. He was shown a picture and asked to write a story about it. And this is what he came up with. There is an example of why I could never write. I just don't have that in me. I'm in awe of people who do, and I wonder how personal these characters must feel to them. Because they feel personal to me and I just observed from the outside. Here is the link to the art that inspired this story: http://spyroteknik.deviantart.com/art...
If you read M/M romance, this is a must read!! MUST. READ.
"Alex realized then that the island wasn't his home; it never had been. Matt was his home..."
An un-putdownable gem from Kele Moon!
This story starts o"Alex realized then that the island wasn't his home; it never had been. Matt was his home..."
An un-putdownable gem from Kele Moon!
This story starts out in the present day, with Alex somewhat contentedly working in the restaurant he owns and runs with this best (girl) friend. An ordinary day in the life of a simple man, until Matt walks in. Matt, the only man Alex ever truly felt for, and not only the one who got away, but the one he pushed away, the one who lives in his dreams and nightmares, the one that stars in all his regrets...
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Quickly, the reader is thrown back into the past, with Alex, the poor orphan kid living with his brother and best friend, happily working as a cook during the day and partying all night, occasionally making a trip to Key West for random hookups with random guys. And Matt, the island rich kid in training to take over his father's fortune 500 company, takes a bet to work a grunge job for two weeks. Alex is gay, Matt is curiously turned on by the hottie working the flat top. And the two begin a fast sexual frenzy that turns into a surprisingly natural, loving relationship. But Matt only has one year of freedom from his future responsibilities. And Alex must deal with his consuming love for a man that is way out of his league...a man with big goals, even bigger responsibilities, and a huge hold from his family. Alex makes a very bad...and very sad...decision that effects both he and Matt for the next six years... [image]
This was, quite simply, captivating. Though the pace was somewhat slow, the overall tone is a sexually charged yet intimate story of two good people who are exact opposites. Yet they are exactly right for each other.
"It was the sexiest, most exciting, but unbelievably low maintenance relationship Matt had ever been in..."
I literally cried my way through about the last thirty percent of this book...not huge sobbing ugly tears, but the kind of tears that make your eyes blurry. My heart was heavy, it was broken, along with Matt's and Alex'.
"We're gonna play pretend", Alex said, his lips trailing up to Matt's ear. "Oh, fuck." Matt's voice dripped with both desire and sadness. "No, no, no. Don't-" "We're gonna pretend that day never happened," Alex went on, trying desperately to hold himself together. "That we have forever."
Holy geez, it just doesn't get much sexier than this, either. Swallow your tongue sexy. And just what I needed right now. If you like M/M but, like me, are surprised at how PG-13 a lot of M/M reads are, this is a good one for you! It goes on my M/M sexy shelf, and also my favorites!
"For just a moment, Matt felt like he could taste the essence of true love, the sheer joy of finding the other half of his sol in another..."
This was cute and short. Too short, I think, for the characters to really show any depth. In a book this length, I tend to get the feeling of a very lThis was cute and short. Too short, I think, for the characters to really show any depth. In a book this length, I tend to get the feeling of a very long synopsis...just a surface level explanation of what makes everyone tick.
Lexie and Dylan have a friendly online relationship and make a snap decision to meet up. Thing is, Dylan is Australian and Lexie is a New Yorker. Somehow, their wires get crossed and they each travel to the other's homeland. (How in the world would this actually happen with two somewhat intelligent adults? This was a stretch for me. Come on. You don't plan an international trip in two brief sentences.) [image]
Hunter happens to be the one who dropped Dylan off in Sydney, so he's in the middle of wooing another chick in the airport bar when he hears a page for his brother...ergo, meet cute.
I've gotta say, my head was great at an Australian accent, and I did love the setting. I get tired of American settings, and it was great to get some cultural references. Australians don't have ranches...they have stations. And a jillaroo is like a female ranch hand. Pretty cool.
This was okay sexy, okay plot wise, okay on characterization. I just wish there were more. Easily forgettable for me, so two stars....more
First off, I've gotta say that I love this cover...rarely do I see a cover match up so exactly with what I have in my head but this D and Jack is perfFirst off, I've gotta say that I love this cover...rarely do I see a cover match up so exactly with what I have in my head but this D and Jack is perfect...body language and all. D is sort of badass and standoffish, Jack is a bit more boyish and nervous. I love it!!!
This is a story about a hit man, D, and and his mark, Jack. You'd think that no excuse is good enough to convince you that a man who kills other people for a living could be a good person, but D can change your mind. He's not ALL good. He still kills people. But he gets to choose which jobs he takes, and he would normally pass a job like Jack up...D does have some scruples. Under threat of exposure, D is forced to put a gun to Jack's head...if only D didn't fell like he was losing his own humanity...
"He didn't like to think about how far gone he was into the abyss that even the humanness of lust was now foreign to him. At least he still felt hunger, and cold, and the craving for nicotine. How long until event hose animal sensations left him? Would he eventually be left with nothing but a set of skills that suited him for only one profession, and a head full of things he didn't want to know? Maybe he's disconnect enough that he would no longer swear, or piss, or get stupid songs stuck in his head. He's been told over and over again that he'd have to become a machine, but he hadn't really believed that he would. He knew better now."
Jack has worked for the last decade to get to where he is now...a maxillofacial surgeon who has not one but two college degrees, his work is his life. But now life as he know it is over. He's under witness protection after witnessing a mob like hit on an innocent woman, and has been forced to give up everything he's ever known...friends, family, job, house, life...
Now they are on the run together, hiding from some really bad people...people who used to be D's bosses and colleagues...who can and are trying their hardest to find Jack and D. But D's really freaking good at hiding. Which leads to a lot of down time for these two. A lot of time to to know each other. And their romance is so slow building, growing by miniscule increments. It's easy to see how these two fall in love...and it's real love, not the kind of lust that is life affirming in the face of death. Because D is just that badass, and Jack becomes quite proficient at badassery as well...
Honestly, the best part of this book for me was watching D accept who he is...not as a gay man, but as a man. A person deserving of the love that Jack has to offer him. I just feel so bad for D. His lot in life has been one of pure hell, all of it not under his own control. Circumstances have led him again and again into tragedy, and it's no wonder that he's shut down his emotions to the extent that he has. The way that Jack is able to get inside him is what fairy tales are made of if they're not made up by Disney. This dawning realization that Jack could very well be his soul mate...it's breathtaking. [image]
"To think I almos' put a bullet between them eyes, and took that life that now I'd die ta save, and I never woulda known what he was in the world, and who he was or could be, and I woulda never even known what I was misin', nor known how right it could feel just ta lay my fingers alongside his."
The sex is fairly PG13 for the most part...I'd not call this erotic at all. It's more romance than anything. It's a story of two people from such opposite walks of life who are thrown into circumstances that almost seem serendipitous. D and Jack are just meant to be together. They heal each other, they soothe each other, and this is their story...Oh, and the epilogue!!!! Made me so happy...all is not automatically bright and shiny for these two. But you do know how much they love each other, and you can feel how content they are. [image] ...more
4.5 Stars My not so interesting M/M history I remember about a year ago when I started noticing many
”It's impossible to be your own hero, yes?”
4.5 Stars My not so interesting M/M history I remember about a year ago when I started noticing many of my GR friends latching onto the M/M fanclub, I mentioned it to my husband and said something to the effect of, "I wonder what all of these women get from two guys together?" And after wrinkling his nose in disgust, he replied, "Well, guys fantasize about two girls together..." to which I wrinkled up my nose in disgust. Vaginas? Eeeww...maybe I'm like...a half gay man?
Well, after seeing the interest and popularity of this subgenre go a little bit cray cray, and after reading mainstream series such as Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter's series (Jules and Robin, SWOON!) and J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brother hood (Qhuinn and Blay, SWOON, SWOON!!), I realized...ahem...yeah, two guys together is kinda hot! **blushing** Add in some angst and romance? Now just what is keeping me from jumping on the bandwagon? Why, nothing, actually. So, my lovely friend V and I decided to do our M/M cherry popping together...(eewww, V...are we that friendly?) and randomly polled our penis loving friends. After much deliberation (okay, one convo...it wasn't that hard to choose,) Hot Head was chosen as a great intro to the mysteries of all that is Male/Male romance.
The Book: First we meet Griffin Muir:
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A ginger haired, six foot four inch, KILT WEARING firefighter in New York City, Griff is a tender, lost soul living a normal life. And while I never got the sense that Griff is totally fucked up in the head, this author did an amazing job of delving into the psyche of a conflicted soul. Griff has led a tough kind of life, mainly due to his lack of family and support system that are so important to the human spirit. Thank God that he's had Dante Anastagio, his best friend, and the entire Anastagio family to step in and give him love and support for all of his life's moments. Griff tried the marriage route, but after the brutal effects that 9/11 had on his mental state, his marriage failed and he's back to being a powerhouse of one. Except that he's not just one. Because Dante is there for him and with him every day, endlessly supportive in his own BIG, LOUD, Italian, obnoxious way.
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Dante, aside from being the best friend that Griff could ever ask for, is a big time skirt chaser. This Italian Stallion sure lives up to the stereotype. Being a firefighter in New York City after the sensationalism surrounding firefighters became so prevalent makes women easy pickings, and Dante takes advantage of his God-hood. In fact, in their younger days, Griff and Dante occasionally dabbled with women together because why not?
Only, for some time now, Dante's big Italian hugs and gorgeous black eyes have had more of an effect on Griff than any woman ever had. And tactile as Dante is, it's becoming hard to hide the effect he has on his friend.
"He needed to sit down and talk about everything and nothing with the only person who turned him inside out without even trying."
My Thoughts: So, V and I decided on this one because we had heard that it was a little sexier than the other choice we were considering...the more penis the better, is that right, V? But I really was blown away by the romance that was within these pages. Griff just broke my heart, over and over again. He didn't just pine for his best friend. He longed for Dante. But the thought that Dante would ever reciprocate wasn't even a remote possibility in his mind. So Griff tries to tentatively explore the feelings that he's only now admitting to himself...he's attracted to men. Is he gay? But what if he's only attracted to that ONE person? The one person he could never admit these feelings to? Not only will he lose Dante, but the only family that he's ever known...really, his only people in all the world.
"Mr. Muir, loving your Dante is not a bad thing. He certainly loves you...although I don't know if he can love you in the way you wish. Or I wish, for that matter. Only he knows. You understand? Life is very rarely romantic."
When has a moment of revelation about the state of his finances and his half-baked idea to save himself, Griff is fairly stunned. And for good reason. Because this idea includes Griff...and Dante...and lots of naked skin. It's more than Griff ever dreamed he'd get from Dante, and yet he still has to hold back, because losing Dante for good would destroy him. Dante's openness with his sexuality and his "best buds will do anything for each other" mentality don't mean that Griff can reveal his feelings. They just mean that he'll get a fantasy come to life, and he plans on rolling with it!!
Now, this story is loaded...and I do mean LOADED with sexual tension! After all, men think about sex every four minutes, or something like that?! I'm a healthy American female, but good grief! So seeing as how this was written by a man and is about TWO men, the lotsa sexy times should be a foregone conclusion. But I was wrong there. That is not to say that there isn't a good amount of sexy times...there are quite a few fantasy inducing scenes...masturbation and voyeuristic and yummy like that. But the actual sex is reserved for one of the hottest, most beautifully romantic, hottest, sweetest, hottest, intense, and oh yeah, did I mention HOTTEST love scenes ever! It almost makes me wish Damon Suede would lower himself enough to write a hetero book, because I could totally use his kind of loving in some of my other romances!!!
The big difference that I noticed when it comes to the sex is how dirty it is...while still retaining romance, somehow. But the amount of fluid and lack of fastidiousness and the utter raw, animal lust that is involved was staggering. This is sex at the most primal level, a need that goes beyond lust. Simply put: It. Was. Awesome! Although why can you not do that to a woman, Griff? No excuses, buddy...women are not fragile creatures, and I felt like he was patting women on their little heads as an excuse to treat them as such.
I had a couple of issues with some things: mainly, don't excuse your homosexuality, Griff! So you didn't lust after your wife like you lust after Dante. She wanted rough, passionate sex and you didn't. That's not because you wanted to be gentle, that's because you're gay. Maybe that lesson was learned for him later in the book, idk. Another: pigeonholing all Republicans as gay bashing budget cutters is the same as any other stereotyping, so I wish that people would be careful with that. (Granted, this was one tiny comment, but it's a sensitive subject for me) Last thing: the CHEATING! Holy crap, does every married firefighter cheat in this book? From page one, at the ten year anniversary of 9/11, husband infidelity is rampant in this book, and it got to be a bit of a downer. Anniversary for the death of hundreds of your comrades? Go fuck a new girl!! Having problems at work/home/life? Pick a hoochie, any hoochie!! Even the newly out setup for Suede's next book was cheating on his wife. I'm not one to forgive that slip up very easily, and despite Tommy's heartbreaking story, he's still a cheater. How can I get behind that? We'll see.
So my apologies for this ridiculously long review...I'm so glad that I finally took the plunge. Many thanks to those who encouraged me, even after my wishy-washiness. Griff and Dante are such a memorable couple, and I'm anxiously awaiting more by this awesome author!!
My favorite quote: No one deserves to be punished for loving with an open heart."
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Annabelle is an antiques dealer and lover of erotic art who recently caught her boyfriend with his head between his secretary’s legs. Oh my…
A3.5 Stars
Annabelle is an antiques dealer and lover of erotic art who recently caught her boyfriend with his head between his secretary’s legs. Oh my…
As a way of consoling herself and forgetting her troubles, Annabelle persuades her best friend to attend a New Years Eve party at a swanky rich people hotel. A hotel owned by the drop dead gorgeous Golden brothers. When Jared Golden sees Annabelle at his gathering, he’s intrigued enough (and turned on enough) to invite her to his “invitation only” private party later that nigh. Annabelle decides to live on the wild side for once and when a second man joins in on their party of two, and their party of three ends up in a voyeuristic party of many, she simply lets all inhibitions go.
Thus begins the entertaining story of the eternally single playboy rich man and the shy, quiet, and low key good girl. Surprisingly, most of the rest of the story centers around their relationship and how they overcome obstacles such as distance and lifestyle differences. Don’t get me wrong…there is a healthy dose of some really, really (really) hot sex…in forbidden places… a couple of them, and with more than just the two of them. After all, Jared has one super hot friend whom he seems to have shared many of his past lovers with. All heterosexually, of course! Don’t get excited, M/M fans.
"Jared didn't thing the guy would notice if a bomb dropped on him. From the expression on his face, Jared could tell the guy had the serious hots for Belle.
And his blood began a slow boil.
He caught himself before he barged in and laid claim to her, like a goddam caveman. Put his arm around her shoulders and draw her into his side. Better yet, press a kiss to her delicate, sensitive nape. She'd shiver and her eyes would flutter closed. The other man, standing with his hands shoved in his pockets, would know she was off limits. His.
Which was ridiculous. He didn't do possessive jealousy. Hell, he actually liked to share."
There is a surprising and original back story involving Annabelle’s unconventional upbringing by her three parent household. I suppose she had a predilection toward threesomes, so this taboo wasn’t necessarily taboo for her. However, she has hidden her past from everyone for years, and Jared is determined to know all there is to know about this woman. After all, he doesn’t normally have women voluntarily leaving him the way Annabelle did after their one night of fun. So the chase is on, and what a chase it turns out to be! Jared is persistent and very…patient and in tune with Annabelle’s needs, including her hidden desire to have four hands roaming her body. One thing that I wish were answered is what happens to the third party of this sporadic arrangement. I’m not clear on whether or not this sexual relationship will continue or if Jared and Annabelle commit to only each other. Somehow, I think not…they enjoyed the situation a bit too much.
I sense another book coming between Annabelle’s best friend and Jared’s brother. They seemed to have a pretty intense connection from the start, despite their pretended indifference. Overall, this was a great read if you want hot sex with a plot. There is a menage, but it's good for readers of the lighter erotic...it doesn't feel lascivious, and there's none of the BDSM that seems to pop up in so much of today's erotica. I feel like I got to know the characters and was invested in their relationship. It was possible slightly forgettable only in that there was nothing to stand out among the masses of erotic fiction out there, but it was satisfying entertainment with little to no editing issues for once. Also, it's a completely self contained story... GASP!!!!!
If that next book does become reality, I will for sure read more by this author!
My thanks to my GR friend Jamie for the rec…you picked a goodie!!...more
Want to read a True Love Story? Here it is!!! It's heartbreaking and intense, gut churning and real. It hurt to read, it laid me out but kept me up alWant to read a True Love Story? Here it is!!! It's heartbreaking and intense, gut churning and real. It hurt to read, it laid me out but kept me up all night. I read this book in one sitting. [image][image]
I was captivated by this like nothing I've been captivated by in quite some time. Something, some elusive quality, grabbed me...the title, the cover...something made me burn for this book as soon as I noticed it. And it paid off. I freaking LOVED this book!
First off, the blurb is really misleading, at least for me. I thought that it was some weird mess-with-your-mind game of chance and oddity. But it's just a plain ole contemporary romance about circumstances and mutual acquaintance throwing this couple together every few months, and their inexplicable attraction to each other.
Maybe attraction is too tame a word. Sparrow and Ian are connected. From their first face to face meeting, the chemistry and invisible line between them is so palpable, if set my tummy butterflies off immediately.
But this is NOT an insta-love story. This is an insta-connect story. This is a story about two people who are meant to be together, but life gets in the way. Age, location, vocation, time, family, friends, and most of all their own reluctance and eventual stupidity are blocking their path to each other.
When the story starts, it's already heartbreaking:
"It has been a year, two months, and seventeen days since I last saw him. Two years, ten months, and five days since he broke my heart - well, since I knew he had broken my heart. Technically, he began breaking my heart the moment I met him."
Sparrow is a precher's daughter. The proverbial good girl next door, she has a strong sense of faith and purpose. But she's not holier than thou, she's just a normal girl getting ready to move away from home to go to college, looking forward to wearing what she wants and discovering what it is to be responsible for your own life. One day, her family goes to dinner with some friends...just another day, but it's the day that changes her life.
She meets Ian Sterling.
Ian is an up and coming guitarist and singer. Sparrow had actually seen him play years ago, before his name was known, and had a little girl's crush on him ever since. But now, the crush isn't so little any more. Ian is flirty and charming, but more than that, they both know without a doubt that there's something extra there between them. If only....all of those obstacles were gone. But they're not.
Over then next couple of years, Ian and Sparrow spend minute amounts of time together whenever fate sees fit to allow it. And each time, a deeper bond is forged, and their inevitable love blooms. It's powerful, and it's beautiful. Ian and Sparrow as a couple are perfection. They laugh together...boy, these two can be goofy! Their chemistry is off the charts, but it's not an overtly sexual relationship for a very long time. They just fit, like puzzle pieces.
"You have this grounding quality about you. I don't know a better way to put it. It levels me. I've never been at home anywhere, but I am with you."
And in step those obstacles...mainly stupidity. How do you say I'm sorry for betrayal? When you know nothing you say will erase what you've done.... [image][image]
God, it made me hurt!!! This true love story brought me down and yanked the tears right out of me. I gasped out loud, even though I KNEW it was coming...I KNEW IT for the entire book!!!! How did I fall so in love, how did Sparrow fall so in love? You can't help it. If ever lovers have been star crossed, it's these two. They're just so perfect together and hopeless apart.
"I sent him away. I'm mad that he went. I can't love him. I can't hate him either. Ian Sterling has ruined me. And he's ruined me for anyone else." [image][image]
And how do you move on from losing the love of your life...knowing, KNOWING that you've both lost it all?
I love this author's voice. She writes with such heart, and the inner dialogue of Sparrow is hilarious. The girl thinks in jokes at times, and constantly kept me on my toes. Watching Sparrow grow into a woman, from age eighteen to twenty four....those formative years in which so much happens...she grows so much as a person. And how often do you truly find your soulmate so early in life? And really KNOW it?! She knows it. And that makes the betrayal all the more heartbreaking. The fact that I can forgive is quite phenomenal, but I did.
What a gorgeous story...and it's completely self contained, with a short but fabulous epilogue. Beautiful, wonderful story penned by Willow Aster. I am sold on anything you may ever write again!...more
This novella length story is written entirely from a man's point of view which is new to me. I actually ended up liking it a lot! The lean toward sex This novella length story is written entirely from a man's point of view which is new to me. I actually ended up liking it a lot! The lean toward sex is explained right there, lol! 3.5 Stars So yeah....the book is mostly about sex...but it worked!
*****Before sex, there's Dorian's lusting after his hot little intern who just happens to a family friend's nineteen year old daughter. She's inexperienced but NOT a virgin (thank goodness). He can't keep his little head from hurting (really bad...this was a theme of the story...his dick hurt a lot) when Demi's around.
"What are you thinking right now?" I asked, needing to know if she was having any misgivings about what we were going to do. "That you make me ache," Demi said..."
*****During sex....my goodness, these two get it on for a long, long, long time....AHEM!!!! Dorian really likes Demi's everything! And he's very good at showing her a good time and proving that she's never had - and never will have another man like him. He shocks himself when he can't get enough of her. He wants her over...and over...and over again.
"Desire was a ridiculous and inconsequential label. It would never suffice, would never be enough to describe what I felt for her. Huger was just as paltry of a term. Greed was the only thing that came close."
*****After sex Dorian realizes that they are still in the beginning stages of this 'relationship.' The age difference between them (He's 30, she's 19) is a huge obstacle, and the fact that her father has entrusted Demi into his care is another. They both know they need time to sort things out.
I love that this ends with no angst, no tears, no big cliffhangers. This is a couple that desires each other, have a lustfully delicious beginning to their relationship, and decide that they desire more than sexual fulfillment. That's it. The rest is up to my imagination. What a great way to end a short story like this! No allusions to a grand love or lifetime commitment...just a realistic conclusion that they admire, respect, and desire each other. ...more
Waffle, waffle, waffle...3 stars or 4 stars? Let's go with 3.5, or just a hair above because while I didn't love it, I never once got bored.
WARNING foWaffle, waffle, waffle...3 stars or 4 stars? Let's go with 3.5, or just a hair above because while I didn't love it, I never once got bored.
WARNING for those who haven't read book 1, Down to You...what are you doing reading a sequel review? Go away...tons of spoilers!! No spoilers for Up to Me, though.
Cash and Olivia...talk about a couple who don't know where they stand with each other! Since finding out that Cash and Nash are one and the same, Olivia is confused as to who she really ended up with...the sexy entrepreneur playboy or the responsible, controlling, equally sexy lawyer. Just who is Cash? Well, I'm here to tell you...he's a god in bed...and on the bar, and in public restrooms...and in the shower, against the wall....AHEM! You get the picture. The man loves to boink, and Olivia has no objections.
"When Cash loses control, it always ends in us lying, exhausted, in a sweaty heap somewhere. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Now, I can see this book getting completely ripped apart by those who like to pick at the little pieces. It's so full of plot holes, it looks like it's been used for target practice. Even in book one, which was simply an intriguing contemporary romance until the last little bit...the whole man with two lives was a bit farfetched. To go so far as to be banging Olivia's cousin when he was pretending to be Nash and then coming back to Olivia was a bit much for me. But in this installment, the suspense is prevalent throughout...which means fast motorcycle rides, gunshots, chases, kidnappings, stabbings, and Russian gangsters. And not once do the police get involved!
I honestly think I was just in the mood to really enjoy another pure fantasy book, just like I did with book one. Nothing at all realistic about this story. But it's chock full of hot guys...Cash and a couple other studly do-rights, damsels in distress, smoking hot sex and foreplay, and TRUE LOVE!!!
"As though I've been given a sedative, a drug of a different kind, being in Cash's arms has an instant and an intense effect on me. I feel like crumbling and flying , like dancing and crying, like living and like dying. Wrapped up in him, in his bad boy ways and his good guy heart, is my whole world. Somehow, while I wasn't looking, I fell. And I fell hard."
So I enjoyed the ride while it lasted. In fact, I enjoyed the hell out of it. Leighton cracks some witty jokes, gives a couple of shout outs to some eighties rock gods...(Bon Jovi, anyone?), and puts together a really great cast of characters. Ginger, the old cougar best friend who wants nothing more than to jump Cash's naked self, Olivia's complete bitch of a mother that should have been sterilized long ago, and Cash's sudden best friend and bar manager Gavin, who doubles as a badass ninja backup. (Not really, just the image in my head) Cash and Olivia have a fun relationship...neither are at all stuck up...they are both very down to earth and joke around often...sometimes acting endearingly pervy and other times crude, but always funny.
"It's the very best kind of thing. Makes all other things look like shit." " Well, far be it for me to cause you to conjure mental images of shit without panties." "Can we not talk about shit and panties in the same sentence?" "You're the one who was talking about panties and lack thereof." "Oh my God! I can barely remember that far back. Too many traumatic things have been said since then." "It was forty-five seconds ago." "Told you it was traumatic..."
This was completely readable, sexy as all get out, and I imagine if you like the first, you'll like this one too. Even though it has a completely different feel. It was still very engaging. Though I'm wondering what can be told in a third book. Seems like this wrapped up pretty nicely!...more
I was really unprepared for how emotional this story would be. I was also unprepared for how much varied sex would be involved...this is an od4 Stars!
I was really unprepared for how emotional this story would be. I was also unprepared for how much varied sex would be involved...this is an odd mix of New Adult and erotica, which makes for a controversial set up, I think.
It’s told from both Rowen and Logan’s points of view, in first person, present tense…so it feels like a very personal story. You’re inside their head the entire time, rather than an onlooker. It’s not often that I’ve read this POV, and I think it really struck a chord with me.
Rowan’s story is heartbreaking and tragic. At ten years of age, her Mom dies in a car wreck and she is sent to live with her father. Her alcoholic, abusive father. Luckily, she meets Sarah, a popular girl from school, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship that stays strong throughout the rest of the book. Sarah’s family is a prominent family in town and they take Rowen under their wings, providing her with a refuge from her father with their open door policy and endless generosity and love. They know that Rowen is lonely and poor, but they don’t know the extent of the abuse that she has to endure.
Sarah’s older brother Logan is obviously part of Rowen’s life due to his proximity, but he’s seven years older and therefore hasn’t been more than another body in the family. Until one night when Rowen’s dad goes too far and she has no one else to call. When Logan is forced to face the evidence of Rowan’s bruised and battered body, we come to realize what a good person he is.
The unending loyalty and protectiveness that Logan exhibits is what kept me from feeling so squeamish about the age difference between he and Rowen. Rowen is seventeen at the beginning of the story and eighteen for the majority of it. Still, she’s a girl who’s still in High School, and that fact made me a little uncomfortable. I really wish that she could have been at least a year or two ahead in life, but that would have changed the whole dynamic of the story, so it was not to be! Logan….ah, Logan MADE this book! He’s a quiet, responsible twenty four year old man, on the cusp of graduating college and moving to Denver to start his career as a high powered lawyer at a prestigious firm. The fact that he’s not the typical college boy, partying and sleeping around, getting his wild on, is what made me okay with the issue of age.
At first, Logan wants nothing more than to save this sweet, timid friend of his sister…his instinct to protect leads him to make some questionable decisions that lead to questionable situations. Of course, Rowen falls hard for him…and it’s obvious that the vulnerable young girl would fall hard for her savior. You could delve into the psychology of the situation but I tried very hard to refrain and just enjoy the story. There is nothing lascivious about Logan…he’s a genuinely good person. But when he and Rowen spend so much time together, one thing leads to another….
"Seeing her hurt crumbled my resolve, and I wanted nothign more than for her to feel me-my desire for her, the pleasure I could give her, my obsession for her."
And boy, can this author write foreplay! And come up with some very interesting ways to keep from having actual intercourse. I almost felt like it was overdone….I’m not sure what kind of foreplay was left to write about. Logan is adamant that he will not take Rowen’s virginity. But after all of the things that these two did together, I think Rowen was a virgin by a slight technicality only. To me, virginity is innocence, not a hymen. So while yes, the girl could still claim to be a virgin, she was most assuredly NOT innocent by any stretch of the imagination. Logan is all alpha in the bedroom. He pushes boundaries that I imagine many couples never breach, ever. I admit to feeling uncomfortable a couple more times during a few of the sexual situations that these two found themselves in. I felt like Logan was pushing for things that took it a bit too far, and Rowen never, not once said no…even when she was obviously uncomfortable with Logan’s requests.
"The trust she showed in me fed my soul and my need to have her, possess her. but in the same breath, I need her to possess me, too, and she does. She gives me willingly what I need and owns me because of it."
The bond that these two share, and their obvious love and devotion to each other was much more than most young people are capable of. In a lot of relationships in books with younger couples, the angst comes from a lack of maturity and lack of trust between the two. Not so with these two. They trust each other at a level that is isn’t even a question in their mind, or mine. Their problems arise from the terrible situation of Rowen’s abusive home life and the fact that they both lack years. In society’s eyes, Rowen is too young…and their relationship must be kept a secret. Not only can they not build a normal love with each other , but each has a future planned that doesn’t include living in the same half of the country as the other person.
The fact that they both are responsible enough not to profess an undying love for one another shows a level of maturity that is solid. The obstacles seem insurmountable, but you I couldn’t help but root for them to find some way to be together.
"My heart is overrun with joy that I had truly given up having in my life..."
I loved this couple, despite the wrong-ness of their ages. In reality, Rowen was ready to be on her own, forced through circumstance to grow up too soon. Logan was a young man willing to take on the responsibility of caring for someone weaker than him who desperately needed both his protection and his discretion.
THAT, my friends, is a true man!!! And therefore, I love him.
I loved this story. It was riveting, it was passionate in all ways, and it was a well rounded story with a wonderful epilogue!!! ...more
Once again, Aline Hunter delivers. There's something about this author that just pushes all of my 'like' buttons. If you haven't read the first book iOnce again, Aline Hunter delivers. There's something about this author that just pushes all of my 'like' buttons. If you haven't read the first book in this series, this book contains minor spoilers in regards to Emory and Mary's roles and where they were at the book's ending.
We met Emory in Omega Mine, along with his then future mate Mary. Mary's family is a group of religious fanatics who think that shifters are 'from the debil' and therefore should be tortured and slowly killed...in other words, her family is evil. Since Mary doesn't share their views, (in fact she freed their captive shifters and ran away) they regard her as evil as well and are now on a mission to find her and redeem her soul. Emory knows that Mary is his mate. Without the bloodbonding that officially ties mates together, Emory is a shell of a man. His only thoughts are of finding Mary and showing her that being a shifter doesn't mean they can't be together. Mary needs protection from her radical family, and Emory sure knows how to protect!
One of my favorite things about shifter PNR is how the animal side of these men is so honest. There is no subterfuge with these guys. They don't hide who they are, and their inner beast won't let them deny their urges...heh heh. They find their mate...the WILL have her. Their mate in in danger, NOTHING will harm her. Their entire existence revolves around claiming their woman.
Mary has been beaten down by her horrible relatives...literally, her back has caning scars. So she is understandably timid. While the world of shifters is known to her, their way of life is still a relative mystery. She is shy of strangers already due to her on the run status for the last few months.
I love, love how Emory treats her like fragile glass. He sees how scared she is, he understands that the position she's in puts him in complete power over her. But instead of forcing her to accept her new life with him, he seduces her with gentleness and sweet words. All the while, his inner beast wants him to just...fuck her already!!! He's a fabulous contradiction of Gentleness and barely leashed power and God, it was HOT!!!
"He'd waited too long, damn it, and pushed the animal inside further than it would go. Christ, he was weaker than he'd thought. the urge to plant her ass up in the air, fuck her from behind and pin her in place with his teeth was almost more than he could stand."
And therein lies my fascination and lust for shifters. Oh, that carefully contained violence, the not-so-contained possession. Simply delicious, and Ms. Hunter writes the best sex scenes EVAH!!! When Mary finally accepts the bond that she has with Emory is real and lasting...whew! This chick lets GO and she likes it rough and tough and yummy and delicious. Emory....geez, this guy talks dirty. He likes to tell her exactly what he wants from her, what he's going to do to her, and what she feels like for him. Mmmmm....I love a guy who talks dirty!!
Diskant and Ava from Omega Mine play a pretty large role in this storyline, as well as Trevor, the werewolf pack alpha, and his vampire mate who will show up in the next book, Vampire Mine. At this point, they have had a slow burning romance, so I fully expect their story to be explosive. Another shifter also finds his mate during the showdown with the bad guys, so I'm assuming that they will also get their own face time somewhere in the future. I know I love a series when I get more and more excited to see new potential books being set up. With each couple introduced, I can see this series stretching a bit further, and I still feel like there is a lot left to be told. The world of Ms. Hunters isn't confined to shifters, and the edges of good and evil are blurred. Controversial vampire/shifter pairings are hopefully only the beginning!!...more
So, those of my GR friends who know me well know that I've been on a pnr burnout for quite some time. If Bones couldn't cure me, no one c4 solid stars
So, those of my GR friends who know me well know that I've been on a pnr burnout for quite some time. If Bones couldn't cure me, no one can, right? Wrong! What I needed was a shifter! We all love those alpha men...all levels of alpha-ness, from simple protectiveness to the possessive control freaks we hate to love. I'm tentatively tipping my hat to this book for showing me what I loved about paranormal romance way back when Twilight was my wake-up call. I should have known that a team Jacob girl would get bored with those bloodsuckers ;)
Diskant is the Omega of New York. What is an Omega? Well, he's KING...basically. He rules over all of the myriad groups of shifters, from the packs of wolves to the loner cats to the birds of prey. I love that while Diskant has dominion over so many creatures, he can still soften for his woman...after he claims her. And whew! Does he ever claim her! He's torn when he first meets her because that instant knowing that she is his mate throws him for a bit. It takes awhile to accept the fact, and when he finally thinks he can be okay with a human mate, she gets away!!
Diskant basically scares the sh!t out of Ava. She knows what the shifter community is like, as she has a little somethin-somethin extra of her own. Only her somethin could get her killed by the very shifter community that Diskant leads. Well, of COURSE that isn't really the case, but her abilities do gain her some enemies...and didn't she just meet Omega mine at the perfect time?
One thing I love about shifter stories is the compulsion of the males to be with their females...their innate need to stake their claim, to show the world (and all nearby males) that this woman is special to him. No need to be subtle, boys! A nice fat bite mark on the neck/breast/ thigh will work! The sex is rough, the claiming rougher and I reveled in it! Oh, to make your man lose all control like that...it just gives you permission to do the same. This book was smoking hot!
There is plenty of room for growth in this series. I met two more couples with lots of promising chemistry and connection that I'm really excited to read about. Plus, I'm hoping to get more on how Diskant and Ava are holding up in the future. Thanks for the rec, V! I knew we were friends for a reason ;)...more
I'm so confused about this book. Initially, it starts off pretty strong. Chase and Rachel have a history together. It ends tragically with the death oI'm so confused about this book. Initially, it starts off pretty strong. Chase and Rachel have a history together. It ends tragically with the death of her father, the circumstances of his death being a mystery. It's now four years later. Rachel has a new job, a new life. Then Chase comes back into town on his treasure hunting boat, chasing the same sunken treasure that her dad died trying to find.
Once the details were laid out and I thought I understood the plot, I started really getting in to the story. This author certainly seems to know a lot about scuba diving in deep water. I know absolutely nothing, so I'm not that great a judge, but the terminology and scene setup served to really set me in the middle of the ocean, diving for an ancient Chinese treasure. Not only is there the danger of equipment malfunction (which was awfully prevalent here, more so than usual, I hope) but also nasty gang leaders bent on murder and mayhem.
When the plot started to drag I kept expecting it to pick up. It really should have, as there was plenty of action and intrigue. I couldn't put my finger on why I kept wanting to put the book down. The romance was okay. Not extremely sexy but it was there. I just felt like I didn't really care about anyone. I never got to know anyone very well. Each time I thought I'd understand what the meaning of the book was, the bad guy would turn out to NOT actually be the bad guy. Someone would die, and the REAL bad guy would be revealed. But WAIT! There's this OTHER guy over here who also wants revenge/money/rape.
I think there were too many freaking subplots going on. I like plot twist, but the amount of different lives caught up with Rachel and Chase's fiasco was confusing. It got to the point that I would put the book down and when I picked it back up, I had no idea where I had left off. And I was pushing hard core to just get through it. Many, many people die, and I wasn't all to affected by any of the deaths. There are some moments that I think were supposed to tug on my heartstrings, but I was trying to play catch up to much to notice. Example: There is one scene in which Rachel goes to a hospital and suddenly is having a memory of coming to the hospital when her dad had his accident. There is no segueing to the 'here and now.' From one sentence to the next, she's in a memory and then she's not, and I didn't realize it until I had read two paragraphs. Paragraph breaks are good, mkay?
There is a paranormal element that for me was just a bit too cheesy, and another example of trying to put too much into one book. There was a LOT going on here, folks! As a little disclaimer, maybe I was distracted? It's always possible, but I think this story could have really benefited from having about ten less characters playing such prominent roles. I got very confused.
It was okay. The author had a good idea. Her main characters were likeable, and I would have loved them had they been fleshed out a little more.
My thanks to Creative Edge Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This is what I felt like for the first 85%of this book:
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Total confusion.
I loved Aiden in The Proposition...he was an unapologetic iThis is what I felt like for the first 85%of this book:
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Total confusion.
I loved Aiden in The Proposition...he was an unapologetic idiot, lusting and rutting with abandon and slowly coming to terms with his odd fascination with Emma. In The Proposal, I think he grew a vagina. Or just lost his manhood...or gave it to Emma, or something. I don't know.
FINAL REVIEW: Where to start, where to start? First of all, I really liked The Proposition. I thought it was a cute idea. It was different, and though not extremely believable, I read it and enjoyed it because it was all in fun…I could take it as what I thought it was written to be. This book seemed as if it was written by a different person. I feel so disloyal, both to the characters and the author, but it just wasn’t for me…
The writing…sigh! The cutesy bodily functions were distracting…Emma - flushed - ducked her head - blushed furiously - rolled her eyes - sucked in a breath - winced as if in pain …all on the same page!! And this chick blushes all of the time.
I felt as if I was being told by rote what was happening sometimes. Emma does this…then she says that. Then she says this and they laugh and Emma blushes. Then Emma does this. She blushes again. It got to the point that I felt like I was on a leash, following Emma around and having her actions listed to me.
Aiden…I know I’m in the minority here but I wasn’t all that mad at him to begin with. I actually felt bad for the guy. He was just a sexy slut of a man chasing the tail of the one woman who didn’t want him. He found a way to get her…so what if he had to give her some swimmers?! He didn’t want kids anyways…and told Emma REPEATEDLY that he wanted nothing more than to bang her…no relationship with her, no relationship with the baby, no more than a few slam bam thank you ma’am encounters.
So when the man starts having feelings for Emma and flips the eff out about the direction this arrangement has taken, I wondered why the heck everyone came down on him so hard. What he did was wrong. But Emma was such a typical girl in that she saw hearts and flowers when she should have been seeing reality. The world’s biggest player is pushed into a corner when you nag him into a relationship, and then you’re shocked when he…acts like a player? But I digress…
So Aiden in the Proposition was my favorite thing about the book. Aiden in The Proposal is a total pushover, a complete wuss. When Emma meets the hot doctor and proceeds to set up a date at your own house and you just sit there and allow it to happen? Not only allow, but leave the house so that they can be alone. Step aside, new tenderhearted, broken Aiden, and let another man take the woman pregnant with your child away from you? Seriously dude, where did you leave your balls?
“Fine, go to him. I hope he can give you what you obviously don’t want from me.”
Ummm, okay…
The situation that they find themselves in read like a soap opera. It was so contrived and obviously made up for plot’s sake that it ruined this book for me. Let me say first that I am a nursing student, so medical situations warrant extra attention from me. Plus, I’ve had three kids of my own so I’m practically an expert on pregnancy, right?!? Bedrest…is NOT prescribed for a couple of hours of Braxton Hicks contractions. Maybe a little less activity, stay off your feet a bit if you think you’re having an inordinate amount of pain or discomfort. But complete bed rest, not even able to stand up while you shower? That’s completely ridiculous and since it sets the tone for the entire book, it was a major frustration for me. Because not only does she get bed rest but (view spoiler)[The only place she can go is to Aiden’s house….ppppffft! (hide spoiler)] Contrived…for…plot’s…sake.
Pesh…oh, sweet, tenderhearted, thoughtful, considerate, attentive…not to mention obscenely rich, super duper smart, hotness personified….Pesh.
So Aiden is a big eff up. He effed up. Now Emma gets to do The same damned thing only right under Aiden’s nose. Is this for real? I felt insulted, and I’m so surprised that this is not a big no-no for more people. I guess in this situation of reverse sexism, two wrongs actually DO make a right. Only Emma does this while living in Aiden’s house, standing on his porch, carrying his baby!!!
Nope, nope, nope. Second big ass thing that made me shake my head.
After being so pissy about the first eighty five percent of the book, I was more than ready to be done with it. So I was surprised when I actually really enjoyed the last parts. The birth of Noah, was well done (setting medical reality aside). The wonderment of becoming a new mother…the way the pain that was ripping your body in half just seconds ago fades away completely and you have a moment in time that you feel like God has literally handed you your own personal miracle. Spot on, Ms. Ashley! It brought tears to my eyes and made me dig out the baby pictures.
I have to give props to the author for being one of few who includes erotic sex with pregnancy and the desire for kids in one book. Kids are such a blessing, and a huge part of life, yet they are often excluded in romance books. I can’t think of a better way of culminating a romance than to hold up the evidence in the form of a baby.
So the ending of this book moved me. It was just the getting there that frustrated me, so very badly. I wanted to love this. I even thought that I was just missing something or in a grumpy mood so I put the book down for a few days in hopes of starting fresh later, but no dice.
HEY ALL....ELLA POSTED THAT THIS WENT LIVE ON AMAZON TWO DAYS EARLY!!!!
“Have you ever looked at someone and just thought, Yes, I know you. You’re HEY ALL....ELLA POSTED THAT THIS WENT LIVE ON AMAZON TWO DAYS EARLY!!!!
“Have you ever looked at someone and just thought, Yes, I know you. You’re meant to be mine.”
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Dr Shelly Monroe is smart and beautiful. She has a great job and wonderful friends. But she always seems to pick the wrong kind of guy. She wants someone responsible and successful, someone well put together and completely unlike her last boyfriend with his get rich quick schemes, ripped jeans, and flighty outlook on life.
Josh Daniels recently left his lying, prissy, demanding girlfriend and moved back to Chicago. He’s looking for a woman who’s sweet and biddable, one who fits easily into his life and lifestyle.
“He was not in the market for upper class and high maintenance. He wanted middle class and low mainenance.”
Josh looks exactly like the type of guy that Shelly wants to stay away from. When Shelly meets him one night at Exquisite, my how sparks do fly! Their attraction is instant and undeniable. Shelly is quite the feisty little heroine. She’s not shy about saying what’s on her mind.
“You have a body that’s made to pound a woman into her bed. So, I’m really hoping you can live up to that.”
And what’s on her mind is that Josh is exactly the opposite of what she’s looking for in a man. Soon, however, the chemistry between these two is too explosive to resist and they find themselves sating some carnal needs while hiding their pseudo-relationship from their friends.
[image][image] Of course, what they don’t realize is just how perfect for each other they are. Everyone else sees it…Mase and Lena are practically shoving them at each other and even though they think they’re being sneaky, their attraction is too intense to hide. And here’s where the complication comes in…
“You’re not ready for me, Georgia,” he told her softly. “And that’s a real shame…” There’s a wish… [image][image]
And a tree… [image][image]
And a great deal of loneliness… [image][image] because Shelly just isn’t ready to believe.
Just as with Mason and Lena’s story, this was much more than I expected. YES, the sex is hot and Shelly and Josh together are funny as hell. But their process of “getting to know you” is intense. It leads to some life altering revelations. And the resulting outpouring of emotions in turn leads to stupid, stupid decisions!!!
I was so in love with this couple! But when Shelly is overcome with too many emotions…both for Josh and over a life altering confrontation with loved ones, she soon turns into the typical overreacting female. I wanted to strangle her!!!! But I could understand her, to a certain extent. Where this story lost some steam for me was the way that Josh handled the situation.
I have never been so frustrated with a character, never wished so badly for a character to be real so that I could shake him, slap him, wake him UP! What are you DOING, Josh?! How is that going to accomplish what you want it to accomplish? Had I been Shelly, I’d have thrown in the towel and stopped wishing for the best. Because at that point, Josh was certainly not acting his best. He was acting like a self righteous prick, running and expecting Shelly to bow to his demands.
Up until this situation (that goes on for quite some time) this was a five star read for me. But I never quite got to the point that I understood why he did what he did. His actions just seemed counterintuitive. Though he does somewhat redeem himself in the end.
If you loved Exquisite, then this is for you. If you like steamy and dreamy, here it is!!! This is a love story that is true to life, not a drama for drama’s sake read. Just like with Exquisite, Josh and Shelly are a couple that are simply meant for each other…yet life gets in their way and the timing of their meeting is a deterrent to their compatibility. And they have to work at it to overcome their own preconceptions of each other, to learn to mesh their lives and learn to trust and rely on each other.
"I knew from the first moment that you would change me."
ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
************************************************** Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I won an ARC, yes I did! Happy dance! This never happens to me, like EVER!! Thank you so much for having a giveaway, Alyssa! Big sloppy kisses from me to you...(and, of course, to Ella!) Buddy read with Blacky 1-27
This is two books in one, which I didn’t realize until I’d already started.
Jeb is a former special ops soldier in the US military. He recently left aThis is two books in one, which I didn’t realize until I’d already started.
Jeb is a former special ops soldier in the US military. He recently left active duty after a mission has disastrous results. He now works for Ranger Security, which is made up almost entirely of other former military men. Jeb’s first assignment seems a little low key…he is to find out who is taking valuables from elderly people who live in a retirement community. What should have been an easy in and out job turns complicated when his number one suspect ends up being the darling surrogate granddaughter of all of the community’s residents.
Sophie had a horrible upbringing. Her mom, dad, and brother were terribly abusive to her. Fortunately, she was raised by her grandmother after the age of six. When Sophie is left with all of her grandmother’s inheritance, the rest of the family doesn’t take it too well. She’s taken out restraining orders for quite awhile and lives a fairly fearful life, though her ‘family’ of elderly people give her more love than she knows what to do with.
My thoughts: I almost wish that the military aspect would have been left out. It was almost a side note to the ‘real’ story, and to me, it just made me lose focus. I didn’t know when I started this that it was the first in a series and that is a big no no for me also. I’m a stickler for reading order. My issues with the lackadaisical attempt at making Jeb a tough soldier boy could have been forgotten had I had more of a back story from his company. As it was, I felt like I was thrown into the middle of the story, and I never really connected with Jeb because of that.
Sophie’s story was much easier to grab onto. She’s a fun loving, tenderhearted woman who loves the people around her and is happy living her life the way it is. She’s occasionally afraid of her violent and evil family, but takes major self protective steps in order to take care of herself. I admire her resilience and her ability to roll with the punches
These two were just needing a reason to bump into each other and the thefts at the retirement community finally makes them meet. It takes quite some time for them to do anything more than give some smoldering looks…over halfway through the book, and they still hadn’t even touched for so much as a handshake. For me, it was a bit slow. Once they get together and realize that they have some major sparks between them, it’s easy to forget how congested the rest of the story felt.
It had been a very long time since I read a Harlequin. I’m glad to say that I was presently surprised, as it seems that Harlequin Blaze has continued on in terms of sophisticated content and readability. I don’t know what exactly I expected, but I now know that if I see another Blaze title that looks interesting, I’ll go for it!!
I did not read the second book, which is actually the FIRST in the series. I think it’s odd that it’s tacked onto the end, and I may read it later if I decide to backtrack and read the rest of the series.
My thanks to Harlequin via Net Galley for the opportunity to read this title in an exchange for an honest review.
Duchess Nicole
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