I think I would have enjoyed the story more if the formatting wasn't so jacked up. the back and forth between present and past confused me as well as...moreI think I would have enjoyed the story more if the formatting wasn't so jacked up. the back and forth between present and past confused me as well as the dialect. 2.5 stars
I absolutely love Entangled's Brazen line. It's romance with a little more heat than your standard contemporary romances. I'm also enjoying new author...moreI absolutely love Entangled's Brazen line. It's romance with a little more heat than your standard contemporary romances. I'm also enjoying new author Tessa Bailey. Even though I've had issues with her heroines in her previous book and this one, I enjoy her books a lot. And her heroes are yummy, dirty talking alpha males. Bailey is an author to watch.
Troy has just transferred from Chicago PD to New York PD. After losing his partner in a raid gone wrong, Troy needed a change of scenery. While hanging out with his co-workers at the local watering hole, in walks Ruby. She immediately captures Troy's attention. Troy sees trouble written all over her but he can not resist.
Ruby can take care of herself and doesn't trust cops. Growing up hustling alongside her father, Ruby lives an unconventional life and makes money in a unconventional and sometimes dangerous, way. But she's trying to change all that. But she needs money to pay the bills so she resorts to her one skill -- pool hustling. When Troy rescues Ruby from an angry hustled the sparks are immediate. But Troy isn't sure he wants to get involved with a woman who lives life on the edge. And Ruby isn't sure she can give Troy everything that he wants.
I'm going to start off by saying I really liked His Risk to Take. I loved Troy. He is very forward about what he wants from Ruby but he's also very protective. She's not just a conquest for him. When Troy finds out that his case indirectly puts Ruby in the cross-hairs, he is willing to do everything to keep her safe even though Ruby doesn't appreciate it or follows his orders. And this is where I had a problem. Ruby is a very likable character. Even though she has a tough exterior, she is a compassionate person. Her toughness isn't harsh or a turn-off. You learn from the jump that there's more to Ruby than meets the eye. But I had a problem with her willfully ignoring Troy's request and putting not only herself in danger but Troy, his fellow officers and the entire case. And then Ruby gets angry when Troy blows up at her. So that ticked me off. Luckily this happens towards the end of the book during the big story arc so I already liked Ruby.
One minor thing bothered me as well -- Ruby's age. The heroine in Taking What's His is early 20s (1st book in the series) and so is Ruby. Can the next heroine be knocking on 30 at least?? Thankfully Ruby has a lot of real life experience to make up for her age so she does come off as more mature than your typical 24year old. But I'm over early 20 somethings in my adult contemporary romance. Yes I know they're adults but the I'm used to the heroines in CR being late 20s/early 30s. Of course all the heroes are close to 30 and over. Let's flip the script and have the woman be older and the man be younger. We don't have enough of those tropes in romance.
I highly recommend His Risk to Take and the Line of Duty series as a whole. The heroes are hunky and sexy. The plot flowed smoothly and kept me engaged. The sex scenes are sexy and well-written. Despite the few issues with the heroine, it was an overall good book. (less)
Hero of My Heart is a story about two people who come together and save each other.
Historical romances are hit or miss for me. Hero of My Heart was an...moreHero of My Heart is a story about two people who come together and save each other.
Historical romances are hit or miss for me. Hero of My Heart was an enjoyable read that fell a little flat in the middle and towards the end. Alasdair buys Mary who is being auctioned off by her brother. Alasdair isn't a dashing hero, at first. He's addicted to opium and is slowly killing himself. They are on the run from Mary's brother and Alasdair's cousin. While on the run, Mary and Alasdair fall for each other. Alasdair protects Mary from her brother and Mary helps Alasdair with his opium addiction.
Hero of My Heart is an engaging story for the most part. I did feel that Alasdair's opium addiction was handled a little too cleanly. We aren't told how long he was on opium and how many pills he took a day, but I'm pretty sure he was a heavy user. So I don't think that an opium addict would be able to 'clean' after a day or two of non-use. It also wasn't clear what caused Alasdair to turn to opium. Was it his time as an soldier? Was it his brother's death? Was it his wife's death? I wished that the addiction aspect was more fleshed out.
I felt that the ending was too rushed. Of course, there's the inevitable conflict and misunderstanding that separates Alasdair and Mary. When they finally come together and reconcile, the book ends. I was hoping for an epilogue or something due to the abrupt ending.
Overall I enjoyed Hero of My Heart despite the few issues I had with it. (less)
A Vampire's Salvation is a the first novella of the Beyond Human series and was originally released in 2011. I normally like everything this author wr...moreA Vampire's Salvation is a the first novella of the Beyond Human series and was originally released in 2011. I normally like everything this author writes but I had a hard time getting into this story and connecting with the characters.
Jake Rios is a 200 year old vampire. If he doesn't find his true mate and bond with her by the time he turns 201, he will die...for real. Jake thinks he has found his mate in Frankie. Frankie is attracted to Jake and has been lusting after him from afar. They've worked together for six months but neither one has made a move. Due to a trauma from her past, Frankie is hesitant to be in a relationship but she's more than willing to have a one-night stand. But Jake wants more than that and while he's trying to convince Frankie that they could be more, both of their lives are in jeopardy from someone in Frankie's past.
I honestly didn't enjoy this book at all. I felt that Frankie was a little too quick to accept the fact that Jake is a vampire especially since the preternaturals are not out in the open. Because this is a novella, I felt that everything was rushed. There wasn't enough world-building and character development. I think I would have liked this more if it was full length. With the way the story ended, I'm assuming there's more to come but will it feature new characters or Jake and Frankie? Because I feel like their story is not finished.(less)
I was in the mood to read something different. I whined about my reading funk on twitter and author Kitty Thomas offered her latest release, Mafia Cap...moreI was in the mood to read something different. I whined about my reading funk on twitter and author Kitty Thomas offered her latest release, Mafia Captive, up for review. I jumped on it immediately. I've only read one other Kitty Thomas book, Comfort Food, and it totally messed with my mind. I figured Mafia Captive was exactly what I needed to get me out of my funk.
I could not put down Mafia Captive. I love that Thomas creates these anti-heroes where in real life you wouldn't come near them with a 10 foot pole but they are so likable! While reading Mafia Captive, I kept telling myself that I shouldn't like Leo. Even though he didn't ask Angelo to kidnap Faith and give her to him as a present, Leo was still holding a woman against her will. Faith had two choices: Live with Leo as his slave or be killed by Angelo. Leo is kinder than his murderous twin, Angelo, but he is not willing to ignore his sadomasochistic needs.
Faith is 22 and is just starting her life. Her life irrevocably changes when she witnesses a murder. When she is given to Leo and told that she will be living with him as his slave, she wasn't sure if she would have been better off dead. Faith immediately recognizes that she is safer with Leo despite his sexual needs. Leo protects her and reassures her that he won't do anything that she doesn't want to do. He's not going to force her into being his slave. Despite her age and her circumstances, I didn't find Faith whiny or pathetic. She faced the situation the best way she knew how. It was all about survival for her.
I like how conflicted Leo and Faith are. They're forming a relationship under odd and extenuating circumstances. Leo is not part of the family business but that it doesn't mean that he doesn't have blood on his hands. As much as Faith hates her circumstances, she can't help but feel an attraction towards Leo. He is her protector.
I loved Mafia Captive and I highly recommend if you're looking for a darker romance. (less)
The blurb caught my attention and piqued my interest. But once I started reading Wild Child, my interest waned. The fact that the h/h are step-sibling...moreThe blurb caught my attention and piqued my interest. But once I started reading Wild Child, my interest waned. The fact that the h/h are step-siblings and the heroine is significantly younger than the hero grossed me out. Maybe if they were both adults when their parents married each other, I wouldn't have had an issue with the Matt and Zoe becoming lovers. But since the heroine was a young teen and the hero watched her grow up, it felt pretty icky once they became intimate. There wasn't much development in the romance in my opinion. There was nothing but sex, sex, sex. I didn't understand the "wild" part of Zoe's personality. She came off as spoiled and bratty. I wish there was more of a struggle for Matt to resist Zoe. But I guess since he didn't act on it when she was 17, that was enough restraint for him.
Wild Child could have been better if the story was longer. With it being a novella, I felt that it suffered from not enough development and conflict for the Matt and Zoe. And I had the same reaction as everyone else in their lives when they told everyone they were having sex and were in love....ewwww.(less)
Forbidden Fires is the hottest of the series thus far. Delia and Colin are working together to solve an arson case. But they also have a past together...moreForbidden Fires is the hottest of the series thus far. Delia and Colin are working together to solve an arson case. But they also have a past together and there is a lot of unresolved feelings and attraction. The investigation leads them to a BDSM B&B, posing undercover as a married couple. During the investigation, Delia's desire to be a submissive comes to the forefront. Colin is shocked and turned on but is not sure that he can be the Dom that Delia needs.
Forbidden Fires is my favorite of the series so far. It is so hot and sexy. The attraction between Colin and Delia is evident from page one. Once Colin and Delia went undercover at Bondage and Breakfast, I was immersed in the BDSM training with Master Gabriel. We've met Gabe in previous books and he's still an enigma. I hope that Gabe gets his own book because I can't wait to learn more about him and meet the woman that brings him to his knees.
The BDSM training brings forward feelings that Colin and Delia still have for each other. I was so drawn to their relationship and the smoking hot sex scenes that I almost forgot that there was a mystery that needed to be solved. To be honest, I wasn't too interested in finding out who was behind the arsons. Does that make me a bad person? Haha!
I enjoyed reading Forbidden Fires. Even though it's part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. If you want to read a sexy, steamy read with a little mystery thrown into the mix, then I highly recommend this book. (less)
Stranded with a Billionaire was a pleasant surprise. I was hesitant to read it because it had "Billionaire" in the title. I immediately lumped with al...moreStranded with a Billionaire was a pleasant surprise. I was hesitant to read it because it had "Billionaire" in the title. I immediately lumped with all the other billionaire romances out there. I'm on 'billionaire alpha males' overload and wasn't interested in reading about another one. I am so glad that I gave this book a chance.
Logan and Bronte meet under odd circumstances. Left by her vacation buddy during a hurricane, Bronte gets stranded in an elevator with Logan, who she assumes is the hotel manager. Logan doesn't correct Bronte's assumption. He's tired of women wanting him for his money and not for him. So he decides to keep his identity a secret. While they're stranded and waiting to be rescued, Logan and Bronte are having the time of their life. Even though they are scrounging for food and waiting for rescue, Logan and Bronte are making the best of a bad situation. Of course, there's an attraction and they decide to act on it. When they're finally rescued and are back in the States, Logan decides he wants to continue his relationship with Bronte. But Bronte finds out that Logan lied about his identity and doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Logan isn't giving up. He always gets what he wants.
I really enjoyed Stranded with a Billionaire. I loved Bronte and Logan's relationship. Bronte is a smart heroine and he holds her own against Logan. and she's not whiny and pathetic. Logan is a very likable character despite him being initially closed off emotionally. He's very high-handed when he deals with Bronte and I loved his frustration with her when she doesn't automatically bend to his will. Yes Logan is dominate and alpha but not because he has a bunch of issues, sexually. He's an extremely rich man and he's used to being in control which is understandable. I loved that the huge conflict didn't happen at the end and was resolved within 5 pages. The plot flowed steadily and kept me engaged. I couldn't put the book down. I loved all the characters and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Stranded with a Billionaire is completely different from the other billionaire romances out there. I am so glad I gave this book a chance. I definitely recommend reading this one.(less)
3.5 stars Kylie is pretending to be her sister, Stacey. Stacey injured herself while a patron was a little too over-zealous. Stacey is a stripper at a...more3.5 stars Kylie is pretending to be her sister, Stacey. Stacey injured herself while a patron was a little too over-zealous. Stacey is a stripper at a high-end strip club called, Deuces. Known as the bad twin, Stacey is known for getting herself into trouble. Of course, Kyle is the 'good twin' and is always covering for Stacey. This time is no different. Kylie doesn't want her sister to lose her job so decides to pose as Stacey for 6 weeks while her sister is recovering from her injury. Her first night working at Deuces, Kylie catches the eye of Trevor McCade. Trevor is investigating some murders that may be connected to Stacey and Deuces. Kylie is attracted to Trevor but must keep her distance as she's pretending to be her sister. But Kylie ends up finding a dead body and must work with Trevor to find the killer before another dead body turns up.
Lover Undercover is a really hot story. The best scenes are the ones between Kylie and Trevor when she's stripping as Stacey. Those lap-dances are super hot and had my Kindle sizzling. The romance and overall plot was pretty predictable. There was nothing spectacular about the good twin vs bad twin trope. It's been done before and Lover Undercover didn't bring anything different to the table. I did have a problem with the slut shaming that was associated with stripping. Only sluts strip. Good girls don't. *insert eye roll here* I rolled my eyes when Kylie revealed how much of a good girl she really is.
Despite some of the issues I had, I enjoyed the book mostly. I really liked Trevor and the book is pretty steamy. That's what saved it for me. I thought the stripping scenes and lap-dance scenes were well done. Kyle is 23 and I don't like early 20 somethings in my adult contemporary romances. That's what new adult is for in my opinion. Despite her age Kylie was likable enough that her age didn't bother me too much.(less)
Hmmmm. Against the Wall wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I couldn't connect with the Jake or Sophie or their romance. I didn't believe...more2.5 stars
Hmmmm. Against the Wall wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I couldn't connect with the Jake or Sophie or their romance. I didn't believe the attraction and nothing about them stood out to me to make them extremely interesting.
I also had a problem with the heroine being blond, blue-eyed being pursued by the brown skinned Indian. Even though Jake is educated and a lawyer the white skin-brown skin dynamic bothered me. It reminded me of the historical romances I read in the 80s about the savage Indian man capturing the innocent pale skin woman and having his way with her. I mean, Jake and Sophie are introduced with Jake galloping on his horse and swooping unsuspecting Sophie up on his horse. I know I'm probably reading too much into it and I'm the only one that doesn't find it romantic and swoon-worthy. Sometimes I just can't keep my thoughts at the surface level. Some things aren't that deep but I can't help myself.
The supporting characters were entertaining. I love Jake's family. Jake and Sophie were okay. There's something that happens towards the end of the book that annoyed me. Normally I like this kind of trope in my romances but this one fell flat. I didn't fully believe the "I love yous" but definitely felt the attraction between Jake and Sophie. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series. I really liked Jake's brothers.(less)
I normally I don't like religion mixed in with my romance but Covet Thy Neighbor was different. It takes on homosexuality and religion. Seth is an ath...moreI normally I don't like religion mixed in with my romance but Covet Thy Neighbor was different. It takes on homosexuality and religion. Seth is an atheist. As a child, he grew up in a religious household. When he came out to his parents, he was basically thrown away by his family and his church. So Seth's feelings towards the church and religion are pretty bitter. And then Darren's sexy new neighbor moves in. The attraction is instant but Seth isn't sure that he wants to pursue anything with Darren. Darren is a youth minister and he's also gay. Darren isn't as conflicted about homosexuality and religion as Seth is but can understand why Seth has such harsh feelings. Even though Seth doesn't want to be mix pleasure with religion, he can't fight his attraction to Darren.
I don't know what I expected when I started reading Covet Thy Neighbor. I thought there would be more emotion because of the religion vs. homosexuality theme. I couldn't get into the story. It was readable and somewhat enjoyable but I didn't feel anything for the main characters. Most of the Seth and Darren's relationship was sex, sex, sex. I felt that there was very little development with the romance.
Covet Thy Neighbor ends without a HEA for Seth and Darren which is fine. They have a lot of issues to work through and them saying "I love you" and having a HEA wouldn't feel real. The book was okay but it felt like something was missing.(less)
I really liked the first installment of With This Kiss. Grace is a great character. Even though she isn't as obviously pretty as her younger sister, L...moreI really liked the first installment of With This Kiss. Grace is a great character. Even though she isn't as obviously pretty as her younger sister, Lily, Grace is a strong and smart young woman. Grace isn't whiny or complains about her younger sister being the center of attention. Grace has her own special talent that makes her stand out, her paintings. And I loved that her parents (The Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook) see that their daughter is beyond special.
With this Kiss is a very sweet story. The story starts with a Grace being 10 and Colin is 16. We watch them grow up and when the first installment ends, Grace is 19. In less than a 100 pages, the story effortlessly spans 9 years. Grace has been in love with Colin since she was a child and ends up being his connection to home while Colin is out at sea by writing him letters. Like most men, Colin is a knucklehead and can't see what's in front of him.
Your heart breaks for Grace in this story. She's such a sweet girl who is pining after a love that's not reciprocated. I enjoyed the story, Colin and Grace and revisiting with the characters from The Ugly Duchess. With This Kiss ends with a cliffhanger and the next installment will be out next week. If you're a fan of the Fairy Tales series, you'll enjoy this serial.(less)
I'm always a sucker for the surprise pregnancy romance trope. In The Baby Bargain, we learn that the surprise happened two years ago and the father is...moreI'm always a sucker for the surprise pregnancy romance trope. In The Baby Bargain, we learn that the surprise happened two years ago and the father is in the dark. I think that if we had a flashback to that night that Adam and Megan hooked up after his parents' funeral, I would have had more sympathy towards Adam. He was such a douchebag from start to almost the end that I just could not deal with him.
The Baby Bargain is a good read and for the most part enjoyable. Adam and Megan used to date in college and then they hooked up when Adam was in town for his parents' funeral. Now Adam is back in Raven's Cove to sell his parents' house. He wants to close that last connection to Raven's Cove and get back to his life in Los Angeles. Then he runs into Megan and those feelings are rekindled. But Adam isn't relationship material. He wants to have sex with Megan while he's in town and then be done with her once he returns to L.A.
Megan isn't sure if she should tell Adam about their son, Cole. But when someone is attacking her practice and her integrity, Megan feels that she has no choice. She doesn't think that Adam is father material but she needs him to protect their son as her professional world is falling apart.
I felt like the chemistry between Adam and Megan was lacking. I know they have this history but I didn't feel any connection. Adam is selfish and Megan is an idiot for hooking up with him even when he expressed he didn't want a relationship. Adam's reaction to finding out he had a son was so douchey. I wanted Megan to slap him or curse him out. Instead she felt guilty. Ummm...no. She had no reason to feel that way. Adam has proven that he is not one to stick around. So why tell him so that he can not stick around again? Pffft!
Adam has some issues from his childhood that causes him to have nightmares. Adding to that the nightmares from being a Marine and at war and he has some emotional issues. These issues he hides from Megan. I would have liked to see him go into therapy to work things out instead of just telling his story and then be all, 'Phew! Glad I got that off my chest."
The Baby Bargain was a nice way to spend a couple of hours. Even though I didn't care for Adam and felt that the romance was a little flat, I did like the book. (less)
Marquetta (LoveToReadForFun)
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