Thursday, March 27, 2014

Book Review: Almost Bad Boys Series by A.O. Peart

The Almost Bad Boys series are the stories of four feisty twenty-something women who refuse to let their past drag them down. The books in this series should be read in order. They are not stand-alone books.



Almost Matched

Natalie runs a succesful match making business with her best friend Alli, but she has had very little luck with romance herself. No, every guy she has ever dated has been a jerk. Colin has dealt with tragedy and heartbreak in his past, which has left him emotionally battered. For so long he has kept himself from feeling anything for a woman, but that changes when he meets natalie. Can they give their relationship a try without leeting their pasts get in the way?

So the female characters in this book, Natalie and her 3 BFFs, are absolutely hilarious. They've got some crazy antics going on which made me laugh out loud more than once. Colin has got the whole sexy, pantiny melting smirk and a little bit of mystery behind those sad eyes which makes you really want to peel back his layers to find out what he is all about.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Pre-Release Blitz: Bend by The Erotica Consortium

Bend is brought to you by the mistresses of The Erotica Consortium. “Your pleasure is our goal”


Sunday, March 23, 2014

Book Review: Legal Affairs #6: Affirmation by Sawyer Bennett

When we last left Matt and Mac, Matt had retreated back to his old ways after an extremely unpleasant visit from his ex-wife. As this final installment got started, we could see him withdrawing more and more and it was inevitable for it all to come to a painful end. I was so damn proud of Mac in this book. With Matt's latest crap, I feared for her heart (and honestly, mine too). However she stood her ground knowing that she deserves more than he is willing to give. Walking away certainly wasn't easy but it needed to be done. We just  had to wait and see if Matt could fully wake up once and for all and realize just how much he needs her in his life. And while I sat here biting my nails, reading and waiting, Mac moved forward with a bold plan for her future and career. Bravo Mac!

The journey through the Legal Affairs serial has been sexy and hilarious and just a lot of fun. I loved both of these characters, flaws and all. Sawyer Bennett wrapped it all up perfectly.

Do you want more Matt Connover? Follow author Sawyer Bennett on Facebook and Twitter to find out when a book in Matt's point of view will be coming. I cannot wait to get inside his head (and pants)!


Marianna's Rating:

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Book Review: Working It (Love by Design #1) by Kendall Ryan

Emmy is a sweet southern girl trying to not be overwhelmed by New York City and all the beautiful people she is surrounded by at the modeling agency where she works. Supermodel Ben Stone is the most beautiful of them all and she can't help but be a little smitten with him. Ben doesn't do dating or relationships but once he sets his sights on Emmy, he is determined to have her. He tries to convince them both that a 3 month Paris fling would be perfect, but neither can deny the feeling that start to develop the more time they spend together.

I have read a few of Kendall Ryan's books before and this is definitely my favorite so far. You've got a sweet and naive heroine, a devastatingly handsome and sexy hero and of course a crazy ex who also happens to be Emmy's bitch of a boss. All of this makes for a hot and angsty read. Some of the plot was a little predictable, especially in relation to bitch boss Fiona, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the book. And Ben's dirty mouth was probably what I enjoyed the most.

I had not realized this was the first in a trilogy so I was a little bummed that their story didn't wrap up at the end. While there are plenty of questions waiting to be answered in book two, there wasn't any super major cliffhanger. So at least that makes waiting a little more tolerable. I will absolutely be checking out Craving Him to see what happens next for Emmy and Ben.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Book Review: Raw by Belle Aurora

Take everything that you know about romance books and love stories and just throw them out the damn window. Raw is unlike any book I have read before. It is erotic and emotional and fucked up and well...just raw. That is probably the most appropriate book title ever. Twitch is not a good guy in any way, but Lexi doesn't care. She's drawn to him and there is no way she can stop herself from indulging. And while his original goal was to hurt her - break her - he realizes he can't because he loves her. He has always loved her.

Nothing went down in this book as I expected it to. It kept me on my toes while also keeping me hot and bothered. To say there is a surprise ending is an understatement. It was just a pretty monumental shock for me. And while readers seem to be begging for a sequel, there won't be one. At first I was one of those people screaming "No way! It can't end like this! I need more!" But after taking some time to let it all sink in and reflect, I get it. I get why it ended the way it did and I get why there won't be more. It is truly and painfully brilliant and one of my favorite reads of 2014.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Book Review: Always by Kindle Alexander

Avery Adams has returned to Minnesota to begin his Senate race. On a night out at a local restaurant, he did not expect to fall head over heels in love with the owner. Thrown out of his home at 18 for being gay, Kane Dalton has struggled and worked hard to get to where he is today.  What follows is a sweet and sexy love story that not only shows us how Avery and Kane start their love, but also how they continue to build it over the years.

This is the third book that I have read by Kindle Alexander and I must say it is quite different than her others. In fact, it is different from most romance books I read in that it follows this couple over a lifetime. Always spans 40 years, from when Avery and Kane meet, through starting a family, building a career and all the way to the very end. While the majority of the book is angst-free and heart warming, the end roe me up a little bit. (Or a lot). Reading as Kane's heart both literally and figuratively breaks was beyond sad.

I will say they I wish we were given a little bit more of the start of their love story since the beginning of a romance is always my favorite part to read about. Overall I really enjoyed reading Always and I look forward to more from this author.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Book Review: Spin (Songs of Corruption #1) by C.D. Reiss

When it comes to author fangirling and stalking, C.D. Reiss is at the top of my list. And with very good reason: she. is. awesome. I feel like I have been waiting a lifetime for Spin and I've been burning with anticipation. So when my ARC arrived, I blocked out the world and just read. And holy hell, what I read blew me away! Antonio Spinelli is the ultimate bad boy: a mafia capo who is no stranger to violence and crime. Theresa Drazen could not be more of a straight and narrow good girl if she tried. Being with Antonio brings her to life and even though she knows she should stay away, she just can't. And neither can he.

Theresa is also dealing with her cheating, district attorney hoping to be mayor ex-fiance. At first while I certainly didn't like him, I also felt like he regretted his mistake. I didn't necessarily feel bad for him, I just felt something. Maybe pity? But by the end I just thought he was a world class douche. Antonio, on the other hand, is overflowing with passion and it doesn't matter that he is a criminal. I wanted him just as much as Theresa did. And the sex? Dear lord. The sex is rough and wild and unbelievable and I couldn't get enough of it.

C.D. Reiss is a master of erotica writing and Spin once again proves that. It is not fluffy hearts and flowers, but gritty, raw passion. Fans of her Songs of Submission series are going to love this. And for those of you who haven't read her work before, it is time you get started. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Book Review: A Common Christmas (Haberdashers Tales #1) by Sue London

I loved Sue London's first two books in her The Haberdashers series so I was excited to read the first novella in the Haberdashers Tales mini-series. Unlike the full-length novels, which are a bit on the steamy side, the Tales novellas are more on the sweet side. No there isn't any sex in this read, but trust me it doesn't need it.

You can't come across harder times than Grace Ashman has. With both her parents now gone, she finds herself homeless just a week before Christmas. She knocks on the back door of the Earl of Harrington's house hoping that whoever answers will be kind enough to offer her any sort of help.  When butler Joshua Dibbs opens the door, he isn't expecting to find a young woman and her cat standing there drenched in the pouring rain. He finds himself doing the unusual: inviting her in to dry off and eat. His pretty visitor turns out to be a blessing when the Earl returns home early for the holidays. Running the household on a limited staff should be nearly impossible, but with the help of Grace they will try to pull it off. And while she does a stellar job of cooking, she also manages to bring some much needed holiday spirit to the household.

Book Review: Legal Affairs #5: Reparation by Sawyer Bennett

I thought I loved Matt Connover before when he was a sexy but withdrawn and stubborn ass. But boyfriend Matt? Yeah, he's pretty frickin amazing and awesome. I loved seeing this sweeter side of him with Mac. Unfortunately it is short lived as his ex-wife makes an appearance. Bitch doesn't begin to describe this woman. Satan is probably more accurate. The games she plays with their son in the middle are unbelievable. Honestly, I am surprised that as a lawyer, Matt hasn't fought for more custody. The brief meeting with his ex is brutal and undoes everything Mac has worked so hard for with Matt. Now we have to wait to see if the damage can be repaired. I am so looking forward to the final book!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Book Review: Scoundrel Ever After (Secrets & Scandals #6) by Darcy Burke

We got to know a little about Ethan Locke (aka Jagger) in book 5, Never Love a Scoundrel, and when we last saw him he was running from the police for a murder he didn't commit. On his way out of town, he accidentally drags Audrey Cheswick into the mess; the lovely young girl who had been giving him secret dance lessons. Neither one of them is exactly what they appear to be which  makes them quite perfect for each other. While Ethan has been trying hard to become a gentleman in Society, underneath he is also still a scoundrel and criminal. Audrey may be known as a wallflower not likely to marry, but she secretly craves excitement and adventure and anything other than the life she currently lives. On their journey away from London, they start to learn the depths of each other, but they both still hold a piece of themselves back. Can they learn to trust one another completely?

As they travel together, you see them struggle to open up and trust. Especially Ethan. He so badly wants to turn his life around, but doubts that he can or that he deserves it. Audrey brings him the optimism and encouragement that he doesn't have in himself. She believes in him and in them and gives him the glimmer of hope that he so desperately needs. This adventure while being slightly terrifying at times, has been the best days of Audrey's life. Her boring life is far behind in London and she would have no problem to just keep going. But Ethan has too  many people after him and eventually he'll have to face the music. The question is if he survives all of this, will Audrey still want to be with them? What kind of life can a scoundrel offer her?

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Book Review: Ridge (Wild #2) by Adriane Leigh

Well this wasn't what I expected. Not that I can even say what I thought I did expect, I just know this wasn't it. Ridge. We knew from Wild that he was a bit of a screw up. I mean, sleeping with your brother's fiance kind of makes you the king of douches. I guess I just didn't realize the magnitude of his douchebaggery. Ridge had a crappy past, starting when he and Lane lost their parents. From there he just continued to spiral downward. Juvie, theft, drugs...until he eventually got himself into rehab and straightened out. Now he is a successful restaurant owner, but his demons still rule him.

Ridge and Mia never set out to hurt Lane, they just couldn't help but love each other. But he wants his brother back and makes one of the biggest mistakes of his life to try and expunge the guilt. What follows is just one mistake after another as he sinks further into a black hole, dragging others down with him. He is beyond flawed, and while I really wanted to beat some sense into him, I also 100% loved him. Especially when he unleashes his kinky, dominant side with a penchant for pain. Hot. As. Hell.

I am not exaggerating when I say that I devoured this book in just a few hours. It was a roller coaster of a ride and Ridge was a train wreck that I couldn't pull myself away from. I needed to see how, if at all, he could dig himself out of the hole he got buried in. Its not a fluffy hearts and flowers kind of romance, but it is painfully good and I highly recommend it.

Cover Reveal: Against All Odds by Angie McKeon


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Book Review: On the Rocks (Last Call #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Hunter and Gabby grew up together, and she always had a crush on him. that is until he broker her heart 5 years ago and turned her love into loathing. Since then, they barely get along and are at each others throats with snarky remarks whenever they are in the same room. She doesn't know how much he regrets what he did that night or how much he truly wanted her back then. How much he still wants her. And Hunter thinks it is about time he told her.

Gabby is struggling with running her father's construction company - a field flooded with sexist men who think a woman shouldn't be there. And while I like her a lot for her strength and determination in holding her own, she is also ridiculously frustrating when it comes to Hunter and dealing with her feelings. She continues to keep him at arms length until everything starts to get a little bit crazy and she finally admits to herself how much she cares for him. Generally we have the guy shirking away from commitment and encouraging a "friends with benefits" situation, but here we have a bit of a role reversal. Crazy girl. If I had a hot surfer wanting more from me, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops!

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