A Lust For Reading

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?

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.

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!