NO RESERVATIONS by Lilly Cain

No Reservations by Lilly Cain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a NetGalley book.

I thought it was cute short story/novella, I guess is what you would call it. Sweet. Not much else to say because there wasn't a whole lot of story. But the author did a good job of giving enough back story so you know where these characters are coming from. I would have continued to read if it was a more involved story. I like her writing and how she tells the story. Not so much into fantasy at this time, though I have been in the past so not sure if I will read her other material, but its definitely a possibility.

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THE MARRIAGE MISTAKE by Jennifer Probst

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a NetGalley free book.

It was cute. I would say it was lacking in a few things which is why it didn't get three stars. One, it took too long to get to where it was going.

Two, Carina didn't stick to her guns about not letting her emotions for Max get to her. I think it was too easy. Anyone who believes they can have a one night stand with the man they were in love with and still have feelings for and just move on and get it out of their system is delusional.

Three, there wasn't enough competition for her affections. Everyone stepped away too easily and Carina didn't even get a real chance to see what else was out there. Max intimidated everyone, even Sawyer, way too easily.

Four, I would have liked for the one night stand to have happened earlier in the story so that we could see the dynamics of them being forced to be married a little longer. Maybe have Max be a more interested in wooing Carina and Carina being cold and distant and making Max pay for it.

Five and finally, maybe it's because I didn't read the two previous books to get the back story but the peripheral characters were flat to me.

The author made some glaring mistakes as far as structure. For example, when they are in Vegas, it says that "Michael" stopped at the front desk. Since Michael isn't in Vegas and it's Max, you could get a little confused.

Anyway, like i said, I thought it was cute. I don't want to go read the previous installments in the series, but it wouldn't keep me from reading something else by this author especially if I got it on NetGalley.

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THOUGHTLESS by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NetGalley free book review.

I read a couple of reviews on Amazon and was waffling about buying this book before noticing that it was something I could read for free though my NetGalley account. One of the major criticisms I saw was that Kiera was sleeping with two men and drastically stringing them along. My first thought was how bad could it be. My second thought was that things happen in relationships that make them complicated and hard to make the proper choices, but OMG this was ridiculous. This isn't to say I didn't like the book. I liked it and could have liked it more if it weren't for the constant going back and forth by Kiera.

In some ways I felt like the author was trying to make the book as long as possible. But I have to say it drove me nuts eventually. I can understand Kiera feeling like Denny was safe. I can understand the first and even the second slip up with Kellan, to some extent. But once she knew how he felt about her and knew what she was going to potentially do to Denny, she needed to pull up her big girl panties and sit them down and talk. Them them both what was going on in her head and how confused she was. Her actions could only lead to destruction, which it did.

Denny was a little too peripheral of a character for me. I wanted to know more about him other than his drive towards his career and his seemingly unaware love for Kiera. How all her moods didn't alert him to what was going on is beyond me, which he explains later that he kind of knew something was going on with her, but he just let things go until things were out of control.

I don't have an issue with the cheating as some of the other reviewers I've read had. I believe that things happen and that you can't always control how you feel about someone. You can control how your act and be and adult and make sure you are free and clear before you act on those feelings, but I'm not nieve enough to believe that's how most people act.

But, I have to say I did like it. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what Kiera would do, when Denny would figure it all out, what Kellan would ultimately do. Based on how the author wrote Kellan, it wouldn't have even been a hard decision for me. I would have immediately been with Kellan. Although I thought Denny was sweet, he took their relationship for granted. He didn't think he had to work at it. I do believe that Kiera over reacted to Denny getting and taking the job in Arizona, but since she had moved from Ohio to Seattle to be with him, he should have taken her into consideration and discussed it with her before making that decision.

I believe that Denny's inability to consider Kiera in his major decisions was the start of their problems. Kiera being young and klinging to the first person she was in love with is the other half of their problem.

Good book, read the first couple chapters of EFFORTLESS, but I'm not sure I want to spend the money reading the sequel if it's more of the same filler of either or both of them not knowing what they want and how to communicate. Will consider.

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CALLING THE SHOTS by Christine D'Abo

Calling The Shots by Christine d'Abo
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

NetGalley free book to review.

So I'm batting a thousand with the books I'm picking that I ultimately read and don't like. I don't know whats going on, but this was the worst of the bunch so far. Oliver is a man who likes to be submissive, but hasn't ever been interested in a man until he meets and starts working with Josh at his BDSM club. The problem with this is that Oliver's character gives very little pause to the act of having Josh enter him. This is later explained away in a minor way when Oliver says he's notice attractive men before but never wanted to have sex with them or when Josh's father characterizes Oliver as being a little "confused." It's like once Oliver decides to do this he has not qualms about it and just goes for it like an old pro.

I also felt little to no attraction from Oliver to Beth until much later in the story once she suggests a three way relationship with Josh. It's like she's the conduit for him to feel okay about being with Josh.

I also thought the story was week. I wanted to skip over paragraphs to get to what was happening instead of the mondane goings on to get there.

Still looking for books to make into film and television and build on the success of Fifty Shades of Grey and this certainly isn't it.

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FORBIDDEN DESIRES by Jodie Griffen

Forbidden Desires by Jodie Griffin
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This was another NetGalley free book.

Unfortunately, I didn't like this one either. The story just didn't go anywhere. Bella is a young woman who, I guess is a Librarian, who meets up with three elderly women at a senior living facility, regularly to play cards and take them to lunch or dinner. There's no real explanation as to why (i.e. is this volunteer work, did she know someone who had been at the home, therefore she continues to visit... nothing).

Once Bella meets Marcus, they go through this back and forth of him not knowing what he wants and why, which makes no sense as he ultimately takes her to a BDSM Bed & Breakfast run by a friend of his, who he later says has explained to him what he is.

So, why he's so confused and hasn't explored any of it until Bella makes no sense to me. Also the fact that he ends the story as a Dominate who may be willing to submit at times, and she a submissive is wonky to me.

Bella doesn't like being told what to do, yet because she's in a relationship where she loves the person, it doesn't bother her anymore? It's just confusing and not interseting enough to find out why she all of a sudden changes her tune. And after all the, we shouldn't see each other/I can't get you out of my mind and continuing to call her, from Marcus, Bella is in love with this guy. I have no idea why.
The story is just all over the place and I didn't get it.

Again, I hate giving bad reviews, but in this case I have to.

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POETRY MAN by Melanie Schuser

Poetry Man by Melanie Schuster
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This is a book I got free through NetGalley. Being an African-American woman who has dated Caucasian men of varying economic status, I have to say the dialogue was pretty bad. It was too flowery. It flet like the author was writing what she would want a mant to speak, not how they actually speak even when they are interested in a woman. If she's met this man, I would be surprised.

I liked the idea of the story but the conversations were stilted and awkward. He constantly calls her "beauty" or "goddess," which becomes annoying to me. Alexis has a name and as a woman of the 21st Century I would have said as much. This isn't to say that endearments are nice and sweet, but these just didn't feel real to me.

Also, their interaction after they've first had sex is just not comfortable or realistic. It seems idealistic.

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't work for me. Not enough conflict and not enough intensity in the relationships. That's just my opinion and I hate give bad reviews, since I have to for NetGalley, I am.

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ANYTHING HE WANTS by Sara Fawkes

Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this more. There were parts that were exciting, like trying to figure out who is after Jeremiah and Lucy. I also feel like the author set up a believable scenario where Lucy would agree to Jeremiah's offer of work doing "Anything He Wants" due to her lack of finances, her staying with a friend but wearing out her welcome.

The author sort of mentions that Lucy has had an interesting sex drive although never had a chance or inclination to pursue it. But she falls into a BDSM relationship with Jeremiah.

I would have liked to have had more with Celeste and Cherise as possible friends for Lucy. I get that she was isolated by Jeremiah for her own safety, but his obsession with doing everything and not keeping others in the loop is ridiculous. I don't really understand why Lucas took off and didn't try to prove his innocence. I also don't understand what's going on with trying to kill Jeremiah and how Anya could have been talked into hiring a hit man. She'd worked for Jeremiah and should have known the reality of the situation no matter what others said to her.

I liked Lucas and I actually hope Lucy goes off with him as that would show Jeremiah. He obviously cares for her and his pushing her away isn't good for her. If he cares for her as much as I think he does this makes no sense in the story.

I would consider reading the second book, if there's going to be a second book if there's a good editor who can help with the story and structure of the book. The writer is good with ideas, but needs help with the writer. The best thing is that the book was quick and short.

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BLINDFOLDED INNOCENCE by Alessandra Torre

Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I would have said that I liked it, but it just ended. I have no idea if there's a sequel going to happen or anything. I kept anticipating how things would work out with them openly seeing each other and working together at the office.

I also thought that Brad's dramatic turn around that the needed to be with Julia in a relationship was a little fast. I mean if he didn't mind her basically having sex with Montana at the gentlemans/strip club, why would he mind if she went out with Todd.

I get that he liked to watch, which I think was something that could have been explored in the book as well, with him turning off the camera's at the club while Montana and Julia were publicly going at it. That was a missed opportunity in the book.

But again, what's the big deal of her going out with Todd when Brad is a commitment-phobe and her publicly going at it in front of a bunch of men at a club? I just don't get the distinction.

I also don't get the title. I mean she was only blindfolded once, at the end of the book, which I have no idea why she was unless it was something she asked for.

Anyway, I liked the characters, I think there could have something more there, just too short and not enough explored for me.



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YUMMY LOVE!

Love Unscripted by Tina Reber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. The "Meet/Cute" of Ryan and Taryn is so adorable. I felt all of her anxiety and hesitation of being involved with someone who is so recognized and so desired by other women. Her insecurity is completely understandable. What else could she feel. I would love to see this on the big screen. I think it's like Notting Hill with more drama.

I don't want to give away too much, but I wish it went on forever. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there were a few too many misunderstandings, but I get it. Made for a great read.

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Awesome BzzAgent campaign

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