ONLY PRETEND by Nora Flite

Only Pretend by Nora Flite
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

ARC provided by author for an hones review.

3.5 BLOND AMERICAN GIRL NEXT DOOR STARS

Celeste Barstow has had a rough time. Her boyfriend, who she works for, has just fired her and broken up with her, all in one fell swoop. Not only that... he says she boring. What's a girl supposed to do when she wants to prove to herself that she can be adventurous and spontaneous...? Go to Vegas of course! But while in Vegas, things take a turn and Celeste ends up in a position she could have never imagine.

This book was an easy and quick read. Although it started out like it could have been a romantic comedy. Girl gets dumped by her boyfriend. Decides to spend the last of her funds in her bank account on a wild weekend in Vegas, only to fall for a dashing stranger. If only that was the case. Where Celeste ends up isn't fun. Leonide is an interesting character. I don't understand how a world traveler could believe what he was doing was for the greater good. But in a way he was brainwashed as well.

I didn't love this as much as The Body Rock series, but I have to say I wasn't bored reading it at all. And I still like Nora's style of writing. Like when Leonide comes to the realization of his feelings for Celeste.

And Celeste Barstow.
She was an illogical miracle; a girl who brought so many feelings out in me.
Fuck.
I hated her with a passion

~ Leonide

Though there were tense times, it just felt a little too insulated. And though that worked for The Body Rock series. All the internal musings and conversation, it made for a few slow moments loosing momentum in the story, here.

I still love Nora's writing. I've read worse and think she dose a great job with her characters. And although sometime her women make easy hindsight mistakes, they are very strong and I respect that. They never completely fall apart, standing up and doing what needs to be done in the end. As Celeste did in this book.


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INJUSTICE: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 by Tom Taylor

Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 by Tom Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

5 SUPER HERO STARS

This was soooo good. I find it hard to decide who is justified in their delusion of grander. I think Superman is extremely dangerous and feeling a lot of emotional pain. But I think Batman's stubborn one dimensional version of right and wrong, keeps him from reaching Superman and expressing why he is opposed to what they are doing.

Great story, well told, great penning and color.

I'm looking forward to the next installment.

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JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, Vol. 2: Survivors of Evil by Matt Kindt

Justice League of America, Vol. 2: Survivors of Evil by Matt Kindt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

2 STARS

Beautifully drawn, beautifully colored, but the story was all over the place. I understood the story for the most part, but then it just seemed to veer off into different direction. I don't know if or how they are out of the mental prison.



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OVERWHELMED BY YOU (Tear Asunder, #2) by Nashoda Rose

Overwhelmed by You by Nashoda Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

ARC provided by author through NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5 BEAUTIFUL STARS

Kat and Ream were thrown together because of the relationship between Logan aka Sculpt and Emily. First as friends when Emily and Logan first went missing. Ream was there to help Kat with the farm. And once both Emily and Logan were back and together, things quickly went south for Kat and Ream. Misunderstandings, half truths, lies and deceptions with each other and from outside sources would conspire to keep them apart. But only their love and self sacrifice for the other, would pull them through the darkest times either of them would ever know, learning to trust that the they would both do anything to keep the other safe.

I liked this one, not as much as the first book and the prequel. Maybe because the stakes didn't seem as high as they felt with what happened to Logan and Emily. I often thought that although Kat and Ream both had their demons and I started to suspect what Ream's were due to the openings in each chapter. But still, the connection between the two wasn't as intense and the danger didn't seem as acute.

That doesn't mean I didn't like it, because I did very much. I knew that the misdirection of what we thought was going on with Kat couldn't be what the author was alluding to and I was so happy yet sad at the same time. I also freaked out when, out of nowhere Kat was thrown into some troubles.

Ream was so sad. He had some many strikes against him that would have thrown any man. But her persevered and you have to admire him for surviving his childhood.

I loved reading about all of the bandmates again, though we got more about Crisis than Kite. Looking forward to the story about Deck and Georgie.

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RUINED (Ethan Frost, #1) by Tracy Wolff

Ruined by Tracy Wolff
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2 JUST OKAY STARS

ARC provided through NetGalley for an honest review.

Hmmmm... I liked the beginning of this book, but it seemed to drag on like crazy. By the time I got to about 60% of the book, I felt the overwhelming need to skim the rest of it.

The relationship between Ethan and Chloe starts out really fast. I don't even know what it is he sees in her. I mean the author never really explains if it's her looks, her personality, the fact that the argued with him when they first met. Does she seem strong or fragile to him? I just don't get it. He's known as a playboy to an extent, so what is his attraction to Chloe.

I also thought the overt bullying by her fellow interns and even her boss was a strange storyline that didn't go anywhere. I thought maybe Rick was going to sabotage her or maybe find out about her past and tell Ethan, before she was able to. Something, it just seemed anticlimactic for the most part. They didn't like her because of the boss. Who cares?... Unless they are going to do something about it.

Love the crazy friend/roommate, Tori. Made me laugh when Chloe helped her color her hair and thought she looked liked she'd fallen into a big of Skittles.

I knew early on what the connection was going to be between Ethan and Chole's past. Something just told me what it was and it just felt predictable. Also the insta love happened way too quickly. I mean they basically knew each other for about a week or two before the went away on business. Now all of a sudden she's telling him she's in love with him? That's just too fast for me.

It also felt like the author didn't know if she wanted Ethan to be into D/s, BDSM or just an alpha male. I mean, the chain was like a collar? And what does Chole know about collars, since he only sexual experience to date hadn't been a good one? Too many unanswered questions.

I am interested in reading the second book, mostly because I want Brandon and her parents to get what's coming to them and I'm hoping that's the point of the second book.

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DEVIL'S GAME (Reapers MC, #3) by Joanna Wylde

Devil's Game by Joanna Wylde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 HUNTER STARS

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

Joanna Wylde has done it again. I love this series. I'd been waiting to read Em and Hunter's story since I finished Reaper's Legacy . I loved that there was a mini recap from their perspective. So it was easy to get into the story. I found Em hilarious. Though she was a Daddy's girl, virgin and scared to leave home, she was still the daughter on an MC President and she knew how to handle herself in a pinch. She wasn't scared to fight when she needed to. And fight she did to protect herself, her family and her man when she needed too. She was even willing to stand up agains her family when she had to.

I loved the background on Liam aka Hunter and Kelsey. Made you understand Hunter's commitment to the Devil's Jacks and why he would do anything for them. Which is why what he suggests to Em at the end of the story is so monumental. But she's from the life and understands the significance and is willing to stand with him through it all.

There were moments of hilarity, like when Hunter offered Em the ability to kick him in the balls, and she did it even though the thought she wouldn't. Then there were times when it was so scary and thrilling that you didn't know what would happen from one moment to the next.

There was a lot that happened, and by the time I finished, I wasn't ready for it to end. There felt like so much more that needed to happen. But I think that's because I love these characters and their stories so much that I want it to never end.

I can't wait for Picnic's story with London.

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LOVELY TRIGGER (Tristan & Danika, #3) by R.K. Lilley

Lovely Trigger by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 FORGIVENESS STARS

I loved this whole series. I wanted this series to go on and on. I wanted to read more about their family. I hated that it was all wrapped up in an epilogue. I loved how Tristan never gave up on her. How he started out trying to be friends with her gain. How he made her stand by him and not give up on him.

And even though he was devastated at how his actions impacted Danika in ways he didn't even know until years later, he stepped up to the plate and made sure she knew that nothing would change the fact that he loved her and how much.

As I said in my last review in Rock Bottom , I have been kind of in a book funk since reading this series. Nothing has measured up. Even the latest in my beloved Reaper's MC , didn't hold up as well as it should.

I will read anything R.K. Lilley writes. She's just that good.

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ROCK BOTTOM (Tristan & Danika, #2) by R.K. Lilley

Rock Bottom by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 BOO STARS

Where as the middle book in The Up In The Air series felt like a bridge (informational) book, this book held its own and did so much better than the first. It had first loves, first blush, falling apart.

After his loss, Tristan starts to spiral out of control and continues to do so and his losses are compounded. Danika tries to do everything she can in order to help him, but she starts to realize she's being dragged down with him. Tristan starts to distance himself from Danika and she doesn't know how to help him in his grief and addictions. Once things reach a pinnacle, Danika decides that she needs to take care of herself and breaks away from Tristan.

But again, things have happened which brings her to Tristan's door to try and make amends. But he's so far gone he can't hear her. Sending her away and strait into danger.

This book was heart wrenching for me. These two went through so much. I kept wondering through the first book and most of this book, how Danika could thing that Tristan didn't love her. Which is what she said to James and Bianca both in The Up In The Air series. Once I got through this book, I understood how she could feel that way. I'm teaching up even thinking about all they went through while writing this review.

I loved how obsessive Tristan was of Danika. He was crazy jealous. But now I understand all the ribbing Tristan did to James in the other series. Because in this series, which is six years earlier and at the very beginning of them getting to know each other. James didn't understand how Tristan kept getting into trouble when he would get jealous and freak out over Danika.

I'm writing the reviews after reading the entire series. It took me so long to get over this series as a whole. I haven't read anything since that has made me feel as connected to the characters. I didn't want it to end.

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BAD THINGS (Tristan & Danika, #1) by R.K. Lilley

Bad Things by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 HEART RIPPING STARS

In a way I loved this book more than the Up In The Air series. I think because I was so curious about Danika and Tristan from those book. My only complaint is that it's taking so long to get to where they are now, and I felt like the author dragged it out a little too long. I want to know why Danika has an issue with her walking now, especially since was just short of a professional dancer in these book. I can't believe there's a whole other book before getting to them at the wedding.

But, I felt every anxiety from Danika about her relationship with Tristan, her instant attraction and desire for this man who has his own demons.

This book had me more emotionally on the edge of my seat. But I still want things to come to me more. On to the next in series.

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HARD TIME by Cara McKenna

Hard Time by Cara McKenna
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

1.5 BORING STARS

Unfortunately, this didn't work for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it at all. I just didn't feel the attraction between these two characters. I didn't feel why Annie responded to Eric over anyone else. I mean, it wasn't like he was someone who was in prison falsely. And the ending just ended. There were no repercussions for her choice with her parents or anyone else for that matter. I mean, she pretty successfully kept the fact that he was a felon from everyone she knew.

I thought the sex was boring, with all the "what do you want?", etc. It just went on and one. I found myself skimming by the time I got to about 50% of the book.

The book has gotten some amazing reviews and I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else. I guess we can't all like everything, Right?!

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LANA by R.K. Lilley

Lana by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 SMOKIN' HOT HAWAIIAN MAN STAR

Akira and Lana's story was so bittersweet. They wasted so much time, him thinking he wasn't good enough for her. And Lana thinking he just thought of her as a little sister. But if it weren't for James flying out to see Akira in Grounded , he never would have known she'd spent all that time pining for him and not feeling like she would ever love again.

They quickly fall into bed with each other, but still cause each other pain with misunderstandings. But quickly Akira makes Lana believe she's his and will never get away from him again.

I liked learning more about their story and how they knew each other. Their first sexual encounter than ended so horribly wrong. But how they both never got over each other. Ended a bit anticlimactically, but I still liked it.

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GROUNDED (Up in the Air, #3) by R.K. Lilley

Grounded by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 KINKY DOCTOR STARS

This is where the courtship is in full bloom. Bianca is more confident in James' feelings for her. Though she finds it hard to express herself fully to him. But that all soon takes a backseat to the drama in their friends lives, Lana, Jackie, Stephan & Javier and Danika & Tristan. Bianca also connects with her half brother and tries to form a relationship with him, even against James' hesitation.

But soon an old danger catches up with them and James almost looses Bianca for a second time. He doesn't know how to deal the feeling of being out of control. But his love shines bright and clear. She has no choice in this anymore. She loves him and wants to spend her life with him. She has a new career and so do Stephan and Javier, thanks to James.

They are all a family and it's so beautiful how it ends. I can't wait to read Mr. Beautiful .

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MILE HIGH (Up in the Air, #2) by R.K. Lilley

Mile High by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 BUTTERCUP Stars

In this installment, James' past comes back to haunt him and causes Bianca to take a little break from him. Which kills him. But then his presence in her life also puts her in danger. When she's hurt because of his prying into her past, he's beside himself.

Although I believe he was falling in love with her before, this is where he knows he loves her because he's almost lost her twice so close together.

I love how accepting he is of her relationship with Stephan and how he got rid of the horrible housekeeper. Though he is crazy possessive of Bianca, he's never that way when it comes to she and Stephan. I love how Bianca was protective of Stephan when it came to Javier. She wanted him happy, but she never wanted him to be hurt by any of his relationships.

I loved how James tarted using Stephan's nickname of 'Buttercup' when talking to her. I can also understand how Bianca's past brought her to be the perfect partner for James.

This one was a lot more serious than the first installment as well as dragging a little bit. Though I like this series, this definitely felt like the bridge between the first and the last book, setting us up for all the drama to come.

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IN FLIGHT (Up in the Air, #1) by R.K. Lilley

In Flight by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 SOTNOS STARS

When James Cavendish set his sights on Bianca, that was it for her. No matter how much she pushed him away or how many misunderstandings, he wasn't giving up on her. I loved how he fell and fell hard. This wasn't a man who had any intentions of being in a committed relationship with anyone. And he lived his life that way. He didn't care what he did because, as far as he was concerned, it could affect any relationship in the future, because he wasn't going to have one. That is until he met Bianca.

Stephan was the most amazing best friend/brother. I loved his relationship with Bianca. He was her anchor. If it wasn't for him, I doubt she would ever have believed she could be loved by anyone. I loved how protective he was over her, even when he thought she was sabotaging herself. But when he thought James was making a mistake, he didn't hold back from making his presence known.

Some of the things James said to Bianca, I thought were hilarious. Like when he told her:

"Someday soon I'm going to tie you up and tease you just the way you're teasing me right now, with no hope of release for at least a night."

~ James

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IT AIN'T ME, BABE (Hades Hangmen, #1) by Tillie Cole

It Ain't Me, Babe by Tillie Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 BABE STARS

First let me say that I loved this book. I thought it was so very different from other MC books with the where Salome aka "Mae" comes from. It was a little too easy that she gets dropped off right at their compound, and there were a few other convenient things that happened which dropped my reivew down from a full five stars to four. But for the most part it was very original and very good.

It it was definitely different to have a hero , River aka Styx, who was unapologetic about who he was and what he did. He knew that he wasn't any good for Mae, and should let her be out in the world to decide what she wanted, but he just couldn't walk away once he found the girl that he'd even thought had been a dream for fifteen years. That fact that he communicated in a completely different was was also extrodinary for who he was in the club.

I was so upset with Rider for most of the book and how he treated Mae, until I figured out who he really was and how nuts he really was. I never wanted her with him. At first he seemed nice to her, but there was just something that bothered me about him. No MC goes against his President even if he thinks he's in love with the same woman. I knew he was too comfortable with being antagonizing to Styx. That just didn't sit well with me.

I loved what the author called the Psyco Trio.

At the end I was freaking out hoping there was going to be sequels and now I see there there will be. I'm praying for Lilah/Ky and Maddie/Flame books. When Maddie hugged flame and his first reaction was to stick his arms up in the air, I laughed so hard. I'm laughing now writing about it.

I'm so looking forward to more from this series and author.

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PERFECT SOLDIER, Part 3: Long Goodbye (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance) by Haley Nix

Perfect Soldier: Long Goodbye (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance) by Haley Nix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Better, but lots of grammatical errors.

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MENAGE ALA NATURE by Rosalind Scarlett

Ménage àla Nature by Rosalind Scarlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

That was pretty HOT for a short novella.

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PERFECT SOLDIER, Part 2: Colt & Cat (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance) by Haley Nix

Perfect Soldier: Colt & Cat (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance): Part 2 by Haley Nix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Much better than the first book for me. More story.

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PERFECT SOLDIER, Part 1: Catching Colton (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance) by Haley Nix

Perfect Soldier: Catching Colton (Hot Soldier & Sexy BBW Erotic Romance) by Haley Nix
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't know. There just wasn't much to it. I'm going to read the next one to hopefully get a bit more into the story.

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BLIND DATE TEDDY BEAR (Her Teddy Bear, #1) by Mimi Strong

Blind Date Teddy Bear by Mimi Strong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars

I don't know about anyone else, but I thought Trevor and Naomi were adorable. I'm pissed I don't have the rest of the series and will have to now get the boxed set to read what happens next. Naomi was so cute. I give her props for calling Trevor after the first date. I don't know if I would have been able to get over myself and my hurt feelings to call him, but it worked out for her.

Can't wait to see where they go from there.

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EVERY PART OF YOU: TAKES ME (Every Part of You, #5) by Megan Hart)

Every Part of You: Takes Me by Megan Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

Broken hearted after Every Part of You: Denise Me , Simone is living with the heartache of loving someone who doesn't want to be with her. Adrian and Corrina, try to help her by indulging in a different aspect of her fetish. But that only works temporarily.

At the same time, Elliott, realizes he misses Simone more than he ever thought he could. He tries to talk to her, but his efforts are less than stellar and at the same time, his past is coming back to haunt him.

Will they be able to make things work...

This was a lovely ending to the series. I almost tread up a couple of times as I could feel Simone's despair over Elliott and his over his realization that he actually did love someone. The effort for Elliott to break down his own wall and admit he cares can be felt in every word written from him POV.

I loved that about this series where the POV changes really added to the intensity of the characters emotional plight. This series was my introduction to this author and I really enjoyed it.


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TRUE BODY ROCK (Body Rock, #4) by Nora Flite

True Body Rock by Nora Flite
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided by author for an honest review.

First I want to thank Nora Flite for her wonderful story of Lola and Drezden falling in love, along with Lola fulfilling her dreams and Drez discovering new ones.

In this final installment, Lola can't believe things are so good. Her dream of becoming a famous rock star is coming true and she's fallen in love with the green eyed lead singer of her band, who can't seem to get enough of her. But outside forces reek havoc on her insecurities. There are things about Drezden she doesn't know, and others will use those thing to pick at what is so fragile to begin with.

Is her brother Sean jealous of Lola's success or is he really trying to protect her? When its clear that Lola is in real danger, Sean and Drez put aside their grudge in order to protect what is most important to both of them... Lola.

This was a great ending to the Rock-N-Roll love story of Lola and Drez. We learn the truth about his past. Drez learns that Honesty is the thing that will keep Lola with him. Lola learns that she's stronger than she ever thought she was. And with Drez, she has all her dreams come true. She just has to trust her own instincts.

I love how Nora kept Lola pure. She had a tough childhood, which lead to some of her insecurities, with men and relying too much on her brother and his instincts. But when the chips were down, she took things into her own hands, listened to her gut and made her own choices.

I loved how Drez grew from knowing and loving Lola. He was driven and hard, but once this woman that he was so drawn to came into his life, all of that changed. It didn't cause his music to suffer, like he thought a relationship would. It made it grow and flourish. Made him a better person and helped him let go of his past.



And in the end, they made beautiful music together.



Lovely series. I would definitely recommend the series and I will be looking forward to what Nora will write in the future.

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ONE WEEK THREE HEARTS (Three Hearts Trilogy, #2) by Adele Allaire

One Week Three Hearts by Adele Allaire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 Stars

I find the story intriguing, but the writing difficult. After their night together resulted in what Rose wanted most of all, a horrific tragedy befalls her. Now months laters, she in Hawaii with Matt at Jason encouragement. But he doesn't seem happy to see her. In actuality he's cold, forceful, degrading and pawning her off on another man to use.

Rose doesn't know what to make of this until Matt explains Jason's roll in it all.

But here is where I as a reader am having an issue. Most of the dialogue is from Matt. But then there are the jumps that the author does, from what Rose is thinking or into action. It's really hard to explain and even harder to read. I don't dislike it, I'm just confused by it as it doesn't seem to happen all the time and when it does happen it's like a jolt forward into something no one had a conversation about, yet its happening.

I don't know how to explain it. I'm also not happy about the fact that Matt seems to think the way to get Rose out of her depression is to treat her with disdain, abuse and apathy. But for some reason I'm still interested. I'm so confused...

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ONE NIGHT THREE HEARTS (Three Hearts Trilogy, #1) by Adele Allaire

One Night Three Hearts by Adele Allaire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

I liked the relationship between the three of them, but some of the writing was confusing. As if I was in the writers head and I would get confused as to what she was trying to tell me was going on.

The emotion of the story was there but the structure of the writing was a little off.

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THIS MAN CONFESSED (This Man, #4) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 TRAMPLE STARS

Now that Jesse has made Ava his in all the ways that he can, he is in trampling mode. Ava's brother, her mother, and anyone else that gets in his way. She belongs to him and he's making it known. They have a few more hurtles to overcome, one being psychotic. But soon everything is as it should be.

I was a little disappointed that things went so far before Jesse opened up to tell her everything. I mean he almost cost Ava her life by doing his caveman protection style. Putting himself in danger wasn't any better.

The entire series was really good, although I liked the first book the most because it contained a lot of situations that were extremely funny. Although all the forms of sex they named was pretty funny. There was Sleepy Sex, Sense, Reminder, Alfresco Retribution and even Compromise F**k, among many others.

Jesse and even Ava, for that matter, were more considerate of Sarah than I would have ever been, but I definitely respected their decision to help her even after all the things she did to them to keep them apart. It was nothing compared to other nut-ball.

Great ending, although I wanted more. More with the family. The epilogue brought us back to funny and sexy.

I would definitely read more from Jodi. Looking forward to more from her.

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BENEATH THIS MAN (This Man, #2) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Beneath This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 - ISH STARS

After the Ava found out what Jesse had been hiding and the nasty things he said to her, she been in hell. Her heart is breaking and it isn't until John, Drew and Sam appeal for her help that she goes to Jesse.

Once she sees the state he's in, Ava decides to help him and will leave once he's back on his feet again. But that plan is shortly dashed when Jesse awakens and not only professes his love, but swears he won't ever be that man again is she will only promise to never leave him again. Part obligation and part love, Ava concedes, but only if there are no more lies between them.

Ava gives as much as she's given in this book. Putting Sarah and the other women who want Jesse in their place. Jesse does everything he can to make her is. To the point of brining her family into the mix and making them like her.

"You EVER lay a finger on him again, requested or not, and I won't stop until I've snapped every bone in your fucking body. Do you understand me?"

- Ava

At the same time, her brother is back in town and Ava is also in danger. Mysterious things star to happen. She is used to being on her own and doesn't tell Jesse, which isn't a good thing. Jesse is also keeping things from her, which she chooses to ignore, be that good or bad.

Someone doesn't want them together and wants Ava hurt, maybe even dead. Which kicks Jesse's protective instincts into overdrive. But now Ava has other reasons for staying safe and Jesse will do anything and everything it takes to keep them all safe. Even making her marry him in the one place she despises.

I liked the book, but by the end I was pissed that Jesse was still keeping secrets. And although the protective thing was fun to read, there is no one on this earth I could have ever dealt with someone like him.

I found Ava doing everything in her power to go against what Jesse was demanding of her hilarious. That's what I would have done.

The one think I'm still confused about is Ava's exotic looks. She's supposed to be dark skinned with long dark hair, but she's obviously Irish with that last name. Hmmm ;D

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THIS MAN (This Man, #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 CENTRAL JESSE CLOUD NINE STARS

Ava O'Shea has just broken up with her boyfriend of 4 years and is rooming with her best friend, Kate Matthews until she can get herself situated and find her own place. But her work schedule is keeping her very busy. Ava is an interior decorator and due to her work on the new Lusso building, Ava and the firm where she works are getting a lot of attention.

That attention brings her to The Manor owned by Jesse Ward. He wants her to decorate the new extension on The Manor, which Ava thinks is an exclusive hotel. From the moment they meet, there is heat and tension. Ava doesn't want to get involved, but Jesse won't let her run away. And she does a lot of that.

Lots of misunderstandings and Jesse's very dominate alpha ways cause Ava to run away from him, but soon she's falling for This Man .

This book was hilarious. First with Ava thinking that Jesse's manor was a hotel to her antics with her best friend, Kate.

I loved how Jesse and Ava had names for their sexual interactions or his way of demanding sex when they were arguing was to tell her...

"We need to make friends."

~ Jesse

I loved how Jesse new that the moment he saw her, she was for him and he wasn't going to let her go.

"Ava, you should know that once I've had you, you're mine"

~ Jesse

Although it was hilarious, I didn't quite understand why Jesse seemed to imprint on Ava so quickly and so intensely. Obviously that information will come later in other books, but while reading this one, it was a total mystery.

I loved how every time she asked for his age, the number changed and that it would frustrate her so much.

This was so fun and funny, I couldn't wait to get to the next book.

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PLAY IT SAFE by Kristen Ashely

Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 - 5 MACHO MAN RANCHER COWBOY STARS

Ivey Bailey and her brother Casey are in the small town of Mustang, Colorado. Ivey wants to leave as soon as possible because she knows this is the type of town she's always thought could be a place she could settle and the guy are the bar, Grayson "Gray" Cody, is a guy she could fall for, if she didn't Play it Safe .

But she doesn't play it safe. You see Ivey has a special talent.



When the town rich guy and bully bets Ivey he can beat her, she takes the bet reluctantly. He doesn't like that she's immune to his charms and seems to favor Cody. When he decides to pay her back, it's Gray Cody who has Ivey's back.

Gray is the towns favorite son. He's good personified. He always does the right thing, to the point of running the family orchard and horse farm after his father's death due to a car accident, which cost his grandmother her legs. Gray also cares for and lives with his grandmother. He's a true cowboy.



Gray and Ivey fall in love fast and hard, but soon they are torn apart by those who with their own agendas.

Three years later, Ivey is headlining in Vegas in a Burlesque show, when she looks up and sees Gray and his friends in the audience.


He says some nasty things to her, but she's built a wall around her heart... or so she thinks. Until the town draws her back in.

When she finds out Gray is in trouble. She with her posse in tow, return to Mustang where she and Gray discover that they were torn apart by a lie. Now they have a chance and its up to them to take advantage of it. She trades in her designer life she she loves in, even though it's a lie, and returns to what should have been.


Trading her Manolo's in for cowboy boots.


Ivey and Gray have to fight her brother, the town bully, who seven years later is still going at them trying to destroy what they have. But they are older and stronger and in love and not willing to lose each other again.

This was so good. I loved it. I loved the timeline and how it all played out. I loved how sweet Ivey was and who she was even when her life conspired against her. Gray was the epitome of the best guy anyone could ever meet. He worked hard, took care of his family, his legacy, his heritage, and would fight for the honor of someone he didn't even know. He helped Ivey find what she always wanted.

Lash and Brutus aka Freddie were her friends and they were good guys. Never taking advantage of her, which she was used to. To the point that when she decided to go back to Mustang, to a town where people turned on her when they didn't know she had been played, they took her back and went with her and helped her help them. Everyone could use friends like that.

The only not so great thing is that it dragged in a couple places with descriptions of things, but all in all it was still fantastic.

KA is so awesome. I am on a mission to read everything she's written.

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TRUST (Finding Anna, #4) by Sherri Hayes

Trust by Sherri Hayes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

2 SLOW STARS

Unfortunately sort of anticlimactic for me and a slow trudging read. Oh well. On to the next.

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ALL THE SKY (Signal Bend, #5) by Susan Fanetti

All the Sky by Susan Fanetti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 - 3 CHICKS RUIN EVERYTHING STARS

It's so funny. Most of this series I've loved. The second book Behold the Stars and this book were a bit of a miss for me.

I liked Havoc, and I get from his background that he found it hard to connect with people and didn't want a relationship or family. He didn't have a really great example of it.

For Corinne, her background wasn't much better. Her sister and brother-in-law, felt like they were there only to antagonize her and us to make us like her more. She was fine, but I wasn't as invested in her as I was with Lilli, Shannon or Riley. She seemed to fall into love with Havoc way too easily and her sort of "wait and see" attitude with her kid and his involvement with the Horde was a little bizarre for me.

I also saw what was going to happen coming a mile away. I mean... COME ON! Haven't they learned anything yet. I get that Isaac needed to replenish his quaffers after his rehab, but there had to be a better way. Or at least someone had to think and direct Dom to what they should be looking out for. They know he's not Bart, and even Bart missed things. So someone should have been thinking of all the angels. They walked into what they ended up in so easily it was ridiculous.

I did like the part where Bart came back, even if it was partly his fault that things turned out the way they did.

I don't know guys. I love this series for the most part. It just feels like every couple of books she phones it in and follows a pattern for me. Oh well. We can't all love everything and I will continue to give the series a try as now I have to know how they are going to get themselves out of this predicament.

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THE WILL (Magdalene, #1) by Kristen Ashely

The Will by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SHE'S BACK... LOVED IT !!!!!!

5++ SLICK STARS

Josie is poised and a little stand-offish. After living the past twenty-three years as the personal assistant to famed photographer, Henry Gagnon, and traveling the globe several times.



She's back in Maine to take care of things after her Gran has passed. Before she can get back to her jet-setting life there's the reading of the will, where she finds out Gran had befriended Jake Spear, three time married and divorced single father of three (Conner, Amber and Ethan) and has "given" her to him in that will.

Jake is stunning, big, muscular, blue eyes and intense. She knows the kind of woman he likes and it's not her. He's a business owner and former boxer.







Now, they both know that no one can own another person, but that doesn't stop Jake from doing exactly what Lydie wanted him to do. So when Jake tells her she's not his type, she opens up enough to let him comfort her during her grief and let him be a friend.



But soon Josie's falling for Jake and Jake can't stand to know that the other men in her life are finally coming to realize they want her and could loose her.



Josie is not only falling in love with Jake, but his family. The kids Conner and Amber have issues from a neglectful mother and Josie tries to advise them. Ethan's mother is just absent. And now she no longer wants to leave Maine.

Ex-wives, ex-boss, ex-lovers, ex-family all descend on the couple to make things difficult, but they weather the storm until a little white lie lands them in trouble.

I loved this book. Jake was the best Alpha Male KA has written in a long time. He was sweet and caring, slowly moving Josie into the relationship he wanted. But when he was ready for her to know exactly what he wanted from her, he had no problem telling her straight out.

"Panties off, Josie."

~Jake



I loved how Jake was with his children...

"Lesson," Jake said gently. "Man's got the power to break a woman's heart. Women have their own power. Learn this and in future, choose better."

~ Jake to Conner.

I loved some of the peripheral characters, like; Micky Donovan, Coert, the Sherrif, and Dee-Amond. Who I wouldn't mind reading their stories if they had them. I also loved the budding relationships between the kids (view spoiler)[Conner and Sophie (Alyssa and Junior's daughter) and Amber and Alexi, although we didn't get much of him (hide spoiler)] and could handle a book with their stories. The Taylors were hysterical and great friends to Amber.

There was very little I didn't like about this book. Took a minute to get going, but once it did there was no turning back.

I have to say that I love the fact that KA has gone back to her roots of telling a full story with full characters, even the peripherals with not all that editing done to keep it under a certain amount of pages. This worked because its her style of bringing us fully into a characters world. That world with friends, enemies and family, that we've all come to love, and had been missing in the last couple of books. At least for me. Those books had seemed rushed and there was nothing rushed about this book. It was like I was one of their friends, witnessing what was happening and that's what I want when I read a KA book. I want to be around my friends.

I can't wait to read more from this series and I hope its soon.

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SEX CRIMINALS, VOLUME 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky

Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

That was just shy of bad. It started out interesting, but then got strange and weird. I think I would have liked it more if it had been more about Suzie exploration, even meeting Jon. But, it just went to another place that made not sense to me.

Bummer, cause it could have been cool.

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TALES FROM OZ by Dan Wickline, Joe Brusha, Meredith Finch

Tales from Oz by Dan Wickline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review

This was a look at how the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow and Toto came to be. This was a prequel, in a way to, Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz . Before they all were to become help and part of Dorothy's mission.

Again, beautifully drawn. Easy to read. Fun story and I'm looking forward to more in the story.

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EPILOGUE (The Dark Duet, #3) by C.J. Roberts

Epilogue by C.J. Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 SEXY STARS

This book was very different from the first two books. We find Livvie living in Spain going to University and living under the name of Sophia Cole. It's been a year since she took some time to travel the world, using the money Caleb left for her. She's been feeling like she's being watched and has just informed Agent Reed when she gets a mysterious note. She immediately knows who is from.

This story is from James' POV. James Cole was the little boy who was kidnapped from his mother at the age of five and sold into sexual slavery in Tehran. This same boy became Caleb. But things aren't smooth when he finally is back in Livvie's life. Caleb has a lot to atone for. Not only does he feel that Livvie deserves it, but he does as well. Livvie has a life and friends and Caleb only knows one way of living. He wants to be with her all the time.

They spend time talking to each other about how he chose her to kidnap, their time together when she was his captive before she told him she loved him, their time apart and how he found her. Those conversations don't always go well.

"No!" She was on a roll. Her eyes screamed of crazy. "It's perfect! I'll leave school and cut my friends out of my life. Then you can have me all to yourself! You can keep me in your dark little room and fuck me stupid. You can own me. It's what you want, isn't it?"

~ Livvie aka Sophia



And sometimes that turned him on...

Did her words hurt? Yes. But they also excited me. My dick was hard and a familiar thrumming thudded in my ears. I wanted a fight. I needed a fight. I was sick and tired of playing nice. I AM NOT NICE!

~ Caleb aka James

there were very funny moments from Caleb trying to be a normal person...

"Do you even notice how women look at you, Caleb? James. Whatever. You're just... you're fucking beautiful is what you are."

"Handsome. I'm handsome. And no, I don't notice. I'm too busy looking at you. Or using my carefully cultivated death-stare to threaten any man stupid enough to set eyes on you.

~ Livvie and Caleb conversation.



He didn't know how to handle things like a normal guy or boyfriend. He invaded her privacy by breaking into her laptop to read the book she'd been writing. He didn't have a job, so he spent his days waiting for her to come home. It took him time to learn to like her friends and spend time effectively by himself.

I loved the effort he put into giving Livvie the space she needed to trust and love him again. He had to learn to be a normal person as well and not always want to go for the jugular when someone angered him. He eventually became friends with her friends and learned to love the new Livvie and understand that he made her who she was sexually and that their shared past had to be worked through.





This was funny, sweet and SEXY as hell all at the same time. My heart broke for both of them as they had so many things to work through. Caleb understood that part of what Livvie had to work through was due to him. and he gave her the space to do it. He also fought with her, learning that they were changing, their relationship was different and to figure out how to be with each other in a healthy way.

Fantastic series. I'm so glad I read it. I am looking forward to more from Ms. Roberts.

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