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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SEDUCED IN THE DARK (The Dark Duet, #2) by C.J. Roberts

Seduced in the Dark by C.J. Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5+++RUTHLESS KITTEN STARS

And there's an Epilogue too?! I can't wait to read it.

When we first find Livvie in this book, she's been arrested for trying to cross the Mexican Border into American holding a gun and covered in blood.



FBI Agent Matthew Reed and Dr. Janice Sloan, FBI social worker, are trying to get Livvie to talk about her experience and want to make sure she was actually a victim. The rest of the book is spent with Livvie telling how she came to fall in love with her captor, kill a man, and get herself across the border and back on American soil.

Agent Reed and Agent Sloan need their own story. Their time in this book was brief and framed Livvie telling her story about what happened to her her four months in captivity. But what did happen between them was FREAKING H.O.T.!



At first Agent Reed is very hard on Livvie, but soon his personal history starts to influence his thoughts on Livvie's experience as well as Caleb's life. Livvie makes a deal that she and her family can go into WITSEC separately.

During Livvie's telling of the story, we find out how Caleb came to be with Rafiq. Felipe and Celia play a big role in his relationship with Livvie as well as him finding out how he came to be a kidnapped child, prostitute, killer and sex trainer.

I had a feeling early on in this book that what I thought could be, was what was going to turn up as a major twist in the story. I was right, but so much more happened that I didn't see coming.

I was torn between what Caleb made Livvie do and what she wanted to do. He made her who she was sexually. But she loved him anyway.





It was a long book, but I couldn't stop reading it. There was always a twist or a turn. There was never a dull moment. I read every word with reverence. I just can't say enough good thing about the book. I loved and hated Caleb at the same time. I was sad for Livvie for the most part, but felt that she somehow kept her strength and dignity throughout her ordeal. And when she was finally free it was only to be thrown into a prison until her story was sorted out. Agent Reed had little to no compassion at the beginning, but Livvie shocked him and turned him on at every opportunity. Making him show his human gooey center and, if not understand, at least sympathize with her.

Livvie kept her "smart mouth" as Caleb would call it. And she used her quick whit and smart moth to manipulate her captors as well as the FBI agents into doing what she wanted. She was stronger than anyone gave her credit for and I LOVED that about her.

Thank you C.J. Roberts for a fabulous book. I can't wait to read more from you.

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CAPTIVE IN THE DARK (The Dark Duet, #1) by C.J. Roberts

Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 HEART POUNDING STARS

I think my heart was in my throat from the first moment I started reading this book. I was so scared and sad for Livvie. She was emotionally abused as a child and now used physically and mentally by a man who's emotions had been cauterized by his own harsh life. How two men, Caleb and Rafiq can have so much hatred for someone who destroyed their lives, yet not realize or care they were becoming the thing the sought to destroy. People who could destroy someone else's life in their quest for vengeance is beyond me. How they or Caleb can justify what he's doing was tough to read.

But I've been on the edge of my seat since the moment I started reading the book. I can't wait to dive into the next installment.

The Good: Anticipation factor is off the charts. Learning little things about each of their lives, which brought them to this point is amazing. I love Livvie's spirit and spunk. Once she works it all out, she doesn't close up into a ball, she comes up with a plan, not knowing if it will be effective and work, but she knows she has to fight, if only internally, in order to survive. She's always had to and she will continue to do so.

The Bad: Not much. I was ticked at Livvie for how they first meet, but I get that she had no real compass when it came to people because of how she was treated. But I was also pissed she didn't (view spoiler)[ take the gun when she ran away from Caleb. That made no sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

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IN THE DARK WOOD (Signal Bend, #4.5) by Susan Fanetti

In Dark Woods by Susan Fanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 ACHING STARS

This was so great. To hear what happened at the end of Alone On Earth from Lilli and Isaac's point of view. So much hardship, so much hard work. Great novella, and I can't wait for the next book.

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THE BILLIONAIRE BIKER (The Billionaire's Club, #3) by Jackie Ashenden

The Billionaire Biker by Jackie Ashenden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5 BIKERS STARS

This book started out being better than the others in the series. Sean was all dark and brooding and and ex-biker. I mean what more could you ask for. The sexual tension between he and Abigail was palpable.





But it just felt like things were rushed and that they made things difficult for each other for no real reason. Just to propel the story forward. Bust since they are all pretty short novella's its was easy to get through and it didn't take long to get sexy hot. He was dominate and it worked.



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