October 5, 2015 · 5:56 pm

Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle, #1) by Katie Ashley

Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle, #1)Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Vicious Cycle
Author: Katie Ashley
Series: Vicious Cycle, #1
Pages: 336
Publisher: NAL Trade
Date: June 2, 2015

Summary:

Deacon Malloy’s life is dedicated to the Hell’s Raiders motorcycle club. Tough, hard, and fast with his fists, he serves the group as sergeant at arms. But his devil-may-care approach to life is thrown for a loop when the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed lands on the club steps.

Alexandra Evans is devoted to all her students—but there’s always been something about Willow Malloy that tugs at her heart. There’s an aura of sadness about her, a girl in need of all the love Alexandra can give. When Willow stops coming to school, Alexandra’s search leads to a clubhouse full of bikers…and a father hell-bent on keeping his daughter always within sight.

The moment Deacon sees Alexandra, he has to have her in his bed—and he’s never met a woman yet who couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how attracted she is to Deacon, Alexandra refuses to be just another conquest. But it’s Deacon himself who could be seduced—into a brighter future for himself, his daughter, and the woman he’s falling for against all odds.

Review:

This book was an absolute roller coaster to read and review. I hated it at the start. I didn’t want to keep reading because I didn’t like the male characters and there was far too much violence for my taste.

I kept with it though because not only had I promised to review it, I had promised to review the sequel – Redemption Road.

As I continued reading, I realized the writing was quite good and I was actually enjoying the story. Then something happened that was a trigger for me personally. So, I was back to not wanting to finish it.

I did mention a roller coaster, right?

I persevered and I am so glad I did. I ended up loving the book. Yes, it is violent, some of the women get little to no respect, and the language is rough – very rough.

It doesn’t matter. The violence fit with the the plot and characters. The women (old ladies, and yes that term bothers me) of the bikers were treated like gold, and the language was what I would expect in a biker gang.

I realize I didn’t say much about the actual plot. It’s hard to stay from spoilers with this one, so I’m just going to leave this review as my opinion rather than a discussion of the plot.

What I can say is it went from a “did not finish” (DNF) to a four star review for me. I read the second book in less than a day and liked it just as much. I can’t wait for book three, Last Mile, which will be released May 3, 2016.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as ,

September 28, 2015 · 6:09 pm

Down the Rabbit Hole anthology

Down the Rabbit Hole (includes In Death, #41.5)Down the Rabbit Hole by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole anthology
Author: J. D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas, R. C. Ryan
Series: contains In Death, #41.5
Pages: 432
Publisher: Jove
Date: September 29, 2015

Summary:

You’re late for a very important date…

Enter a wonderland of mesmerizing tales. It’s a place that’s neither here nor there, where things are never quite as they seem. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s whimsical masterpiece, ranging from the impossible to the mad to the curiouser, these stories will have you absolutely off your head.

Don’t be afraid to follow them…

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Contains

Wonderment in Death by J. D. Robb
Alice and the Earl in Wonderland by Mary Blayney
iLove by Elaine Fox
A True Heart by Mary Kay McComas
Fallen by R. C. Ryan

Review:

I grabbed this book for one reason: Eve and Roarke. Wonderment in Death is a short story/novella that relies heavily on the Lewis Carroll Alice books as do all the stories in this anthology. Eve, of course, is not familiar with the books and has to rely on Roarke and Peabody to make the connection.

The story is typical Eve and Roarke. There is a horrific murder or series of murders. Nothing is quite what it seems and it’s hard to tell if the murderer is insane or evil. I don’t know why it makes a difference to me, but it does. For some reason, insane is not as frightening as evil.

Anyway, Robb is able to concentrate on the story without having to worry about any backstory because the series is so well established. There are over forty books after all. The plot progressed quickly, old friends showed up, and the bad guy was caught.

What more can you ask for?

The only story I felt dropped in the middle of was Alice and the Earl in Wonderland. There were many references to a previous story, but enough detail was given to make this one enjoyable. And yes, I’m tempted to find the original story and read it.

The other three stories worked perfectly as standalones. I enjoyed all of them and I am sure other readers who follow those authors will enjoy them as well.

If any of these authors are autobuys for you, this book is worth the price. However, I think you need to already follow Robb’s In Death series to really enjoy her contribution.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Regency, Romance, Science Fiction

Tagged as , , , , ,

September 28, 2015 · 5:50 pm

The Stolen Mackenzie Bride (Mackenzie & McBride, #8 – prequel) by Jennifer Ashley

The Stolen Mackenzie Bride (MacKenzies & McBrides, #8)The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: The Stolen Mackenzie Bride
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Mackenzie & McBride, #8 (prequel)
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: September 29, 2015

Summary:

1745, Scotland: The youngest son of the scandalous Mackenzie family, Malcolm is considered too wild to tame…until he meets a woman who is too unattainable to resist.

Lady Mary Lennox is English, her father highly loyal to the king, and promised to another Englishman. But despite it being forbidden to speak to Malcolm, Lady Mary is fascinated by the Scotsman, and stolen moments together lead to a passion greater than she’d ever dreamed of finding.

When fighting breaks out between the Highlanders and the King’s army, their plans to elope are thwarted, and it will take all of Malcolm’s daring as a Scottish warrior to survive the battle and steal a wife out from under the noses of the English.

Review:

This book is a precursor to Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie series and takes place about one hundred years earlier. However, you do not have to have read the earlier (later?) books in order to enjoy it. It is a complete standalone, although I hope she writes additional books in this time period. Just like the Mackenzie family of the 1800s, each of these earlier brothers deserve their own story.

What can I say about this book? Malcolm Mackenzie is the youngest son of the Duke of Kilmorgan. His brothers all call him “runt.” There is Duncan, the eldest, who is to inherit the title, Will the information gatherer, identical twins Alec and Angus, and Malcolm.

Just as an aside about Will because information gatherer needs explaining. This is a quote from his own mouth.

“But I know everything.” Will said. “Whether you want me to or not.”

Now, doesn’t he deserve his own book?

Anyway, there was another brother Magnus, who died as a child. Malcolm is the one found him and it had a permanent effect on his personality. Even though he is the youngest of the family, he feels it is his responsibility to take care of everyone. And that sense of responsibility includes Mary.

Mary . . . Lady Mary Lennox

Mary is the daughter of an English earl who hates the Scots. The book begins shortly before Culloden and the Earl of Wilfort is working to put down those filthy Jacobites.

So, of course, Mary and Malcolm fall in love.

Mary, who has always been an obedient and dutiful daughter. Mary, who is engaged to another man – English, of course.

That Mary falls in love with a Scot and discovers she’s not all that obedient and dutiful after all.

Culloden plays a major part in this plot. I had to make myself keep reading when I realized how important it was going to be to the story because I knew how horrible the battle and aftermath were. I just didn’t want to read about the terrible things that happened. The book was so good though, I couldn’t put it down.

And I was right! Terrible things happened at Culloden. People died. No details, because of spoilers, but PEOPLE DIED!

Was the book worth the heartbreak of reading about Culloden?

Definitely!

Malcolm and Mary are a wonderful couple. With Mary, Malcolm can be human. He can admit he can’t save everyone. And with Malcolm, Mary comes alive.

I highly recommend this book and I really hope the author expands on this series. If you haven’t read the later books, you are missing out.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Historical, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as ,

August 30, 2015 · 8:02 pm

A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1) by Deanna Raybourn

A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell Mystery, #1)A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: A Curious Beginning
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Series: Veronica Speedwell, #1
Pages: 352
Publisher: NAL/Penguin
Date: September 1, 2015

Summary:

London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker—a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth.

Review:

I have to make something clear right from the start about this book. I loved it! I absolutely loved it! Stoker is wonderful and Veronica is one of my all time favorite heroines. If ever there was a woman who knew what she wanted, Veronica is that woman.

As stated in the description, Stoker and Veronica are “in search of the villainous truth.” The plot has twists and turns. Backstories that are alluded to, but not fully explained. Heroes, or are they villains, keep popping up.
And some of the best dialogue I have ever read. Let me give you just a few examples.

Stoker and Veronica are trying to determine why someone is trying to abduct her and Veronica does not accept his hypothesis at all.

“That is a tale straight from one of Mrs. Radcliffe’s thrillers, Stoker. I expected better from you.”

It is a perfectly logical hypothesis, he returned.

Now, do shut up and stop interrupting whilst I’m being interesting.”

I love that last line.

Another one:

Stoker has recently introduced Veronica to a friend of his – another strong willed woman.

“I was merely thinking it may have been a very grave mistake to introduce you to Lady C. If the pair of you ever put your minds to it, you could probably topple governments together.

One thing at a time, dear Stoker. One thing at a time.”

And finally, and this so represents their relationship:

“Of course, as had become our habit, we quarreled over what the end should be — or at least Stoker quarreled and I carried on doing precisely as I wished.”

I adore Veronica. She reminds me a lot of Amelia Peabody (by Elizabeth Peters) or Alexia Tarabotti (by Gail Carriger). If you enjoy either of these series, you will love this one.

I am a big fan of Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia books, but this book tops those. I cannot wait for the sequel. No word on that yet, but I’m watching for it.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

2 Comments

Filed under Historical, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as , , ,

August 4, 2015 · 6:54 pm

Le Tomcat Diaries: Lies, Fries, & Blue Skies in the South of France by E. A. Menches

Le Tomcat Diaries: Lies, Fries, & Blue Skies in the South of FranceLe Tomcat Diaries: Lies, Fries, & Blue Skies in the South of France by E.A Menches

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Le Tomcat Diaries: Lies, Fries, & Blue Skies in the South of France
Author: E. A. Menches
Series: n/a
Pages: 119
Publisher: self published
Date: April 6, 2015

Summary:

Mr. Blinkers is not happy about emigrating to the South of France with Hans and Victoria, though he has been promised fountains of tuna.

He should have known it was all a ploy. A British tabby cat knows better than to expect paradise in a foreign country. His point is duly proven when the Provencal villa that they move into turns out to be a disaster.

From the moment the dubious, perfume-laden vendors arrive, things go south for the family.

A perceptive tabby with incomparable skills of deduction, Mr Blinkers is set on a journey to discovering all the aches and pains of the villa, while Hans and Victoria try to recover their losses. At the same time he is adrift in a new place, and not a very nice one.

Follow Mr. Blinkers as his humans survive in the Provencal villa, and he meets his lifelong love Roe, while floods threaten to wash away his favourite sleeping spot. Blinkers will come face to face with Jinx, a one-eared tomcat who terrorizes the street, HIS street.

As Blinkers helps his humans navigate the treacherous French property market, a revenge plot unfolds involving a yappy poodle, the earless shadow cat and a very long, very slippy slide. In the end who knows what lessons Blinkers may pass onto his humans, in his endless quest for more attention, more power, and more tuna.

Join Mr. Blinkers in Le Tomcat Diaries and discover how NOT to invest in the French property market.

Review:

Okay, I loved this book. Yes, I am a cat lover, but I have read cat books that I did not care for. This was not one of them. Menches nailed the cat personality. It was anthropomorphized, but definitely with a strong feline viewpoint.

Mr. Blinkers (poor cat – we humans do come up with the most ridiculous names sometimes) is not happy. He’s not happy about the human male who lives with his human. He’s not happy about moving anywhere, much less someplace outside of his neighborhood. He’s not happy when his tuna does not show up on schedule.

He’s not happy.

And, of course, being a cat, he shows his unhappiness through destructiveness. Nothing, however, can top the disaster that is his new home.

That is the point of the book.

Hans and Victoria purchase a house in the South of France and it is a money pit. The seller and attorney take advantage of their ignorance of the area and they end up with a house that is literally falling apart.

Even worse, they move next door to a dog! Into a neighborhood where there is a cat who bullies and terrorizes all the other cats. Obviously, Mr. Blinkers must take charge.

The entire book is written in first person by Mr. Blinkers. That is what makes it so much fun. Everything is from his viewpoint.

My only caveat regarding the book is to skip the epilogue. The book degenerates into a sales pitch for a company helping people to purchase property in France. Up to that point, I loved it and I still give it five stars.

It is really that entertaining.

This book was sent to me by the author in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Humor

Tagged as ,

July 26, 2015 · 5:02 pm

Her Last Fling: A Bacherlorette Party Confession by Ava Sterling

Her Last Fling: A Bachelorette Party ConfessionHer Last Fling: A Bachelorette Party Confession by Ava Sterling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: Her Last Fling
Author: Ava Sterling
Series: Bachelorette Party Confession
Pages: 16
Publisher: Red Lace Publishing
Date: July 8, 2015

Summary:

Susan is nervous. Who wouldn’t be nervous the night before her wedding?

She spends her bachelorette party with her best friend at a male strip club but ends up leaving early. Within minutes, she bumps into the stripper that gyrated over her lap an hour ago. After a glass of wine, she sees her friend walking past–near enough to spot her sharing a drink with a man other than her fiancé.

In an attempt to evade being caught, Susan rushes in the direction of the stripper’s hotel room. Now she must decide between getting a good night’s sleep for her wedding or being tangled in the sheets with her new mystery man.

Review:

I am not normally one for short stories because they feel rushed to me and there is not enough time for character development. This one, however, is about a one night stand, so it’s meant to be rushed.

I liked the fact that the author didn’t go straight into the sex scenes. There was a build up with some backstory with Susan and her friend, as well as a slow seduction in the bar with Mark. The description of Mark makes it easy to understand why Susan allowed herself to be seduced.

My problem with the story is in the content. Mark seduces a woman who is obviously drunk. As a matter of fact, he keeps pressing more drinks on her. He doesn’t wear a condom and Susan seems to be thrilled by that. Not to mention, she is cheating on her fiance. Cheating is definitely a hard limit for me.

Finally, Susan realizes that her fiance is not all that interested in having sex with her. I think that is supposed to be a rationale for cheating.

Why is she marrying this guy?

Her Last Fling is a quick read with some excellent male stripper scenes. However, I can’t bring myself to like either of the main characters.

I received a copy of this story from the author for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Realistic

Tagged as , ,

July 26, 2015 · 6:44 am

The Closer You Come (Original Heartbreakers, #1) by Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Closer You Come
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: The Original Heartbreakers, #1
Pages: 434
Publisher: HQN Books
Date: March 31, 2015

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

Review:

Read the prequel, The One You Want, first. It’s not really, really necessary, but it will help you understand some relationships.

I am not sure what to say about this book. I enjoyed it and read it in less than two days. The characters are likable, but the situations they came from can be heartbreaking. These people have real problems, both emotional and physical.
Having said that, it is not a dark book. Brook Lynn brings new levels to the word snarky. One of my favorite scenes is when she gives Jase a tube of Preparation H because he told her she was a pain in his ass.

I loved her . . . and she loves Jase. Now that is a man with problems. Fortunately, Brook Lynn loves him enough to fight for him.

Do we get a happily ever after? Of course. It is a romance after all. What we don’t get is butterflies and moonbeams. Brook Lynn will always have a physical problem and Jase will always have problems with his temper. However, both of them love the other and are willing to fight for the relationship.

Jase’s best friends, Beck and West, are integral to the story as is Brook Lynn’s sister Jessie Kay. They get their own books too. The Hotter You Burn and The Harder You Fall come out in 2015. I can’t wait to read them both.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as ,

July 24, 2015 · 8:18 am

Nightwalker (World of Nightwalkers, #5) by Jacquelyn Frank

Nightwalker (The World of Nightwalkers, #5)Nightwalker by Jacquelyn Frank

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Nightwalker
Author: Jacquelyn Frank
Series: World of Nightwalkers, #5
Pages: 327
Publisher: Loveswept
Date: August 25, 2015

Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes the final chapter in the Nightwalkers saga! As the momentous showdown with a powerful demon unfolds, a passionate encounter breaks the ultimate taboo.

Kamen is a Bodywalker, an ancient soul reborn in one human host after another. He’s also a prisoner of his own kind: for it was Kamen who released Apep, the deadly god who threatens the existence of their world. To atone for this grievous error, Kamen accepts an urgent mission: to convince the other nations of the Nightwalkers to set aside their centuries-old conflicts and band together. If he fails, all will be lost. And no tribe presents a greater challenge than the Wraiths, the spectral beings who are feared and despised for their lethal deathtouch.

Kamen makes first contact with a stunning, ghostly pale beauty named Geneviève. Part Wraith and part human, scorned as a half-breed, Viève shares the hunger for redemption—and for connection. Her scintillating touch holds the kiss of death, and yet it makes Kamen feel more alive than ever. Soon his lips are pressed against hers, sending Viève into fits of desire and forging a bond that breaches the divide between them. Now they must unite all the Nightwalkers, from Vampire and Shadowdweller to Djynns, and fast—for Apep is ready for war.

Review:

Do NOT read this book as a standalone. As a matter of fact, you need to read ALL of the Nightwalkers, Shadowdwellers, and previous World of the Nightwalkers before reading this book. You will have no clue what is going on otherwise.

Whew! Now that I have that out of my system. This is a great book, but it is not a standalone. It is the culmination of a fourteen book saga that was broken into three series. Do not be overwhelmed. These are wonderful, engrossing, sometimes funny books and I love them. They are well worth the time invested.

Kamen was one of the primary bad guys throughout the World of the Nightwalkers series. There was some foreshadowing that he was more misled than evil, but he still did horrible things. I never expected to feel sorry for him and come to like him as much as I did. The fact that I was rooting for him by the end of this book and wanting everyone to forgive him is an example of how good a writer Jacquelyn Frank can be.

Of course, if the male lead is the most hated man in the series, then the female lead must come from the most hated and feared species. Vieve is half Wraith and half human. Fortunately, her human half is dominant, so she is not as vicious and untrustworthy as the rest of the Wraith species. And that brings up a small problem I had with the book. Every other species is acknowledged as having good and bad individuals. The Wraith are feared universally. Yes, I understand they have the death touch, but there aren’t any good Wraith?

As I said before, this is the culminating book in a series of fourteen. It has a good solid ending and ties all the threads together. I did see one chance for another spinoff, which would be wonderful because I love the world of the Nightwalkers. We will just have to see.

One other thing, and this has nothing to do with the author or the story. For some reason, the publisher has decided to only release this book in ebook and audio format. The rest of the serie(s) have also been available as paperback. This ruins my set. I have all of the books in paperback, but cannot get this one in that form. Obviously, I am ticked. Will I buy it in ebook form? Of course I will, but I am not happy about it.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

Tagged as ,

July 23, 2015 · 2:23 pm

Begging for It (Asking for It, #2) by Lilah Pace

Begging for It (Asking for It, #2)Begging for It by Lilah Pace

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Begging for It
Author: Lilah Pace
Series: Asking for It, #2
Pages: 352
Publisher: Berkley
Date: September 1, 2015

Summary:

The provocative author of Asking for It once again explores the dark side of erotic obsession, and the secrets that make it as dangerous as it is irresistible.

Some secrets should only be shared in the dark.

Jonah and Vivienne’s erotic bond—living out raw scenarios of captivity and force—began as no-strings sex between strangers who shared the same desires. Now the intimacy between them is turning into love, but it’s a love built on fantasies so extreme that exploring them makes guilt inescapable. But the risks they’re taking are far more dangerous than they’d imagined.

A stalker is terrorizing the city, and one of Jonah’s ex-lovers names him as a potential suspect to the police. Standing by a man under suspicion could cost Vivienne everything. But when Jonah’s stepfather takes advantage of the scandal to seize control of the Marks family fortune, Vivienne is drawn into her lover’s broken family and twisted past. Only then will she learn how dark the truth really is…

Review:

If you read my review of the previous book in this series, Asking for It, you know I only had one criticism of it. The ending was unresolved. It was not really a cliffhanger, but there was not a “happily ever after.” Now that I have read Begging for It, I am okay with that. A relationship containing so much turmoil as Jonah’s and Vivienne’s requires more than one book to resolve it.

Since it’s hard to discuss the beginning of this book without giving away the ending of the first, I am going to just skip right over that.

Jonah and Vivienne ran into some problems and they are trying to work things out between themselves. Jonah has even attended a counseling session with Vivienne’s therapist. Just when you think progress is being made, Jonah is suspected of being the campus rapist.

Jonah’s stepfather uses the scandal to try and take over the family company which brings Jonah’s siblings into the picture. Talk about a dysfunctional family and they all have plenty of reasons to be.

Although this book is focused on Jonah’s and Vivienne’s relationship, it is also about their relationships with others. The inclusion of friends and family helps them to see that they are not alone and they are not to blame for what happened to them in the past. They need that because both of them, but especially Jonah, have isolated themselves from the world.

Both of these books show an extreme side of sexual kink and because of the rape fantasy, I am sure they are not for everybody. I, however, loved them. I did not think I would. I was hesitant to read the first one at all, but they are amazingly well done.

According to Goodreads, Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author. I can believe it. These books are too well written to be debut novels. Now I want to know the identity of the author so I can read more of her books.

Begging for It has the solid ending I was wanting. There is a sense of completion and hope for Jonah and Vivienne. However, there are also plenty of characters introduced who need their own stories. I really, really hope we get them.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as

July 3, 2015 · 3:07 pm

Broken Play (Birmingham Rebels, #1) by Samantha Kane

Broken Play (Birmingham Rebels, #1)Broken Play by Samantha Kane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Broken Play
Author: Samantha Kane
Series: Birmingham Rebels, #1
Pages: 235
Publisher: Loveswept
Date: September 1, 2015

Summary:

Birmingham Rebels offensive linemen Beau Perez and Cass Zielinski are inseparable, on and off the field. Cass, the captain with the cowboy swagger, is a loose cannon. Beau, the veteran tight end, is cool under pressure. And ever since they were caught on tape in a steamy threesome, their exploits have fueled more than a few tabloid headlines—and naughty fantasies.
Marian Treadwell knows all about the video. And now that she’s the Rebels’ new assistant offensive coach, she can’t look at Beau and Cass without picturing their hard, naked bodies—with her pressed in between. Marian would like nothing more than to indulge those impulses, but she knows better than to get too close to her players, a bunch of adrenaline-fueled alpha males who don’t always follow the rules.
Just the thought of sharing the gorgeous yet guarded Marian drives Cass wild. At first, Beau isn’t sure she’s right for them . . . and lately, all he desires is a little alone time with Cass to explore their new intimacy. But it’s only a matter of time before Cass breaks through both of their defenses. Because when seduction is the game plan, he always plays to win.

Review:

The description above describes this book, but it leaves out more than it tells.

Beau is a recovering drug/alcohol addict and still sees himself as a screwup and not worthy of anyone’s time. Cass is the person who pulled him out of his addictions and has taken responsibility for his continued soberness.

And they’re in love and neither will admit it.

Sharing women is the only way they can be close to each other without acknowledging the truth.

Marian has been in the football world her entire life. Her father is a college coach and she has worked in the sport since she was a child.

She has also discovered just how entitled some players can be. She knows that they cannot always be trusted.

She has always fantasised about being with two men, but she thinks there is something wrong with her for wanting it.

Obviously, the three of them are made for each other.

I love Samantha Kane’s books, especially her Brothers in Arms series. There is wonderful m/m/f sex, but the emotion is what sets her books apart.

I think this series is going to be even more emotionally satisfying that the Brothers in Arms and that is hard for me to believe.

There is a twist towards the end that for a minute I thought was going to be more than I could accept. But it worked. Man, did it work.

Time for a cold drink and a fan to cool things off.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Leave a comment

Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Realistic, Romance

Tagged as , ,