The Cornerstone by Kate Canterbary – REVIEW

Necessary Restorations by Kate Canterbary

Synopsis

 

 

A tough-as-nails businesswoman.

 

An arrogant Navy SEAL.

 

A power struggle with no end in sight.
Some people hook-up at weddings. Others break a hotel room bed (and a table, and a desk, and some complimentary bathrobe belts) and discover they’ve been surviving on bargain basement orgasms their entire lives.
The last one? Yeah. That’s all me.
She’s driven and demanding…

He’s never walked away from a challenge…
They’re wrong for each other in every possible way… Or are they?

My Review

I think I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up and its Shannon Walsh. I loved this story and everything about it from the first word. Two alphas make things so much more interesting and this story did not hold anything back.

My Thoughts

This is the fourth book in the series and features the second eldest in the family, Shannon. Shannon is the no-nonsense, take no prisoners, brass balled “Cornerstone” of the Walsh family. She has taken it upon herself to care for her siblings, runs their business, and pretty much their lives, working her ass off to do whatever she can to make life easier for them all. She can come off as an overbearing bitch, or a man-eating shrew, but it was really nice to get to see all of the reasons and thoughts to her actions and behaviors. She has every situation and every body under control…..

Until she meets Will Halstead. Will is as alpha as the come. Leader of a bad-ass squad of Navy SEALs, he is used to being the one in charge and ordering everyone around. He meets Shannon and they have a battle of wills as to who is in charge. The banter between these two in their battle for control was amazing.

As their relationship progresses he becomes so much more that the big bad alpha soldier and it was a funny, sweet, swoony, and beautiful transition. He is able to become the calm in the storm for Shannon and that is not an easy task, luckily he never gives up and is the right man for the job. I really enjoyed Will in this book. He was so demanding, but also so sweet, gentle and caring that it made me want a Will to take care of me too.

Shannon seemed so overbearing in the last novels and I was worried that she would be labeled as one of those females that we love to hate, but Mrs. Canterbary’s writing was so beautiful it redeemed Shannon and made her one of my all time favorite female characters. It is so hard to straddle that line of strong female characters with readers and not have them come off as annoying or abrasive or fake, but it works so well in this book I never had an inkling of those feelings. Just the opposite in fact, I fell hard for Shannon and Will and they have become one of the best book relationships out there.

This book is one of my favorites of 2015 and everyone should read this book and take lessons from Kate Canterbary. This is how to write a strong, beautiful female character. These characters will stay with you long after the book is finished and make you want to befriend this crazy bunch. I look forward to the next chapter of the Walsh series, and know that it will not disappoint.

 

Reading Order and Buy Links

The Cornerstone: Amazon

 

About the Author

Kate Canterbary doesn’t have it all figured out, but this is what she knows for sure: spicy-ass salsa and tequila solve most problems, living on the ocean–Pacific or Atlantic–is the closest place to perfection, and writing smart, smutty stories is a better than any amount of chocolate. She started out reporting for an indie arts and entertainment newspaper back when people still read newspapers, and she has been writing and surreptitiously interviewing people–be careful sitting down next to her on an airplane–ever since. Kate lives on the water in New England with Mr. Canterbary and the Little Baby Canterbary, and when she isn’t writing sexy architects, she’s scheduling her days around the region’s best food trucks.

 Facebook • Twitter • Tumblr • Instagram

 Pinterest • Goodreads • Amazon

Testing the Boss by Mallory Crowe – REVIEW

Testing the Boss by Mallory Crowe

Synopsis

Billionaire Luke Devereaux gets what he wants and what he wants right now is to bring down the shady organization threatening his family. Teaming up with the FBI is his only option–even if that option comes in the sultry Evelyn Price, the ice-princess who’s all business.

Refusing to be distracted by the sexy, rich playboy, Evelyn forces herself to stay focused on the case, gearing up for the criminal takedown of her entire career. As the enemy closes in with Evelyn as its next target, it’s up to Luke to keep them out of danger. The more they work to protect each other, and fight for control, the harder it is to resist their undeniable attraction.

And the one thing Evelyn has learned from working with him is that Luke Devereaux gets what he wants.

This book was full of suspense, steamy scenes, off the charts chemistry and a fantastic role reversal. Instead of the tough alpha guy being the protector, it was a bad-ass female FBI agent keeping Luke safe and kicking ass.

My Thoughts

This is a stand alone in the Billionaires in the City series, and while it can mostly be read by itself there were so many things happening and backstories weaved into the story that I think I would have benefited from reading the others first. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story and the banter through out the book. It was also refreshing that Luke was not an alpha billionaire that demanded everything and got pissy when he didn’t get his way. He may have stacked the deck to get his way but he wasn’t overly pushy and my way or the highway as so many are today.

This is the story of Luke Devereaux, a billionaire mixed up with white collar criminals and Evelyn Price, the tough FBI agent tasked with protecting/helping bring them down. They start the book fighting all the time and hating each other, which of course leads to smoking chemistry down the line. I didn’t really understand why they hated each other from this book, but maybe it was better explained in the previous book.

Things moved pretty quickly for the case and the duo’s slow burn of a relationship. Once they realized their attraction it was hard to ignore. So much so that Evelyn was distracted from her job and tried to step back to focus on the case. There was angst and drama and suspense right up until the very last page that kept you wanting to know what would happen next. That made this book a fun quick read.

A review copy was provided by RockStar PR , via Netgalley for an honest review.

Reading Order and Buy Links

Testing the Boss : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

About the Author

Mallory Crowe has lived in Michigan her whole life and has been in love with romance ever since she’d skip to the end of every novel, just to make sure the hero and heroine survived and ended up together. She lives with her husband and three dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s spending too much time in front of the TV, hiking, or working with various animal rescues.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • GoodReads

Hosted by:

The Truth About Him by M. O’Keefe – REVIEW

The Truth About Him by M. O’Keefe

Synopsis

We played our roles, told each other lies.

But now Dylan is no longer just a mysterious deep voice on the other end of the line. We’re face-to-face and our relationship is very, very real.

We still have secrets—but so much is crystal clear:

The thrilling danger.

The raw, naked desire.

The need to keep feeling the way he makes me feel. Forever.

Dylan is putting up walls, trying to keep me safe, but he can’t shut me out. He has seen my darkness and rescued me. Now it’s my turn, if only he will let me.

My Review

What started in the erotically charged Everything I Left Unsaid, now comes to a gripping conclusion with The Truth About Him. I was immediately drawn in by Annie and Dylan in the first book and this one does not disappoint. Instead of a raging inferno, like the first book this is a slow burn, but just as intense and all consuming.

My Thoughts

This book picks up exactly where the last one left off, and while the first book was so full of erotic tension and mystery, this one is completely different and I can’t figure out if it was a good or bad thing. Overall this book had a completely different tone, but was just as full of tension and mystery, just a different kind.

The book starts with Annie’s past that she’s running from coming back to claim her. We get to see all the people that Annie has forged relationships with come to help her get away from Hoyt, but the one that saves her is Dylan and the confidence that Dylan inspired in her.

This book is still in alternating points of view, but the focus shifts from Annie to Dylan, as do the mysteries and suspense. We learn little by little about his past, his family, and the demons he is trying to outrun. With Annie’s love and help he slowly works to accept all the things in his life that he feels he doesn’t deserve and let go of all the anger and resentment that was keeping everyone at an arms length. There is plenty of drama and suspense and danger, but it is faced with less fear than Annie had and more of a wariness or awareness of the final outcome and knowing you can’t change it.

It was beautifully written and Dylan and Annie got their ending, but I wanted to see more of the other character’s stories wrapped up too. Like Max and Joan, Blake, Tiffany, Margaret. They all had roles in the final outcome, but I wanted to see how they fit into the new roles that Dylan and Annie had taken on. I am hoping to see more of this world in the future. I highly recommend this series.

A review copy was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

Notable Quotes

I was used to being one thing. And one thing at a time. That’s all I could hold. And what she wanted from me, what she was asking, was messy. It was human and fraught with disaster. And I had no idea if I could do it.

---

I was a fucking Daniels. We didn’t love, we crashed. We destroyed. We burned everything in fire.

---

The truth, our truth, was complicated. But it was beautiful. And it was real.

---

She owned me. Despondent and wrecked, smiling and bright- it didn’t matter. I was hers.

---

I’m just…fuck. I’m just so glad you answered that damn phone.

 

Buy Links

The Truth About Him : AMAZON • BARNES & NOBLE • IBOOKS

About the Author

Molly O’Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn’t looked back. She loves exploring every character’s road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she’s not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

 

Licked by Brooke Blaine – REVIEW

Licked by Brooke Blaine

Synopsis

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn’t have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she’s had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

When Ryleigh’s crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it all.

Wouldn’t it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls spectacularly apart?

Enter Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked’s renovations. Devastatingly handsome, and smartass to boot, he’s got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that’s a long story). There’s just one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron’s best friend.

When the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it’s impossible to choose between two delicious flavors, what’s a girl to do?  Taste a sample of each? Or go out and get LICKED?

 

This book was hilarious. It was sweet, sexy, sassy and full of fun. A very enjoyable read that I recommend to anyone wanting a fun read with very little angst.

My Thoughts

Please do not over look this book based on the blurb, like I almost did. I kept putting this off because I will not read triangles, they are the bane of my existence. This is an angst free zone, in which the characters act like adults most of the time and the triangle is cleared quickly and perfectly early on.

I laughed a lot, swooned quite a bit, laughed a lot more, blushed a bit at the sexy times and dirty talk, and drooled over Hunter the entire time. This book was crazy at times, sweet at times, fall on the floor funny at times and just a touch angsty. I highly recommend this to anyone who can appreciate a little booze with their ice cream and the fabulously dirty names for each flavor. I personally would kill to have a shop like this near me, although I would probably weigh 300 lbs.

A review copy was provided by Rock Star PR for an honest review.

Buy Links

Licked : Amazon

About the Author

Flash Point is Brooke’s debut solo novel, and she is the co-author of the erotic serial, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released on November 11th, 2015.

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

Pinterest • Instagram 

Hosted by:

Tryst by S. L. Jennings – REVIEW

Tryst

Synopsis

From the author of Taint, comes this steamy novel of a happily married couple who decides to take a walk on the wild side in order to add spice to their sex life—but end up in a situation that neither could have ever bargained for.

Heidi DuCane is a tough-as-nails publicist with a passion for success and her husband Tucker. While they’re polar opposites, what they do have in common is a fierce love and commitment to each other. But their relationship—in and out of the bedroom—will be put to the ultimate test.

Rock superstar Ransom Reed is every woman’s fantasy, including Heidi’s. When she meets Ransom, she shares a wild night with him where Heidi gets to play—and Tucker watches, and enjoys, the pleasure Ransom gives Heidi. Though Tucker was a willing participant, Heidi still can’t help reeling with guilt. There’s no doubt that she loves her husband. While Tucker is the perfect lover—generous, attentive and gentle—she needs much more. She needs the mind-blowing ecstasy Ransom offers.

Tucker isn’t blind to the fact that Heidi has unconventional needs which he can’t satisfy. He loves his wife and will do anything to please her The night he watched her and Ransom was so scorching hot that Tucker can’t stop thinking about it. He decides he wants to join Ransom in pleasing Heidi. But as Tucker and Heidi soon realize, it’s not just the sex that is enticing. Heidi felt something within her awaken, and she felt so deliciously sated and loved by both men. Tucker felt it too, and he finds it impossible not to want that feeling again.

Ransom and Tucker satisfy a need within Heidi. And now that she’s had them, she can never go back to the way things were before.

I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I am not one for cheating in books and the angst that goes along with it, but this story was so well written and beautifully broken that I was completely addicted to every word.

My Thoughts

This is one of those books that has me torn, on one hand I wanted to hate it but I couldn’t, I really enjoyed it. The story starts with Heidi and Tucker talking about a “Hall Pass” and their relationship. These are two people who are deeply in love, but want something different sexually. Heidi gets the chance to meet/work with one of the guys on her “Hall Pass” list and the story evolves from there.

They act on her fantasies the first time that her and Tucker meet Ransom. It all happened so fast, but was so hot you will need an industrial fan. From that moment on there is a strained dynamic between Heidi and Tucker and an even weirder one with Ransom.

This is where the book really had me torn. She loved her husband so much that she wanted to do anything to save her marriage, even though it was both of their decisions to go through with it. And at the same time any time she was with Ransom there was off the charts chemistry and sexual tension. She was so torn between what her body craved and what her heart wanted that it was almost painful to read. You were right there feeling what she was feeling and just as confused about it all.

At times you wanted to hate Tucker for being safe and reliable, and at times you wanted to hate Ransom for being sex personified and the embodiment of all her fantasies. So she turns to Justice Drake, yes that Justice Drake, to help her client and her marriage.

Each couple was unique and each catered to a different facet of the others, but together this group has potential together, but can they all deal with this type of relationship? It is fine having these fantasies but when they turn into a reality?

This was the major struggle through the entire book, and one that through the writing were able to connect to each character, even if this is not your normal type of book, that makes it a fantastic read. There were major twists in the end that made you see the entire book in a whole new light and with them it made me like this story even more.

A review copy was provided by Edelweiss for an honest review.

 

Reading Order and Buy Links

Tryst: Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

About the Author

NYT & USA Today bestselling author of TAINT, the Fearless Novels & The Dark Light Series.

Military wife, mother of 3 boys, and author of The Dark Light Series & Fear of Falling

Add me on Facebook & Twitter!!! I love to hear from fellow book addicts!

Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

His Contract by Rebecca Grace Allen – REVIEW and Giveaway

His Contract by Rebecca Grace Allen

Synopsis 

Lawyers know when to play by the rules…and when to break them.

Harvard law professor Jack Archer once balanced his professional life with the private world of dominance, surrender and trust he shared with his wife. Since cancer stole her a year ago, finding love again—her final wish for him—is the furthest thing from his mind.

From his empty house to the classroom, grief follows his every move. Until he meets a young woman with shadows in her eyes even darker than his own.

Once a shining star at law school, Lilly Sterling’s dreams died when the Dom she trusted left her heartbroken and lost. She’s starting fresh in a new city as a paralegal, but meeting Jack reawakens all her old demons—and her lingering desires.

Jack offers to become Lilly’s mentor for both the courtroom and the playroom, but tells himself it’s not a relationship. Their carefully worded agreement guarantees that. But when their trial agreement starts heating up, both Jack and Lilly must decide what will tip the scales: the letter of the law…or love?

Warning: All rise for a book that contains a wounded submissive and a Dominant who wants to retrain her while retaining control of his heart. Discovery phase may involve spankings, bondage, edging, and blindfolds. Is it hot? You be the judge.

This was not your typical Dom/Sub story. It was a beautiful story of two lost souls found each other and were able to love and trust again.  I loved every minute of this well thought out and perfectly executed story line.

Let me preface this review by saying I normally don’t read books with BDSM. I have nothing against it, but just usually don’t read them. This book was a beautiful unexpected surprise.

The book starts with a terrible loss for Jack. He is so lost that he doesn’t know how to live life or be happy anymore. His friends drag him out for an evening and he finds the person he didn’t know he was looking for.

Lilly has had her trust and spirit broken by a man she was in a Dom relationship with. She has moved to a new city, put her career on hold and buried her self in work. She goes out with her brother and his friends and is immediately drawn to Jack.

Jack becomes determined to show her what a real BDSM relationship is supposed to be. He wants to gain her trust and in the process they both become whole again. Jack fights this growing relationship at every turn thinking he was betraying his wife, but Lilly was all in, once she realized that this is how BDSM should be. There was a little angst, but over all it was a beautiful story of real people that were broken by life and were able to overcome their issues and find happiness again.

A review copy was provided by Rock Star PR for an honest review.

Buy Links

His Contract : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Rebecca Grace Allen writes kinky new adult and hot contemporary BDSM romance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she’s returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

Top Ten Facts

1. The first story I ever wrote was called “The Webster School Bully.” I was 9. The cover was felt and the title was written in puffy paint.

2. I was once a cast member at Walt Disney World.

3. I know how to swing dance. Not well, but I can do it!

4. My first celeb crush was Val Kilmer. My second was Sean Astin. He was a lot hotter in “Toy Soldiers” than he was in LotR. Js.

5. My favorite book is called The Distance from the Heart of Things, which no one has ever heard of, but it’s awesome. My least favorite was Catcher in the Rye. I hated Holden. He freaked me out. Why does it matter so much where the damn ducks go, anyway?

6. I can fold a straw wrapper into a little caterpillar. In fact, I cannot NOT fold a straw wrapper once I see one.

7. My parents’ names both start with “M” and “D.” When I was a kid, I thought this was essential in order to be able to be a “Mom” and a “Dad.”

8. In the fourth grade, I traded all my oily stickers for a giant Kirk Cameron poster. I still regret this choice.

9. I am a New Yorker. I can do the Marisa Tomei “Imagine You’re a Deer” speech, complete with the head bob and accent.

10. My favorite color is purple. Hot pink comes in a close second.

Hosted by:

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson – REVIEW

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson

Synopsis 

Tough-as-steel cop Curran O’Brien is quickly rising through the ranks of the Philadelphia police department. But when his rookie partner is almost killed under his watch, Curran just wants to prove he still has what it takes to walk among Philly’s finest. So he’s pissed to be stuck on a cushy security assignment for the DA’s office . . . until he gets a good look at the sweet, straight-laced intern he’s supposed to protect—but not touch.

Tess Newart recognizes Curran instantly. How could she not? Back in college she tied this former frat boy to the bed with her argyle socks! That sizzling one-night stand was the only indiscretion Tess ever allowed herself. She has survived law school so far, despite being pushed to succeed by her overbearing father. Now that she’s interning on a major case against a ruthless crime boss, she won’t jeopardize her career by giving in to temptation again. She just never expected temptation to look so damn hot in uniform.

Tess knows her father has other plans for her, and they don’t include Curran. But soon she’s falling for him all over again. And when danger emerges, Curran will prove just how good a bad-boy cop can be.

My Review

This story had action, suspense, fun banter, hot sexy times and a drool worthy hot cop. All of these things made it an entertaining read that I would recommend. I was hooked from the argyle socks.

My Thoughts

To be honest Curran O’Brien is the main reason why i liked this book. I liked Contessa ok, but she was such a contradiction that I could not make sense of. When she was among other people she appeared shy, reserved and non-confident, but when she was with Curran and his family she was a completely different person. The flipping between personalities gave me a bit of whiplash at times.

I also could not understand why she would take all that crap from her father. I like my heroines where I can relate to them as a strong woman that doesn’t take any shit or like to be controlled and/or forced into doing things. I really liked her when she was herself around Curran though so she was redeemed then, but so frustrating.

Each character had their own demons to move past, but once they started to address and work through them the story really started to move. I loved these two and their hot, hot, hot sexy times and it made for a really fun and sexy read. One thing that bothered me is that they kept alluding to their first night together and I was really hoping through out the book there would be a flashback or recreation of that night, but there was nothing. In the end I really enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to Declan’s story and the seeing the rest of the O’Brien clan.

A review copy was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

Notable Quotes

“You…cad.”
“What?”
“I said you’re a cad!”
“I heard what you said. I’ve just never heard anyone aside from Bugs Bunny use that word. You gonna call me scoundrel next?”

---

You didn’t gain weight. You gained curves. Men, real men, like curves, not effing angles.

---

This is the same man I tied to bed with my argyle socks!

---

“Women love me,” he says in the same way I ask for the time. “Do they?”
“They do. I get dates. All the time. You know why?”
“They think you have money, and want you to be their sugar daddy.”
“No. I—”
“They lost a bet.”
“No.”
“They prefer men with small dicks.”

Buy Links

Once Kissed: Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble

About the Author

CECY (pronounced Sessy) ROBSON is the Penguin Random House New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure, and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A writer, registered nurse, and mother living in the South, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

Friction by Sawyer Bennett – REVIEW

Friction by Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis 

At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

 

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.

My Review

I couldn’t decide between 3.5 or 4 stars. I really liked the banter and the flow of the story, but kept getting distracted by the legal talk and the ethics discussions. Overall this book was somehow very hot and sexy, and also very sweet.

My Thoughts

I have read so many of Sawyer Bennett’s books and loved them all. As usual this one was no different, it featured a kickass heroine, a smart, good looking, kind, sexy hero, a well written story, scorching hot sex, some fun and a bit of emotions.

Leary and Reeve are both lawyers, they both work on the same case, just on opposite sides. She is on the plaintiff side, while he is the defense attorney. Leary initially uses her sex appeal to one up Reeve, their encounters are charged with sexual tension, until they finally give up and become fuck buddies. As we know this is never how it stays and they end up in a serious relationship.

Professionally they are supposed to be enemies. How far are they willing to go to win the case? Will they put their relationship at risk? Especially if the case is personally important to Leary and Reeve is beginning to understand that doing his job can hurt her.

I really liked the relationship between Reeve and Leary and the sexual tension and banter they had. They started hot and heavy and then it was like they blinked and were into something serious with sleepovers and spending all of their time together when not working. The only sticking point for me was all the legalese and the case its self. I know technically they did not violate any “rules” by being on opposing council and having a relationship, but he really should have excused himself from the lead council on the case and problem solved. I know it is not always that easy, but it really bugged me the entire time that all the pain and heartbreak could have been avoided.

Overall it was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone wanting a fun, sexy read with some emotion thrown in.

A review copy was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

Notable Quotes

Make men notice you, and when you’ve fogged their senses with lust, slap them with your brains. Make woman want to be like you, but be so confident in your abilities that they will inevitably fall flat on their face.

---

Will we be able to open ourselves up to sex, emotion, and genuine affection after a hard day of trying to tear each other down?

---

You’ve Invited me to come out and play, and now I’m ready to play.

---

How can one man be so vastly different from the others I’ve had? How can he bring me so quickly to dizzying heights? How can he fully entertain and annoy me at the same time? And how can I actually be starting to have feelings for a man who should be my sworn enemy?

Buy Links

Friction : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series. She will be releasing her first book with Random House Loveswept, entitled Alex (A Cold Fury Hockey Novel) on 10/14/14.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe – REVIEW

Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe

Synopsis

I didn’t think answering someone else’s cellphone would change my life. But the stranger with the low, deep voice on the other end of the line tempted me, awakened my body, set me on fire. He was looking for someone else. Instead he found me.

And I found a hot, secret world where I felt alive for the first time.

 

His name was Dylan, and, strangely, he made me feel safe. Desired. Compelled. Every dark thing he asked me to do, I did. Without question. I longed to meet him, but we were both keeping secrets. And mine were dangerous. If I took the first step, if I got closer to Dylan—emotionally, physically—then I wouldn’t be hiding anymore. I would be exposed, with nothing left to surrender but the truth. And my truth could hurt us both.

My Review

This book was full of secrets and twists and turns. I was hooked from the very first page and could not get enough of this book. Every page revealed more about each character and was so beautifully well written, I wish I could read it again for the first time. Highly recommend this book.

My Thoughts

This book is tricky to write a review of because of potential spoilers, but it was an all engaging book, that had me turning pages as quickly as I could and burning dinner just to get one more page read.

The book starts with Anne getting a phone call from a phone that was left in her new place by the previous owner. In that one phone call there was an instant draw between Anne and the mysterious Dylan. It was almost a tangible connection even though they had never met in person, it was just that strong of a pull. I loved their interactions and how they were able to push each other just a little bit further outside of their comfort zones with each word.

One of the best parts about this book was Annie. She started the book afraid and on the run and became a strong character who pushed herself to be stronger every day. she didn’t just give in to anyone without questioning things or investigating it for herself. After so long being controlled by other people, I admired her drive to try new things, be brave and independent.

There is a massive cliffhanger at the end of this book, but thankfully the next book comes out soon so there is not a long wait. Overall it was a sexy, sweet, mysterious, intriguing, exciting, romantic, and addictive book. I cannot wait to dive into book two, The Truth About Him.

A review copy was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

Buy Links

Everything I Left Unsaid : AMAZON • BARNES & NOBLE • IBOOKS

About the Author

Molly O’Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn’t looked back. She loves exploring every character’s road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she’s not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads

Bonus Playlist for Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe

Florence and The Machine – What Kind Of Man.

And with one kiss
You inspired a fire of devotion
That lasted for twenty years
What kind of man loves like this?

The music of Florence and The Machine is like my spirit animal. I wish I could write something so perfectly sexy and broken and personal and smart, popular and totally outside the box at the same time. I love love love this music. And this song fits Annie’s utter dumbstruck and perhaps ill-fated fascination with the man on the other end of the phone…

 

July Talk – Summer Dress

Yea but this is life we’re living
Life ain’t always ’bout forgiving
She’s my lady in a summer dress
This is life we’re living
Life ain’t always bout forgiving

 July Talk is my new obsession at the moment. They are a Canadian band with a really signature sound. Lots of songs of anger and devotion and obsession could have fit with Everything I Left Unsaid, but I love this song and the singer/characters obsession with NOT forgiving. Totally fits Dylan.

 

Cake – The DIstance

Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engines pumping and thumping in time.
The green light flashes, the flags go up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank,
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank.
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns.
Their prowess is potent and secretly stearn.
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down.
The fans get up and they get out of town.
The arena is empty except for one man,
Still driving and striving as fast as he can.

Well, first of all who doesn’t love Cake! And second of all – it’s a song about a driven race car driver! My main character Dylan was a driven race car driver until everything fell apart.

 

Maroon 5 – – Animals

So if I run it’s not enough
You’re still in my head forever stuck
So you can do what you wanna do
I love your lies, I’ll eat ’em up
But don’t deny the animal
That comes alive when I’m inside you

One of the sexiest songs sung by one of the sexiest men in the world – this was one of the first songs on my playlist. It’s just. So. Sexy.

 

Imagine Dragons – Shots (the acoustic version!)

I’m sorry for everything
Oh, everything I’ve done
From the second that I was born it seems I had a loaded gun
And then I shot, shot, shot a hole through everything I loved
Oh, I shot, shot, shot a hole through every single thing that I loved

I heard the acoustic version of this song first and it shattered me. The lyrics, the harmonies – it’s just amazing. Then I heard the poppy arrangement and it was like a completely different song, so I’m pretending that version doesn’t exist. It’s all acoustic heartbreak for me. Imagine Dragons is one of those bands that write and sing about obsession and heartbreak and darkness and redemption in a way that just speak to me. I could use a dozen Imagine Dragon songs on every play list – but this one totally suits Dylan.

 

 

Coleman Hell – 2 Heads

I turn to you, you’re all I see
Our love’s a monster with 2 Heads and one heartbeat
We just got caught up in the moment
Why don’t you call me in the morning instead
Before we turn into a monster
Before we turn into a monster with 2 Heads

I love everything about this song. The dance beat with a banjo?! Perfection. But the lyric is what kills me most – this song is all about Dylan pushing Annie away when she confesses she wants more of him.

 

Metric – Lie Lie Lie

Baby, you’ll be safe with me
Rage against the dying of the light
Holding up a tattered dream
Rage against the dying, rage against the dying of the light

Another great Canadian band – this song is fascinating. An anthem against changing with fame or popularity. Which doesn’t fit with my book – but I just love that lyric…

 

Rachel Platten – Fight Song

Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion

My kids are totally obsessed with this song. I hear it in my sleep and it’s a great song that encapsulates Annie’s journey.

Necessary Restorations by Kate Canterbary – REVIEW and Giveaway

Necessary Restorations by Kate Canterbary

Synopsis

 

 

They liked to call me names. Manwhore. Slut. Player. But I make wrong look so right…

He’s a flawed perfectionist…
I can read women better than any blueprint. I understand their thoughts and feelings, their secret desires and insecurities, and I know how to get rid of them once I get off.

But all bets are off when Tiel Desai slams into my life. She redefines what it means to be friends, and she makes it sound like the filthiest thing I’ve ever heard.

I can’t read the gorgeous conservatory-trained violinist, but she’s the only one keeping me from shattering by small degrees, and I can’t let her go.

She’s wildly independent…
My past—and New Jersey—are far behind me, and now my life is blissfully full of music: playing, teaching, and lecturing, and scouring Boston’s underground scene with an annoyingly beautiful, troubled, tattooed architect.

I’m defenseless against his rooftop kisses, our nearly naked dance parties, the snuggletimes that turn into sexytimes, and his deep, demanding voice.

I have Sam Walsh stuck in my head like a song on repeat, and I’m happy pretending history won’t catch up with me.

The one thing they have in common is a rock-solid disregard for the rules.
They find more in each other than they ever realized they were missing, but they might have to fall apart before they can come together.

It’s the wrongs that make the rights come to life.

My Review

Oh Sam… I loved this book and everything about it. A beautiful story of a broken man who finds the woman that can help put him back together again.

My Thoughts

We start this book with Sam being a complete ass and manwhore, and no real insight into what has caused him to be like this. As we get more into the story he starts to open up a little more and we learn more and more about Sam and the Walshs’ past. It was so heartbreaking to relive some of Sam’s past and his encounters with their father, but you can see how it caused him to stay away from people other than his siblings. That was one of my favorite things about this book, you could see why people acted and did what they did and it made it more real.

Tiel was as opposite of Sam as you possibly could be. She was an open free-spirited musician that also had some demons in her past. She meets Sam and they forge a tenuous friendship where she slowly brought him out of his shell and their connection solidified. I loved the way that they started to get closer and closer and had no idea how to move forward. The wonderful slow burn in this book was so perfect for Sam and Tiel and I couldn’t have imagined it another way.

I loved how he wanted to make himself better once he met Tiel, but he decided to change for himself and not for the girl. I cannot tell you how amazing it was to see someone be themselves and evolving into a better version of themselves based on a catalyst and not “for” another person. Neither character is a trope and that in itself is a refreshing change on books of this genre. Overall it is a fresh, fun, sexy book with an incredible amount of heart and passion. One I highly suggest picking up.

Notable Quotes

“Ah, Samuel? Eyes up here, please.”
I dragged my gaze from her breasts to her lips, and lifted my brows. “Yeah, you’re not my type, but you have an incredible rack, and I’d like having those lips on my dick.”
It sounded like my usual bullshit, but it was possibly the most honest, unfiltered thing I’d said all day.
She snorted, spraying vodka from her mouth and nose, and shook her head. “You need to shut that shit down. I’m not giving you a blowjob. Stop thinking about it.”

---

I couldn’t tell her that being with her made me feel sane for the first time in months.
Or that I felt rusty, broken pieces of myself healing every time I kissed her.
Or that she was beautiful and genuine in ways that stunned me.
Or that I wanted to bury myself in her for days, but I needed her more than I needed pussy.

---

How much longer do you think we can do this?” he asked.
“I don’t think anyone else is coming up here, so…”
“No.” His lips passed over my cheek and temple, stopping there while his hand slipped under my dress. “How much longer can we pretend this is enough?

---

Life is too short to waste on things that aren’t important enough to be real.

---

I love you and there is no one in the universe I’ll ever want but you. I’ve been yours since always, and always will be.

---

Tiel loves everything. Everything. She loves music and food and people, and I’m not sure I love anything.

---

Sex isn’t about skill. It’s passion, and you can’t fake that…I know some musicians who can shred every single piece of music put in front of them, but they have no passion for the sound and you can hear it. It’s technically perfect, but it’s so fucking soulless that you never want to listen to that piece ever again…

---

Most people think passion lives in some thundering monster, a primordial entity that call all the shots from deep inside your brain, but it’s not.,” she said, growing animated. “It’s details. It’s the way itsy bitsy sounds bend around each other and create magic. It’s pressing your mouth to someone’s neck because you can’t imagine living another minute without feeling her skin on your lips. Fingertips digging into her hips until they bruise. Reaching for someone in the night. Knowing her taste in your soul but never feeling fulfilled. Awakening all the beasts you’ve kept hidden inside, and letting them grow and breathe because she wants to know them. That’s passion.

I stared at her, convinced I was observing something filthy and exquisite, and I couldn’t find a single thing to say.

---

I loved her, fully and completely, and she brought out the best version of me

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Order and Buy Links

Necessary Restorations : Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Kate Canterbary doesn’t have it all figured out, but this is what she knows for sure: spicy-ass salsa and tequila solve most problems, living on the ocean–Pacific or Atlantic–is the closest place to perfection, and writing smart, smutty stories is a better than any amount of chocolate. She started out reporting for an indie arts and entertainment newspaper back when people still read newspapers, and she has been writing and surreptitiously interviewing people–be careful sitting down next to her on an airplane–ever since. Kate lives on the water in New England with Mr. Canterbary and the Little Baby Canterbary, and when she isn’t writing sexy architects, she’s scheduling her days around the region’s best food trucks.

 Facebook • Twitter • Tumblr • Instagram

 Pinterest • Goodreads • Amazon