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

 

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

 

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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.

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Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne – REVIEW

Irresistibly Yours

Synopsis

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track.

Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too.

Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love.

So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job.

But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

 

My Review

One of my favorite lines in the book is “Your’re freaking adorable” and that is how I felt about this book. Don’t get me wrong the book was sexy and steamy at times, but I had this big goofy smile while reading it that made the book extra fun.

My Thoughts

Let me preface this by saying I love sports and a huge tomboy like Penelope, which is one of the things that drew me to this book in the first place. This is a spin-off of the Stiletto series, so I had already met Cole and was excited to see him meet his match. Much like Cole in the book I fell for Penelope right from the start. She was a genuinely nice, considerate person who loved sports and was from the Midwest, what was there not to love.

The flirty/friendly banter certainly made this book more entertaining, but it was the way that Cole immediately brought her in to the Stiletto world and made her feel welcome and not alone that really made this book to me. Cole in the other books was seen as a flirt and a ladies man, but we didn’t get to see much more than that, but we get to see a whole new Cole in this book and I loved every second of it. I can not wait to continue this series.

ARC provided by Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Notable Quotes

“Weekdays, we’re colleagues. Weekends, we can be—” “Fuck buddies.”

---

The reason she had insisted things not become romantic.
For Cole Sharpe, Penelope would have been one out of a million other women in his life.
For Penelope, Cole might have been one in a million. The only one.

---

How had he ever thought a boring model-type could keep him happy? All he needed was a pint-sized baseball fan.

 

Reading Order and Buy Links (or other books from author)

Book Title : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

About the Author

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.

Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Website  •  Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Goodreads 

Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh – REVIEW

Rock Redemption

Synopsis

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

 

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.

 

When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting—needing—to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

 

My Review

I am not big on drama, heartbreak and angst, but this story was so well written and beautiful I could not stop reading. I love this series and would highly recommend this beautiful, heart wrenching, amazing book.

My Thoughts

It took me a while to formulate my thoughts enough to write this review. I loved the writing, but the way that Noah acted toward Kit several times was almost too much for me. So many of his issues could have been solved if he would have shared his secrets with someone or just talked to people in general. I don’t know how Kit put up with all his crap and still loved him like she did. When Noah was not being an ass he was a really good guy and it gave you glimpses of the man Kit fell for. These were the parts of the book that kept me turning the page to see what happened next. Once he finally talked to someone and truly let Kit in it was a whole different story and this is what made me fall for the story.

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

Notable Quotes

You’ve been very clear, Noah. Don’t worry, I’m not getting the wrong idea. I know you don’t want me. She trembled, her hand fisting. “How about you fight for me for once?” Not giving him a chance to answer, she shook her head. “You don’t trust me with your secrets, you mess with my head, you make me feel ugly and unwanted , and you ask why I won’t fight for you?” Anger smashed into hurt, the jagged shards splintering through her. “Eff. You.”

---

Why can’t you see me like I see you?

Reading Order and Buy Links

Rock Redemption : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

 

About the Author

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated frequently).

So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

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Beneath These Scars by Meghan March – REVIEW

Beneath These Scars by Meghan March

Synopsis

I’m the guy you love to hate.In every story in my life, I seem to end up playing the villain—and I’ve got the scars to prove it.

That role works fine for me, because I’m sure as hell not anyone’s hero. I run my life and my empire with an iron fist—until she knocks my tightly controlled world off its axis.

She’s nobody’s damsel in distress, but I can’t help but want to save her anyway.

I guess we’re about to find out if there’s a hero buried … beneath these scars.

 

My Review

I loved everything about this book. Between Lucas being an alpha billionaire, asshole and Yve being a badass, sassy chick that doesn’t put up with his crap, these two made this a book I couldn’t put down. Highly recommended.

My Thoughts

I went in to this story not really knowing what I was in for. I love Meghan’s writing and other books, so I knew it would be a great read, but I had real doubts about if I would like the H/h. In the end I got a story of two scarred people that weren’t looking for love but found it anyway, and I loved every second of it.

Lucas Titan was the man you loved to hate in the other books in this series, but man Lucas Motherfucking Titan is so much more than that. He might seem to be the asshole that everyone loved to hate, and I’ll admit he was a bossy, arrogant, demanding alpha billionaire, but for anyone that took the time to look even a fraction deeper he was so much more.

Yve Santos is strong willed, sarcastic and doesn’t let anyone push her or her friends around. She was an all around strong bad ass chick. But just under the surface her scars tell another story. She is a woman with painful past and a strong dislike of relationships with rich men. She has kept everyone at arms length for so long that when Lucas sneaks his way in she has no idea that he would be the one to put her back together again.

These two broken people start closed off and slowly open up to each other. Their journey and transformation made this amazing story even more beautiful. I highly recommend every book in this series, but Simon from Beneath This Mask may have found a contender for my favorite Meghan March man.

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

Notable Quotes

 

I’m no damsel in distress. And white knight? I think that’s a hell of a stretch for you, Titan

---

Lucas Fucking Titan. Fucking really should be added to his name as an offical title. It was appropriate.

---

This woman pushed all my buttons, taunted me, challenged me, mocked me. And the perverse son of a bitch that I was, I wanted more.

---

“For every time you tell me never, I’m going to make you beg longer to come the next time I have you.”
“Go to hell.”
“I’ve been there, and it’s not pleasant.”

---

Ready for a forever where our scars didn’t define us, but reminded us of how far we’d come and what we’d conquered to be together. 

Reading Order and Buy Links

Beneath These Scars :

Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

 

About the Author

Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure.  She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

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Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey – REVIEW

Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey

Synopsis

When a mysterious text message summons May Wexler to a biker bar in downtown New Orleans, she knows something is very wrong. Her sister has sent out an SOS, but when May gets there, she’s nowhere to be found and May is the one in trouble—she’s wearing pink espadrilles, she’s got a Chihuahua in her purse, and she’s in the middle of a shootout. After tall, muscular Ozzie comes to her rescue, May has no choice but to follow him to safety. At the headquarters of his private security firm, the Bourbon Street Boys, she finds a refuge for the night—and the offer of a job. But it’s not long before a gun-toting stalker isn’t the only complication in May’s life: the more time she spends with Ozzie, the less she can deny that they’ve got some serious chemistry. A wrong number got her into this mess . . . Will it also get her the right guy?

My Review

This book turned out to be really entertaining with a blend of action, humor, romance and sexy times… if you could suspend reality for a bit and just go with it.

My Thoughts

I really, really, really wanted to like this book, and I did like the humor and some of the action/training, but overall it just didn’t click for me.

May goes to a rough part of town in an even rougher bar because the mysterious texter says to meet there. She walks in and is immediately in danger… with people shooting at her and some big hairy guy dragging her out the back door. From there everything was a little iffy for me.

May jumped head first into this new career with no real thought to her actual photography job or that she was way under qualified and way under skilled and had an insta love/lust with the big hairy beast (who was a hot muscular former military guy in reality) that rescued her. I did like the back and forth she had with Dev and the rest of the Bourbon Street Boys, but all her interactions with Ozzie and Toni had a high school immaturity about them which detracted from the overall story for me.

I have read other Elle Casey books and really liked those. But the story line of May receiving texts and thinking they are from her sister works, for a minute or two, but if you think about it at all then it  kinda falls apart. There were plenty of times where May should have paused a moment and questioned her actions. It created a rocky foundation for throwing our leads together and unfortunately, the unstable feeling continued throughout the rest of the book.

ARC kindly provided by Amazon Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

 Notable Quotes

“I need a frign break. Taking the butt strings to the arcade.”

“Butt strings?”

“I meant to say breast sling. Effing autocorrect.”

“Argh! Not breast sling! I’m going to kill the dick who shit on my ass because it’s going all jello.”

“Shit storm! Epic shit storm of autocorrect madness! . . . Please just shit me cow.”

---

“He looks like a Duck Dynasty nut ball prepper off the range for a good long while now, but he smells like a metrosexual about to go clubbing.”

---

‘I don’t know how I’m going to watch his muscles bulge and not throw myself at him. This is going to be a total test of willpower.’

---

“What if I’m too scared?”
“I’ll ease your mind.”
“What if I’m worried you’ll break my heart?”
“I’ll show you that you’re crazy to think that.”

Wrong Number, Right Guy : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Elle Casey, a former attorney and teacher, is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling American author who lives in southern France with her husband, three kids, and a number of furry friends. She has written books in several genres and publishes an average of one full-length novel per month.

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Playing with Fire by Kate Meader – REVIEW

Playing with Fire by Kate Meader

Synopsis

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…

My Review

5 plus stars. I loved everything about this book.

My Thoughts

I went into this book half in love with Eli and Alex from the small interactions I saw in Flirting with Fire. I was hooked from page one and it only got better from there. This book was hot, hot, hot and I’m not talking about the fires. The interactions between Eli and Alex were so smoking they had my Kindle overheating. several times, but there was so much more to their story that had me head over heels for this firefighting family and the cocky overbearing politico.

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

Notable Quotes

“A man as powerful, as controlling as Eli Cooper would know exactly what a woman needed.”

---

 “She pushed him back to the desk, poking his chest.
“I may punch you, bite you, crush your nuts between my thighs. It’s going to be the best hate sex I’ve ever had. And your survival is not my first concern.”

---

“Knowing what she did to him made her feel powerful, just as knowing what he did to her made her feel weak.”

Reading Order and Buy Links

Playing with Fire : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

About the Author

Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

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Under The Lights by Dahlia Adler – REVIEW

Under The Lights by Dahlia Adler

Synopsis

Josh Chester loves being a Hollywood bad boy, coasting on his good looks, his parties, his parents’ wealth, and the occasional modeling gig. But his laid-back lifestyle is about to change. To help out his best friend, Liam, he joins his hit teen TV show, Daylight Falls…opposite Vanessa Park, the one actor immune to his charms. (Not that he’s trying to charm her, of course.) Meanwhile, his drama-queen mother blackmails him into a new family reality TV show, with Josh in the starring role. Now that he’s in the spotlight—on everyone’s terms but his own—Josh has to decide whether a life as a superstar is the one he really wants.

Vanessa Park has always been certain about her path as an actor, despite her parents’ disapproval. But with all her relationships currently in upheaval, she’s painfully uncertain about everything else. When she meets her new career handler, Brianna, Van is relieved to have found someone she can rely on, now that her BFF, Ally, is at college across the country. But as feelings unexpectedly evolve beyond friendship, Van’s life reaches a whole new level of confusing. And she’ll have to choose between the one thing she’s always loved…and the person she never imagined she could.

My Review

I loved everything about this beautiful story about finding yourself and finding happiness.

My Thoughts

I know this book was the second in a series, but I was so excited to read it that I jumped right in.

I started this book hating Josh Chester. I mean who wouldn’t he was an arrogant asshole living off of mommy and daddy, but as the story moved along it did something I would have never guessed; it made me really like Josh Chester.

In the beginning of the book I kept thinking that it was gonna be a Josh and Vanessa love story, but was pleasantly surprised when it became a much more powerful and beautiful story. The journey that Vanessa went on was so raw and beautiful and emotional that I couldn’t put it down.

The book quickly became about growing up and being who you want to be even if the road is a little rocky. I loved how these revelations and journeys made each character stronger. The romance between Vanessa and Bri was so touching and raw it was almost tangible, and you feel every up and down right along with them.

I loved everything about this book. 5+ Stars.
Advance copy was provided by the publisher from Netgalley.

Notable Quotes

” The thing is, K-drama, sometimes you just have to accept that no one else’s opinion means shit, you know? Sometimes you just have to do what makes you happy and say fuck to everyone else.”

Reading Order and Buy Links

Under The Lights by Dahlia Adler: Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

 

About the Author

Dahlia Adler is an Associate Editor of Mathematics by day, a blogger for B&N Teens by night, and writes Contemporary YA and NA at every spare moment in between. She’s the author of the Daylight Falls duology, the upcoming Just Visiting, and Last Will and Testament, as well as over five billion tweets as @MissDahlELama. She lives in New York City with her husband and their overstuffed bookshelves.

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Ryker by Sawyer Bennett – REVIEW

Ryker by Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

The stakes have never been higher for Carolina Cold Fury goalie Ryker Evans. With his contract running out, he’s got a year left to prove he’s still at the top of his game. And since his wife left him, Ryker has been balancing life as a pro-hockey star and a single parent to two daughters. Management is waiting for him to screw up. The fans are ready to pounce. Everybody’s taking dirty shots—except for the fiery redhead whose faith in Ryker gives him a fresh start.

As the league’s only female general manager, Gray Brannon has learned not to mix business with pleasure. And yet even this tough, talented career woman can’t help breaking her own rules as she gives Ryker everything she’s got. She hopes their hot streak will last forever, but with Ryker’s conniving ex plotting to reclaim her man, the pressure’s on Gray to step up and save a tender new love before it’s too late.

My Review

4 stars. This book was sweet, sexy and intelligent, just like Ryker.

My Thoughts

I have been waiting for Ryker’s story since we first met him in Zack, and I was not disappointed.

Ryker is the veteran back up goalie that came in during the playoffs and lost it all for his team. This season he is trying to lead them back to the cup and dealing with the heartbreak of last season. Couple this with catching his ex-wife with a team-mate and things are not all rosey for Ryker right now. His world revolves around hockey and his two little girls at this point in his life.

Greyson, Grey, Bannon has just made sports history. She has been promoted to General Manager of the Cold Fury, making her the first female GM in the history of the league. Grey was very intelligent, strong and not really caring about the naysayers or the “boys club” that thought she didn’t deserve the position. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Grey tells a reporter a story about kicking another reporter out for asking about her beauty regime. It was really telling about how she wanted to be known as a GM first and not a woman. It was much harder to get the players and some of the coaching staff on her side though. It was almost shocking (not really these days) the vehemence that some characters had for her just because she was a woman.

The thing that I loved the most about this book was the unconditional support that Ryker and Grey had for each other. Even before the relationship she scouted him and got him in the position for the team that he deserved and when she was promoted to GM he stood behind her 100%. It was refreshing to see this from a book, well actually just refreshing in general. This mutual respect and their chemistry made it difficult for the two of them to stay away.

This leads me to my least favorite part of any story, secret relationships… This book did handle it really well, and I understand why they felt it needed to be secret, but come on. If Grey would have talked to her father or anyone really I’m sure they would have come up with a solution earlier. It’s not like she was his coach or direct supervisor. Ryker was completely against keeping them a secret and again I agree. In the end after both of them were willing to give up their careers to make it work it all worked out

Overall I really liked this book. There were some little things that kept it from a 5 star, but it was a really sweet, fun and sexy read. This is my favorite of the series so far and a great addition to the Cold Fury series.

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

Notable Quotes

“I have no clue what you are talking about. I call you Big Bang after the TV show The Big Bang Theory. … It’s a TV show about these really brilliant scientists. Geniuses like you. So absorbed in their work they don’t understand pop culture unless it’s about superheroes and comic books. The fact you don’t recognize it as pop culture just couldn’t make this any more hilarious.”

---

“You’re very unique to the professional hockey world, Miss Brannon, because you’re a woman in a traditionally male role, and because you’re using groundbreaking methods with which to manage this club. I’m curious… if you were to die tomorrow, what would you prefer to be known for?”

---

“You’re wrong about one thing. A fling wouldn’t be difficult, because it would be quick and secretive and over probably as soon as it started. You’d have little risk of ever being caught. But I don’t do flings. You would be way more than a fling to me.”

Reading Order and Buy Links

Book Title : Amazon  •  Barnes and Noble  •  IBooks

 

 

 

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.

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