Shameless

Archives: Reviews

  • I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills

    If you need a new college-age romance, Ilsa writes the perfect stories for you. I loved Maverick and Delaney together, especially watching this big football player worm his way into Delaney’s life once she was single again. I like how he had been thinking of her for 2 years since the first time they met, and once he had an opening, he jumped in with both feet. Their text conversations were funny and hot, a little mysterious in the beginning since she didn’t know who he was at first. It was fairly low angst for most of the book, and there was more outside drama than relationship drama.

  • Knotted by Pam Godwin

    Wow, this book was intense. I enjoy darker themes and this definitely walked that line. The story follows Jake and Conor after a brutal tragedy that takes place involving the two childhood sweethearts. This becomes a story about revenge, mystery, compassion and second chances. It is a slow burn book filled with layers of pain and rebirth and the intensity builds and builds. There are quite a few triggers, including rape & assault and some parts of this story were tough to read. Pam always does an amazing job with the characters and their dynamics. I wanted more from Jake at times but the character interactions made me want more and more of this series . Looking forward to the next book!

  • One More Time by Laurelin Paige

    I love a good second chance romance! The premise of the book is so fun….an actor is trying to win back his ex after they’ve ben apart 10 years. I loved that she wanted nothing to do with him at first, until she decided no-strings sex would be a good way to get back at him. WRONG! This fun, sexy romance is the perfect thing if you’re looking for a book to put a smile on your face.

  • The First Sin by Jillian Quinn

    Gia and Angelo are stuck in the Mafia life, even though the only thing they want is each other and a normal life. But they make the most of their time together, knowing as long as they have each other’s backs, nothing can come between them. Angelo hates having Gia in danger as his girlfriend, but he won’t give her up. Gia feels the same, always trying to show Angelo he’s still a good man no matter how many laws he breaks and sins he commits. I enjoyed their dynamic as a couple, feeding off the sins they’ve committed for their families, engaging in filthy sex yet knowing when to be just a normal couple that goes out to a bar for a few hours.
    I was starting to hate their families the more I read because I just wanted them to get their HEA. But, I have to wait for book 2! This book is dark, only in the Mafia violence aspect, not sex. Unless you count Gia and Angelo’s kinky sex. But, I also thought Gia and Angelo were sweet and hot together, and you will be cheering for their HEA.

  • Mission: Saving Shayna by Elle Boon

    I had a lot of fun reading this book! Mike is a wonderfully hot book boyfriend – all alpha male, dirty talking, full of muscles and super protective. Shayna feels like she could be a friend of mine – all flirty talk but unsure on the inside when Mike challenges her. I can’t decide what I liked reading about more. It could been the way they fell for each other, or the way he protected her from harm, or maybe it was just watching the sparks fly between them. Whatever my favorite part was, though, I loved reading this book, and I cannot wait to meet Elle Boon at #Shameless18 and tell her in person!

  • The Triple Crown Club Complete Series by Madison Faye

    This is such a hot series! All of Madison’s “Royally” stories are included in this set. You get THREE sexy Princes in Royally Shared. Lots of MMFM action! Royally Claimed is filled with so many menage scene at The Triple Crown club, you won’t know how to process it all. Alpha triplets bring the heat in Royally Tempted and Royally His is a very fast, sexy read that will leave you with a smile. I love Madison Faye’s writing and she makes each story better than the next in this series! Sexy, dirty and totally worth it!

  • Jared’s Evolution by Riley Hart

    Riley Hart is known for sweet, romantic stories. This has the sweet factor but the heat is all the way up!! It is a slow burn but it is so sexy watching Kiernan take his place as Jared’s Daddy. It is very light on the BDSM scale but kinky enough to satisfy!

  • The Chosen by Thea Harrison

    Oh, this novella was perfect! It is standalone, but in one of my favorite PNR worlds by Thea Harrison. Thea wrote a wonderful story that made me feel so much… love, hate, sadness, and happiness. Lily was a tough woman who finds herself protecting her town, and Wulf started out tough but then switched to sweet as he tries to woo her into helping his army defeat the supposed bad guy. I have funny, sweet, touching and sexy quotes highlighted, it was hard to narrow down which ones to use. Once you fall in love with this story, I highly recommend reading about her main Elder Races series. You will not be disappointed.

  • Rescued by Stephanie St. Klaire

    I have been reading as many new-to-me authors who will be at #Shameless18 as possible, and there are a lot of books out there that focus only on the sexy times (and that is just fine with me, thank you very much!) However, I was delighted to find that this book had a suspenseful plot that kept me on the edge of my seat as I read. Of course, there were still enough sexy scenes to keep me satisfied, but I am recommending this book as much for the story as for the sexy parts. The characters draw you in as the mystery unravels, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this one. It’s a great addition to your to-be-read list if you like your romance with a side of suspense. ~Jean [April 2018]

  • Unforgivable by Isabel Love

    I thought I knew what to expect going into this book because I’ve read (and loved) Unconventional & Untouchable by Isabel, but this book was something entirely different. It was slow paced which worked perfectly in building Wes and Anna’s relationship. It was so raw in human emotion that it kept me glued to the words on each & every page. It is a story about heartbreak and redemption, passion and lust. A second chance love story that showed just how far two people will go for the one they love. I felt like I was watching Wes & Anna make mistakes, adapt, find themselves and grow and it really made them relate-able. I loved how much Wes adored Anna, even when they were younger. She was his from the start and it gave me all the feels! What an emotionally satisfying book!

  • Tinfoil Heart by Daisy Prescott

    I’m a HUGE Daisy Prescott fan…HUGE! When I read Tinfoil Heart at I first thought to myself, well this is a different kind of story than I’m used to from Daisy, but then as I kept reflecting I thought, NO it’s actually really not! Same quirky lovable characters, same interesting and unique story line, same wonderfully descriptive scene setting where you can completely see in your mind’s eye what Roswell looks and feels like to these characters and the same brilliant and seamless writing you’d expect from her! This is a fantastic story about feeling lost, looking for answers, letting go and ultimately finding something better than the truth that you seek. Don’t let the little green men deter you, read this and you’ll ‘believe’ that love and friendship can bloom, even in the kookiest places. OH and the choice of ‘believers’ or ‘skeptics’ Epilogues was EPIC!!!

  • Misadventures with the Boss by Kendall Ryan

    This was my first Kendall Ryan romance, and I loved Jackson and Piper together. He might have been this big time CEO, but his life was a disaster until Piper came into the workplace and his life. She set him to rights and I enjoyed watching her push back when he tried to become overbearing. I like watching a CEO, who never hears the word No, fall for a sweet yet strong woman like Piper. They were definitely a great match and Jackson sure knew how to make Piper blush with his dirty talk.

  • Be Mine… Or Else by Alexa Riley

    Be Mine… Or Else is a fast read that was very satisfying. The instant chemistry between Dove and Beau is absolutely electric. Beau knows what he wants and he isn’t going to take no for an answer, and there’s something so hot about that! Dove is bewitching in her sweet virginal ways as Beau introduces her to all kinds of new and dirty things. Their story is an adorable Valentine’s Day fairy tale that everyone needs to read today! ~Jean [April 2018]

  • Co-Ed by Rachel Van Dyken

    This book was seriously fun to read. It’s one girl accidentally thrown into a college dorm room with 4 hot suite-mates. Her roommate, charming and protective, and the three playboys across the living room. Once those playboys turn their sights on her, she’d doomed…in the best possible way! This isn’t your normal menage or reverse harem book. It’s hilarious and sexy and romantic and might be my new favorite Rom-Com from Rachel Van Dyken.

  • Disturbing His Peace by Tessa Bailey

    Tessa Bailey has this way of writing tightly-wound, broody, almost grumpy men that are always in control…and it’s so much fun to see them finally SNAP! I loved watching Danika and Greer dance around each other in the previous books and I couldn’t wait to see them finally give in. Disturbing His Peace is filled with lust, humor, a lot of sweet moments and, of course, Tessa’s signature dirty talking cops! Greer and Danika’s romance is the perfect ending to this sexy, fun series.

  • One Hot Scot by Donna Alam

    I am still working through as many new-to-me authors as possible before #Shameless18, so Donna Alam was next on my list! And what is not to love about tattooed, alpha, dirty talking scots? Rory does not disappoint as a book boyfriend, and Fin is very easy to relate to. The passion between them is explosive, and the sex scenes are absolutely suitable for reading one handed, if you know what I mean. This book will not disappoint you!!! ~Jean [April 2018]

  • Overworked by Dark Angel

    I got exactly what I expected with this book! Sex, sex & more sex. Spencer, Derek, Xane and Killian want nothing more than to please Julia and they always get what they want. This is not a warm and fuzzy romantic book. This is pure one handed reading. The writing is super sexy and dirty and leaves little to the imagination. Recommended for anyone who needs a quick fix 😉 *Bow-chicka-bow-wow*

  • My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan

    This book could very well be the best book I have read since I started recommending books for Shameless. It’s a historical romance, so there’s no instant gratification here, but there is a slow build that had me writhing right along with the heroine, wondering if she would ever get what we both wanted. Of course, there is also a Masked Marauder, political and historical intrigue, and a dangerous mystery, culminating in a surprising ending that I did not see coming at all. I am really looking forward to the rest of this series, as this first book was just amazing to me. ~ Jean [April 2018]

  • Wait With Me by Amy Daws

    I heard the backstory to Amy writing this book on Facebook from another author I follow and then again in a Buzzfeed article. It had me intrigued, so I loaded it up and read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed how Amy wrote things that happened to her in real life into the book, and if you read the original backstory, you’ll laugh even harder when you get to those scenes in the book. It was such a unique plot, and I loved Miles and Kate together. Though they both had baggage to overcome, their friends provided plenty of comic relief. Kate was pretty funny herself explaining why she had to write a story in a tire store and needed hands-on experience with a mechanic. Luckily, Miles was able to help her out and they provided plenty of sexy times for both us readers (and Kate’s mythical book.)

  • Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss

    In my continuing quest to read as many #Shameless18 new-to-me authors as possible before October, I decided to try out Chelle Bliss and the first book in her Men of Inked series. Her tattooed, muscled, super hot, motorcycle riding hero did not disappoint. City is everything a good book boyfriend should be. He’s a dirty talker, he knows what he wants, and he isn’t going to stop until he gets it. In this case, what he wants is Suzy, in spite of the fact that they seem all wrong for each other. Watching their relationship develop was a lot of fun, and the chemistry between them was super hot. I am definitely putting the rest of this series onto my to-be-read list!!! ~Jean [April 2018]

  • Whiskey Chaser by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley

    Scarlett may be a tomboy raised by a single dad and 3 brothers, but when she wants something, she goes after it. And her going after Devlin is hilarious and sexy. In the beginning, he’s not sure what to make of her advances or the small town and its inhabitants. If you have ever lived in a small town, you will recognize a lot of familiar aspects: everyone knowing and being friendly with others, insinuating themselves into people’s business, greeting strangers as if they know them, and always the gossip tree. I laughed a bunch at the antics of Scarlett showing Devlin how to let go and not be so serious. The softball game and its aftermath had me rolling. I can’t wait to read the books about Scarlett’s brothers.

  • Dark Sky Falling by Richard Ryker

    First, Ill start by saying the romance in this is secondary. It is not what the plot revolves around but it is there and it works perfectly with the story line. If you like books with darker content, this story is a must read. I enjoy mystery and suspense and Richard Ryker conjured up a book filled to the brim with both. Marcus stops at nothing to get back his kidnapped daughter Alyssa and the story line progresses and unfolds fast. Marcus and Stormy have a very “low key” romance. It slowly builds but with the situation at hand, trust is hard to come by. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Stormy’s character and loved her relationship with Marcus, even through all the turmoil. The writing is evocative, the characters are dynamic and the plot keeps you turning those pages wondering… imagining… hoping. When you find yourself holding your breath as you are racing through each and every word, you know you have stumbled upon some masterful storytelling.

  • Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

    I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a secret book to be released!! Birthday Girl is different from Penelope Douglas’ other works…it’s not dark or overly angsty, but it’s still filled with heat and turmoil! This taboo romance will have you blushing and squirming from page one all the way to the end. I loved the sexual tension and banter between Pike and Jordan and enjoyed watching their dance. Once you pick it up, you won’t put it down until you’ve finished.

  • To Have and to Hold by Ketley Allison

    This story kept me on the edge of my seat til the very end. It has a darker theme and some pretty intense moments. Triggers include kidnapping, assault and torture but not so over the top that you have a hard time connecting to the characters & following the intricate plot. I am usually not a fan of a “slow burner” but I definitely think Ketley Allison knew what she was doing building the suspense and turmoil. Emme and Spencer have a past and while I wish I got more answers, the overall feel of their chemistry was strong and timeless. I loved Emme’s character. She was a strong female lead, even with everything happening to her. Overall I found myself not being able to put this book down and that to me is a win!

  • The Colors Between Us by Kate Hawthorne

    The brilliant, tortured artist is one of my favorite tropes and Kate Hawthorne does it so well!! Roland is an artist that is suffering from depression and Donnie is the delicately built delivery man that sparks his inspiration after a decade dry spell. I loved reading how the physically smaller man was able to step in and take charge to help his partner, The road to their HEA was rough and painful in spots but the payoff was so satisfying!

  • Saved by a SEAL by Cat Johnson

    This second book in the Hot Seals series was just as much fun as the first one. The chemistry between Zane and Missy is amazing, and they are lovable characters, even though their families leave a bit to be desired. There’s some suspense mixed in as well, and a short appearance by Jon, the hero from the first book (Night with a SEAL). I am really excited to meet Cat Johnson at #Shameless18, and tell her how much I love her characters!!!~Jean [April 2018]

  • Behind the Bars by Brittainy C Cherry

    I bawled my eyes out reading this book. Seriously, I think Brittainy C. Cherry might be the only author who has made me cry with EVERY SINGLE BOOK I’ve read of hers. But in all honesty, if you don’t cry on Frenchman St. at least once reading this book, I’m convinced you have no soul!!!! A fantastic and emotional story about how life can be cruel and our path is not always our choice, but love, time and patience can heal and save us. All the feels y’all… ALL. THE. FEELS.

  • Black Velvet by Linnea May

    I loved Elene and Damon’s story. Elene is making changes in her life. She loves to please men and make a living off of it. She decides to pursue her “career” elsewhere and this story follows her on that journey. I thought she was really interesting to read about. She always carries herself well and her sass makes her a very strong female character. Damon is beyond hot. He is an aggressive Dominant who pursues Elene relentlessly. The way he talks to her.. MY GOD.. instant orgasm! Both know what they need and desire, but the chase in this story will make you want to explode! Elene and Damon’s characters were featured in Linnea May’s Velvet Rooms series but if you have not read that yet, no worries! Black Velvet acts as a standalone, but if you enjoy it, definitely check out her others books!

  • Epoch by Jewel E Ann

    My head and heart were all over the place with the conclusion of this story! What I wanted to happen, what I thought was gonna happen and what actually DID happen changed from chapter to chapter. I desperately wanted to know how it was going to end, at the same time didn’t want it to end either, LOL! An edge of your seat, tug at your heartstrings, breathtakingly beautiful and unique story. This one is going to stick with me for a while…so so so so good! Oh and also… #TeamGriff!

  • Show & Sell by Abby Angel

    I LOVE reading ménage stories and the more taboo the better! Declan, Finn and Jasper Grayson are all brothers and Aurora is a sweet, naive virgin auctioning off her most prized position.. herself. The boys are three Alpha triplets.. yes TRIPLETS.. who aggressively go after what they want, when they want it. Lucky for Aurora, they want every piece of her. I love how even though she is sweet and innocent, she holds her own to the three guys. Ridiculously raw sex and a super easy to follow plot makes this book perfect for a Friday night pick me up!