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Archives: Reviews

  • Falling Into Us by Jasinda Wilder

    I was just sitting here this morning, cleaning the tear stains from my glasses left behind from last night when I finished reading Falling Into Us, thinking of all the ways to convey my love for this book. You may think that Falling Into Us is a sequel to Falling Into You (one of my favorite books of 2013), but it’s not. You do need to read Falling Into You before you read “Us” because it’s not a standalone book. Sure you can read “You” without reading “Us,” but why would you want to deny yourself any of the dream that is this story. “Us” follows “You” as a parallel storyline. Meaning, it follows the same timeline, but centric on two different characters in the same circle of friends as in “You.” Confused much? Don’t be. It’s not confusing once you’re into the book, cheering on the love, crying at the losses, and getting horned up at all the sex. And OH YES, the sex. Falling Into Us is a super favorite, right in line with Falling Into You, and it is HIGHLY recommended. [June 2013]

  • Waking Kiss by Annabel Joseph

    Knowing next to nothing about ballet dancers and having read other ballet-centric books by Annabel Joseph, I’m starting to think all ballet dancers have balls-to-the-wall sex lives. And shockingly enough, this book isn’t all sex, all the time as with many of her other books. With Waking Kiss, it’s all about the story and the anticipation. In another life, I’m going to come back as one of Annabel Joseph’s broken down ballet dancers so I can have one of her tough-as-nails alpha males to fix me and sex me. Highly recommended. [June 2013]

  • Epilogue by CJ Roberts

    The first thing you should do before you read Epilogue is read the first two books in the Dark Duet series; this is not a standalone book. After your heart, mind, and lady bits have been ripped to shreds by Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark, Epilogue is the perfect, no-nonsense bow to a messed up designer bakery cake. I hate that I love Caleb, and I love that I love Livvie. Together, they are epically messed up, but so damn perfect that I can’t help but love every word in Epilogue. [June 2013]

  • Watch Over Me by Tara Sivec

    If you like feeling like wrenching out all of your emotions and wanting to feel like you’re going to die of dehydration-by-crying, read Watch Over Me. It’s not a happy happy joy joy story; it’s not a gather ’round and sing Kumbaya ’til everyone feels better book. It’s raw and heart-wrenching and meant to force you to look at how you relate to your parents and family. It only took the first few pages of the book to get my eyeballs to leak, and I didn’t stop until The End. [June 2013]

  • Bad Things by RK Lilley

    Having read the Up in the Air trilogy, I knew about Tristan, but not much other than his massive size and suaveness. Of course I wanted to read more about him and his…massiveness. Bad Things is more than just Tristan’s massiveness and Danika’s sexiness; it’s an epic roller coaster of a tumultuous relationship between two broken people. If this is just the start of the struggles between Tristan and Danika, theirs will be a heart-wrencher of a story. Oh yeah, and the sex is off-the-charts hot. [June 2013]

  • Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino

    I love when a book keeps up the realness of actual life while also giving us a taste of fantasy. The main characters, Mia and Will, are entirely relatable and yet so frustrating. Through the push and pull of their relationship, my emotions got the better of me, both in angst and in happiness. There were parts of the book that seemed rushed, yet seemed to take longer than they should have, but overall, the story is lovely and filled with fiery growth. [June 2013]

  • The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

    TOP 10 OF 2013
    To summarize The Mistress (or really, any other of the Original Sinners books) is an impossibility for me. So much happens, so many emotions are layered upon us, that I find my ability to effectively pack a review into my normally concise recommendations is severely lacking. The Mistress is a revelation in storytelling. As the conclusion to the first and present half of the full Original Sinners series, the characters not only come full circle, they envelop the entirety of the story, bring us to our knees, and rock us gently in an ancient rocking chair while part of our soul is comforted through the pleasure of pain. It is perfection. When I finished, I had no words, no more tears—just recognition of its perfection. [June 2013]

  • The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle

    I really, really liked this story…once it got going. I almost quit reading after the first 1/4 of the book when I got tired of every nuance of the day, but thanks to friends telling me to push on, I did. And then I cried through the last 1/4, happy to find out that a sequel is coming out soon! [October 2012]

  • Entwined With You by Sylvia Day

    I’ll start by saying I haven’t read a single review about this book, good or bad. After I started seeing some rumblings of dissent from readers, I wanted a completely unbiased frame of mind when I read the book. Paying $10 for a digital book that I cannot loan out to someone else is a big investment, even for someone who makes their living recommending books. From the high price alone, I expected *fireworks* and *tears* and *horniness* and *intrigue* and *shock & awe*! Out of those five expectations, I got one: horniness. Gideon Cross is a madman in the bedroom, and Eva Trammel is one lucky girl to have him. If the sex hadn’t been as hot as it was, I would have no problem giving this book only 3 stars. Basically, I’m giving a whole star to Gideon’s penis. Aside from the copious sexing going on between Gideon and Eva all over New York City and beyond, the story was cluttered with hopeful plot twists and turns that turned out to be plot pauses and bumps. I don’t know where this series can go with two more books promised, but something major will need to happen to turn this gone-too-far, destined-to-be-Lost story around. [June 2013]

  • Beauty From Surrender by Georgia Cates

    One thing I love about a cliffhanger ending to a story is the anticipation for reading how gently or harshly the characters will land. Beauty From Pain had a great cliffhanger ending that left a lot up in the air, so I was anxious to see how it would all pan out in Beauty From Surrender. While I love the alternating first-person POV in both books, I feel like so much more could have been written to draw out my emotions of the (inevitable) reconnection of Jack Henry and Laurelyn. That said, I loved how hard the two showed their love for one another. (see: hot sex scenes) As a pair of books that complete a story, Beauty From Surrender is a must-read if you loved Beauty From Pain. [June 2013]

  • Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey

    Though Tessa Bailey continues her Line of Duty series with her third book, Officer Off Limits, the series isn’t a continuation of the last. The books have a commonality in that they are all about law enforcement officers and they’re incredibly hot, but you can read them individually as they don’t have cross-over characters. Officer Off Limits is super hot and a great quick read when you want to escape from reality or need a palate cleanser after an emotionally draining book. And as you can see from the numerous quotes in this recommendation, Tessa Bailey is especially good at turning on a reader. [June 2013]

  • Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning

    TOP 10 OF 2013
    I never thought this would happen, but halfway through reading Wicked Beat, it did. My book-life tipped, and my longstanding relationship with Brian Sinclair as my book boyfriend ended. Eric Sticks took over as my #1 main man. Yes, that goofy, voyeuristic sex maniac, Eric Sticks slammed into my every reading fantasy. Out of all of the Sinners On Tour books, Wicked Beat is my favorite. I KNOW. I don’t know how it happened, and I never expected it, but it did. It’s funny, endearing, and extremely sexy. This 5th (though 4th in the series) book released its way into my heart. Eric Sticks—You are my man. [June 2013]

  • The Mistress Files by Tiffany Reisz

    Having been slightly more than obsessed with all things Tiffany Reisz and her Original Sinners, I can say that The Mistress Files is undoubtedly a must-read for anyone who is either already a fan or is intrigued. It’s not necessary to have read any of the other Sinners books to read TMF, but if you’re like me and get stupid emotions when you read about certain Sinners characters, you’ll appreciate at least one of the stories more than the others. Like all other Sinners stories, The Mistress Files is about hardcore sexual experiences and written with hardcore emotional exhibition. A super duper must-read. [June 2013]

  • Collide by Gail McHugh

    TOP 10 OF 2013
    When someone tells you they highly recommend you wait until the sequel is released before you read the book they love, listen to them. This is me, telling you, WAIT UNTIL PULSE IS RELEASED TO READ COLLIDE. Unless you’re a masochistic reader (like I am), you’ll be left hanging on the edge of a cliff you knew was there but ignored all the warning signs. Collide is forcefully intimate in the way it crawled into my heart and took over. I felt so much strife and sympathy for all the characters, wanting to jump in and scream at pretty much every single one at some point in the book. Collide is a definite must-read, but I highly suggest you buy it now and let it sit on your e-reader until Pulse is released. [May 2013]

  • The Forever of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

    Nothing gets my eyeballs leaking more than reading a story about people who just BELONG together. Micha and Ella BELONG together. After reading The Secret of Ella and Micha, you know there’s no doubt in this fact. Through ups and downs and healing and breaking, these two kids fall all over themselves trying to rid their lives of their painful pasts. “Forever” wraps up this book duo, making the two a whole must-read story. I can’t wait to check in with them when The Temptation of Lila and Ethan is released. [May 2013]

  • This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas

    When TV and book series come to a conclusion, you hope for a a fulfilling sendoff that leaves you happy you spent all of your time on the characters and story. (See: The Office) Unfortunately, not every series, TV and books alike, ends with a satisfactory virtual bow. (See: Seinfeld) This Man Confessed is perfection. Everything I wish for, hoped for, expected, and didn’t expect came to fruition, wrapped in a more-than-satisfactory Central Jesse Cloud Nine lace bow. The This Man Trilogy is a must-read, must-immerse-in series. [May 2013]

  • Kaleb by Nicole Edwards

    I needed to read something extra super smutty, so I bought Kaleb for its promise of just that. While I got exactly what was promised—extra super smutty m/f/m ménage—I didn’t get much else. Kaleb is the start of the Alluring Indulgence series, set in a small Texas town around a family of seven hot sex-crazed brothers. It promises to be a deliciously dirty series; I just wish there was more intensity to the relationship and sex scenes. Kaleb is a quick and dirty, great beach read. [May 2013]

  • Fire Inside: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley

    When Kristen Ashley releases a new badass alpha male book, I put all others aside and read it. To date, she’s not let me down. Though I’m rating Fire Inside 4.5/5 stars, that in no way indicates that it’s not as hot or as badass as her other books. It just seems to be a little redundant in its story and the eventual connection of Hop and Lanie. I did love how Lanie was already “in the life” yet her commentary explained the vernacular and attitudes to the reader in an effortless way. I totally recommend Fire Inside as a continuation of the Chaos story. [May 2013]

  • Wait For You by J. Lynn

    Just get this book and read it. Don’t waiver or wonder if you should or shouldn’t—just do it. You’ll come back and thank me for forcing your hand in the decision. Wait For You is a true New Adult, coming-of-age, self-discovery, sexual awakening book with a drop-dead perfect guy. Cam is exactly who you want to be as a “hero” and who you want for an emotionally distraught girl. The next books in the series will feature other characters met in this one, and I will definitely be reading those to catch up on Avery and Cam. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. [May 2013]

  • UnBeautifully by Madeline Sheehan

    I fell in hard and fast. Having already read Undeniable and liked it enough, but I wasn’t in love. I wrote in my review that it had some editing issues and I remember thinking it was a little choppy. Considering that, I thought I’d like UnBeautifully, but not love. Now I’m so happy to admit that I was blown away by this second book in the series. It’s insanely raw and haunting and at the same time lovely. (Thankfully, Madeline Sheehan published this book with the help of an editor, so I have nothing grammar-related to whine about with this book.) I cannot WAIT to read more from this series. Without a doubt, UnBeautifully is a MUST READ. [May 2013]

  • Strings by Kendall Grey

    You know how you pick up a book with certain expectations and it goes above, beyond, and over the moon exceeding those expectations? That’s what Strings is for me. I knew it was going to be dirty (hello? read the author’s synopsis), but I didn’t expect Strings to make me laugh inside and out over and over. This is not a book for everyone, especially if you’re squeamish reading extra dirty sexing. Strings is super, duper, over-the-top dirty. And that’s just one of the reasons I loved it. I fell in love/lust with Letty and Shades, but especially Letty and her hilarious, in-your-face language. I learned names for private parts, both male and female, I’d never heard before, and I thought I’d heard them all. Basically, I want to be Letty when I grow up. You GOTTA read this book. [May 2013]

  • The Submissive by Tara Sue Me

    I read this because it has been suggested to me several times by several different people, and of course, I love a good D/s-turn-love story. What starts as a book with an underlying plot line of a submissive in training, The Submissive ends up being a mystery wrapped in a love story wrapped in another love story. In all honesty, I would have loved to read more about the character development, and maybe that will come in the following books. [May 2013]

  • Damaged by H.M. Ward

    I admit I had high hopes for this indie book that’s sitting near the top of every bestseller list. I’m also a fan of a forbidden relationship story and a mystery past, so those had me hooked as well. There are so many things going for this book, and I fell in love with both main characters. I just wish there was more of an editor’s role in cleaning up the story and plot line to make sure the flow…flowed. I’ll read the next book to find out where the characters are taken, but I’m not saying this is a must-read. [May 2013]

  • Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller

    This can’t be the end of the series. No way. I won’t like hearing that there will be no more Brynne and Ethan if Raine Miller tells me I have to live on without more of this crazy-in-love couple in my future. As much as Ethan is hardcore infatuated with Brynne, she’s just as hardcore in lust with him. And if Ethan looks like my boyfriend, David Gandy, as Raine says he is, I don’t blame her. Through all of the craziness and heartbreaks in their story, these two lovebirds continue the hottest sexing on the planet, which makes for a great continuation of the series. I just HOPE this isn’t the end. [May 2013]

  • Tangled by Emma Chase

    TOP 10 OF 2013
    I’ve always wanted to know what goes through the mind of an egomaniacal playboy—except I didn’t plan on falling in love with him in one day. Having never actually been inside the mind of any playboy, egotistical or otherwise, I hope they all think just like Drew Evans. And if they’re all like Drew, those playboys are hot, rich, successful, give hilarious advice to women, and insight into the mind of men. It takes some seriously funny writing for me to actually laugh out loud while I’m reading alone, but Emma Chase made me not only laugh aloud but have to stop what I was reading to re-read what I didn’t believe I just read. Tangled is panty-dropping, outrageously funny, and overwhelmingly lovely. I finished it in nearly one sitting because I had to know more of Drew and Kate and their tit-for-tat, anti-romance story. Tangled is not a must-read; it’s a drop-everything-except-your-spare-batteries and read. [May 2013]

  • Blind Obsession by Ella Frank

    This book is probably unlike any you’ve ever read. Blind Obsession is haunting, yet sexy; tragic, yet lovely; mysterious, yet personal. It’s one dichotomy after another and left me so damn confused about how I was supposed to feel that by the time everything unfolded, I was relieved to make it to the end, yet disappointed to not continue. Normally, a tragic story doesn’t include hardcore sex, but in this book, it fits and makes this book a must-read for anyone who can handle having your emotions shattered. [May 2013]

  • Knight and Stay by Kitty French

    Being the impatient person that I am, I was desperate to get this book after reading Knight & Play so many months ago. I dove into Knight & Stay right away and had high hopes for Lucien’s masterful wicked ways. I’m definitely not disappointed by the way the story weaved and evolved. There could have definitely been more sexy wickedness—I’m greedy like that—and for what we’re given, I want to run away to Norway and hide out with Lucien for forever. A definite must-read! [May 2013]

  • Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley

    I feel like Stefon when I say this, but it’s the truth: This book has everything. Heaven and Hell is an epic story of romance, emotional tension, heat, sexy alpha males, humor, redemption, amazing locations, mystery, and super hot sex. If you’ve read other Kristen Ashley books, this is a definite must read. If you haven’t read KA books, this one is MUCH longer, much more verbose, and much more intense in terms of a detailed storyline than her others. Once you start H&H, settle in because it’s a long one but definitely one I didn’t want to end. [May 2013]

  • Take Me: One Night with Sole Regret by Olivia Cunning

    These One Night With Sole Regret books are pretty much the perfect palate cleanser for any kind of emotionally-laden book you’ve just finished. Though they are part of a series, it’s not necessary to read them in order. They’re short, dirty, sexy, and so full of lovely imagery that they are must-reads, and Take Me is no exception. And DAMN, I’ll take a night or 10 on Shade’s stage. [May 2013]

  • Restore Me by J.L. Mac

    I didn’t expect to spend the first 1/3 of the book wiping all my tears away. After waiting for what felt like years to find out what happened to Damon and how Jo was going to handle it all, I needed to know right away. But of course, so much suspense and strife and JESUSFISH hurting, left me reading straight through this way-too-short bridge of a book, linking Wreck Me to Accept Me. I will continue to not-so-patiently wait for the third and final story to reveal all of the secrets and lies and deliciously hot sex. [4/5 stars]