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Archives: Reviews

  • Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore

    Here’s where I admit that I want my own personal Trace bodyguard. Jeeesus, he’s a powerhouse of a smart, sexy man. The story is long and intricate with twists and unexpected turns that left me crying my eyeballs out during the middle third of the book. I did have some issue with the manner in which Ember and Trace spoke to one another; the conversations seemed less comfortable and more formal than real-life people talk. Aside, the love story was great and the tension was even better. [January 2013]

  • Lana by R.K. Lilley

    This should have been a full-length novel. I could have read 100 more pages about Akira and Lana’s love story and more about life in Hawaii. Though “Lana” is a novella in the Up In The Air series, it can be read as a standalone book. Highly recommend, especially for those of us who love how R.K. Lilley can weave a sordid love scene. [March 2013]

  • Kiss Me by C.C. Wood

    There should be a “There’s No Crying in CC Wood’s Books” disclaimer. As with her other novellas I’ve read, Kiss Me is a perfect distraction from the heavy, emotional, heart-wrenching books that populate romance bookshelves. Kiss Me could have easily been a longer book, made into a drawn-out Will they? Won’t they? story, but as it is as a short novella, it’s a great quickie read. [March 2013]

  • Selling Out by Amber Lin

    Selling Out is the darkest book I’ve ever read that uses humor to ease the pain felt as the revelations continue to delve into deeper darkness. Shelly is one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read. Despite, or because of, her insanely abusive history, she is a master of sarcasm and innuendo. Throughout the story, she fights for what she feels is right and makes no excuses for her actions. Selling Out is a follow-up book to Giving It Up, but it could be read as a standalone. This is not a book for the weak-hearted. I should also mention that there are so many situations that could and will trigger negative emotions and flashbacks that if you are a survivor of any kind of abuse, you should know this before starting to read it. HIGHLY recommend. [March 2013]

  • Easy by Tammara Webber

    The term “New Adult” is one I’m understanding to mean “totally hot yet not graphic,” and Easy fits this description perfectly. I love how the book mingles a message with a story of discovery. A must-read for all romance readers, especially “new adults.” [October 2012]

  • Giving It Up by Amber Lin

    Allie’s life story could be summed up as, “If things can go wrong, they will.” As much as I wanted so many good things for her, she’s so damaged that she can’t help but end up in bad situations. My heart was wrenched, my nethers were warmed, and my brain was pleading me to get a respite from all of the crap dealt at Allie. This may be why I loved this book so SO much. It’s not typical; it’s definitely not hearts and flowers. It is however, a must-read. [March 2013]

  • All the Way by Jennifer Probst

    If you like any of Jennifer Probst’s Marriage Bargain books, you’ll love All the Way. Though this is a different storyline than that of one ending or beginning in marriage like the books in the series, All the Way follows a similar pattern of conflicting feelings of love and lust. This is a great read for those of us who like a bit of romantic predictability mixed with passionate love scenes.

  • Mercy by Annabel Joseph

    So much goes on within the story of this book that it’s hard to sum it up concisely. It’s different, dark, alluring, and heart-wrenching. Admittedly, I found some parts of the domination upsetting in its humiliation, and that’s not my “thing,” but I admire how it fits with the relationship. Mercy is a definite must-read if you find BDSM compelling. [October 2012]

  • Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

    TOP 10 OF 2013
    This book has everything I want from a story: snark, sex, suspense, and more sex. But it’s not just alliteration that got my rocks off; it was how all of those things were put together into a book that was fun to read, well written, and easy to recommend. Plus, Derek has a very dirty mouth that begs to be obeyed. The only other thing I would want is for a second book as Derek and Ginger take things to the next level, and once you read this, you’ll understand what I mean. A must-read! [March 2013]

  • Always On My Mind: The Sullivans, Book 8 by Bella Andre

    Yet again, I love a Sullivan! Every single one of these books in the series is super sweet with a twist of tension and a whole lot of sexing. Lori finds a farmer, Grayson, who she can help find love while he does the same in return. All the while, they discover hot and sweaty hot bodies as the last of the eight Sullivans sibling’s book ends the series. [March 2013]

  • Unbound, The Entwined Series: #1 by Debra Hyde, et al.

    Choose Your Own Adventure SMUT?! Yes, it has happened, and it happens in Unbound. The book starts with a general conflict and backstory for the heroine, then we, the readers, get to choose from several directions in which we want to take her. They end up being novella-length stories, and of course, I chose the dirtiest option involving D/s relationship and multiple partners. I didn’t read the other stories, but the one I did read was HOLY HOT steamy. A fun read if you’re looking for something a little different. [March 2013]

  • The Dark Prince by S.L. Jennings

    There’s no way I could have gone to sleep without finishing this book after getting 2/3s of the way through. Way too much is left up in the air, left tears falling from my eyeballs, left unsaid and misunderstood. I was ruined by Dorian, but not in the good ways Gabriella was ruined (unfortunately). The Dark Prince is much more paranormal than Dark Light, which for the progression of the series, makes total sense. And when a book is in the realm of magical paranormal, anything can happen and anything makes sense. Which is why I’m going to believe that Dorian can visit my dreams and make me wake up satisfied. [March 2013]

  • My Bluegrass Baby by Molly Harper

    I had no idea what this book was about and didn’t know anything about the author, so when I read books like this with zero expectation, I’m excited to find that I love it through to the end. My Bluegrass Baby is funny, sweet, and full of sexual tension. Thank GOD this is the start to a series because I was left needing more! A definite must-read for romance lovers who love funny reads. [November 2012]

  • Dark Light by S.L. Jennings

    I love being inside of a funny girl’s head; it feels like home to me. Though I don’t have any magical powers (that I admit to), nor do I have any conflicted feelings over two hunky men, I really felt like I could relate to Gabriella. I’m not new to paranormal romance, but if you are hesitant to read a book with mystical overtones, Dark Light is a good start. I did want to slap some sense into Gabriella’s head at times, but if I were being wooed by a Ian Somerhalder lookalike, I might lose my grasp on reality, too. Great read with some seriously sexy scenes. [March 2013]

  • Leave Me Breathless by Cherrie Lynn

    This book was SO friggin hot. With lines like, “She had a feeling praying about whatever Seth Warren had in mind tonight would be sacrilegious,” I fell all over myself wanting to spend more time with this book, never wanting it to end. This is by far the best of the Ross Brothers books.

  • Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn

    Naughty, hot, secret piercing, rock star, and tattoos. What’s not to like? [May 2012]

  • Unleashed by Cherrie Lynn

    Though I asked myself, “ARE THEY EVER GOING TO BE HONEST WITH ONE ANOTHER?” way too many times, I loved the heart-string pulling and sex scenes throughout the book. [November 2012]

  • Raid by Kristen Ashley

    This book was way too short. I need more of Raid and Hanna to make me swoon, tear and love. For the first time (that I’ve read), one of Kristen Ashley’s alpha males is a bit of a kinkster, and I needed way more of that. And with lines like “‘Spread, baby.’ I didn’t hesitate. I spread.” this is a must-read book. [February 2013]

  • Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

    Definitely different from the typical happily ever after romance, but it’s a story that’s incredible to read. Murder, adultery, evil, and lust all have a place in Undeniable. A must-read. [November 2012]

  • Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

    Oy. I don’t know why, because it’s not a long book, but damn it took me forever to finish this. It took me a while to get past the excessive run-on sentences, but once I (for the most part) could ignore them, I could pay attention to the story.

    The story itself is a true romance with twists and turns and heart-break and heart-warmings. This is definitely not a smut book, but rather a modern-day romance. Taking place over a period of several years (most of the book took place over the course of a year), the story involves a lot of dialogue, both inner and between characters. If you like reading romances without cliff-hangers, this is a great book for you to read. [December 2012]

  • Disciplining the Duchess by Annabel Joseph

    Reading historical romance is normally not my thing, but because I love Annabel Joseph and her dirty mind, I had to read Disciplining the Duchess. I won’t lie – it took me a few chapters to get used to the language and formality of speech. But once I got into the story and got everyone straight, I fell in love with this couple and rooted for them to make it. Knowing Annabel Joseph is somewhat of a sadist, I didn’t feel like I could anticipate how the story would twist and turn, and thankfully, it twisted in unexpected ways. [February 2013]

  • Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

    I couldn’t help but be excited to read the follow-up to Fallen Too Far. Blaire and Rush have too much lust and love and strife and drama between them for any more things to be thrown their way. And then, MORE is tossed into their lives. Good golly, Abbi Glines. Could you give a girl a break? At least there’s the super duper hot and heavy hump-fests to get some tension released from Blaire. I love this series! And I also love that there’s no more than what needs to be included than what is necessary for the story. They’re not long books, which makes for a quick and easy, though emotional roller coaster ride, read. [February 2013]

  • Fortune by Annabel Joseph

    Finally, a smut book where the girl is neither sweet nor innocent and she doesn’t fall deeply head-over-heels in mere days. And that’s not to say that the guy isn’t a manwhore either, but at least we’re not starting from zero in the bedroom with Kat and Ryan. He sees something in Kat that he has to own, and over the course of (thankfully not days or weeks) time, he trains her into submission. [October 2012]

  • Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber

    I really loved this as the love story it was written to be. Ryan’s obsession for keeping Taryn happy and safe was palpable. There was much more sexytime detail than what was in LU1, and I was all too happy to read it. [October 2012]

  • Love Unscripted by Tina Reber

    I love the idea of a small-town girl falling for the superstar actor boy. Through many (MANY) pages of strife and conflict, I ended up loving this couple and love them even more after reading Love Unrehearsed. [May 2012]

  • Frenemies by C.C. Wood

    Just like its predecessor, Frenemies is a super hot, super quick, super good read. I highly recommend it as the quintessential beach read or if you need a quickie. [February 2013]

  • Friends With Benefits by C.C. Wood

    I seriously loved this little story. As the perfect (for lack of a better phrase) palate cleanser for reading some heavy books, Friends with Benefits is a sweet, hot, and funny novella. I finished this in one sitting and giggled out loud at several parts. Highly recommended read for when you need a quickie. [February 2013]

  • Tidal by Emily Snow

    Hardly do I ever say that a book should be longer, but I’m saying it now. Tidal should be longer or a series or a series of serials (and I hate serials). This may be classified as New Adult, but it’s totally on the dirty side of the “New” part of “Adult” for which I am grateful. I completely fell head-over-heels in love with Cooper and his Aussie accent and sand-covered tanned abs.

    …let’s pause for a moment of reflection…

    Now that we’re back from ogling Cooper, let’s all agree to read this book. It’s everything a contemporary romance book should be, except for being long enough. [February 2013]

  • Lost To You and Take This Regret by A. L. Jackson

    First, you must read Lost To You before you read Take This Regret. Though they were published out of order, now that the prologue (Lost To You) is published, it makes Regret SO much better.

    It’s not really hard to read through goosebumps but it is really hard to read through tears. Good LORD, this is an amazing love story *slash* prologue to an even more emotional follow-up book.

    I cried my damn eyeballs out of my damn face while reading both of these damn books. So much damn regret and sorrow and hurt and emotion is wrapped up in these books, it makes it hard, yet at the same time easy, to love these characters. I know that doesn’t really make sense, but my brain is so mushed up from crying all damn day from this book, I just want to say READ THESE BOOKS. But be prepared to sob uncontrollably if you have a heart.

  • Conviction by Nicole Edwards

    When you need some right and proper, down and dirty, hot and steamy, long-lasting sex scenes, read Conviction. Though the book started a bit slowly with details of the business life of the characters, it picked right up and didn’t let go until there were multiple appendages from multiple people going in places they yearned to go. Very naughty. [February 2013]