Hussy by Selena Kitt 3/5 stars

This was my first experience reading a Selena Kitt book. I have seen her titles around before but my interests have always veered in a different direction. I think what I found most intriguing about this book was the title. Hussy is about Lindsey, a teenager with an unconventional sexual appetite. The book opens with a scene that will leave readers unfamiliar with Ms. Kitt's work in a state of shock. I did insist on reading the novella in one sitting, afraid that I would be put off by the highly charged erotica. Ms. Kitt crafts an engaging story around Lindsey's sexual exploits. I enjoyed the story. I found Lindsey to be complex and well developed. Her motives were confusing in the beginning and Zach's role in the story helps to explain her actions and heal. The sex scenes in this book are not for the faint of heart. Readers who enjoy erotica will enjoy Lindsey's more intimate encounters.

Like Falling (Surfacing Series Book One) by Jaden Wilkes 4/5 stars

I started reading this book almost three weeks after receiving my ARC. The beginning seemed so confined and reserved. The middle is a little scattered and hard to follow. But the denouement is filled with this bliss that seems unreal. The ending is tense and a little unbearable, like Gone With the Wind or Fifty Shades of Grey. I realized that the story is very character driven therefore the movement of the mood of the book very closely resembles the main character.

Sarah is a Mennonite girl from a provincial town in Alberta Canada. She has spent her entire life completely sheltered by the rigid beliefs of her family. She is easily dismissed by her family and seeks solace in daydreaming. The book opens with her on her way to college. She attends a school several hundred miles away from home with her best friend, Naomi. At college she meets two men, Tyr (pronounced tear) and Adam. The rest of the story proceeds with her having to make tough decisions about which of these men she should pursue. Sarah's family is working on arranging her marriage while she is working on pursuing a life outside of her hometown, one in which she would be forced to live within the confines of strict mother and father.

Sarah's journey of self discovery leads her on a path that is sometimes difficult to read. At other times, this book is difficult to put down. I was so surprised by this book, largely because I had never heard of the author. This is an awesome story. The characters are so different from the standard romance novel stock. I tried to rationalize that maybe it was cultural and relative to the setting but honestly I do not care. I love that they make REAL mistakes. I love that their flaws are relatable. I love that the love triangle isn't this tug of war but this young woman's struggle with affection and attraction. I also like that the reader does not automatically know which man is the right one for Sarah, that we have to wait and see. And I did find the end to be very reminiscent of GWTW and FSOG. I'm glad there is a sequel but lately that has made me nervous because I've been reading really strong first efforts and mediocre to subpar second reads. I think as long as the original story arc is followed every reader will be happy with the follow up, Like Drowning.

The Lies We Tell by Elizabeth Dunk (3/5 Stars)

Australia to Americans is so exotic. We fixate on the beautiful and happy people and the mystery of the outback. I'm glad that Elizabeth Dunk has crafted this tale that avoids the stereotypical location but still lets me enjoy imagining the beautiful men (particularly Todd Lansing). I love the intricate web of lies that maneuvers the plot of this novel. Sia's struggles with her obligation to a father that refuses to love her is at times difficult to read but what makes it bearable is that the other characters address their concerns. I love that every character in this novel is purposeful. I have a growing disdain for characters that are excessive and just distractions. One of the more compelling pieces of this text is that the two main characters are dealing with the exact same problem, they are both fighting against their pasts and largely due to issues with their fathers. I love that everything about this story is tangible, the setting in the suburbs, the problems the characters face with money or relationships, the diversity of the people moving through the story. I found this story to be much more mature than so much of what I've read in the past and that's a good thing. I needed a change and this story delivers.

Frigid by J. Lynn 3/5 Stars

J. Lynn creates these unconventional love affairs in a tangible way. Some of her novels have fueled a few of my sweetest dreams. However, I found Frigid to be infuriating. The writing is the same but the basis for the storyline is unbelievable. Kyler Quinn is your male lead. He is handsome and determined. He is resourceful and sincere. He is intuitive up to the point that he cannot tell that his best friend since he was a child has harbored feelings for him. Kyler feels as strongly for her as she does for him but does not act on these feelings. This I have a hard time believing because it is not meeting with his character. Sydney is no better. Her insecurities take a toll on the patience when reading the book. She is constantly second-guessing the meaning behind what Kyler says (which I admit is typical of a 21-year old woman and a 35 year old woman). Anyway it is Sydney's insecurities that cause the most problems in their burgeoning affair. I will stop there because I do not want to spoil the book. Positive feedback: love the setting in the mountains during a snow storm. It seems cliched but this is where J. Lynn works her magic and takes a formulaic convention and still manages to add some interesting plot points. Kyler meets the requirements for sexy book boyfriend with flying colors. SWOON-WORTHY MOMENT: Wait until you find out the meaning behind his tattoo.

 

Weathering the Storm (The Storm Series) by Samantha Towle 3/5 Stars

Last summer I read The Mighty Storm and Jake Wethers became one of my favorite book boyfriends. I spent this past summer looking forward to this sequel. I began reading and quickly became entranced with Jake Wethers and the wicked web he weaves. First, let me say this: Jake in this novel is just as sexy as he is in the first novel. Still charming and completely sweet on Trudy. Now that I've shared that tidbit I need to express some concerns. This novel does not measure up to its predecessor. The Mighty Storm was about a rock star wooing a long lost love after suffering a tragedy. The courtship is always so enchanting in novels even when the characters suffer during their formulaic separation, we readers wait in angst and anticipation for the reconciliation. Unfortunately, the happily ever after is usually dull and doesn't involve as much excitement, both in real life and in this sequel. Samantha Towle does a good job of introducing some drama to Jake and Trudy's HEA to keep us engaged but the plot is not exciting. You know how you like to imagine the love life of Hollywood's most glamorous couple to be but if that couple allowed a camera crew to follow them around for 24 hours the exciting bits would be few and far in between. That's sort of what happens here. There were several points in the novel where Trudy is giving very specific details about her going about getting a drink in the kitchen or choosing an outfit. Frustrating!!! Of course you have the charming and touching components. Jake is still temperamental, endearing, possessive, and hung like an ox (lots of Jake the snake jokes). I did enjoy reading about the direction their love affair takes. I do recommend reading this novel for lovers of the first novel.

Beautiful Broken Rules by Kimberly Lauren 4.5/5 Stars Rating

The book description did not interest me. College girl sleeps around like a guy and refuses to apologize for it. Yea...that did not seem interesting. The reviews for this book however did grab my interest. I want to know why people were so goofy over another college romance. Hmmmm? So I read it and now I get it...TWINS!!!

Basic storyline: Emerson is a college junior that doesn’t want to get too involved with anyone so she establishes rules for “sleeping around”: never sleep with someone a friend has feelings for, never sleep with someone in a relationship, and never sleep with anyone more than three times. She has two best friends: Cole and Quinn. Cole has friends from Texas that are moving in with him into an apartment next door to Emerson and Quinn. Enter Jaxon. Jax is swoon worthy in a “best book boyfriend ever” kind of way. He is very much like Travis Maddox (from Beautiful Disaster) but WITHOUT all of the insecurities. He wants Emerson and recognizes from the start that he will have to work very hard to get her. Needless to say, Emerson has her reasons for her rules and Jaxon seems hell bent on ignoring these reasons, with respect of course. Rounding out this group is Jace, Jaxon’s identical and equally sexy twin. 

Emerson is my new favorite heroine. She is complex: when single, she is confident,  self-assured and able to handle other people’s negativity with a shrug of her shoulders, when attached to Jax, she struggles with all of the same insecurities that many women face. She is damaged and wants to hide behind walls and Jax challenges all of that and tears those walls down. There is a lot of angst with these two characters but I enjoyed their journey. This is just an incredible story of “finding the right one for you”.  I love the supporting characters. QUOTABLE: When Quinn catches Emerson ogling Jace, she replies “Sorry! It’s just so hard. I mean he’s my boyfriend’s identical twin. Obviously I like this brand.” Too funny!

 I am so happy I read this NA romance and hope to see more from Kimberly Lauren. 

Lick: Stage Dive Book 1 by Kylie Scott 3.5/5 Stars

Sexy rock star. Curvy heroine. Campy storyline. Oh, and a sexy rock star. This is one for those who like it a little sappy but not too much. Like switching from glucose to saccharine. 

Evelyn wakes up on a bathroom floor in Vegas, after a little hard partying for her 21st birthday, next to a half-naked man that she does not remember marrying. This man turns out to be the lead singer of Stage Dive, a popular rock band. Evelyn freaks out and runs away only to find herself front page news and seeking solace with her new husband. The campy part of the story ends there and the rest is formulaic but still entertaining. All of the fun elements of New Adult romance that readers enjoy.

David Ferris is the emotionally damaged rock star who married a girl that was different from all of the other girls he entertains. He is hot and has hot bandmates who are whimsical and sensitive. Malcolm is the lovable bandmate that welcomes Evelyn into David’s world in a “yanking your balls” kind of way. Readers will enjoy his comments. David on the other hand is all lust and desire. His bedroom antics are creative. SWOON-WORTHY COMMENT: “Topless Cuddles!”Yummy! 

Evelyn is not the stereotypical hot chick that is clueless as to how hot she is. She is curvy in a way that garners some negative feedback. She gets picked on because of her curves. What makes her worth reading is how she handles the comments. Her asides are hilarious. Both characters have past demons they are trying to overcome and this does get in the way of their relationship but not with all of the angst that is typical of NA romance.  

Lick (such a great name for a book) is an entertaining and quick read. I do recommend this one but I did find a few of the sex scenes to be stale. I am looking forward to the next book.

Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski Book #1 In the Company of Killers Series 4/5 Stars Rating

J.A. Redmerski writes these unconventional romances that take a drastic detour from the formulaic protocol of the run of the mill romances. The books come across as character studies, the readers discover how the two main characters grow and change from their introductions and interactions with one another. The first book I read from this author was The Edge of Never. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted more. Amazon alerted me to the publication of Killing Sarai and I jumped at the opportunity to read about Victor and Sarai.

Sarai is an American girl that has been held hostage in a Mexican drug lord’s compound since she was 14. Victor is an assassin hired by the drug lord to kill a rival kingpin. When he leaves, Sarai escapes with him. The story proceeds with a road trip from Mexico to Los Angeles. The road trip storyline is a motif in Redmerski’s novels and it adds to the development of the romantic storyline. The characters in her novels face dangers/conflicts in different settings and usually find themselves narrowly escaping the threat.

I liked that Ms. Redmerski does not try to write Victor as a “killer with a heart of gold”; he is emotionally detached and makes calculated decisions that serve his interests. Sarai’s survival is not reliant or reflective of Victor’s affections; she lives because it serves a purpose. The story toggles between the two main characters point of view so the reader understands how Victor sees Sarai as “beautiful but defeated and damaged…a ticking time bomb, a danger to herself and very possibly to others.” He recognizes that while his demeanor is a reflection of years of discipline, Sarai harbors rage under a carefully crafted façade. Their coming together seems doomed from the start, but the reader will want to see what happens.

I will probably read this book again and I know that I will be eagerly looking forward to the sequel.

 

Savor You by Emily Snow Book #1 in the Savor Us Series 3.5/5 Stars Rating

I was looking forward to Kylie and Wyatt’s story after reading Devoured with Sienna and Lucas. Emily Snow’s character struggles and relationship angst in her novels is captivating. They are fun to read because the reader gets lost in the whirlwind of who’s right and who’s wrong. The fact that she uses rock stars helps with imagining the sexy hero who has to capture the heart of a strong-willed heroine.

In Savor You I did not get as lost in the story as I feel that I should have. This story has an endearing premise. There are two characters that have been going back and forth with one another for years. They have beaten themselves up over their want and desire to be together but never finding the courage to really be together. The theme of the book is the old cliché ‘relationships are hard’. However, the focus of the book is around how Kylie and Wyatt have never been able to get past the hard part. I think this is part of the reason why I am not as enamored with this book as I want to be. The main characters are weak; they are mental midgets. Of course, this revelation conflicts with the development of these two characters in the novel as a whole. They both come across as strong-willed and rebellious but in truth they are incapable of dealing with the difficulties of life in a mature way.

It took quite some time to get through with reading this book. I do feel that the storyline is strong and the author incorporates the supporting characters from the Devoured series very well. There is a nice mingling of the two storylines but I wanted more from Kylie. I was pleasantly surprised with the few twists that were integrated into the story and I think readers will enjoy that much.  

Facade by Nyrae Dawn Book Two in the Games Series 4/5 Stars Rating

I read book one and felt it was a good story. I liked Colt and Cheyenne’s story. Ms. Dawn does an excellent job of making her supporting characters interesting to her readers so that we will want to read about their stories in the subsequent books. Adrian Westfall is the focus of Facade. Adrian is Colt’s pothead former roommate. Adrian is struggling with demons that haunt him from the loss of a close relative. Delaney and her brother Maddox move to Brenton to find Adrian. She is also haunted by demons and believes that if she talks to Adrian about how their pasts are connected she can somehow heal the both of them. Throughout the story the reader can see the significance of the title in the way that the characters wear masks. Adrian and Delaney reluctantly move away from their emotional detachment into a relationship with each other that forces them to remove the their masks.

Facade is a beautiful story. The characters are well-developed and the plot has enough twists to avoid being cliched. I like the imperfect way that Delaney and Adrian come together. Adrian is emotionally damaged and seeks solace in smoking marijuana. He discovers a new addiction in Delaney. Delaney allows her guilt to overwhelm her and she succumbs to Adrian’s advances because of it. Ms. Dawn creates a very flawed relationship for Adrian and Delaney. When the two question the imperfect nature of their union they seek the advice of the other characters. Colt provides Adrian with guidance on how to pursue a meaningful relationship after spending years avoided one. There are some trite romance elements incorporated that prolong the novel. All in all, this is a lovely romance. Ms. Dawn leaves the reader with a clear indication that Maddox's story will be the next in the series for the novel Masquerade. The book ends with an excerpt from the next novel. I am looking forward to reading about Maddox and Bee.

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken The Eagle Elite Series 3/5 stars rating

I enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of the mafia storyline and the private college designated for the nation’s elite. I winced through the angst between the leads as they struggled with their burgeoning love. I enjoyed this book. The story revolves around Trace’s acceptance to an exclusive college her freshman year. She enters the school and meets the class president, Nixon, and his entourage who give her a rude awakening. She later discovers truths about her new school. the students that attend the school, and her family history. Her discoveries lead her to see how all of these things are connected and that she is more important that she could ever know. This New Adult novel has a great storyline and I am looking forward to the sequel.

With that said, I must admit that there were several aspects that were a distraction. There were quite a few plot holes and inconsistencies in the plot that I kept questioning. I realize that this is a series (not sure yet if it will be two books or three) but so much of the introduction of Trace to the school is unclear as the story progresses. I felt as though the college came across more as a high school and I had a hard time with this component. If reading, I recommend looking past the fastidious details and enjoying a creative story about the rediscovery of love.

Friday Night Alibi by Cassie Mae

I feel like this title falls under the YA category. The characters are still in high school and the romance in very PG. There is a silliness to Chase and Kelli’s interactions, it is cute. I found myself smiling at their text messages and pranks on one another. They live in a very affluent, Christian community in the South and you do see a lot of those values permeating throughout their interactions. Chase is the ideal book boyfriend that I want for my imaginary teenage daughter. I love that his ears turn red when Kelli asks him to play the violin for her. I identified too easily with Kelli’s preference for being a homebody. This is a quick read and I do recommend it for younger readers. 13+

Complete Me by J. Kenner 4/5 Stars Rating

I was so excited for the final installment in this series. I was thrilled to receive an ARC and discuss the happily ever after of Damien and Nikki. I was happy with where the couple ended in the novel but not so thrilled about the journey going there. Normally, this would never be a complaint for me but there was SO MUCH sex. The sex scenes in this book became a distraction. I went back through my notes and saw that I stopped in the middle of three difference scenes. There were points where the “loving” was dialed down and I got to enjoy the plot, because there is a really good storyline that details Damien’s background. Readers of the series will enjoy this installment. The first two books really drew me and had me looking forward to how Damien and Nikki end up. I love that there were a few surprises with some of the characters so it was nice to not get stuck having to endure a trite storyline. Damien is more tangible in this novel. He shifts from the mysterious and detached man of power and becomes a man in love. Although he does not directly state his love for Nikki, he is constantly finding creative ways to tell (and show) her how much she means to him. Nikki works toward declaring her independence although it is made clear throughout the story that she is dependent emotionally on Damien. I love that we get to enjoy two people struggling through a difficult relationship and pushing to remain together instead of the angst and separation that you get with many of the New Adult novels. Redundant and abundant sex scenes aside, Ms. Kenner does a wonderful job wrapping up her series. 

At Peace by Kristen Ashley 5/5 Stars Rating

I discovered Kristen Ashley over a year ago. She possesses a genuine talent for creating the ultimate book hero. Joe Callahan in At Peace is the epitome of the KA book hero. He is a large, intimidating, sexy as sin alpha male. I love the honesty with which he confronts the heroine, Violet. He blatantly tells her that he will “piss her off” and make her want to leave which she will do but he’ll “wait for her to come back.” I admit that I put off reading this title for several months because every time Joe Callahan appeared in one of KA’s other novels he was too intimidating, I just could not believe that I would find him sexy. I was terribly mistaken. Joe is sexy. He challenges Violet. He pushes her to move past her inhibitions and see that her life can be good again after the loss of her husband. MOST SWOON-WORTHY MOMENT: when he takes away the couch cushions to lay down and watch television with Violet and her daughter. It just might be the fantasy of a very strong-willed female but I find these qualities of Joe to be the most frustrating and enticing. He is truly intelligent, fiercely protective, and sexually insatiable. For these reasons and so many more, I have proclaimed Joe Callahan the BEST BOOK HUSBAND EVER! 

The storyline of At Peace is fitting for Joe and Violet’s love affair. Violet is a widow that moves next door to the elusive Joe Callahan. When Violet catches Joe’s eye one evening things between them happen quickly and he becomes engrossed in the drama that is her life. Joe struggles with his burgeoning involvement and teeters between stepping in to save Violet and her two daughters and remaining elusive. There is of course a love triangle that factors into Joe’s pursuit of Violet that makes the story much more interesting. Fans of Kristen Ashley’s other novels get to enjoy updates on characters from her other series. Ms. Ashley weaves these characters into the story seamlessly so their presence is not a distraction. Anything more I say at this point will be redundant, but I need to be clear. I love this book, maybe Joe more than anything else. I recommend readers new to Kristen Ashley to read At Peace. I recommend Romance enthusiasts to read At Peace. I recommend readers everywhere to read At Peace.