Review: Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster

Publish Date: September 24, 2013
Mass Market Paperback {p.448}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Love Undercover #3
Source: Publicist
Avery Mullins, Rowdy Yates

Charismatic bar owner Rowdy Yates isn't the kind of man women say no to. So when he approaches waitress Avery Mullins, he fully expects to get her number. However, the elusive beauty has her reasons for keeping her distance-including a past that might come back to haunt them both.

Avery spends her nights working for tips...and trying to forget the secret Rowdy is determined to unearth. But when history threatens to repeat itself, Avery grows to rely on Rowdy's protective presence. As the sparks between them ignite, she will be forced to choose between the security she's finally found...and the passion she's always wanted.

First off I must say, if Ms. Foster had been a little less careful, Cannon would have completely stolen the show. I absolutely loved him! I just hope he gets his own book soon.

I always enjoyed Avery in the previous book, but in this one, we had our moments. At times she just didn't seem to know when to shut up. Specifically at the family lunch. I, as the reader, knew what she was trying to do, but to Rowdy or anyone else who didn't know her story, it came across as looking really bad. She looked liked a rich, spoiled child who was using Rowdy's "bad boy" image to stick it to Mommy and Daddy. And that to me took away some of Avery shine in my eyes. Not to worry, she recovered it.

With what Avery went through, I found it difficult to accept that her mother didn't believe her. If no one else believed her, I thought a mother would. Rowdy on the other hand automatically believed her, no questions asked. Just when you think Rowdy can't possibly become more perfect, he does. Even when he and Avery had they "conflict" that every romance couple has, Rowdy never became a jerk. He was never overtly mean/rude to Avery, and then have to come back and try to win her over again after he realized his error.

As always, Alice was perfect, but Pepper was a bit of a surprise. At first it appeared as if she took an instant dislike to Avery, although she did come around in the end. I really enjoyed this book; there were some twist and turns I wasn't expecting, which is always a plus. Now I anxiously awaiting the next great installment to this series. I can hardly wait to see what's in store for Dash. Both he and Cannon managed to pique my interest; I truly want to find out more of their story.

Review: Drawn Together by Lauren Dane

Publish Date: October 1, 2013
Trade Paperback {p.290}
Genre: Erotica
Series: Brown Siblings #6
Source: Personal Library
Raven Smith, Jonah Warner

Beauty is more than skin-deep…

Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually—but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all her rules—including her no-monogamy rule.

But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

I really enjoyed this book; especially meeting all the Warner brothers. I hope they eventually get their own books, mainly Malachi. Unfortunately according to Ms. Dane's website that won't be happening, at least not anytime soon if at all.

Anyway, moving on... Raven didn't seem as bad as everyone made her out to be in the previous books. Jonah on the other hand, I never really figured out. He was likeable enough, more than likeable, but I didn't see him as the type to get a full back tattoo. I just seen him as the straight-laced lawyer type who was a little kinky in the bedroom. Plus, I didn't remember him as being that old. (Old enough to have a child heading to college.)

What I truly loved about Raven in this book is her interaction with all the Brown children and definitely her interaction with Jonah's daughter Carrie.

Raven and Jonah did seem to fall in love rather quickly and never seemed to have any kind of arguments or disagreements. That took away from the believability of the overall story. Who gets along all the time with no disagreements whatsoever? Jonah was just a bit too perfect, and not at all who I would have seen pick someone like Raven. But the two of them seem to make it work. With all the Brown siblings finished now, and no Warner siblings books on the horizon, I wonder if we'll ever see what becomes of them. I'd like to know if they have kids of their own, because Raven seems to be great with kids so it would be nice if she had some of her own.

The secondary characters were great  and at times more interesting than the lead two. From reading this one, I think I enjoyed the Warner family more than the Browns or the ladies of Delicious series. Even Jonah's grandmother was enjoyable to read. The only bad thing I can think of about this book is that it left me wanting more of these people, but this is the last installment so there is no more.

In My Mailbox {142}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Paperback Swap

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Books via Publisher

The Descent by Alma Katsu

The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton

Books via Reader Service

If You Were Mine by Bella Andre 

Merry Ex-Mas by Shelia Roberts

One Night with the Laird by Nicola Cornick

Wyoming Bold by Diana Palmer



Review: Three to Ride & Two to Love by Sophie Oak

I really enjoyed the twins, but I felt Rachel should have been honest with at least Max upfront since she claimed to be in love with them. With love should come at least some trust, but the fact that she still withheld important information made me question her love.

Other than that issue, I enjoyed this read. I'll continue the series to see what happens with the town residents. They seem like a great bunch of people.

This one, not so much. I was not able to recover any kind of like for Callie after her stunt at the biker bar. She just had a lot of TSTL moments. I never warmed up to Nate. He was not an endearing character whatsoever. The overall relationship would have been fine without him.

This menage was definitely one of those where one party is truly not needed.

In My Mailbox {141}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

 

Books via Amazon

Drawn Together by Lauren Dane

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

 

Books via Books-a-Million

Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

 

Books via Half Price Books

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

 

Books via Paperback Swap

Lords of the Were by Bianca D'Arc

Review: Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

Publish Date: September 3, 2013
Trade Paperback {p. 349}
Genre: BDSM
Source: Publicist
Makayla Delaney, Max "Torment" Huntington

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined…

Going into this book, I thought I would be reading a contemporary romance. Once I got into it, it read like a new adult novel, then turned into BDSM. So I'm still a bit confused as to how to classify the book, but I did enjoy it.

It was quite a funny read, which I was not expecting at all. When I wasn't laughing at Makayla and Max, I was upset with his very demanding ways. He was walking a very fine line of being too much to remain a likeable character. At times I thought Makayla should cut her losses and move on because he was so controlling. Most of the time, he came across as looking like a complete ass.

Both Makayla and Max suffered some pretty horrible things in their childhood, which left huge emotional scars on their adulthood. With that being said, I was left feeling that both characters could have used a lot more maturing. It seemed them were always fighting about something.

I truly enjoyed all the secondary/background characters. That is until one them, Makayla's BFF Amanda, went and dragged Makayla into something totally stupid. So by the end of the book, Amanda was the only secondary character I didn't care for. But even with that, I'm so looking forward to reading the next installment, which is Amanda's story with Jake. I loved Jake more than I hated Amanda; I loved Jake more than Makayala and Max.

Monthly Wrap Up: September 2013

 

 

1. Losing It by Cora Carmack
2. Run to You by Rachel Gibson
3. The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgans
4. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles
5. Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille
6. Because of Low by Abbi Glines
7. Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster
8. 1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber
9. All Summer Long by Susan Mallery