Review: Never Too Far by Abbi Glines

 

Publish Date: February 25, 2013 
Kindle {p.193}
Genre: New Adult
Series: Rosemary Beach #2
Source: Personal Library
Blaire Wynn, Rush Finley

Just when Blaire allowed herself to fall for her stepbrother, Rush, he revealed a life-altering secret so devastating that she couldn't forgive him. Unable to face him again, Blaire leaves the promise of true love behind in Rosemary Beach and returns to the comforts of her small town in Alabama, wanting nothing more than to put the summer behind her.

But unexpected news complicates Blaire’s plans, and she’s forced to trust the one man she shouldn’t. Trapped between Rush’s fierce desire to win her back and her own sense of self-preservation, Blaire doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing . . . or if she’s making the biggest mistake of her life.

This was just a continuation of the previous book, with all the characters pretty much the same with no growth. The only character I felt that changed was Grant, and not for the better. Grant, Rush's brother, seemed to all of a sudden be Team Nan. Nan of course, was still her mean, hateful self when it came to Blaire. To me, all that should have been directed toward her so-called father.

I wanted to give Blaire's ex-boyfriend Cain a chance and like him, but he never made it possible. I just wanted to punch him in his face throughout his stint in this book.

Woods stepped up and took on the role of caregiver and protector of Blaire when it seemed that Rush couldn't or wouldn't. Rush insisted on proving to Blaire that he was going to put her before his sister and mother, but at times he did not. Some of it was understandable, but at other times, it was not. So he lost some points with me for that, and I wasn't his biggest fan to begin with.

Overall I still enjoyed this installment very much.

Review: Fallen Too Far by Abbli Glines

Publish Date: December 14, 2012
Kindle {p.300}
Genre: New Adult
Series: Rosemary Beach #1
Source: Personal Library
Blaire Wynn, Rush Finley

To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.

Rush, Rush, Rush. I was stumped as to how the author was going to turn this character around. He started out as this womanizer with no morals, so I didn't know how he could be leading man material. I found that I was more into the characters Grant, Rush's brother, and Woods, the country club playboy. You could see Rush's struggle with his attraction to Blaire.

I don't know how she did it, but I fell in love with this book and its screwed up characters. I'm still screaming, "Why Rush, why!?! Why didn't you say something before?"

All that classist behavior that was oh so prevalent at the country club, felt reminiscent of Kellermans, the country club from Dirty Dancing. These little country club snobs really grated on my nerves.

Blaire father was an complete deadbeat. Hated him before he showed up, and still hated him after. I don't know how you spend you life with someone you claim to love and have children with and can't even be bothered to attend their funeral, or extend condolences to your child for their loss. I don't care if they were divorced at the time of his ex-wife's death, they still had a daughter who was terribly in need of a parent having just lost her mother. There was no redeeming him to me. The thing I couldn't understand, is why ANYONE would want him after that.

The only person I may hate more than Abe, Blaire's father, is Nan, Rush's sister. Although Rush's mother Georgiana is giving Nan a run for her money in that race. Blaire is a bigger person than I there at the end with Nan, 'cause I would have did it.

Best believe, I will be continuing on with this series. I have to see who the lucky lady is that will capture my love interest, Woods.

Review: Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane

Publish Date: March 25, 2014
Kindle {p.293}
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Peyton Mayfield, Reed Langston

Even after years of trauma therapy, Peyton still believes she’s broken. She has little desire to date or show off her natural beauty, content simply to hang out with her best friends and run her pie shop in New Orleans. But her world turns upside-down when a handsome architect and self-confessed player shows up in her shop and thinks she’s perfect, much more than the usual hook-up.

While Peyton does her best to resist his charms, believing she could never be enough for him, she can’t deny the obvious heat between them. With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own -- a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured. But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.

The story seemed to start a bit slow for me, and took some time to get into. It took some time for me to warm up to both Peyton and Reed. But the secondary characters, Dr. Lorraine, Quinn and her boyfriend Bret, were hits with me from the start. It's not that I disliked Reed and Peyton, I just felt that the time it took for her to finally agree to go out with him dragged on too long. But once they did get together, that's when the story came alive.

Peyton truly seemed to blossom into this great person when she got with Reed. I'm sure she had always been that person, just suppressed it until Reed came along and revived it. Together they seemed to bring out the best in one another. He helped her to trust, and to live again, where as before she was just merely existing.

On another note however, it sadden me to see what became of Peyton's twenty year friendship with Quinn's brother became by the end. I'm still on the fence about how feel about that whole ordeal.

The only time I ever had an issue with Reed was when he made his final break from his friend-with-benefits, Heather. Yes, she was a horrible person, but I just couldn't get behind the way he spoke to her. His vulgarity and blackmailing of her was too much like something his father would do. And Peyton's reaction to Reed not telling her about his father's past seemed to be more of an over reaction. It wasn't something Reed had done, but something his father had done. Plus, Peyton already knew that there was something off with Reed's relationship with his father, she just didn't have the full story.

The ending felt somewhat rushed, but overall, I enjoyed the story. Everything was neatly tied up some years down the road in the epilogue, but one thing I would have liked to seen in said epilogue was more about Quinn's brother. Other than that, it was definitely worth the read.

Review: Dash of Peril by Lori Foster

Publish Date: March 25, 2014
Kindle{p.384}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: NetGalley
Series: Love Undercover #4

Margaret Peterson, Dashiel Riske

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6'4" of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

This book was extremely difficult for me to get into. I just never felt any connection whatsoever with Margo or Dash. Which is sad, because I liked Dash in the previous installments to the series. He was laid-back and fun-loving, but in this one, not so much. Dash seem to become a totally different character than before.

The story line failed to hold my interest. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood, or if just gotten tired of it from the previous installments.

Margo's relationship with her family was the most interesting aspect of the story. Her family was just plain cold toward on another. I'm not sure if the coldness of Margo's family rubbed off on her and that's the reason I never felt a love connection between her and Dash or what. I just couldn't get behind them as a couple. It felt like they were the odd men out, so they just got thrown together.

Cannon was major character in this one as well, so I'm guessing his story will be next. The bits of what I say of him in this one suggests that it should be a good read.

Review: Come Home to Me by Brenda Novak

Publish Date: March 25, 2014
Kindle {p.416}
Genre: Romance
Series: Whiskey Creek #6
Source: NetGalley
Presley Christensen, Aaron Amos

Home is where her heart is...

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the closest thing to home she ever knew the town where she can be with the sister who's her only family.

There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Placerville to open a branch of the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can't fall back into his arms or his bed. She's come too far to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding a secret she'll do anything to protect.

I lost all respect for Cheyenne in this installment of the series. Which is sad, because her book was my favorite of the series. The plotting she was doing behind her husband's back was unacceptable. Sure, she thought it was for a good cause, but it was not the way to handle it. It was downright deceptive and manipulative. What she was doing was grounds for a divorce in my opinion because how can you stay married to someone who's that conniving and you can't trust? I just couldn't bring myself to get past all the lying to truly enjoy this book.

Presley and Aaron never seemed able to get it together. Of course at the very end, Aaron finally has it all figured out. There was no chemistry with Presley and Riley, but she and Aaron just seemed to incompatible outside of the bedroom. I still feel that the core group of friends are so hard up to find that special someone that they latch onto anyone. Riley never cared or noticed Presley before, when she needed someone the most, but now all of a sudden he's truly serious and in love with her? Doubtful.

In the end, I just never really felt any love connection between Presley and Aaron. He was just jealous all the time whenever she was with Riley, but jealousy doesn't equal love.

Review: Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti

Publish Date: July 2, 2013
Kindle {p.384}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Sin Brothers #1
Source: Personal Library
Josie Dean, Shane Dean

His Secrets Can Destroy Her

From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.

Her Love Can Save Him

Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret?

The premise of this book is what drew me to it. Once I got started with it, I guess it fell a bit short of what I expected.

I found myself getting irritated with Josie a lot throughout the book. She kept professing how she could take care of herself and didn't need anyone, but a lot of the messes both she and Shane were in, was because of her. Most of the sticky situations could have been avoided had she just listened. Those reasons along made the story less enjoyable for me.

On the other hand, I loved Shane and his brothers, Nate and Matt. I will more than likely continue the series at some point, just to check in with the brothers. Hopefully, their female counterparts will be more likeable than Josie.

Review: Whiteout & Rescued by Laura Harner

The immediate sex had by these three I didn't find very believable. There didn't seem to be any working up to it. They'd had a crush on Christina for years and then all of sudden they finally work up the nerve to act during a snowstorm?

The whole rapid progression of Cade and Carter's feelings for one another was also unrealistic. I'm not sure if I overlooked what finally got them to act on their feelings or if the author never addressed it. Either why, it was way too quickly. I didn't feel the chemistry or any kind of connection with these three.

I really enjoyed this one from the start. The chemistry between the three of them was immediately felt. The overall story was deeper than sex just for the sake of sex, which is always a plus. I only wish the story was longer so that it would have allowed for their relationship to fully develop.

I did think that Elizabeth seemed to get of her abuse rather quickly, which threw some wrenches into the overall believability of the story. Other than that, this is a good read for those looking for a bi-ménage.

Review: Take Me Home for Christmas by Brenda Novak

Publish Date: October 29, 2013
Kindle {p. 400}
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Whiskey Creek #5
Source: Publicist
Sophia DeBussi, Ted Dixon

Christmas is a time for remembering….

Too bad all memories aren't pleasant. Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town's Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned.

But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive. So when he goes missing, she secretly hopes he'll never come back—until she learns that he died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm. Not only has he left Sophia penniless, he's left her to face all the townspeople he cheated….

Sophia is reduced to looking for any kind of work to pay the bills and support her daughter. With no other options, she becomes housekeeper for none other than Ted, now a successful suspense writer. He can't bring himself to turn his back on her, not at Christmas, but he refuses to get emotionally involved. He learned his lesson the last time.

Or will the season of love and forgiveness give them both another chance at happiness?

First, I'd like to start with how much I HATED Chief Stacy! He's the reason there are vulgar songs about the police. I never really liked him when he was first came on the scene trying to date Callie, but now he's totally out of control.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I really loved this installment. I've always rooted for Sophia and not really liked Ted because he was always a jerk toward her. I know she broke his heart and all, but fourteen years and he still couldn't manage a polite "hello"? I'm not suggesting they had to be BFFs but he didn't have to always go out of his way to be a jerk.

You can never judge/envy someone's life on the outside looking in, and Sophia was a true example of that. Everyone envied her money and beauty, but her life/marriage was a living nightmare. When it all unraveled, that's when the real Sophia emerged. She was such a well written character that you couldn't help but to want to get her happy ending. For a while there it seemed as if Ted was going to screw that up.

Eve, Ted's BFF and Sophia new-found friend, always seems to go after men who don't want her. And she falls so quickly "in love" with them that I don't believe she knows what love is. I feel that she's just hearing her clock ticking and jumps on anything with a pulse and calls it love. She's not mean or vindictive, so that's what's keeping her likeable, but I hope she matures a bit more when it comes to men because I truly do want to see her find the happiness that all friends have.

As for the citizens of Whiskey Creek, I'm appalled. The way that they treated not only Sophia, but her daughter!?! Granted they were upset about being swindled, but to treat a child so horribly for the sins of the father? Not cool. Even when they seen first hand that Sophia and Lexie had nothing left, the townspeople still wouldn't let them have peace. And the town pastor was among the ringleaders! I'm not sure if the people of Whiskey Creek will ever be redeemable to me.

With that being said, I still love the core group of friends that the books are based around, just not the background townspeople anymore. I look forward to continuing the series, but the two stories I'm most looking forward to are Eve's and Kyle's. I look forward to seeing who those two find happiness with.

Review: The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

Publish Date: October 29, 2013
Kindle {p. 448}
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Blue Heron #2
Source: Publisher
Honor Holland, Tom Barlow

Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there…or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done.

Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….

I hated Honor's BFF Dana on sight. This even before it came to light what a total B she was. It was just something about her I just didn't trust.

I wanted to like Tom, but is love affair with booze wouldn't let me. Sure he had his great moments, but that didn't manage to be enough for me to turn a blind eye to his drinking. I know he was going through some things with his "unofficial stepson" but that still wasn't reason enough to excuse his behavior. I did sympathize with what he was going through, but I couldn't justify his behavior.

I wanted better for Honor than Tom. I felt she need a man that was stronger than the man Tom was. Not stronger physically, but stronger emotionally. He came through in the end, but I didn't love him like I loved Levi or my all-time favorite Higgins hero Callahan.

Honor's relationship with her "friend" she sometimes sleeps with, was just odd all around. He didn't really seem to treat her any differently than if she was just one of the guys, only he was sleeping with her. I found it very hard to believe that she went along/put up with this for so many years. Honor is the workaholic, intimidating one of the family, but when it came to Brogan, she had no backbone. Even after everything came out. That lost her some points as well.

I am curious to see who will star in the next installment of this series, Honor's brother of her nephew. Although this isn't my favorite Higgins novel, it's still worth a read.

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.

Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Publish Date: October 1, 2013
Kindle {p. 288}
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Wild Cards #1
Source: Publisher
Ashtyn Parker, Derek Fitzpatrick

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

I truly enjoyed the dynamic between Ashtyn and Derek. As always, the tone the author sets seems to be right on point with the youthful voice. It's just something about her books that suck you in. After reading the advanced copy, I can honestly say I don't regret pre-ordering this book back in June.

The story starts off very quickly, but not so quickly that you get lost. The two meet within the first couple of chapters and sparks immediately start to fly. As with every teenaged boy, Derek has his jerk moments, but they're not enough to make him off putting. I however cannot say the same about Ashtyn's boyfriend Landon. He, on the other hand, I hated on first sight.

The premise of the girl football player reminded me of Catching Jordan, but the only thing these two books had in common was a girl football player. Since this book takes place over the summer, Ashtyn's interaction with her teammates was all off the field. There was very little actual football playing.

Ashtyn family was a whole other story in and of itself. I never really ever understood what her dad's problem was. Yes, the author addresses it, but I still found her dad lacking. Her sister's story I don't recall being explained at all, but she wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. The other secondary characters weren't all that interesting either beyond Derek's grandmother and his little brother Julian.

All in all I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the next book in this series, and I'm hoping it's just as great.

Review: Run to You by Rachel Gibson

Publish Date: September 24, 2013
Kindle {p. 384}
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Lovett, Texas #4
Source: Publisher
Estella Immaculata Leon-Hollowell, Beau Junger

Rachel Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Me, returns to Texas for the second of her Military Men series, with the tale of what happens when a tough guy meets his match--and falls harder than a ton of red-hot bricks. . .

From Rachel Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Me, comes her latest sexy contemporary novel, featuring a hot Navy SEAL and a woman on the run

The story was too fast-paced to form any real connection with the characters. Both Stella and Beau felt like very flat, one-dimensional characters that didn't have any depth.

Stella and Beau had a very short timeframe of knowing each other, but ended up falling in love with each other. No, that's not unheard of, but them falling in love in the amount of time it takes one to drive from Florida to Texas is a bit of a stretch. And by the end, they're talking marriage when they haven't even been on a single date.

I truly wanted to like this book, but other than a few entertaining moments between Beau and his brother Blake, and Beau and his flashbang, I just wasn't feeling it. Which is disappointing because I loved her Writer Friends series.

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Publish Date: October 15, 2012
Kindle {p. 204}
Genre: New Adult
Series: Losing It #1
Source: Personal Library
Bliss Edwards, Garrick Taylor

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, Bliss Edwards decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible - a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

The premise seemed somewhat immature in the fact that Bliss was willing to sleep with some random guy just to lose her virginity. The fact that she didn't follow through with this ridiculous plan, saves the story.

The interactions and conversations between Garrick and Bliss were at times hilarious. I really enjoyed them together as a couple. Their story was straightforward without all the drama and conflict, which is a plus in my opinion, which I know some readers prefer the conflict to make the story more believable. Losing It didn't need all the conflict and drama to be believable or enjoyable, it was both without all of that. Although at times Garrick did come across as being too perfect.

The storyline moved along at a quick pace, that kept me involved with the characters and invested in their outcomes. The ending was a bit abrupt, but the epilogue helped that somewhat.

Review: Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi

Publish Date: August 27, 2013
Kindle {p. 432}
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Dorothy Jarrow, Scott Sanderson

Meet Dorothy Jarrow: devotedly unsexy librarian

Buttoned-up book lover DJ is all sensible shoes, drab skirts and studious glasses. After an ill-advised spring-break-fueled fling left her mortified, she's committed to her prim and proper look. When she's hired by a rural library in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, she finally has the lifestyle to match-and she can't wait to get her admin on.

But it's clear from day one that the small-town library is more interested in circulating rumors than books. DJ has to organize her unloved library, win over oddball employees and avoid her flamboyant landlady's attempts to set her up with the town pharmacist. Especially that last part-because it turns out handsome Scott Sanderson is her old vacation fling! She is not sure whether to be relieved or offended when he doesn't seem to recognize her. But with every meeting, DJ finds herself secretly wondering what it would be like to take off her glasses, unpin her bun and reveal the inner vixen she's been hiding from everyone-including herself.

The premise of the book is what drew me in. It sounded like such a fun read, but sadly it was not. It had some great moments, but they were few and far between with a whole lot of dull for the in-between. Most of the book I ended up skimming. I enjoyed DJ and Scott and all the townspeople, but it was a bit too bland.

The story took entirely to long to get off the ground. Scott and DJ had very little interaction in the start. When the did start to interact, the book was almost over. And the ending was horrendous. It was so abrupt that I literally was scrolling back pages (I read this on my iPad) to make sure I hadn't skipped any pages. I figured maybe the digital arc accidently omitted the end pages, but no that's just how the book ends. I must say, it was a good way to go out.

Maybe if the book had spent more time on the relationship building of DJ and Scott and less of the townspeople, I would have enjoyed it more. But with the way it ended, Love Overdue lost even more points with me.

Review: Hotshot by Julie Garwood

Publish Date: August 6, 2013
Kindle {p. 368}
Genre: Suspense
Source: Publisher
Peyton Lockhart, Finn McBain

Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishop’s Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit—only then will they own it.

A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.

There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton’s contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn’t inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.

It’s soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her—until she’s nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again. Julie’s previous two titles, The Ideal Man and Sweet Talk, both debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

I loved Finn and Peyton from the very beginning. I thought they had a very sweet relationship when they were children, and I was eager to see how it progressed once they became adults. The relationship between Peyton and Finn was the major draw that kept me going with this one.

The overall romance side of the novel was it's shinning glory. I loved the interaction not only between Finn and Peyton, but that of her sister Lucy and Christopher. Although as a reader, I wish we could gotten to know Christopher a little better. The fight/arguing those two did the majority of the time they were together was fun to watch.

Now on the side of the suspense, it was all that suspenseful. It didn't really add anything to the story other than a need for Peyton to call on Finn. The whole situation with Peyton and her previous employer and that of her cousin Debi, just seemed ridiculous. Debi should have never been allowed anywhere near the business no matter how much of a tantrum she threw. And her ex-employer was just plan stupid.

I love Julie Garwood's contemporary novels, but this one wasn't one of my favorites. I loved it for Peyton and Finn, and they will rank among some of my favorite Garwood couples, but the suspense storyline feel short for me.

Review: The Submissive by Tara Sue Me



Publish Date: February 7, 2013
Kindle {p. 304}
Genre: BDSM, Erotica
Source: NetGalley
Abby King, Nathaniel West

Abby King has a secret fantasy.

New York knows Nathaniel West as the brilliant and handsome CEO of West Industries, but Abby knows he’s more: a sexy and skilled dominant who is looking for a new submissive. Yearning to experience a world of pleasure beyond her simple life as a librarian, Abby offers herself to Nathaniel, to fulfill her most hidden desires.

After only one weekend with the Master, Abby knows she needs more, and fully submits to Nathaniel’s terms. But despite the pleasure he takes in Abby’s willing spirit, the Nathaniel hidden behind the rules remains cold and distant.

As Abby falls deeper into his tantalizing world of power and passion, she fears that Nathaniel’s heart may be beyond her reach—and that her own might be beyond saving…

To me The Submissive is a better written version of 50 Shades. People rave about that book, I however never finished it because the writing was just that bad. So I like to think this was what E.L. was trying to get across to her readers.

Abigail wanted to be submissive, but only to Nathaniel. To me their relationship was a bit cold and clinical, but that could just be the way D/s relationships are. He showed her no affection or warmth but he was always saying how it was his responsibility to take care of her. To me that would entail her emotional care as well.

He does come around in the end so that helped. Even though he was cold and detached, I never disliked him. I never felt that that he humiliated her any way. They had some very hot times, as well as some times that I wouldn't go for, but to each their own.

As far as the secondary characters go, I didn't care for Abby's BFF Felicia. she seemed very annoying. Scenes with her I tended to want to skip over them. But other than that, I enjoyed the read once I removed myself from the characters and just read it like I was on the outside watching instead of being a part of the characters living it.

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Kindle {p. 416}
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Ellie O'Neill, Graham Larkin

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

I was immediately drawn into this story. Graham was a hit for me throughout. I felt bad for him, even though he was a big-time movie star, he seemed to lead a very solitary life.

At first I was a bit confused as to why they continued to emailing each other. Only because I found myself wondering what teenagers still use email as a form of communication when things like text and IM exist. Sure, adults emailing is believable but teenagers, not likely. But once I set that aside, I truly enjoyed their email exchange.

At times I would get annoyed with Ellie and her behavior, but then at others I felt bad for her as well. The secret that her mother was making her keep was entirely wrong on her mother's part. That is such a heavy burden to lay on a child at an early age.

I did feel that the ending was a letdown. It provided no closure and was rather abrupt. I would have liked to see some of the loose ends tied up, not only with Ellie and Graham's relationship, but the relationship of Ellie and her dad. But other than that, it was a great, light read.

Review: Resisting Her by Kendall Ryan

Publish Date: April 15, 2013
Kindle {p. 292}
Genre: New Adult
Source: Personal Library
Savannah, Cole Fletcher

Agent Cole Fletcher lives for his job at the FBI, and he’s more than ready for his next assignment—raiding a cult compound and putting their leader behind bars. But he isn’t prepared for Savannah and her knock you on your ass good looks. At nineteen, she’s too old for foster care and too damaged to live on her own. With nowhere else to go, and against his better judgment Cole takes her in.

But helping her out won’t be easy. He comforts her through screaming nightmares and escaping the lingering fears of her past, but that’s the easy part. Her preference to sleep cuddled up next to his warm body, and her desire to please him in every way makes her harder and harder to resist.

Cole seems to have an instant attraction to Savannah when he first rescues her from a cult. He feels she's to young for him so he does everything he can to stay away from her on a level other than friendship. They chemistry between them wouldn't allow for just friendship.

Savannah, growing up in a cult, was somewhat sheltered and naïve about some things, so a lot of her first experiences were with Cole. He tried to do right by her in a sense of not wanting to get involved with her because of their FBI rescuer relationship. But eventually he gave up the fight of resisting her and fell in love with her.

These two had some very hot love scenes, but beyond that, the author really developed these two as people beyond the bedroom. Cole had baggage to deal with and Savannah had a past that came looking for her. Even the secondary characters were well developed and left me wanting to get to know more about them; Cole's sister and his best friend, to name a few.

Review: Rush by Maya Banks

Publish Date: February 5, 2013
Kindle {p. 396}
Genre: Erotica, BDSM
Series: Breathless #1
Source: Personal Library
Mia Crestwell, Gabe Hamilton

Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

The book took a while for me to warm up to, mostly because I don't really care for the whole domination to the point of humilation. I got that type of feel from the way Gabe behaved at times. He did some really crappy things that made me dislike him.

Mia chose to go along with it, so I can't fault Gabe entirely. I didn't feel there was a true love connection between Gabe and Mia. More like a crush on Mia's part and ownership on Gabe's. Some of the things he had her doing made me wonder how he could truly love her and treat her that way.

Review: Kinky Neighbors by Jasmine Haynes

 

Kinky Neighbors
Jasmine Haynes
Publisher: Jasmine Haynes
Publish Date: April 8, 2011
Kindle {p.128}
Source: Personal Library
Genre: Erotica, Menage
Alexis Hart, Cat Mitchell, Drew Mitchell, Logan Hart
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Two couples, two very hot wives, two husbands who don't mind a little swapping...

The Mitchells and the Harts have been next door neighbors and friends for the past year. They have loads in common; double incomes, professional careers, no kids...and a kinky streak.

Now they're about to become very good friends...with kinky benefits.

The sex between them all is hot, naughty, and unbearably exciting. It isn't merely swapping partners and moving to another room; it's true foursome sex, same room, same bed, all four involved. For Drew and Cat Mitchell and Logan and Alexis Hart, it's about barreling through boundaries none of them have ever crossed before, doing kinky things they've only fantasized about. But when they begin to exchange not just sex but emotional connection, the problems start; a little jealousy, feeling left out, wanting more from the wrong partner. Can two couples really share everything without losing it all?

Cat has been pressing her husband of ten years for a foursome with their new next door neighbors.

What started out as some smoking hot sex between four consenting adults went completely wrong. From the start you could see this was a train wreck just waiting to happen. In getting to know the characters a bit better, I took a dislike to Cat. She seemed like she was always up to no good. She came across as very fake. Her husband Drew seemed to just put it with her and whatever diabolical plan she was cooking up.

Logan and his wife Alexis didn't have a great relationship either. Logan was always pointing out her faults and finding her lacking in just about everything. Alexis was the most reserved of all four of them. At times it looked as though she was participating in this kink only to please her husband.

When all four of them get together in any kind of interaction it's apparent that Drew and Alexis would be the better match of the couples.

Even knowing this was something horrible that would blow up in their faces, I couldn't put it down. With knowing it was bound to end badly, I still had to see it for myself.