Restraint by Erica Chilson

Restraint by Erica Chilson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally picked up Restraint as a Kindle freebie back in July 2012. At that time, it was common for me to “buy” six to ten freebies a day, so it was pure randomness that I actually read it within a couple of weeks of “buying” it. Upon doing so I was immediately compelled to buy and read the next three books that were available in the series. And while I have read several of the revised editions of Restraint, this is actually the first time I’ve ever written a review. Why? For me, Ms. Chilson happens to be one of those authors whose books affect me so viscerally that I have a hard time expressing my love for her work. She is my kink equivalent of Kristen Ashley – someone whose books are at the top of my reread list when I’m in a particular mood and whose work I love so much that I feel like anything I say is inadequate. And while my review writing skills have improved over the past year as a blogger, I still find myself grasping for the words that properly convey the depth of emotions I experienced when I read the 5th edition of Restraint.

As our criminal justice system has improved over the decades, I am fortunately among what seems to be becoming a minority in this country – a woman who has never been sexually assaulted, molested, or intimidated. I share this fact because I feel it is important to note that in the case of Restraint I have absolutely no personal experience from which to draw upon. Yet, Ms. Chilson has such a way with the English language that I felt Katya’s emotional violation each and every time she relived her assault in her dreams and memories. And while the act itself is horrific, there is a beauty in the way the author conveys Kat’s memory of the events and how with each recollection, more and more details about that fateful day are revealed to her by her subconscious mind – something I can appreciate due to my education. Even though the catalyst for Kat’s story is that day, Restraint is actually about the first part of Katya’s journey to healing and becoming who she was meant to be. That she takes this journey accompanied by a merry band of psychopaths (not really and said with affection) makes her tale all that more interesting. Even though this is easily the 10th time I have read Restraint, I still find myself overwhelmed by the sexual chemistry between Kat and Ezra, and Kat and Cort. Despite her past, or maybe because of her past, Kat’s need for dominance and submission is palpable as is the way she responds to those around her. Yet I feel I should note that Restraint is not an orgy – there is little actual sex, but there is tons of sexual tension and seduction occurring. Oh boy is there ever!

Restraint is the first book in the Mistress & Master of Restraint series and this (final) edition lays the groundwork for the entire series – of sorts. Ms. Chilson does an excellent job of introducing us to many of the key players, especially Ezra, Cortez, Aaron, and Queen, as well as acquainting the reader with a couple of characters earlier in the series than previously occurred. As someone who has read books 1-11 (most of them multiple times), it is easy for me to see where the author has tightened the storyline, closed plot holes that developed in later books, and provided more foreshadowing of future events that won’t mean anything to newcomers until the secrets are revealed later in the series but fans of the series will be thinking “oooohhh, I know what that means” while grinning like a loon <= yes, I did that several times while reading this edition of Restraint. I absolutely loved revisiting Katya and the gang and cannot wait to see what changes Ms. Chilson makes to Unleashed, hopefully sooner rather than later as I find myself drawn back into the world of Restraint, a ready and willing observer of the games afoot.



View all my reviews

First Debt by Pepper Winters

First Debt by Pepper Winters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



OH! MY! GOD! I am gobsmacked! I am practically speechless. I don’t know where to begin. So many questions. So few answers, but the answers given just lead to more questions. And that ending, that glorious effing ending that I never saw coming. I didn’t suspect. It wasn’t even on my freaking radar. Worst part is that with the way this series builds upon itself, I can’t talk about any flipping specifics without treading on a spoiler!

What I can say: Nila is coming into her own identity. She is no longer the dutiful daughter. She is a woman and she is her own woman, contract be damned! As for Jethro, his complexities are growing at a monumental rate. I cannot wait to find out what his secrets are, including the one he shares with Kestrel. But the chemistry we saw flickering between Nila and Jethro in Debt Inheritance had nothing on the inferno that blazed between them in First Debt. These two push one another’s buttons so thoroughly that I’m waiting for the nuclear fallout.

As the title would suggest, the First Debt was collected and it was an extremely intense scene. Not only was Nila horrified to learn what her ancestors did to the Hawks hundreds of years ago, she could understand why revenge was sought – even as she feels that she and Jethro are too many generations removed to take part in this farce. Her silent vow to be the Weaver who ends the cycle is a noble one and I cannot wait to see how the story plays out in Second Debt. Well done Ms. Winters, well done.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the First Debt Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Should've Known Better by Cassandra Carr

Should've Known Better by Cassandra Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



As a fan of Ms. Carr’s writing and a lover of sports romances, I was all over this one. That the female lead was a math geek who had just gotten a job working with a hockey team, well my excitement knew no bounds because even though I’ve never actually watched a hockey game, hockey romances are probably my favorite type of sports romance. For the icing on the cake – a strapping young hockey player as the male lead. Having read and loved Ms. Carr’s Safe Harbor series, I couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for Sara and Sebastian. While I found Should’ve Known Better to be an enjoyable read, it didn’t pack quite the same punch as her Safe Harbor series.

Sara is a woman working in a male-dominated organization – the Buffalo Storm hockey team – and the author does a nice job of realistically illustrating many of the barriers that she faced. I liked that Sara had to prove that her analytical skills had value and did so over time rather than her gaining her male colleagues’ respect after just one or two successes. The obstacles she faced made it easy for me to understand why she fought her attraction to Sebastian for so long and then why she wanted to keep their relationship a secret when she finally gave into his constant pursuit.

As much as I liked Sara, I found her preoccupation with the age difference to be annoying, but not nearly as annoying as when her boss chastised her for her relationship with Sebastian telling her that at her age she should’ve known better than to get involved with him. It was only a 10 year difference between them and we’re talking about a 24 year-old man NOT an 18 year-old boy. I haven’t read a hockey romance yet that didn’t talk about puck bunnies (this one included), so for her boss to suggest that she took advantage of Sebastian’s youth when the man had his choice of puck bunnies just rubbed me the wrong way. Despite my indignation of Sara’s behalf and my fondness for her character, I found myself in a cycle of connecting and disconnecting with her character. As times there seemed to be a subtle shift in the way in which the story was told that would leave me feeling distanced from Sara and Sebastian. I found this happening throughout the book, including during sex scenes – which meant that there were some scorching sex scenes and some that were not. I hate to say it, but I find that for me, Ms. Carr’s MF romances fall into my “good read” category while her MM romances have a level of steam that usually lands them directly on my reread list. Should’ve Known Better was an enjoyable read but I doubt I’ll read more from the Storm series, unless she writes a MM installment.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Throwback: Should've Known Better blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Kick by Carmen Jenner

Kick by Carmen Jenner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Some of the most difficult reviews to write are for books that are well-written and contain all the right elements but don’t quite pack the punch I was anticipating. Sadly, despite its gritty bikers, dark themes, tons of action, revenge, and hot sex, Kick ended up being one of these kinds of reads for me – a good read but not a great one.

Now before you go getting your panties in a bunch, I’m not saying that Kick wasn’t any good because it was. Ms. Jenner has a lovely writing style that made reading the book enjoyable. I had no problem keeping up with the storyline and Kick’s character development as she moved from present events to past events – Ms. Jenner excelled at insuring that her readers would know when in time we were during Kick’s life as we learned how his past had shaped him. As the details regarding Lauren unfolded, I felt badly for Kick. I understood his pain, his need for revenge, his heartache – but I never connected with him and actually felt his pain. For me, it was my inability to connect with Kick that I believe prevented it from being a great read.

Through Kick’s story, Ms. Jenner takes the reader on an action-packed blood bath as he tries to help Indie extract revenge while he tries to find redemption. I was fascinated with how the storyline regarding Indie’s abduction played out and loved her final act of revenge – so very fitting. As much as I enjoyed Indie’s character and seeing how she grew and survived after the abduction, I was no more successful in connecting with her than I was with Kick’s character. It wasn’t until the Epilogue that I finally felt a connection with Kick and Indie and it just was just too late at that point, hence my 3-star rating. Kick is a solidly written book that is going to have a lot of rabid fans – the good kind – and I am disappointed that I won’t be joining their ranks. This is definitely one of those books that I recommend you check out for yourself, especially if you enjoy dark and gritty MC books, because you may just your next series to stalk.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Kick Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Young and the Submissive by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob & Isabelle LaPearl

The Young and the Submissive by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob & Isabella LaPearl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I reviewed my personal copy of this book for Wicked Reads.

Nooooooo!!! Even knowing that book three is releasing next month, I wasn’t expecting The Young and the Submissive to end on a cliffhanger. Curse word! Curse word! Curse word! I don’t think it would have blindsided me so much if I hadn’t been sharing vicariously in Raine, Hammer, and Liam’s post-orgasmic haze. Oh yeah baby. The writing team of Ms. Black, Ms. Jacob, and Ms. LaPearl saw fit to give me my much desired ménage for the trio. From the bottom of my heart ladies, thank you so much for that. I don’t even have a word for how hot that scene was. But don’t think that just because the trio finally got their groove on that they’re all set to begin their happily ever after together. Nope.

The Young and the Submissive picks up where One Dom to Love left off, with all three back under Shadows’ roof and Raine collared as Liam’s submissive. As Raine struggles with her feelings for Liam and Hammer and potential pregnancy, the two men continue to antagonize one another causing Raine to feel as though she is the reason for their deteriorating friendship. When Liam takes a drastic move to give Raine a wake-up call, it works but not in the way he intends it to and neither he nor Hammer can find her. After confronting her past, Raine returns to Shadows to face the men that she loves in hopes that they can give her the time she needs to fix herself and a Domme to teach her submission. As much as they each want Raine for themselves, neither is willing to send her to a Domme for training and Liam and Hammer finally begin to work together. Their counteroffer of having them both train her together gives Raine hope that she may actually find happiness with both men. But nothing is easy for these three as they must learn to communicate and trust one another.

While there is still plenty of angst and drama in this installment in The Doms of her Life series, I don’t feel like it’s the same kind of angst. In One Dom to Love, much of the angst was due to a lack of communication between the characters. This time around, the drama is due to the secrets and truths that are revealed as they ALL learn to communicate with one another. While failures to communicate still occur, they do so at a decreasing level as their story progresses. Learning about the events that led Raine to Macen’s alley bring both her and his behaviors into perspective. Her walls and tendency to run are completely understandable, as is Macen’s protectiveness. Getting to know Beck even better was an added bonus to this installment as was the introduction of Seth. I’m not sure that the trio would have made as much progress as they did in this book were it not for the two men. The Young and the Submissive has joined One Dom to Love on my re-read shelf. Thank goodness I have less than a month to wait for book three, The Bold and the Dominant, to find out what the authors have in store for the trio.


Check out The Young & the Submissive by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, & Isabella LaPearl Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

In Another Life & Eight Days by Cardeno C.

In Another Life & Eight Days by Cardeno C.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



These two novellas are unlike any of CC’s work that I have read before. I spent a good amount of time laughing while reading both of these stories. So not only did I get treated to the expected combination of sweet romance, sexy men, and smoldering sex scenes, but I also got to laugh.

In Another Life was an extremely touching tale about the extremes to which bigotry and bullying can drive a teen. When Shiloh decides he can no longer deal with life stretching before him as a gay man, he attempts to commit suicide. In what I found to be a rather original way to approach the act, the author gives Shiloh a glimpse into the life he would be missing out on – particularly the love of a good man. Fortunately for all involved, Shiloh’s parents find him in time to save his life. The twist to Shiloh’s story is that he meets the man his future showed him long before he was supposed to in his deathbed visions. Because Shiloh feels as though he’s been gifted with a bit of inside information, he sheds his normal shyness and sets out to make Travis his in the here and now and takes the steps needed to insure that their future is a long one. Despite the gravity of the subject of suicide, CC writes the romance in such a way that I fell in love with both men and was left feeling hopeful for their future.

Eight Days is kind of a tale of unrequited love between childhood friends. Told over the span of a couple of decades, we accompany Maccabe as he comes to terms with how he feels about his childhood friend Josh – from the first time he becomes aware of Josh in a sexual manner, to losing Josh, to learning the exact extent by which he lost Josh, and to reclaiming Josh. What I found truly endearing about this particular story is that although Maccabe hurts Josh emotionally, he does so without malice or awareness and I found myself unable to dislike him for his careless treatment of Josh. Maccabe was so focused on his career that he was unaware of the damage he was inflicting with his choices. Could he have done more after his falling out with Josh? Almost certainly. Did he do what he needed to when all the facts came to light? Without hesitation. And THAT was why I fell in love with Maccabe – Josh was a given, but Maccabe had to earn it and he did.

I don’t read many holiday-themed books, but In Another Life and Eight Days have made that very short list as rereads. Again CC has left me with an aching face from smiling so much while reading, but the added laughter was a definite balm to the heart. And I leave you with my favorite laugh inducing lines from each novella.

“You have a voice for print.” I gasped – Shiloh to Travis, regarding Travis’s singing

“You’re the only person that’s ever meant more to me than a screw, not that screwing you isn’t great too. So I guess I’m Josh-sexual, but if you want me to say I’m gay, I’ll say it.” – Maccabe

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the In Another Life & Eight Days Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Hunger's Mate Part 3 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 3 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



You’re a bad, bad woman Ms. Arthur. The first sentence of this installment of Hunger’s Mate put me into a tailspin of emotions – relief that Jewel had gotten to her father, sadness because it meant she left Ezra, happiness that Jewel’s father was safe. But none of that compared to the fear I felt when the phone call was made. Fear that only increased when Jewel’s father confirmed that he was now in Larry’s clutches. But apparently the author felt as if she hadn’t wrenched enough emotion out of me and continued to run me through the gauntlet with Hunger’s Mate Part 3.

In the third installment, Ezra finally confronts Jewel about Larry and while she still does not tell him everything, she reveals a lot. Color me surprised to realize that she went to Perryville because she knew about the Shadow Shifters – granted, I probably should have picked up on that from the Prologue in part one, but I didn’t. Even though she still refuses to tell Ezra the details of her time with Larry, Jewel’s behaviors when they have sex – and oh god, yes they do again and it’s even hotter this time around – go a long way in letting Ezra know that Jewel was completely powerless in that relationship. I love the lengths to which Ezra is willing to go to make Jewel feel safe during their sexual interactions, especially when they are often in opposition to his alpha male and animal instincts. But seriously, that man’s gotta put a bell on his woman because she takes off yet again. At least this time he knows where she’s headed and he sets off after her, intending to save her and her father, and to finally claim his mate (YES!!!). And what, pray tell, action-packed, nail-biting scene does Ms. Arthur leave us suspended on … Ezra vs. ADAM!!! Reading schedule be damned. I’m off to Hunger’s Mate Part 4 as I MUST know how their story ends.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Debt Inheritance by Pepper Winters

Debt Inheritance by Pepper Winters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



That was intense! Even though I read the blurb, I wasn’t exactly sure of what to expect from the book. But I certainly wasn’t prepared for all that is the Debt Inheritance. As this is the first book in the series, it sets the stage for Nila’s deliverance to Jethro. In doing so, the reader learns most of the information at the same time Nila does, thus making it easy to understand her confusion and resulting mood swings from anger to helplessness. What little information that is revealed to the reader separate from Nila does more to provide understanding of Jethro’s actions than impart anything potentially useful for Nila.

I’m still not sure what disturbs me most (in a good way) about this book. The agreement that was signed that gives Nila to Jethro was entered into at a time when women were considered property and would seem to be completely legally binding, especially as it is set in England and was enacted with the crown’s authority. While one would hope that laws passed since that time would override it, it adds a believability to the story that I found quite disturbing. What also bothered me was the failure of Nila’s father to warn her, prepare her, or protect her from her fate – especially once we learn the truth about Nila’s mother. The luncheon scene was also unsettling; I expected a much darker and more violent induction, yet the formality and false civility was far more effective in stripping Nila’s defenses (and freaking me out).

Debt Inheritance is an intense and dark read. Although it does not meet the same level of twisted darkness of the Monsters in the Dark series … YET … do proceed with caution if dark reads are not your thing as there are scenes that will likely disturb some readers. And this is only the beginning of the ride. The author does an excellent job of setting the foundation for the series by creating far more questions than answers. Unless I completely missed it by being caught up in the luncheon scene, I still do not know WHY the Weavers owe a debt to the Hawks. But Ms. Winters definitely lived up to her promise of a cliffhanger ending and I for one cannot wait for First Debt.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Debt Inheritance Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Ride by J.C. Emery

Ride by J.C. Emery

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



With the increase in the popularity of MC romances, a lot of authors have jumped on the bandwagon. And while some firmly hold the reins, far too often there are authors who attempt to take advantage of a genre’s newfound popularity and write a book hoping to make a buck simply because any Tom, Dick, and Harry can e-publish these days (whether they should or not). Fortunately, Ms. Emery is a rein holder. I am ashamed to admit that I have owned Ride for over a year and never got around to reading it. And now that I have, I am thoroughly annoyed with myself for my oversight because it was a great read. I am in awe of how well she was able to show how similar the biker and Mafia worlds are while at the same time illustrating how different they are, all while orchestrating a romance between Armani and denim.

My heart wept for Alexandra. She found herself in position she never should have been put in and her love for her brother and the emotional strain of the situation caused her to inadvertently rat out her family. No one cared that it wasn’t intentional. No one seemed to take into consideration the circumstances – for goodness sakes, she gets ridiculed for being so sheltered and she’s left sitting in the middle of the aftermath of a gunfight with her cousin dying in her arms, her fiancé dying next to her, and her brother telling her to talk to no one and leaves her while he’s bleeding from a gunshot wound. Thankfully her Aunt Gloria’s promise to Alex’s mother is more important than is her loyalty to The Family and Gloria does what she must to insure Alex’s safety. Unfortunately Alex seems to trade the frying pan for the fire once her previously unknown to her Aunt Ruby comes to collect her. While her upbringing prepares her for parts of the biker lifestyle, she is woefully unprepared for her new life, especially when it comes to Ryan’s bipolar-like behavior toward – yeah I completely agreed with Alex’s characterization on that one. But Alex and Ryan are the proverbial moth and flame and as expected, Alex finds herself burned by Ryan’s behavior more than once. Luckily for Ryan, the chemistry between him and Alex is so intense that neither can fight it. Unluckily for Alex, she is forced to endure yet more tragedy before Ryan is finally able to admit how much she means to him.

My only real complaint about Ride is that I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Ian and Alex. Considering his plea during Church, I had expected him to be more interested in getting to know her and spending more time with this part of his family. Other than that small detail, I loved the book. The Mancuso family members we encounter in the beginning of the book felt authentic as Italians (no personal experience with Mafia members here, just Italians). The members of the Forsaken MC had just the right amount of edge and grittiness for my personal tastes. Of course the level of assholishness was perfect among the males in both cultures, with Ryan excelling at it. Gotta say, Ruby pulling the gun on him toward the end was priceless! I loved Ride and will be adding the rest of the Bayonet Scars series to my reading list so that I can spend some more time with Ms. Emery’s Forsaken MC.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Throwback: Ride blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

One Dom to Love by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob & Isabella LaPearl

One Dom to Love by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob & Isabella LaPearl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I reviewed my personal copy of this book for Wicked Reads.

One Dom to Love is a book that I have read several times, but not since I began writing reviews. I actually stumbled upon it after reading a couple of books in Ms. Black’s Virgin series that she co-authors with Lexi Blake and I wanted to read more of her writing. After finishing One Dom to Love the first time, I was glad that I had. It is among my early forays into BDSM erotica and I still love it.

One of the things I enjoy most about One Dom to Love is the angst that all three main characters experience throughout the book. In most cases, I don’t typically enjoy the level of angst that is present in this book. However, the authors do an outstanding job of infusing so much emotion accompanying the angst that I often felt as if I was experiencing the characters’ betrayal, heartbreak, pain, and love right along with them. While Macen and Liam are most definitely alpha males and Doms, their actions toward Raine frequently demonstrate a lack of control. The love that Macen and Liam feel for Raine is apparent, even when their actions – especially Macen’s – cause her to question their feelings. Raine’s frustration with Macen is completely understandable as the man pushes her away time after time until Liam shows an interest in her, then Macen is literally all over her only to push her away again the following morning. It is no wonder that Raine doesn’t understand why Liam wants her as Macen’s unintentional head games have done a number on her already damaged self-image.

Despite this being a reread for me, I found One Dom to Love to be just as enjoyable as the first time I read it. I was drawn back into Raine’s world and the tug of war she experienced between Macen and Liam and wasn’t ready for it to end. At least when I finished reading it this time, the sequel is already available. I am looking forward to reading The Young and the Submissive to find out what happens next between Raine, Liam, and Macen.


Check out the One Dom to Love by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, & Isabella LaPearl Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

The Burnt Toast B&B by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

The Burnt Toast B&B by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Soooooo I have to start out by admitting that this is the first book I’ve ever read in which one of the main characters was transgendered. And while there was no mention of it in the book’s synopsis, the fact is that with The Burnt Toast B&B being a part of the Bluewater Bay series it wouldn’t have deterred me from reading it. To be honest, I’m kind of glad I didn’t know because I feel like it enabled me to experience Derrick’s stunned reaction when Ginsberg makes the revelation – and just like Derrick, the stunned silence was not due to an “Eww that’s gross” response, but rather a “Dude, I did NOT see that coming!” reaction. But much like Ginsberg, I expected a far different response from Derrick and was just as shocked with the lack of judgment that Derrick showed.

One of the things I enjoy about the Bluewater Bay series is that the books seem intent on showing that love is love and things like age differences, race, gender, and socioeconomic status shouldn’t stand in the way – that nothing should effect who you love as long as you love that person fully. The Burnt Toast B&B demonstrates this perfectly. It also does an excellent job of demonstrating how one’s self-doubt, self-recriminations, and internalized stereotypes can destroy a relationship and a person’s happiness. Not only does Derrick have to admit that he loves Ginsberg, he also has to learn how to let go of his old-fashioned gender role biases and how to love himself. Fortunately, Ginsberg and Jim are there to help him along the way, even when the help he needs is a good punch in the nose.

Ms. Belleau and Ms. Haimowitz have created a wonderful romance about two men who are each lovable in their own way. Thankfully Ginsberg’s outgoing and charismatic personality complements Derrick’s withdrawn and surly nature. Except for the informative and freaking hot sex scenes, I tended to forget the Ginsberg was transgendered and I suspect this is the authors’ intent because it furthers the point that love is love. Regardless, The Burnt Toast B&B is another great addition to the Bluewater Bay series and my re-read list. I do so hope that there are more books being written for this series as I have enjoyed every page I have spent in Bluewater Bay.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Burnt Toast B&B Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Hunger's Mate Part 2 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 2 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



He’s found her. The man that Jewel has been hiding from for three years has finally found her. Her secrets are out … well, most of them. But when she manages to elude HIM, with the help of Ezra, Bas, and Jacques, HE brings an army down on the resort in order to get her back. But Ezra is determined to protect her and once again Jewel avoids capture. But her freedom is not without cost as there were plenty of people caught in the crossfire at the resort. And the Shadow Shifters have lost ADAM in the invasion too.

Ms. Arthur ramps up the action and the sexual tension in the second installment in the Hunger’s Mate serial novel. And oh my goodness is it hot! There are major revelations made in this book about Jewel and Ezra – some we learned parts of in part one and some were completely new info. When Jewel’s safety and freedom are threatened, Ezra’s protectiveness increases exponentially and he is forced to admit to himself that he wants to claim her. At the same time, Jewel continues to fight what her body wants and finds it harder to do so as her situation gets direr. But when they both finally give in to inevitable, holy heck is it hot! Jewel refuses to obey, to acquiesce, to submit, so instead she takes what she wants and she wants Ezra. Ezra is more than happy to give her that control. And as we’re all coming down from that post-orgasmic high, Ezra receives a text that does not bode well. What is it? I DON’T KNOW!!! The reading of Hunger’s Mate Part 3 commences NOW!!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Part 1 & 2 by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

A Brush of Violet by Corinne Alexander

A Brush of Violet by Corinne Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Having read eleven books from the Corbin's Bend series, I have found that there are some books I like, some I enjoy, and some that I love. A Brush of Violet falls into the latter category and it has everything to do with the chemistry between Charles and Violet. Holy crap on a cracker, they were hot!

Violet has finally taken time off from work and is headed to Corbin's Bend to help her friend Everleigh with an art fair she's organized for Corbin's Bend. Unlike so many of the previous visitors to Corbin's Bend, Violet knows that the community is a spanking community and is looking forward to visiting her friend for multiple reasons. Shortly after her arrival, she meets Charles while she is out and about with Everleigh. They hit it off and she agrees to meet him the following day for lunch and a tour of Corbin's Bend. The conversation flows while the sparks fly and Charles ends up giving Violet a non-punishment spanking. Violet loves the spanking and not only does it cause her to question her life choices, it also loosens something within and she finds herself painting – something she hasn't done in years. When circumstances cause her to extend her visit, Violet gets a chance to further explore her relationship with Charles. Just as she decides that she wants more with Charles, a phone call from her boss sends her running back home with no explanation to Charles. Fortunately for Violet, Charles refuses to accept her brush off and goes to Colorado Springs to confront her.

A Brush of Violet may be one of the hottest books in the Corbin's Bend series. The chemistry between Charles and Violet was palpable and the spanking and sex scenes were unbelievably hot. I loved the balance that Ms. Alexander struck with Charles's character, giving him a clear Head of Household (HoH) feel, but also more of a Dominant than some of the men in other books in the series. While all of the main male characters in the series have definitely been alpha males, some are strictly Head of Households while others are both HoHs and Dominants. In Charles's case, this combination just seemed to make him that much hotter. Ms. Alexander has done an excellent job in bringing one of the founding members of Corbin's Bend to life and pairing him with a woman that complements him perfectly. A Brush of Violet is an excellent contribution to the series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the A Brush of Violet by Corinne Alexander blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Desolate by Ker Dukey

Desolate by Ker Dukey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I didn’t know what to expect from Desolate, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that it wasn’t to fall for the sociopath. When I finished reading Empathy I was happy that Ryan got what he deserved and though I must admit that I forgot all about last part of the Epilogue that laid the foundation for this book, I still never would have expected to finish Desolate feeling like Ryan had been redeemed. Yet, Ms. Dukey has managed to leave me feeling exactly that way. Now the hard part begins, writing a review that is spoiler free while conveying how much I loved this book.

Desolate finds Blake and Melody together eighteen years later, preparing for their daughter to go off to college in the fall and planning to have another child. Their love and devotion to one another is obvious as is the fact that they still have that “spark,” as evidenced by the extremely hot kitchen sex they have in the beginning of the book. Clearly, all is well in their world. Until Blake gets the call from Ryan’s psychiatrist and learns that Ryan has been deemed to no longer be a danger to himself or others and is expected to be released from the psychiatric hospital in the next three months. At this news, I was likely as outraged as Blake was but obviously for an entirely different reason. Sociopaths cannot be cured. As Ryan says later in the book, there’s nothing to fix because it’s missing, not broken. My outrage was not directed at the author. Oh no. Sadly, the narcissism that led Ryan’s psychiatrist to believe that he fixed the unfixable exists in every profession, including psychiatry. And as a highly intelligent sociopath, Ryan would have easily been able to pick up on the doctor’s narcissism and manipulate him to obtain his freedom. Nope, my anger was at the character who unleashed Ryan’s darkness back into the world.

As for the rest of the story… Oh. My. Goodness!!! Ms. Dukey writes so many twists and turns into the story that I never saw coming, yet they’re all believable. I loved the relationship that Ryan developed with Cereus and that after he spent some time with her, he didn’t want to hurt her – no desire to whatsoever. His desire to protect her was so thorough that any plans for revenge he had for Blake and Melody were discarded because to hurt them, was to hurt Cereus. But you know what they say about good intentions – the road to hell is paved with them. Where Empathy was about Blake’s redemption, Desolate is Ryan’s trial by fire and it’s a freaking bloodbath. But we are talking about a serial killer here, so that’s not surprising. Again, Ms. Dukey’s attention to detail when it comes to the sociopathic mind is impressive and I can only hope that the epilogue is a promise for another book in the series. Well done Ms. Dukey.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Desolate Release Day! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Drawing the Devil by Jon Keys

Drawing the Devil by Jon Keys

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Something about gay cowboys just really does it for me and Drawing the Devil definitely delivered with two hot and sexy cowboys. I absolutely loved Shane and Dustin. While they both deal with the normal homophobic issues that are often featured in m/m romances that take place on the rodeo circuit, each man comes with his own additional baggage that just adds to the realism of their characters and keeps the storyline flowing.

Shane is a bullfighter who puts himself in harm’s way every time he steps into the arena because it’s his job to distract the bull long enough for the recently bucked rider to get out of the ring before the bull has a chance to attack him. Because he was scarred by the very bull that is responsible for him meeting Dustin, he has a major hang-up with how he looks as the scar runs across his face. So Shane finds it hard to believe Dustin’s claims that he is hot and doesn’t believe Dustin wants more than a one-night stand. Dustin. Sweet, sweet Dustin. I absolutely adored him. In addition to having to deal with being disowned by his family for being gay, he also has to deal with having ADD. His behaviors indicate that there’s definitely some hyperactivity in the mix too, and because of it, his history with guys hasn’t been that great. His nonstop chatter, sudden subject changes during conversations, and need to constantly be doing something has always been too much for his love interests to deal with for very long. While both men let their insecurities arise multiple times within the book, it was always appropriate to the scenes and never felt as though it was introduced simply to drive up the angst of the book. Rather, they added to the storyline and the believability of both Dustin and Shane. The resulting chemistry between the two men was palpable and the reader is treated to a myriad of sex scenes that range from playful, to tender, to balls-to-wall hot!

Almost as loveable as Shane and Dustin are their respective families. The easy acceptance of each man by the other’s family was heartwarming, especially after learning how Shane’s mother responded to him coming out. I should note, that Dustin’s family is the family that unofficially adopted him after his blood disowned him. His “mom’s” reaction to his coming out was priceless and had me laughing out loud. Despite the often heavy themes, I was actually laughing quite a bit during Drawing the Devil as Dustin’s character seemed driven to provide comic relief – intentionally and unintentionally – throughout the book. This was a great novel and I look forward to reading more of Mr. Keys’ work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Drawing the Devil by Jon Keys blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Rough Justice by Sarah Castille

Rough Justice by Sarah Castille

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have found a new MC club to obsess over! I love the Sinner’s Tribe and Jagger rocks!!! Oh my goodness, not only is the man an Alpha male, possessive, protective, loyal, sexy as sin, but he also has a sense of humor. He is as serious about his club as any President I’ve ever read about before, but the man knows when to laugh. His sense of humor was that added twist to an MC read I’m not used to, but certainly enjoyed. Rough Justice is a gritty, action-packed ride that has just the right amount of drama, justice, intrigue, bloodshed, and romance that it kept me glued to my Kindle for eight hours as I devoured the book. Oh what a wonderful Sunday read!

As much as I lusted for Jagger, I loved Arianne. She is everything I could have wished for and more as Jagger’s counterpart. Arianne grew up in the MC lifestyle and hates it with a passion. Her father is a vicious man and President of the Black Jack’s MC club. Her goal is to get her and her younger brother out of the country, and start a new life where they’re out of their father’s reach. When her plans backfire and she finds herself at Jagger’s mercy, her whole world shifts as she’s found something – or someone – who gives her cause to stay. Arianne is a Bada$$ with a capital “B.” Because of how she was raised, she doesn’t cower in front of the Sinner’s Tribe, but she also respects the club’s hierarchy and bites her tongue in public several times when what she really wants to do is rail at Jagger. Both are extremely passionate people, and that definitely flows over to the bedroom. While Ms. Castille can certainly write some scorching sex scenes, she doesn’t inundate the reader with sex scene after sex scene. Based on conversations, it is clear that Arianne and Jagger are very active and because we don’t witness every one of them, it makes the scenes we are treated to that much hotter.

Along with all that passion comes the ability for Arianne and Jagger to hurt one another and they most certainly do. The emotional toll they exact from one another at times, especially when Jagger is trying to push Arianne away, is brutal. Of course their romance occurs at the same time war breaks out between Sinner’s Tribe and the Black Jacks, Jagger has to deal with dissension among the ranks, the club has been infiltrated by a mole, and threats are made against Arianne’s life. And somehow Ms. Castille makes this constantly expanding storyline mesh seamlessly. I absolutely loved the time I spent with the Sinner’s Tribe MC and cannot wait to read the next book in the series, Beyond the Cut, because I’m anxious to see Dawn deal with Thor (aka Cade) and I really want to know more about Banks.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Rough Justice (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #1) by Sarah Castille blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Golden Perspective by Lynn B. Davidson

Golden Perspective by Lynn B. Davidson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I do so love the golden Zehavian men! Unlike the Golden Change, this book centers around the formation of a ménage relationship between a human female – Evie – and two golden men – Tyler and Dylan. If you read book one, you will remember Dylan as he was Jacob’s close friend and his jealousy over Jacob’s relationship with his host family nearly cost Kylie her life. You also received a very brief introduction to Evie and Tyler at the end of the book when the hijacked slave ship they were in landed on Zehave. But don’t let the lack of a silver Zehavian male in the mix worry you, there’s still loads of hot sex in this installment of the Zehave Gold series.

In Golden Perspective, Dylan has moved out his host family’s home and has begun making a life for himself. When he meets Evie, who is working as a private nurse to help Kylie finish out her pregnancy safely, he is quite taken with her. Despite spending months with Tyler while in captivity, Evie is not used to the open sexuality of the Zehavian people. So Dylan must tread cautiously as he tries to strike a balance between letting her know that he is interested without scaring her off. Kylie does her best to help them both out and eventually they manage to get on the same page, of sorts. As Evie begins to move on from Tyler’s desertion and make a life for herself on Zehave with Dylan, Tyler realizes that he’s not willing to give her up after all.

One of the things I really liked about Golden Perspective – aside from the supremely hot ménage sex – was Ms. Davidson’s use of old Zehave traditions to move the relationship and storyline forward. The introduction of the Rulm allowed for the threesome to spend a week of uninterrupted time together to find out if they were all compatible with one another. Because the purpose of the Rulm is to find out if the parties can live together and if they are sexually compatible, we are treated to a wonderfully erotic collection of MF, MM, MMF, and MFM sex scenes – needless to say, sexual compatibility was NOT an issue. It also provided an opportunity for Evie to help a young silver man through his golden change – something that I was quite surprised to see Tyler encourage. I further liked that Tyler’s mother recommended the use of a traditional wedding ceremony to improve Evie’s acceptance by other Zehavians, which had the added benefit of preventing Dylan’s mother from hijacking the wedding planning (that woman was a piece of work). As with the Golden Change, I loved watching Evie, Dylan, and Tyler grow as individuals, as couples, and as a family unit. Golden Perspective is a wonderful addition to the Zehave Gold series and I am looking forward to the next one already.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Golden Perspective (Zehave Gold #2) by Lynn B. Davidson blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Tarot's Touch by L.M. Somerton

Tarot's Touch by L.M. Somerton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In Tarot’s Touch, Alex and Conor have settled into their relationship and seem to be doing a pretty good job of keeping the lines drawn between their personal and professional lives. Although the detectives in their division are very supportive of their relationship (hilariously so), Alex has assigned Detective Higgs to serve as Conor’s direct supervisor in order to avoid accusations of favoritism. When evidence comes to light that the cases they are each working on may be connected, Alex has to overcome his protective instinct and work hard not to hinder Conor’s ability to work by mollycoddling him – a difficult task for a man in love and the Dom inside of him. As their cases unfold and more evidence comes to light, they learn that there is even more to the investigation than they expected and an already dangerous situation becomes deadly.

Ms. Somerton once again strikes a wonderful balance between the suspense of the police investigations and the romance between Alex and Connor. Although several months have passed since the previous book, their relationship continues to develop and strengthen. The love and trust they have for one another is obvious both inside the bedroom and out of it. Alex continues to train Connor as his submissive and the introduction of an assortment of toys and paraphernalia make their already hot sex life explosive. The scene at the club demonstrates just how far their relationship has come and the level of trust that Conor has in Alex. While a few of the sex scenes can be considered graphic, they flow within the storyline. I think this works largely due to the fact that the author is showing us both sides of the men’s lives – professional and personal.

One of the reasons I enjoy being a book blogger is that I get the opportunity to review books that I probably never would have encountered otherwise and the Investigating Love series is a prime example of this. As much as I enjoy reading romantic suspense novels, it’s one of the genres I don’t read as much of as I would like to because I have a hard time finding authors who strike the right balance between suspense, romance and sex for my tastes. Ms. Somerton does this and does it well. Over the three books she has developed Alex and Connor’s romantic relationship gradually and the D/s relationship has followed a natural progression – rather than Alex throwing Conor in the deep end of the submissive pool without any training (which I have seen in books). That the suspense angle involves multiple cases, as would occur in real life, makes the books that much more believable and not predictable. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and can only hope that eventually the guys will make it through one without a trip to the hospital.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Investigating Love Series Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Hunger's Mate Part 1 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 1 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the first of four parts of the serial novel, Hunger’s Mate, and Ms. Arthur certainly has my attention. In this installment, we meet Ezra Preston, a Lead Guard of the Stateside Shadow Shifters. He has been sent to Perryville to infiltrate Comastaz Labs to find out how much the government actually knows about his people. While there he encounters Jewel Jenner, a human who works as the administrative assistant for the Mountain Zone’s Lead Enforcer, Jacques. She calls to his cat in a way that no female has in a very long time. Because of his treatment at the hands of the last female he was drawn to, he does not engage in emotional entanglements with women, not that he ever would with a human.

Fans of the series may recall meeting Jewel briefly in Shifter’s Claim. The Prologue of Hunger’s Mate Part 1 provides quite a bit of insight into Jewel’s past without actually revealing why she is on the run. Through her interactions with Ezra and Jewel’s own inner monologue, it is clear that she was abused – likely physically and sexually – and she is in hiding from the man who abused her. That she unknowingly happened to end up working for a resort owned by shifters who are not interested in humans as mates has given her a safe haven in which to hide. And all was well in her life until Ezra arrived on the scene. He makes her want things she hasn’t wanted in years and this scares her.

As expected, Ms. Arthur infuses an elevated amount of sexual tension between Ezra and Jewel – no sex yet, but the make-out scenes definitely got my inner kitty purring. Although there has been no mention of companheiro calor nor has Ezra considered it in this first installment, those readers familiar with the series will easily recognize the direction of Ezra’s behaviors and the writing on the wall is clear. However, Jewel’s past makes an unexpected intrusion in her life and she is whisked away before Ezra has a chance to take things further. Not only is Ezra left frustrated, but so is the reader as the author has set up the ending of part one with an action-packed cliffhanger that makes me relieved that I already have part two sitting on my Kindle.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Hunger's Mate Part 1 & 2 by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Courted by Trouble by Bree Cariad

Courted by Trouble by Bree Cariad

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Despite growing up in Hyacinth, Stephanie was not raised in a household that practiced Domestic Discipline. What she was raised in was a household with a father who turned to alcohol after his wife was killed in a car accident and who became physically abusive toward Stephanie any time she ‘messed up.’ When he decides he’s done taking care of her and kicks her out by dumping her on the side of the road after a particularly bad beating, Stephanie is fortunate that her friend Cami’s father finds her, takes her to the hospital, and proceeds to help her get her life headed in the right direction – even if that path takes her away from Hyacinth for a while. Once she returns to Hyacinth, Mr. Covington’s continued help enables her to start over but the emotional abuse she received from her father has taken a huge toll on her, leaving her feeling unworthy of love and happiness and with no interest in courting… until she meets Chris.

Perhaps it’s because neither Stephanie nor Chris were raised in DD households, but there is less emphasis on DD in this installment of the In Hyacinth series than in the previous books. This is not to say that it is absent from the book, but rather that it plays a much smaller role in Stephanie’s story. As such, there seems to be even more of an emphasis on Stephanie coming to terms with the smack downs that life has dealt her – some of which she never saw coming. I really liked that during the course of Stephanie’s journey of self-discovery she learned a very important lesson – that the family you choose can support you in ways you never expected and that they are just as important, and sometimes more so, than family bound by blood. As much as I came to like Chris and how much he supported Stephanie emotionally, I REALLY liked that the town council turned down his initial courting request. Stephanie may not have been raised in a DD household, but she was raised in Hyacinth and to allow someone who was not committed to the courting system she was raised within could have be very detrimental to her progress – it also served to show her how much the town cared for her well-being. Courted by Trouble is an excellent addition to the In Hyacinth series and I’m looking forward to the next book – which I really hope for it to be Dora’s story.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Courted by Trouble by Bree Cariad blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Being Nobody by Heather D'Agostino

Being Nobody by Heather D'Agostino

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Being Nobody started off great. Ms. D’Agostino does an excellent job of setting up Sam/Mallory’s story. I felt both sadness at the loss of her childhood and adolescence – so many friends lost, so many opportunities missed, and so much time gone – and awe for her strength as she continues to survive and live her life as best as the circumstances allow. And living on the run in the Witness Protection plan didn’t lend itself to the best of circumstances.

When we meet Sam she is living as Mallory. She is snarky, confident, a bit of a smarta$$ – everything I like in a heroine. Her interactions with her coworkers and the bar patrons felt real and I was sucked right into her story. I loved the dance she and Brian played on the first night they met – their banter was entertaining, yet she maintained the distance her WP identity required. The pace of the book was great and the storyline was moving fluidly … until they had sex. Mind you the sex was hot, but it supposedly so intense that her entire existence shifted on its axis and she found herself falling for Brian – not drawn to him, not infatuated, not lust, but falling in love with him after knowing him for only a couple of days. I so totally got that she was initially drawn to him because he reminded her of the only guy she ever loved, but to be so far gone after one night of sex made no sense. Add to that her getting mad at him for keeping secrets about his “job” after saying she understood and her constant back and forth on that subject made me dizzy especially as her WP status made her the Queen of Secrets (pot meet kettle). As for the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, for me it was when she recognized Brian’s tattoo as belonging to the gang that was after her and her mom, yet she decided to stay with him and not only not report it to her handler, but willingly walked away from her mother forever because she wanted to see where things were going and if she could convince Brian to get out – at that point I couldn’t decide if she was stupid or delusional.

Even though I loved the beginning of Being Nobody and found Ms. D’Agostino’s writing style to be quite enjoyable, I just couldn’t get past Sam/Mallory’s seemingly never-ending bad choices. As the story progressed I found that connection I had with her character diminished until I was no longer invested in what happened to her and the book went from being a great read to just okay. Ultimately I didn’t like being in her head after the first sexual encounter because she just kept contradicting herself. Sadly I don’t think I can deal with Sam’s back and forth, so it is doubtful that I will read the next book in the series. As always, I recommend you check the book out for yourself because you may not find Sam as disconcerting as I did. Ms. D’Agostino’s talent is obvious, but this just wasn’t the book for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Being Nobody by Heather D'Agostino blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Billion Dollar Player by Mandy Baxter

The Billion Dollar Player by Mandy Baxter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Having enjoyed The Billionaire Cowboy, I couldn’t wait to read this installment in the Billionaire’s Club. I have to say that I actually enjoyed The Billion Dollar Player even more than the first book. We met Jase briefly in book one, where we got a sneak peek into his humor and the struggle he experienced proving that he earned his position with the Dallas Cowboys and that his brother didn’t buy his way onto the team.

With the opening of this book we find that Jase has been having a rough time on the field lately. His teammate and close friend recommends a one-night stand as a stress reliever, but Jase isn’t interested in the football groupies and the typical “talent” that hangs around the team. Fortunately for him, Avery makes a rather smashing entrance into his life and he finds himself quite taken with the petite waitress. But Avery is not a one-night stand kind of girl and refuses Jase’s offer of dinner – three times. After four catered events and a mechanical failure, Jase finally gets the chance to spend a little bit of one-on-one time with Avery as he drives her home. After turning Jase’s advances down four times, Avery decides to throw caution to the wind and proceeds to demonstrate just how flexible a girl can be in the front seat of pickup – YEEHAW! Needless to say, Avery is a bit shocked when she opens the door to a sweaty Jase the next night but finds she can’t resist him and the two embark upon an unacknowledged friends with benefits type relationship.

I must admit that I am impressed that Ms. Baxter created a character in Avery that was insecure without being neurotically so, particularly when it came to her worrying that a waitress wasn’t good enough to date a billionaire. Yes Avery did express that concern, but it didn’t consume her and threaten the developing relationship. I’ve read books where such a concern became the antagonist of the novel and the character obsessed over it to the point that it threatened or ruined the relationship. In this instance, Jase addressed Avery’s concerns and she not only listened to what he had to say, but paid attention to how his actions supported his statements. I enjoyed that their relationship developed as they spent time together talking and wasn’t just based on sex – HOT sex mind you, really hot sex. And when an outside element causes Avery to cut Jase out of her life, he shows just why he gets what he wants – he fights for her. Ms. Baxter has packed a lot of story into The Billion Dollar Player and I loved every minute of it. I look forward to reading Rocked by the Billionaire and finally meeting Jase’s elusive twin, Lucas.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Billion Dollar Player by Mandy Baxter blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Exposed Affections by Rene Folsom

Exposed Affections by Rene Folsom

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Awesome conclusion to Shuttered Affections!

Exposed Affections picks up right where Shuttered Affections left off and ramps up the heat immediately. There is no slow seduction in the sequel as Aiden's twin brother Coda is thrown into the mix with Julia and Aiden as their relationships develop. Suffice it to say that the twins really do double the pleasure for Julia ... often ... and the scenes were HOT!

I will say that at times I became annoyed with Julia as she seemed much more unsure of herself in Exposed Affections than she did in Shuttered Affections. As I wondered what happened to the feisty and independent Julia from the first book, more details about her past regarding her psycho stalker ex and her parents would emerge and then I would wonder how she managed to open herself up to Aiden and Coda. Julia deals with so much in this book that at times I forget that she's only 22 and her insecurities are likely normal for her age.

I felt this was a wonderful conclusion to the series and am sad that it is a 2-book series and not a trilogy. Despite the smile producing epilogue, I would love to spend more time with the trio of Aiden, Julia, and Coda. I really enjoyed the Cornerstone series and will probably read it again, several times.

I also want to thank Ms. Folsom for the bonus chapters for Shuttered Affections written from Aiden's perspective. LOVED THEM!

Reader Warning: If you are uncomfortable with M/F/M scenes, abduction scenes, rape & assault this book is not for you.





View all my reviews

Evil's Embrace by L.M. Somerton

Evil's Embrace by L.M. Somerton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Ms. Somerton has penned another great installment in the Investigating Love series. Alex and Conor are back – kinda, sorta. Evil’s Embrace begins four months after Rasputin’s Kiss and Alex and Conor are headed out of town on a two-week holiday before Conor’s return to work now that he has fully healed from his injuries. I should note that while you can read this book without having read book one first, you’ll have a better appreciation of Alex and Conor if you read Rasputin’s Kiss first.

During the first part of the book we get to see the guys spending relaxed one-on-one time together away from work, giving readers of book one a chance to see how their relationship has progressed and continues to do so. From their interactions it is clear that they have developed deep feelings for one another, cementing the relationship that began in Rasputin’s Kiss. Their chemistry is palpable and this ratchets up the sex scenes significantly. Taking it up another notch is that Conor is learning more about his submissive nature and the Dom in Alex is more than ready to teach his brat a lesson or two (or three…). But even as their feelings grow and their relationship strengthens, their work threatens to get in the way of their relationship.

As with book one, Evil’s Embrace is a romantic suspense novel (which means fewer specific details to avoid spoilers in my review). I felt that this one packed more of a punch in the suspense department because Ms. Somerton laid a couple of false trails as to which suspense element the guys were facing. I was disappointed that the “trail” they encountered while on holiday wasn’t revisited once they returned to the city, I can only hope that the author returns to it because the potential plotline was compelling. Despite that minor disappointment, Evil’s Embrace was a great read. The storyline flowed and I found myself swept up in the action, devouring the book in a matter of hours. Tarot’s Touch, book three in the series, is next up on my reading list and I am looking forward to finding out what is in store for Alex and Conor.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Investigating Love Series Spotlight! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Broken Mercies by Lucy Marker

Broken Mercies by Lucy Marker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have never really considered myself to be a reader with a trigger. I may have read a few books in my time that made me uncomfortable initially or that I had to stop reading because I couldn’t stomach the content, but it’s been years since a book has elicited such a response. That said, I was not prepared for the subject matter that Broken Mercies covered because there was nothing in the blurb that indicated that the main characters were in rehab for addictions. The combination of their time in rehab and the level of abuse that Dan’s mother inflicted on her children actually caused me to put the book down and read another book before returning to it. While I don’t consider the subject matter a trigger for me per se, they are topics which require me to be in a certain mindset to read them. And now having finished the book, I am glad that I stopped reading it (instead of powering through), cleared my mind with another book, and had the chance to get myself in the right frame of mind to read it before I started it over because Broken Mercies is a wonderfully written book with a powerful message.

Daniel and Jeremy are indeed broken and the reader learns via their discussions in group therapy that they have very similar stories – an abusive childhood at the hands of a mentally ill parent. Daniel’s lapse that caused him to return to rehab actually was not his fault. A jealous acquaintance spiked his drink and by the time Daniel realized it, it was too late to stop the spiral that it caused. But Daniel is intent on making this his last time in rehab, so much so that he is willing to cut himself off from his family in an effort to avoid the painful memories of his childhood their presence causes. Daniel’s departure from rehab is only the start of a long, hard road back to recovery as his ex keeps trying to reinsert himself into Daniel’s life. With Jeremy and the Sobriety Squad’s help, he is intent on staying sober and living a life with fewer triggers. His and Jeremy’s struggles to build a relationship that is supportive without being controlling, while learning to avoid one another’s triggers is actually inspiring. Jeremy has a seemingly endless supply of patience and understanding, which Daniel really needs, but it is Jeremy’s guidance to forgiveness and acceptance that is the key to Daniel’s recovery.

Ms. Marker has written a very moving story that I ultimately enjoyed. The conflicts that Daniel faced – both internal and external – will make this a difficult read for some people, but one well worth it. Typically I do not enjoy books with a strong religious theme, but because Daniel’s faith is a fundamental part of who he is and part of the story focuses on the role it plays in his life I had no issue with it. On the contrary, I liked the way in which Daniel explained how he was able to maintain his faith despite its condemnation of his homosexuality. It also helps that the religious themes are not preachy. Broken Mercies is a beautiful story full of bigotry, acceptance, and love that gives a realistic view into the human condition and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Broken Mercies by Lucy Marker blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Prince by Sylvain Reynard

The Prince by Sylvain Reynard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Prince is an intense introduction to Mr. Reynard’s new paranormal romance series, The Florentine, which also overlaps with his Gabriel’s Inferno series. Although I have yet to read the final book in the Gabriel’s Inferno series, I didn’t feel as though there was any information revealed in The Prince that would serve as a spoiler for Gabriel’s Redemption. On the contrary, it merely served to stoke a strong desire within me to buy the book so that I can spend some more time with Gabriel and Julianne because while The Prince may find Professor Emerson to be insufferable, I do not.

Because The Prince is a cross-over novella, there are two storylines playing out. The first involves a set of Botticelli illustrations that the professor owns, illustrations that were stolen from The Prince over a century ago, illustrations that The Prince wants back and is willing to kill for. No, not willing to kill for, but rather he intends to kill for. During these parts of the novella, fans of the Gabriel’s Inferno series get to catch up with the couple – presumably after the third book – and see how their relationship continues to move forward. This storyline – The Prince’s revenge – does not play out in its entirety and fans must read The Raven to learn more.

The other storyline is actually the introduction of Florence’s otherworldly underworld and its ruler, The Prince (and yes, that is the only name by which he is referred to or addressed as in the book). While it is clear that The Prince is not human, the book never comes out and states exactly what he is. That said, all hints, clues and innuendos point to him being a vampire and apparently a very old one at that. After a terribly executed and failed assassination attempt on his “life,” The Prince must prepare for war… And thus the stage is set for The Florentine series and my countdown to the release of The Raven begins.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Prince by Sylvain Reynard blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews