Hard Ride #3: A Novel in Three Parts by Opal Carew

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Hard Ride #2: A Novel in Three Parts by Opal Carew

Hard Ride #2: A Novel in Three Parts by Opal Carew

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


***WARNING – IF YOU HAVE NOT READ HARD RIDE PART ONE YET, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW AS SPOILERS FROM IT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW.***

Hard Ride Part Two picks up exactly where Part One ended, with Shock telling Liv that he was terminating their contract and sending her home. Now our girl Liv may be slightly broken (I’ll get to why in a minute), but she has no problem standing up to Shock and refusing to leave. While it wasn’t surprising for Liv to jump to the conclusion that Shock didn’t want her because he found out that she had only had sex once in her life, what was surprising to me was how he worded his why. It wasn’t because of her inexperience. And while it was due to her being raped (that was Part One’s big shocker), it wasn’t because he considered her broken. Shock didn’t want to be the second man in her life to force her to have sex. While it is true that he took advantage of her need for a loan, Liv had come to realize that their contract gave her an excuse and the courage to do what she hadn’t done since her rape – enter into a sexual relationship with a man, but specifically with a man she trusted.

And boy did they ever! Ms. Carew never fails to treat her fans to seriously erotic sex scenes. I thought what Shock did for Liv’s true first sexual encounter was unbelievably sweet, which made it that much hotter. Who knew a biker could be so romantic? Because Liv is just discovering her sexual side, Ms. Carew uses the rest of the group to ramp up the heat in this installment and to introduce Liv to the delights of voyeurism when she happens upon the adult pool party and watches both Raven and Tempest enjoy double penetration with the other bikers. That definitely got her motor running! While Liv yearns to be that open sexually, she discovers in this installment that even though she has made a lot of progress with Shock, she’s not ready to be that adventurous…yet. I found Liv’s uncertainty about their relationship realistic and was just as shocked as she was after the conversation with Amy. That was a big ‘WTF?!?’ moment. I wish I could start Part Three next because I want to know where that story-thread leads as well as the outcome of yet another cliffhanger (but I knew one was coming). This was another great installment in the Hard Ride novel and the Ready to Ride series.

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 Hard Ride #2: A Novel in Three Parts (Ready to Ride) by Opal Carew blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Hard Ride #1: A Novel in Three Parts by Opal Carew

Hard Ride #1: A Novel in Three Parts by Opal Carew

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As I have read books two and three in the Ready to Ride series as well as other books of Ms. Carew’s, I was actually surprised by Hard Ride #1. Pleasantly surprised. I am accustomed to her books being full of sex (not a complaint) and on the light side of a storyline (again not a complaint), which makes her books one of my not-so-guilty pleasures because I enjoy them so much. However, with this installment of Hard Ride, Ms. Carew has introduced a more significant storyline than I’m used to and I cannot wait to see where she takes it.

Without giving away too much, Liv seems to be a magnet for trouble and her life is further complicated by a serious family issue she is dealing with – one which she seems to be bearing the burden of solely. Finding herself in an unexpected situation where she has to be rescued from a group of bikers by another biker, Liv understandably freaks out…until she realizes that she knows her rescuer from college. When their paths cross yet again, Liv swallows her pride and asks for his help. I was torn between being shocked by Shock’s conditions for helping her yet not surprised – this is an Opal Carew book after all. I had to remind myself more than once that Shock was unaware of why Liv needed his help and that what he was asking for wasn’t unheard of in the land of fiction, especially within the world of Ready to Ride. Not to mention it made for one seriously funny contract negotiation scene. At least it was funny until later in the book when we learn about an incident in college that Liv had to deal with. While the extremely limited number of sexual encounters was surprising (and HOT!), Ms. Carew’s penchant for a cliffhanger ending in her serial releases was not. Bring on Part Two because I’m ready to ride!

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 Hard Ride #1: A Novel in Three Parts (Ready to Ride) by Opal Carew blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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In The Moment: Part Five by Rachael Orman

In The Moment: Part Five by Rachael Orman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

I’m having a hard time determining if my disappointment with Part Five is because the journey is over or if it’s the installment itself. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy In the Moment: Part Five because I did. I liked that Ace stayed to true to his character and lashed at out Adam when he sent Alicia away after the discovery at the end of Part Four, which is where this installment picks up. I was surprised by the consequences of his rash decision and reckless behavior that Ms. Orman wrote into the story, but they were realistic and I applaud her willingness to do that to one of her main characters. I loved that Adam’s arrival was once again perfectly timed when Alicia’s past came skulking back into her life and that he had the chance to administer a little justice before the police arrived. That the guys accompanied her to the police station and were there to support her emotionally helped to show that maybe, just maybe, Ace was finally getting his act together and that they had a chance for the long-term ménage relationship they had been working toward. Of course, the sex scenes were as hot as ever – even with the position maneuvering that was required to accommodate physical conditions at different times in the story. But I suppose I had hoped for just a bit more closure to their story. Did I enjoy In the Moment: Part Five? Absolutely. Was it a complete story? Yes it was. Were all the questions answered? No, but no book can do that and the questions that were left hanging were left hanging because of when in time the story ended. Ultimately, I just wanted a bit more of their story. But in the end, In the Moment: Part Five is still a 5-star read for me because I will reread it and I look forward to being able to read all five installments back-to-back.

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Initiation by Fire by Cassandra Carr

Initiation by Fire by Cassandra Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Initiation by Fire is the third installment in the Underground series and while it was better than parts one and two, it’s my final stop on this journey. There is far more action in this installment than before because Ethan is going out into the field for recon and we get to see him take part in a mission. I liked that Ms. Carr showed Ethan actually learning skills – making errors and learning how to do things correctly or better. It’s expected that he will master some tasks quicker than others because he’s a professional athlete, but thankfully there was no “Boom, he’s a natural born genius who masters everything on his first attempt” scenario going on. Also enjoyable was Ethan’s continued bonding with his colleagues. I liked that we got to learn more about the various team members and that certain ones seem to have taken him under their wing. Unfortunately, the romantic connection remains a hint and is suggested more by the series blurb than the installment itself. The mission was intense and action-packed, which is what helped to elevate Initiation by Fire over Off the Grid and Creating Slapshot. Regrettably it ended too soon to finish reeling me in. Would I like to know what happens to Ethan? Yes, but I’m not willing to sit through seven more installments to find out. I think that had parts 1-3 been released as one novel, I probably would have continued on with the series. But at its current rate, it feels like the story is dragging on and on without making enough progress to keep my attention. As always, I recommend that you check it out for yourself because it is an enjoyable storyline, it’s just not working for me at its current pacing. Who knows? Maybe once all 10 parts have been released, I’ll give it another shot.

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 Underground Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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In The Moment: Part Four by Rachael Orman

In The Moment: Part Four by Rachael Orman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

And here I thought the cliffhanger ending from Part Three was intense. I will say that while Ace’s reaction did NOT surprise me in the least, I was quite shocked by Adam’s behavior. But, I’m getting ahead of myself here. In the Moment: Part Four continues on from Part Three and we find Ace reeling from Alicia kicking the two of them out. What do two testosterone-fueled men do when the woman in their lives shows them the road? They engage in some seriously hot M/M sex. Adam has come to realize that Ace sees their sexual encounters as a way to reaffirm their connection and he is more than willing to give that to Ace… or should I say, take it from Ace. I’ve gotta hand it to Ms. Orman, even after four installments, she is still keeping the sexual encounters HAWT!

When Alicia dropped her bomb on Adam about her past – what she endured at the hands of her father – and that he seems to have found her, I was just as taken aback as he was. I knew from the previous installments that Alicia had a stalker, but I never imagined it to be her father or the level of abuse she suffered. I was glad to get to see Adam step up and be there for Alicia. That it led to yet another scorching ménage scene with Adam taking point… um, yeah! Whew! As Ace is still dealing with the fallout from the video of him and Adam together, Alicia and Adam’s relationship is given a chance to strengthen as they spend more time together. And this is why I was so surprised at the hostility he showed her at the end of this installment.

I will admit that I find myself flip-flopping on my feelings toward Ace. While I like his character, he comes off a bit whiny at times and has a tendency to get his panties in a twist. Yeah, I know, it’s hard to imagine saying that about an alpha male biker. But then I reconsider and think that maybe, just maybe, he lets Adam and Alicia see his turmoil because he sees them as his “safe place” and trusts them enough that he doesn’t have to maintain his macho biker image around them all the time. So with only one more installment left and the MAJOR cliffhanger Part Four left me with, I guess I have to reserve my final opinion of Ace until I get to read In the Moment: Part Five.

Check out the In the Moment: Part Four by Rachael Orman is Now Available & Reviewed blog post on Wicked Reads.


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Creating Slapshot by Cassandra Carr

Creating Slapshot by Cassandra Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



While I enjoyed Creating Slapshot more than I enjoyed Off the Grid, I’m still not hooked on the series. Ultimately a geek at heart, I found the information that was disseminated via Ethan’s training quite interesting. Although I wasn’t surprised that he did well in the testing for skills that relied on hand-eye coordination, I was fascinated by the fact that he scored so much better than everyone else – yet he still questioned his ability to eventually contribute to the team. I really should give the guy a break as he is trying to find his way in a new life after having his old life ripped away from him so brutally, but his lack of confidence doesn’t ring true from someone who is a professional athlete who has helped his team win the Cup… twice. I do like that Ethan is not afraid to ask questions and has been encouraged by everyone so far to do so. And the way that the various team members have relayed their personal stories has helped fill in more of the blanks regarding the team and certainly helped make this installment more interesting as well. That said, I believe that parts one and two would have been more effective had they been combined into a single novella rather than two novelettes. I will be starting Initiation by Fire tomorrow and can only hope that it lives up to its name and finally brings the level of action and adventure that I was expecting. A good dose of romance would not be amiss either.

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 Underground Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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In The Moment: Part Three by Rachael Orman

In The Moment: Part Three by Rachael Orman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

When I first opened In the Moment Part Three, I couldn’t quite remember what had transpired at the end of the previous installment. However, within a page or two, it all came flying back – the sex, the video, the hot sex, the argument, and did I mention the HOT SEX! Considering Ace’s response to the long list of the video’s recipients, it’s not surprising that I was the only one in this situation thinking about the sex. Needless to say, Adam was not happy with Ace’s reaction to the video, surmising that Ace’s anger over it getting out meant that Ace would never be comfortable taking their relationship public. As Adam lives his life openly as a bisexual man, he refuses to hide who he is for anyone, especially the man he is in love with.

I loved watching Adam stand up for himself and how he let Ace know in no uncertain terms that he would not be anyone’s dirty little secret. While witnessing the demise of their relationship was sad, Alicia giving Ace a much needed kick in the arse re-instilled hope for Adam and Ace’s future. Much of this installment is Ace coming to terms with his past, what he wants for his future, and whether or not a relationship with Adam is possible, assuming that Adam will even give him another chance. Being as this is part three of five, I was not surprised that Adam gave Ace another chance and Ms. Orman rewarded readers with a fabulous bout of makeup sex between these two testosterone-fueled men. Bossy Adam is sexy! What did surprise me was Alicia’s reaction to Adam and Ace, but what really threw me for a loop was the freaking cliff that the author left me hanging from. Yes, In the Moment Part Three actually left me frustrated because I don’t know what’s coming next. And while I will probably be able to get In the Moment Part Four a few days early, I want it NOW!!! Well done Ms. Orman, that’s exactly how a serial is supposed to work – but please, for the love of all that is holy, please stick to your release schedule and don’t disappear on us before the end arrives (sadly, I have had that happen).

Check out the In the Moment: Part Three by Rachael Orman is Now Available & Reviewed blog post on Wicked Reads.


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Off the Grid by Cassandra Carr

Off the Grid by Cassandra Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Off the Grid is the first installment in a 10-part serial novel. While I did enjoy reading the novelette it didn’t quite capture my attention as much as I hoped. On the contrary, until Ethan actually goes to the Underground facility and meets some of the other operatives, my attention kept waning. Admittedly I felt bad for the guy when he learned that his parents ripped him off and endangered his life. And yes, the hockey stick as a weapon scene was pretty freaking cool. But his initial meeting with Maline and Andre had me rolling my eyes a couple of times. Maline’s “We fight crime” statement annoyed me considering she’s working for a black ops organization, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she knew she was dealing with a man who was likely in shock. As her character’s conversational skills were more advanced once they got to the facility, I was more accepting of it. But the exchange that really, really caused my eyes to roll was when Maline tells Ethan about people being able to fake polygraphs and Ethan’s response was “Seriously?” Even if I’m willing to accept that the MAN has made it to thirty without having watched any criminal justice themed show or movie EVER, Ethan majored in Criminal Justice in college. I minored in Criminal Justice and that’s basic information covered in intro classes (plural). So yeah, that was a problem for me. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a minor sticking point but it undermines the character for me.

The ultimate question regarding any serial novel, especially that of the first installment, is: Did it hook the reader enough so that they will read the next installment. For me, the answer is not really. I will be reading parts two and three of the series simply because I have them already and agreed to review them. Because of this, I’m hoping that as the next two installments are larger and because the series’ foundation has been laid, that more will occur to get me invested in the series. But if I had bought this installment just to read, I doubt I would continue on. And I do not say this because it’s a bad book, but rather it just didn’t do it for me. My recommendation is to download a sample and check it out yourself

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 Underground Tour Stop! blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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In The Moment: Part Two by Rachael Orman

In The Moment Part Two by Rachael Orman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

In the Moment: Part Two picks up shortly after the end of part one. Ace is biding his time as he tries to figure out how to persuade Alicia to give his ménage proposal a chance. At the same time, Adam is getting tired of being Ace's dirty little secret so he decides to get to know Alicia to find out what it is about her that has caught Ace's attention. The fact that Ace hasn't let Adam in on his ménage idea is what makes Adam's approach effective. Because he's not trying to get into her pants, Alicia is able to relax and she becomes comfortable with Adam. The combination of her comfort and an episode of clumsiness gives Adam the chance to act on his desires that have been building as he got to know her. Ace plays the situation to his advantage and gives Alicia a taste of how good it could be if she were to say yes. Thank goodness mine wasn't the only appetite whetted by that scene! As hot as it was it had nothing on what happened when the three met up at her apartment after the bar closed. With the amount of heat being generated by the MF, MM, and MMF scenes in this installment, I don't know if my Kindle will survive the eventual MFM scene the series promises. Once again Ms. Orman hooked me with the ending because I have to know what happens next.

Check out the In the Moment: Part Two by Rachael Orman is Now Available & Reviewed blog post on Wicked Reads.


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In The Moment: Part One by Rachael Orman

In The Moment: Part One by Rachael Orman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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

Normally I don’t like to review serials unless I have all of the installments to read back to back. I understand that defeats the purpose of the serial, but I read at least one book daily, so if the installments are released weekly, there will be a minimum of six books read in between and if the installments are released bi-weekly, that’s no less than 13 books read, giving me far too much time to forget the details of the previous book(s). One of the many benefits of being a blogger is that I usually get all of the installments at the same time. However, in the case of In the Moment, even though I’m receiving the installments prior to their release, I still have to wait about two weeks in between as well. Why, pray tell, am I explaining all of this in my review? Because despite my dislike of trickle release serials, I have wanted to read Ms. Orman’s writing for several months now and keep missing out on the review opportunities due to scheduling. So in this instance, the serial format of In the Moment is perfect for me because it is far easier for me to slip a novelette into my review schedule every two weeks than it is a full-length novel.

As for Part One of In the Moment, I enjoyed the heck out of it. This installment serves to introduce the reader to the main characters of the series – Alicia, Ace, and Adam. Being as the novelette is only 35 pages and the serial format is intended to introduce the reader to the characters while sparking their interest enough that they want to read the next installment, there is not a huge amount of character development. While I picked up on bits and pieces about each of the characters, I felt like I learned the most about Alicia. I’m not sure which surprised me more about Alicia – that she capitulated to Ace as quickly as she did OR that she ran when he told her where he wanted to their “relationship” to go next. Ace is the quintessential bad boy biker – tatted up, growly, and alpha-male dominant. I liked his steamrolling attitude and that’s why his telling Alicia that she was his dream seemed out of character. Granted, his character is still developing and future installments may show him to have a bit of a soft side, but as he presents in this part it just felt off. I will say that Ms. Orman can certainly write a hot sex scene – both MM and MF. Because I won’t know until I finish all five parts whether or not this series will be added to my reread list, I am giving In the Moment: Part One 4 stars, but if I find that the series is one that I plan to reread, I will adjust my rating accordingly. Now, I’m off to take advantage of being a blogger and I get to read In the Moment: Part Two now because I want to see what happens next. Well done Ms. Orman, you definitely hooked me in.

Check out the In the Moment: Part One by Rachael Orman blog post on Wicked Reads.


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Hunger's Mate Part 4 by A.C. Arthur

Hunger's Mate Part 4 by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



He loves her! Yep, Ezra finally tells Jewel that he loves her. That should be great, right? Sadly his declaration does not come at the best time for Jewel – for the reader however, the whole conversation serves to lighten a serious scene. Because of her past, Ezra has to prove his love for Jewel via his actions and he does this while continuing to help thwart Larry’s machinations and uncovering an even bigger plot regarding Shya. Despite her mind’s best intentions, the companheiro calor is released between Jewel and Ezra and all bets are off – proving yet again why I love shifter sex: animalistic intensity that knows no bounds. Ms. Arthur writes superb mating sex scenes. YUM! As expected, the action abounds in part four and it is a thrill ride to the conclusion of the serial novel. Seriously folks, I don’t know how you can stand to read an installment at a time – my hats off to you because I couldn’t do it.

In the final installment of Hunger’s Mate, betrayals and alliances abound and are revealed – some were not surprising, others quite shocking, and still some that we must wait to see how they play out in future books in the Shadow Shifters series. I can’t say I’m upset at the prospect of more books in the series because I am loving Ms. Arthur’s writing. I appreciate that while she links the books together via a series storyline, each book is written so that it can be read as a standalone without confusion. That said, I want to go back and read the first three books because I am loving the characters and want to know more about how the other couples got together. But at least Jewel finally got to return to being Dawn and start her life with Ezra. And I can take comfort in knowing that I will likely get to catch up with them in future books in the Shadow Shifters series.

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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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Review of Riding Steele: Aftershock by Opal Carew

Riding Steele: Aftershock by Opal Carew

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



At the end of Crossroads we learned that Laurie was wanted for questioning in regards to Donovan’s murder. WHAT!?!?!?! Needless to say, Aftershock starts off with everyone on edge because Donovan was alive and breathing when they left him in the cage after rescuing Laurie. Making matters worse is that Donovan’s abuse is causing her to have nightmares and flinch away from Steele. Will Donovan continue to impact Laurie’s life from beyond the grave? Can she and Steele make it work? These are just a few of the questions that are answered in the final episode of the Riding Steele serial novel.

The biggest thing to know about Riding Steele is that it is more of an erotic romance than an MC romance. Because the focus is more on the relationship between Laurie and Steele and less on the action, adventure and suspense that the MC books I usually read are, the circumstances surrounding Donovan’s murder are resolved rather quickly and felt quite anti-climactic to me. However, this does allow for a bit more angst to play out between Steele and Laurie as they try to decide how to proceed afterwards. Because of everything Donovan did to her, Steele is concerned that his need to dominate are going to hurt Laurie inadvertently. He’d rather walk away from her than hurt her and he sets out to do just that. This forces Laurie to make some tough decisions about what she really wants out of life and exactly how far she’s willing to go for love. The chemistry between them is still strong and it’s up to Laurie to prove to Steele that she really is ready to ride.

While I enjoyed some parts of this serial more than others, overall Riding Steele was a great read and I could easily see myself reading it again. Aftershock may only get a 4-star rating, but the entire Riding Steele serial is a 5-star read for me. Well done Ms. Carew.

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 Riding Steele: Crossroads and Aftershock blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Riding Steele: Kidnapped by Opal Carew

Riding Steele: Kidnapped by Opal Carew

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Out of the frying pan and into the fire. That pretty much sums up the situation Laurie finds herself in after a night out with her boyfriend takes a decided turn for the worse. Laurie has come to realize that her boyfriend Donovan is controlling and abusive. He wasn't always like that; in fact, his tendencies have revealed themselves gradually. But she no longer feels safe – she's literally scared for her life, especially after their last sexual encounter. She had planned to break up with him until he sprung their six month anniversary on her and she couldn't bring herself to upset him on an occasion he was apparently looking forward to. But as the evening wears on she realizes that she has to get out while she's still breathing. As expected, Donovan does not take kindly to being dumped and proceeds to prove Laurie's fears were well-founded. Fortunately for her, her brother Craig had solicited the help of Steele and his MC, so Wild Card steps in and rescues ... err, kidnaps her.

We actually learn very little about Steele as this episode is focused more on Laurie and setting up the story. That said, my favorite scene in Kidnapped – one that had me both laughing and feeling sorry for Laurie's lack of imagination – was quite revealing about the size of Steele’s physical endowment. Well done Ms. Carew. I’m on to part two, Untamed.

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 Riding Steele: Kidnapped and Untamed by Opal Carew blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Riding Steele: Untamed by Opal Carew

Riding Steele: Untamed by Opal Carew

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Oh my word! Now THAT was the sensual stimulation I’ve come to expect from Ms. Carew. This installment in the Riding Steele serial definitely left me panting. During one of several escape attempts, Laurie stumbles upon Raven being threatened by two unknown bikers. After her experience with Donovan, she can’t leave the woman at the mercy of two men no matter how badly she wants to escape. So against her “flight” instinct, she runs back to get help for Raven and encounters Steele. Laurie’s opinion of Steele takes a major nosedive when he chooses to watch the scene unfold rather than protect Raven. However, Laurie quickly realizes that Raven knows the two bikers and it’s not an attempted rape, and she finds herself unable to look away from the threesome. Despite her arousal, she refuses to allow her body to dictate her actions and tells Steele “no” when he propositions her.

No matter how aroused he is, Steele will not force himself on an unwilling woman – especially one he has come to suspect has been abused. But he also refuses to ignore his needs, so he handcuffs Laurie to a tree where she has a front-row seat to an unbelievably hot foursome. Good grief I needed a cold shower after that scene – m/f, m/f/m, and even some m/m action … yummy! These guys are the definition of Untamed. And while Laurie perseveres with her escape attempts, we have to wait for the next installment – Collide – to find out whether or not she was successful.

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 Riding Steele: Kidnapped and Untamed by Opal Carew blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Chasing Perfection: Vol. I by M.S. Parker

Chasing Perfection: Vol. I by M.S. Parker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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

Let me start at the end and say I literally laughed out loud when I read the ending of this book. While this is not my first serial, it is my first book by M.S. Parker and I have to say that so far I am impressed. Both DeVon and Krissy’s characters are so well written that they feel like real people. Krissy’s reaction to finding out about all of the “tests” DeVon subjected her to was perfect – she wasn’t over-the-top nor did she act like a drama queen.

Once Krissy actually accepted the job and began working at Mirage Talent, well that’s when things between her and DeVon really get interesting. There is a ton of sexual chemistry between the two, but as Krissy refuses to entertain the idea of sleeping with the boss and DeVon refuses to pursue her, that chemistry is turning into some serious sexual tension. I am soooooo looking forward to THAT scene when it occurs. Here’s to hoping that volume two is just as entertaining as Chasing Perfection: Vol. I was.






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