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REVIEW – CON MAN by T Torrest

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SYNOPSIS

Lucas Taggart is the best con man in the business, so to speak.

A former-geek-turned-hottie, Luke is now an image consultant and life coach to the rich and privileged in New York City. His eight-week program is designed to transform ugly ducklings into swans by instilling some much-needed confidence, and hey, a makeover never hurts.

But when Ainsley Carrington signs up as a client, Luke’s world is thrown into a tailspin. Ainsley doesn’t need an image consultant; her image is already perfect just the way it is. Luke immediately finds himself grappling with his attraction to the introverted beauty as all his old insecurities come bubbling back to the surface.

Thankfully, his new friend Mia is around to help him see that maybe the only makeover needed is on himself. Soon enough, the coach becomes the player as lines get blurred and professionalism gets thrown out the window.

The thing is, Luke doesn’t date his clients. Ever. But fighting his desire is proving more difficult than he ever imagined. Especially since the cocky and arrogant “confidence man” has just completely lost his cool.

***CON MAN is a romantic comedy novel intended for ages 18+ due to some offensive language and graphic sex/sexual situations.***

READ WHEN YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR: cocky, fun, dramatic, insightful, relatable.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided By Author}

I liked to think of myself as a con man, if only as a play on words. I taught confidence, get it? But the title fit me better than I ever realized. I was a fucking fraud of the highest order. I was a fake and a phony and an empty shell of a man.

CON MAN is a modern version of the Pygmalion story with a twist. T Torrest’s latest creation is filled with laughs, steam, and many unexpected turns. Just when you think you know what the story is all about, the author takes you down a completely different path. It’s like getting two stories for the price of one. Although it started off a bit slow in the beginning, once I saw the potential for the romance that I was rooting for, I found myself getting lost in the pages of this book. As an added bonus, we get to revisit with Trip and Layla from ”Remember When”, and it was actually during a pivotal moment.

Luke Taggart is an image consultant. His clients are insecure people who are in need of a confidence boost and a makeover. Most of his clientele are women but he does help a few men as well. Luke finds himself crushing on his latest client, Ainsley Carrington. This is something that has never happened to him before and one of his cardinal rules is to never get involved with his client. A few days later he ends up meeting another woman, who is in need of his services as she is about to go for a huge promotion at work and lacks the confidence she needs to get the job. Mia Cruz is a fiery Latina who keeps Luke on his toes and together they strike up a special friendship.

I found Luke to be seriously dense and I was a bit annoyed with him for having such a major crush on a woman who he obviously only liked for her physical beauty. There was absolutely no chemistry between them. I knew right away who the perfect woman was for him and it was beyond irritating that he was so utterly clueless.

There were a couple of things about Luke that I thought were kind of odd and I wondered what the purpose was but it all ended up making sense during the last 40% of the story. T Torrest definitely likes to keep her readers on their toes. You can never assume you know what direction her stories are going to take and that’s what makes this author simply brilliant!!

I’m purposely being vague because I don’t want to give away any spoilers!

CON MAN is currently available and for 99 cents!! That’s a definite bargain! Be sure to one-click!

US: http://amzn.to/2naYYoH
UK: http://amzn.to/2n0FsdP
CA: http://amzn.to/2n0xYHY
AU: http://amzn.to/2nt8v7Q

REVIEW – DIRTY SOULS (Sins Duet #2) by Karina Halle

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SYNOPSIS

From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes DIRTY SOULS the much-anticipated, nail-biting conclusion to Black Hearts…

Violet McQueen has always been a sensitive soul. Troubled and misunderstood, she never realized her place in the world, nor her true potential…until she met Vicente Bernal.

From birth, Vicente Bernal has always known his place in the world – he’s been groomed to be a ruthless king. Yet for a man whose soul has become morally bankrupt, it’s only through Violet he’s realizing the worth of someone’s heart.

But at what cost?

With a deadly game set in motion taking them from the stark deserts of California to the steamy jungles of Mexico, Violet and Vicente’s forbidden relationship will be put to the test. Boundaries will be pushed, lines will be crossed and souls will get very, very dirty.

Because how do you choose between blood and love when both might get you killed?

*****Mel’s Review*****

5 Stars!

Violet McQueen realizes her life is full of secrets and lies. Her parents have kept a lot of their past from her growing up. She needs a break from her family, so she leaves San Francisco, & runs off with her boyfriend Vicente Bernal to her parent’s hometown of Palm Valley, California. She hopes they can uncover some answers. She feels safe with Vicente. Even though she now knows he’s the son of a drug lord, he’s still the only person she trusts right now. She’s falling for Vicente & just wants to be with him.

Vicente is struggling to do the right thing & be the man Violet deserves. He embraces who he is, but still wants to better himself. He doesn’t want to put Violet in danger, but can’t imagine being separated from her. He’s crazy addicted to her & will do anything to keep her safe. He has vowed to always protect her & will keep his promises, or die trying.

Soon Vicente & Violet find themselves in Sinaloa, Mexico at the mercy of Vicente’s father Javier. Javier truly believes it’s his job as a father to toughen up his son. You must break the boy to create the man. Vicente was raised & groomed to one day be a king. Javier wants to break him to make him a stronger future leader of the cartel. In order to do this, he has to understand loss & sacrifice. Vicente’s heart is too soft. Javier needs to harden him because only the strong & ruthless survive in their world.

Javier soon learns he’s underestimated his son & what he’s capable of. When it comes to Violet, Vicente’s heart is calling the shots. He’s fallen deeply in love with her, & will do anything to save her. He was taught in his world love gets you killed and makes you weak, but for Vicente, love only makes him stronger. As Vicente realizes he’s not even a son to his parents, but just a pawn in their game with the McQueen’s he is out for blood.

Violet has become a part of Vicente’s world and really learned what she’s made of. She’s brave, fearless and a fighter. She learns she’s capable of bringing out her dark side from within. She’s reckless, wild, & when needed she is totally badass & fierce and lives up to the McQueen name.

I absolutely adored this book! I fell hard for Vicente. The way he loves Violet is beautiful. This was a story of forbidden love. Love’s that’s put to the test by feuding families where they are made to chose between blood & love. There is tons of action & I was on the edge of my seat throughout. There isn’t anything Vicente wouldn’t do to be with Violet. God help anyone who tries to stand in the way of Vicente & his Mirlo. I really hope we get a book for Ben McQueen & Marisol Bernal next! :))

-It just took one girl. One fucking girl. That I will do everything to protect.

-I’ve fallen in love with her. I once thought she was my weapon, now I realize she’s everything to me.

-“Violet’s part of my family now. And I promise to ruin each and every man who dares to touch a hair on her head.”

-I feel the strength of him, his intuition, his protection. He’s an anchor to me, the only thing right now that makes any sense at all in this new world.

-I love her with my dark and dangerous heart. I love her with my wicked and dirty soul. I love her enough to raze the world around me to the very ground, just so we can be together.

-“You know that love doesn’t make you weak, no matter what he says. You know that love only makes you stronger in the end.”

 

*****Patty’s Review*****
*****3.75 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I love her with my dark and dangerous heart. I love her with my wicked and dirty soul. I love her enough to raze the world around me to the very ground, just so we can be together. But I know that love, real love, lives on truth. I have to be honest with her. I have to tell her how I found her. I have to tell her who Javier Bernal is to her family.

 

 

I am going to start my review focusing on all the positives about this story. Vicente! I loved him! This guy is one sexy as hell, badass alpha male. I wished each and every scene had him in it. He had my heart racing in a very good way! The steam!! OMG!! Fanning myself and needing to take an ice cold shower after reading some of the hottest sex scenes ever! Karina Halle’s writing style is exquisite and she is definitely not afraid of writing some deliciously naughty schmexy scenes! This story was filled with so much violence and action. It’s sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats!

What I didn’t love about the book, and it’s not to say that most of you will probably not find issues with what bothered and hindered me from giving this a full five stars. I really did not like the heroine, Violet. I found her to be too young and beyond dumb. She was not woman enough for the likes of Vicente. I honestly didn’t see what he loved about her. Maybe if her parents weren’t so much a part of the story, I might have had an easier time viewing her as an adult instead of as a petulant child.

Now, you can read this series without having read the previous books about Violet and Vicente’s parents, but honestly, in my opinion, I don’t think you can get a grasp of the full picture if you didn’t first read about Ellie, Cam, and Javier! You need to understand where all this animosity is coming from – why Violet’s parents are so distraught over her being with Vicente once they learn he is a Bernal. A reader needs to understand Javier’s quest for revenge against Ellie and why he unleashes his wrath upon Violet! I just think if you know the full background, the story becomes more powerful. But having said that, I also wasn’t a fan of all the Ellie and Cam chapters, even though they were pretty short.

Overall, this is a highly entertaining read and if you have seen the reviews, it’s getting much love, so those of you who love Karina’s books will definitely enjoy this one.

Dirty Souls is currently available!

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2o0SdDw

REVIEW – SHADE’s LADY (Reapers MC, #6.5) by Joanna Wylde

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SYNOPSIS

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the world of the Reapers Motorcycle Club…

Looking back, none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t dropped my phone in the toilet. I mean, I could’ve walked away from him if I’d had it with me.
Or maybe not.
Maybe it was all over the first time he saw me, and he would’ve found another way. Probably—if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Shade always gets what he wants, and apparently he wanted me.
Right from the first.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

For the first time in my life, I couldn’t imagine riding out for the next city without taking a woman with me. You fucked up, man. This is gonna get complicated.

 

Once again, we are privileged to be able to spend more time with the REAPERS MC. They are one of my favorite outlaw biker gangs. Each Hero we meet is over the top ALPHA and oozing with panty melting sex appeal! They’re rough around the edges and most definitely caveman-ish, but somehow I bet most of us wouldn’t mind being owned by one of these Outlaws. Move over Horse and Picnic, there’s a new Reaper who has won over my heart and his name is SHADE!!

Not only did I love the Hero, I found the Heroine to be quite funny and I loved her strong independent personality. Mandy McBride has had her life turned upside down by men she had misguidedly put her trust in. Her ex-husband made her an unwitting accomplice to a robbery when he had her drop him off and wait in the car for him. It was obvious to the police that she was innocent but she still ended up getting sentenced with a misdemeanor and having to serve six months unsupervised probation. She gets the approval to relocate to the town her older sister is currently living in. Mandy’s sister is another McBride woman who chose poorly in the man department and has been left practically destitute with her three little girls. Mandy comes to help her sister take care of her little nieces. She ends up getting a job waitressing at a local bar, that is the hangout spot for the Reapers MC when they’re in town. Mandy has noticed the hot as hell National President of the Reaper’s but she knows he is a REALLY BAD IDEA, wrapped up in a beautiful package! Little does she know that she has caught his eye as well.

One night, after a huge misunderstanding, she ends up back at the Reaper’s Club with Shade. Her current no good boyfriend offered her up to Shade as partial payment for a motorcycle. Mandy had no idea that she was basically whore’d out, but there’s hell to pay once she learns the truth. Deep inside she is wildly attracted to Shade and fights an internal battle over giving in to her physical need for the man, but she knows Shade doesn’t have it in him to stay around for the long haul, and she’s not looking to be a notch on his belt.

Shade is not used to being turned down by a woman and Mandy’s rejection of him only spurs him on more to claim her as his. He’s got his eyes on the prize and he’ll pull out all the stops. Eventually, it turns out that Mandy’s inner ”Wonder Woman” is no match for Shade’s seductive charms. They end up having one amazing night between the sheets with the understanding that it is only to be a one-time deal, but it turns out neither one of them is ready to let go. But as feelings start to intensify, are they enough to make Shade and Mandy want to take a risk on giving their hearts to each other?

As with every Reapers book, there is the element of danger and when the lives of their women are in jeopardy, these guys take no prisoners! No one messes with their Property!!

SHADE’S LADY is currently available!! You’ll definitely not want to miss out on this entertaining novella!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2hkmVan
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N1PJY8…
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Shades-Lady-Rea…
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01N1PJY…

 

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 Stars!

 

 

Mandy McBride is a 27 yr. old woman who has been through some hard times. She moved to Violetta, Idaho about six months ago to live with her sister & help her out with her kids. Trouble & bad men seem to find her anywhere she goes. She calls it the curse of the McBride women. If there’s a loser in the vicinity she always finds them. She wants to change her life. She works as a waitress at a biker bar called The Pit & is casually dating a guy named Rebel. When he burns her like all the rest, she decides men are like poison to her & bad for her health. She’s giving them up for a while since she has such bad taste in men.

 

Shade is the national president of the Reapers MC. He’s the youngest national president in history. He has a place up north. He’s just in Cranston while traveling & spending time with different chapters. While there he crosses paths with a beautiful woman he met once at a barbecue. She caught his eye when he first met her, & she’s still just as sexy as he remembers. He makes it clear he wants her in his bed & made it well known how interested he is.

 

Mandy has heard all the rumors about Shade. The Reapers were like MC royalty. Shade was pretty to look at but also scary. He was so stunning he could be a model but was a whole different level of badass than any guy she’d ever been with. She’d been with enough dangerous men to last her a lifetime, so she needed to steer clear of Shade. The problem was Shade is relentless in his pursuit of her. He wants her so bad it’s driving him crazy.

 

-“I know myself and I know what I don’t need, and that’s a man. They always cause trouble in my life. Always. History doesn’t lie.”

-The man radiated power, strength and raw sex. He was the biggest, nastiest bastard in the room- not to mention easy on the eyes.

-I read all the same things I was feeling in his eyes. Whatever this was between us, it wasn’t one sided and I wasn’t the only one blown away. “You can’t tell me this isn’t happening.”

-“I’ve never felt anything like it in my life.”

 

Shade is used to getting what he wants, but Mandy makes him work for it. He is patient, and finally, she gives in to temptation & agrees to spend a night with him. One night & no promises of more. She thinks she’s nothing more than a game to Shade, but will she soon learn the man who’s never been willing to settle down in one place wants to claim her as his own?

I really love this series & this book was fantastic! Shade was so damn sexy. He knew what he wanted & was patient till he got it. He was this big badass biker with a tender spot for a woman. I loved his alpha personality & his sense of humor. There’s nothing like a gorgeous, tough biker in love. Really enjoyed this one!

REVIEW – TAKE ME BACK by Meghan March

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SYNOPSIS

We fell in love on a beach, got married in paradise, and I carried her off into the sunset. It should have been perfect, but saying “I do” doesn’t guarantee a happily-ever-after.

Two years later, I barely recognize either of us behind the walls we’ve built.

It’s time to bring it full circle. Back to a tropical paradise. Back to find out if we can still make this work.

I’m not willing to give her up, but to save us, I have to risk everything.

Two damaged people.

Countless secrets.

The fight of our lives.

We might be broken, but we’re not done.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

Two damaged people. Countless secrets. The fight of our lives. We might be broken, but we’re not done.

Get ready to be taken on one hell of a wild and exciting ride! TAKE ME BACK is sure to become another FIVE STAR hit for Meghan March. The way the story begins, you think you know what lays ahead of you, but oh no, be prepared to have your minds blown! I swear this is my favorite Meghan March book to date!! I can’t wait for you all get the chance to read this gem!

Dane and Kat Cross are taking a much-needed vacation in Belize to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. Things have been more than strained where their marriage is concerned and this trip is Dane’s last-ditch effort to hold on to his wife. After a tragedy hit Kat really hard about a year ago, she threw herself into her business to avoid dealing with yet another devastating loss in her life, but unfortunately, it also caused her to close herself off to Dane. He gave her the space he thought she needed to heal. It was the wrong decision as it created an impenetrable wall to go up between them.

When Dane proclaims that this vacation will determine whether or not they should salvage the marriage, it actually becomes the wake-up call that Kat needed. Panic strikes her hard over the possibility of losing the man she loves more than life itself. So she makes it a point to leave her laptop at home and to turn off that pesky cell phone that always seems to be glued to her hand. Kat is going to take Dane up on this opportunity to get back to that fun and loving couple they used to be. The island of Belize is a beautiful backdrop for their romantic getaway and soon the passion that has always been beyond explosive is once again ignited between them.

I wasn’t expecting this story to completely throw me off balance and I just have to give kudos to the author for that. I’m not going to go into further detail about the plot other than to say that Kat and Dane have been keeping secrets throughout their entire relationship and hopefully that won’t end up destroying them.

TAKE ME BACK is currently available! This is a one-click must! I loved this story so much that I am officially adding Meghan March to my favorite authors list!! Those of you who have read her works and even those of you who haven’t, really need to bump this book up your TBRs!

iBooks – http://bit.ly/TMBiBooks
BN – http://bit.ly/TMBBN
Kobo – http://bit.ly/TMBKobo

REVIEW – THE BRAVE LINE by Kate Stewart

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SYNOPSIS

She is a five foot seven long list of things he can’t have.

He is a determined cop, desperate to keep his heart sealed behind his badge.

Michelle is a survivor. With a fresh perspective on life, she trades her tragic past in California for the coastal waters of Charleston. Fueled by a new career as a dispatcher, she’s determined not to let her scars weigh her down. She apologizes for nothing, especially her insatiable need for a certain police officer.

Rowdy is a newly minted sergeant dedicated to his job, but the life of a Charleston police officer has never been more dangerous. With his need to take order of a city spiraling out of control, the last thing he wants is an entanglement with a mouthy dispatcher. But, there’s just one problem. He can’t get enough of her.

As the heat rises between the unlikely pair, so does the tension.

Three months of summer was all it took to shake their foundations, rattle their walls, and bring them crashing down.

It was lust.

It was love.

It was real.

And it would have been perfect . . . if it wasn’t already over.

Note to reader:
This book has several elements and explores topics that some may consider triggers. For mature audiences only. Explicit sex, violence and language.

*****Dee’s Review*****

5 Phenomenal Stars*****

I read The Brave Line from cover to cover in two days; two days that felt like pure literary heaven in my hands. I cried, I laughed, I got aroused and everything else in between.

Reading a Kate Stewart book is like having a visit with your best friend; you know you are guaranteed to have a great time, you’ll laugh hard, and perhaps cry too, but in the end, you know you’ll leave with your heart full of wonderful.

This book was everything!

Michelle was such a memorable heroine and perhaps even my most favorite one this year. She is so funny, so courageous and lively, I just loved her. And Rowdy, well… this hero was perfection in my book. I’m still not sure if I wanted to fix him or let him break me, I think either way I would be happy. The Brave Line was truly an irresistible read, and I can see myself reading it again, and again.

Michelle has a very painful past that she’s escaped from. She moved to Charleston from California with a new perspective on life. Her new job as an emergency operator is not easy but she loves it, especially the part when she gets to talk to the sexy cop who’s been in her mind since the first day she met him, Rowdy.

Of course Rowdy has noticed Michelle, her good looks and larger than life personality are impossible to miss. But Rowdy has two rules in life, he doesn’t do commitment, and he doesn’t date anybody he works with. Rowdy has experienced enough losses in his life to know that love only leads to heartbreak. Also his only focus in life in his job, and is too dangerous to afford any distractions.

The more Michelle sees Rowdy the quicker she’s falling for him, and she has decided that if she’s going down, she’s going to take him down with her. Lucky for us we go along for the ride, and like a car chase you will feel exhilarated, excited, and even a little bit scared.

Read this book and surrender to the amazing pen of Kate Stewart as she takes us on a beautiful journey, that will incarcerate the hearts of anybody who reads The Brave Line.

*****Mel’s Review*****

5 Fearless Stars!

-You can begin again anywhere you want to in life but you can’t recreate your past or the way it shaped you.

Michelle Long is a beautiful woman who moved to Charleston from California after one tragic night changed her entire life. She is strong, confident, brave and a survivor who will never stop fighting for the kind of life she wants to live. She left the fairytale life behind & has built a life she is proud of. She now works as a 911 operator for the City of Charleston.

Randolph Owen Day aka Rowdy is a police sergeant in Charleston. He’s a great guy who has wonderful friends but doesn’t have lasting romantic relationships. He’s been through a lot in his past & has his heart locked away. He’s been a cop for about twelve years, & never breaks his rule of no business with pleasure, but lately one gorgeous, aggressive, openly flirtatious, feisty dispatcher has him wanting to cross that line.

Michelle has been crushing on Rowdy for over a year & he never seemed interested. She’s starting to believe her open & shameless flirting is a waste of time. She’s highly sexual & made it very clear on more than one occasion she wants him. He had a body she daydreamed about, & the sound of his voice in her ear every night made her fantasize about him even more.

Rowdy wants Michelle badly. She was after him & he was starting to have trouble resisting her advances. She was pure temptation & the thought of having her became harder to ignore. They both felt the undeniable pull every time they were in the same room. He finally decides he has to have her at least once.

-I’d be damned if every second I looked at him, I wanted him a little more.

-Something about the way he watched me made my pulse kick.

-I wanted him without a doubt, no preface of a future, no plans of any kind, no problem. I wanted him. And from the look in his eyes, I was about to have him.

-He’d read my body and my mind and completely owned me from the minute he touched me.

-I was at his mercy and I loved every second.

Michelle & Rowdy cross that line, and they are explosive together. They decide to satisfy their mutual cravings & just make it a one-time thing, but they couldn’t get enough of each other. They share an intense connection & he soon becomes a part of her, as her heart gets involved.

Rowdy doesn’t think he deserves her, & they both have demons from their past that have forever changed them and altered their lives. Michelle breaks through all Rowdy’s boundaries & he begins to fall for her. He doesn’t do relationships, but he can’t lose her. Will the darkness that still has a hold over him prevent him from having the future he wants, or will he open his heart completely to love?

I really enjoyed this book! I loved what a strong woman Michelle is. She’s funny, fearless & lives life her way. She is a woman who knows her worth & loves herself. She was a fabulous heroine, & Rowdy is a delicious cop who I fell for right away. He’s kind, sexy, alpha and hot as hell.

-The truth was, I wanted her.

-She wanted to know me. I loved it. I hated it.

-I didn’t need commitment, but I wanted her.

-Michelle was my only pinpoint of light. We’d been sliding through the dark together with nothing to hold onto but each other.

-She lived out loud and loved like no other woman alive.

REVIEW – THE RIPPLE EFFECT: EPISODE TWO (Ripple Effect, #2) by Keri Lake

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SYNOPSIS

Ripley

They call me RIP.
I’m a killer. A murderer. A psychopath.
In the eyes of the righteous, I’m a monster, born of sin and depravity.
I want to protect her, but I’m not a good man.
I want to love her, but I no longer feel.
She gets under my skin, though, and has awakened something inside of me.
Something I’d kill for.
I’m not her savior—not even close. In fact, I’m worse than the hell she’s already suffered.
I’m her vengeance. Tit for tat, as they say.
And if she’s not careful, I’ll be her ruin.

Dylan

For months, I’ve watched him.
I’ve fantasized him as my savior, my lover. My ticket out of the hell I’ve lived in for the last six years.
I never dreamed he’d be my nightmare.
Had I known what he really is, I’d have never gotten in the car that night, but life is full of cause and effect.
And sometimes the choice on offer isn’t a choice at all.
It’s the result of something already in motion, and we’re merely left to survive the ripple effect.

*This is an erotic suspense/erotic romance not recommended for readers under the age of 18 due to graphic violence and sex.

 

 

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

In my mind’s eye, he’s beautifully savage. Taking what he wants with the sole purpose of feeding what he craves. And I want to give it to him. I want to feed his appetite for my ruin. I don’t know why, except that the surrender feels so promising.

This installment was twice as good as Episode One! I believe I have another author to add to my favorites list. For some reason I find myself falling for the truly f’d up heroes and Rip definitely had my heart racing in this latest book!!

At the end of book one, Dylan is caught red handed by Rip. She broke into his home and got into his safe. She desperately needed money in order to pay the fine to get her dog out of Animal Control’s headquarters. Rip is intrigued by Dylan. He wants to know how she even found him and got into his house, and why when there was so much money in his safe, did she only steal six thousand dollars.

Dylan is addicted to Oxy and for what seems to be a week, she is coming in and out of consciousness. She doesn’t know what’s real or what’s a nightmare. She appears to be chained up in a basement and going through painful withdrawals. But then she wakes up in a warm shower with strong arms embracing her. Dylan thinks this is a dream but later on, when she finally wakes up in a strange bed, with an IV stuck in her arm, she’s not so sure anymore.

Rip is feeling an intense attraction to Dylan, and even though she is terrified of him, Dylan’s body and mind betray her by also having intense sexual reactions to his touch. She’s offered a deal to stay with him for two months, where she will let him do whatever he wants to her, sexually, and then she gets to walk away with twenty thousand dollars. What she doesn’t know is Rip has a really kinky and somewhat brutal sexual appetite. He can’t reach sexual gratification unless there is some pain mixed in with the pleasure. His playroom puts Christian Grey’s red room to shame!! I learned something new and I’m still kind of trying to figure out how one of his toys works!!

Dylan is still fighting with her addiction and also battles with her feelings for Rip. And Rip is finding it hard to focus on business when thoughts of the beautiful young girl, locked in his house, keeps running through his mind. He’s never felt this way for a woman and it’s not a complication he can afford to have in his life.

Will he let Dylan go before she becomes to mean too much to him? This series is far from the hearts and flowers romances, I usually gravitate towards, but I am completely addicted to it! Each episode ends leaving you wanting more and hoping that somehow these two damaged souls can find redemption from the bond that is forming between them.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: EPISODE TWO is currently available! Make sure you one-click!

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2mdAx5s

 

 

*****Mel’s Review*****

4 Stars!

 

Dylan Marceaux is about to turn 18 & has been left to fend for herself most of her life. She’s been living on the streets of Chicago for a while now, broke and hungry. She gets tangled up with a psychopath and gets away only to then try to steal money from him to save her dog. When she wakes up in Rip’s basement chained to the wall & at his mercy, she’s in a bit of a situation. Nobody cares about her or knows where she is.

Ridley can’t believe after sparing Dylan’s life, this is how she repays him, by trying to rob him. He can’t let her go since she knows too much about him. He is paid to take people out & doesn’t ever feel empathy, but something about Dylan makes him want to protect her. He has a curiosity about her & love’s her spitfire, fearless attitude. He knows she must need money if she was desperate enough to steal from him & he can’t fight the intense attraction he has for her any longer. He offers her a deal she can’t pass up. She’s his for two months, & then they part ways. No expectations or personal ties, and she leaves with a lot of money.

 

-For a monster, he’s stunning.

-“Even the threat of pain can enhance arousal, did you know that? It’s a primitive response to fear. Your instinct is to run from danger. But your body? Your body is responding to my touch.”

-“I’ll wait until you beg me for it.” “Beg you for what?”

-“Mercy. See, killing, fucking, it doesn’t matter. The moment you surrender to it is so goddamn sweet it almost hurts.”

-“I’m curious to know what you sound like when you scream- just haven’t decided if it’s pain or pleasure I want to hear most.”

 

 

Dylan never knew where she’d sleep at night & was glad to at least now have a roof over her head. The longer she is with Rip, the more she begins to want his attention & crave him. She becomes addicted to the way he touches her & the lines between fear and arousal become blurred.

Rip can’t believe how Dylan consumes his thoughts so easily. Darkness used to take up all the space in his mind & now he can’t concentrate. Dylan’s become his obsession. She’s awakened something inside him he thought was dead and buried. Will they be able to walk away from one another when their time is up?

I really enjoyed this book. Each one is even better than the last. In this book, we get more emotions, lots of sexy, & more of their past. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series! I’m hooked on Rip!

REVIEW – THE PLAY MATE (Roommates #2) By Kendall Ryan

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SYNOPSIS

His best friend’s little sister is all grown up … and ready to play in a whole new way.

Smith Hamilton has it all—he’s smart, good-looking and loaded. But he remembers a time when he had nothing and no one, so he’s not about to mess up, especially with his best friend’s little sister. That means keeping Evie at arm’s length … even though the once pesky little girl is now a buxom bombshell. A sexy blonde who pushes his self-control to the limit the night she crawls into bed with him.

Evie Reed knows she’s blessed—with an exclusive education, a family who loves her, and a new job managing social media for her family’s lingerie company. But she wants more, like a reason to wear the sexy lingerie herself. She has just the man in mind to help with that. She’s crushed on Smith forever. Surely tricking her way into his bed will force him to see her in a new, adult way.

Except that when Evie’s plan leads to disaster, she and Smith must decide—ignore the attraction sizzling between them, or become play mates and risk it all.

Don’t miss this sexy friends-to-lovers romp—get your copy of The Play Mate today!

*****Patty’s Review*****
*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I was falling, and I was falling hard. I could only hope Evie felt the same and that, soon enough, we’d come up with a way to tell her brother. A way that wouldn’t drive us all apart and ruin everything.

The Roommates series is turning out to be one of my favorites by Kendall Ryan. THE PLAY MATE is sure to become a HIT! This second installment focuses on the ”romance with the older brother’s best friend” trope, and boy did it have a healthy dose of steam and almost painful build up to the schmexy!!

Evie Reed has a plan. Her one and only sexual encounter with a college boyfriend had been a huge disappointment. She wants a “do over”, and Evie wants it to be with her secret crush, Smith Hamilton. He’s been a permanent fixture in her life since her early childhood years. Smith was like a second older brother when she was growing up until she reached her teenage years, and then he became the star of her naughty fantasies. While in Paris, she meets up with her brother and Smith to go over a business proposition. Evie’s family owns a lingerie company and it’s in need of a financial backer, which ends up being Smith. Evie plans to seduce Smith after the meeting, are ruined when he turns in for the night earlier than expected. Little does she know that he’s been having the same feelings for her and his desire for her that night was driving him insane. To avoid doing something he would regret, he chose to sequester himself in his hotel room.

Evie is not willing to give up on her plans of seduction. She ends up fooling the concierge into believing that she is Smith’s wife and is given the key to his room. While he’ sleeping she crawls into bed with him and let’s just say, she wakes him up in a way that sets him on fire. It’s pitch black in his room and he just assumed she was the woman who gave him her number at the bar that night. They are having the most erotic night of their lives until Smith realizes that it’s Evie that is laying beneath him on his bed. The brakes are put on almost instantly. Smith is stunned and a bit angry with Evie, while she is left feeling painfully embarrassed. They promise to keep that night a secret and go back to being “friends”. The only problem with that plan is now they will be working together, Monday through Friday, and how are they going to keep things platonic when they’re both so strongly attracted to each other? How will they be able to hide their feelings from Evie’s brother?

No matter how hard Smith tries to fight his feelings for Evie, it’s of no use. That night in Paris plays on repeat through his mind and being close to her every day is wearing his defenses down. So he suggests that they start spending time together to see what it is that is between them. The deal is that they are to get to know each other but SEX is not an option! This, as you can only imagine, will become a pain point for both Smith and Evie, and I’m not going to lie, it drove me crazy as well. I thought I was going to die from waiting for it to finally happen between them!! A part of the reason Smith took his time with Evie was because of his friendship with her and her brother. But mostly he has huge abandonment issues, having grown up in the foster care system and being adopted during his later childhood years.

Whether you’re a fan of Kendall Ryan or have yet to read one of her books, you are in for quite a treat! I mean who doesn’t love this trope?! The slow build up to the steam is definitely agonizing but so worth the wait once it finally happens!

THE PLAY MATE releases on March 13th!

Kindle ➜ http://amzn.to/2iDgTyx
iBooks ➜ goo.gl/h8TYTW
Nook ➜ goo.gl/NxEp9y
Kobo ➜ goo.gl/Y2fxX1
Amazon UK ➜ https://goo.gl/NP0zyk
Amazon AU ➜ https://goo.gl/dvoMel
Amazon CA ➜ https://goo.gl/Xo7aNg

 

 

*****Mel’s Review*****

5 Stars!

 

 

Everleigh Reed aka Evie is a 22 yr. old woman who grew up in Chicago with a great family. She recently graduated college and toured Europe. Now ready to head back home she’s spending her last days in Paris where she will be joined by her brother Cullen & his best friend Smith. Smith Hamilton is Evie’s older brother’s hot, off limits best friend. She’s wanted him for as long as she can remember. Growing up he was always so kind to her. Now they are both adults & he’s smart, sinfully gorgeous, educated and wealthy. He’s always had this sexy, wounded alpha male thing going on, & Evie’s still crushing hard on him. She wants him to see her as the adult she is. She’s never had a man rock her world in bed, & she wants a hot tryst. She has just the man in mind. The one she’s always desired. She knows what she wants, has a plan, & is going for it. She’ll seduce Smith & he won’t know what hit him. She’s in the city of romance and figures it’s her perfect chance.

 

Smith Hamilton lives in Chicago & runs part of his family’s business. He’s just arrived in Paris to talk business with his best friend Cullen Reed. Cullen has been like a brother to him since they were six. Cullen owns his family’s lingerie company called Sophia’s & has asked Smith to come on temporarily to help with numbers. Smith would never let Cullen down. Smith & Cullen meet up with Evie. Smith hasn’t seen Cullen’s little sister in about a year, & she’s no longer the little girl he remembered, but a beautiful, blonde bombshell. She’s absolutely stunning & tests his self-control every time she gets close to him. His body wants her desperately, but he’d never act on it. She is the one woman he can never have.

 

 

Evie is all grown up & wants to play. She wanted to have Smith just once. She comes up with a plan & breaks into his hotel room and crawls into his bed with him. Things turn intimate & then don’t go exactly as Evie planned. She returns to Chicago feeling like her attempt with Smith was an utter failure. Smith returns home trying to forget what happened in Paris. He keeps fantasizing about Evie & can’t quit thinking about her. He hoped with some time & space he’d get past it, but when she shows up at the office it’s pure torture being around her & not being able to have her. He tries to keep her at arm’s length & control his attraction to her, but things have changed.

 

-“I feel different about you than I’ve ever felt before.”

-This might have been about sex when I started, but it had grown into something more. I didn’t want just sex like I’d initially thought. No, I wanted a man. And the man I wanted was Smith.

 

Smith hasn’t ever been a relationship guy. He’s never let a woman get too close. If he was with Evie things couldn’t be casual. He could never hurt her. Too much is at stake. He was in foster care as a child & met the Reed’s after being adopted. He still remembers what it was like to have no one & doesn’t want to mess up the relationships he has with the family that means everything to him. The Reed’s had always accepted him.

Smith & Evie can’t fight the chemistry & connection they feel, & begin spending time together as friends. He pulls back so they can figure out what’s between them. Evie makes him feel like a teenager again & he’s falling fast for her. They laugh, make each other happy & can be themselves. What they share is special, but with Smith risk, it all to have her? Can he explain things to her brother without tearing them apart?

REVIEW – NEVER THE BRIDE (Dilbury Village #1) by Charlotte Fallowfield

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SYNOPSIS

From Charlotte Fallowfield, bestselling rom-com author, comes Never The Bride – A laugh out loud romantic comedy novel full of heart-warming friendships, romance, and quintessential British humour – Coming 28th February 2017.

Available to pre-order from Amazon now!

Abbie Carter felt doomed as she clutched her bouquet and started walking up the aisle. Again. She felt like she was stuck in some kind of Groundhog Day wedding nightmare. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Eight dresses, most of them hideous, were already stuffed in her attic space. She had more bridesmaid dresses than relationships. Was she really that unlucky in love? She despaired of ever finding her soul mate and was convinced that if she packed away dress thirteen in her attic, she’d never get to wear the coveted white one and have her happy ever after.

That was until she locked eyes with one of the handsome ushers, whose wink turned her elegant and well-practiced glide up the aisle into a flailing Bambi-on-ice spectacle. Miller Davis was the first man in forever to make her heart skip a beat, as well as her legs turn to jelly. And, for once, her interest in a man didn’t seem to be one-sided. It was just a shame that the Atlantic Ocean separated them. Abbie couldn’t even make a relationship with her elderly fat pooch, Sumo, work, so what chance did she have with a permanent New Yorker? Her best friend, Georgie, told her to ignore the miles that separated her from Miller and to go for it, saying that true love knew no bounds.

Was Abbie fated to always be the bridesmaid, or would her wish for the perfect day with the man of her dreams ever come true?

While Never The Bride will be a standalone story, it’s the first in the Dilbury Village series of romantic comedy novels. All of them will be set in the quaint fictitious English hamlet in the Shropshire countryside, but feature a different village couples’ story.

 

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

”I can’t explain it, Abbie. The moment I saw you, it was like I was looking at a missing part of myself. Like I’ve been alone all of my life, and suddenly I wasn’t anymore.”

 

 

I’m ready to pack my bags and my dog, and relocate to Dilbury Village!! I want to live in this quaint little town with all of its lovable and quirky citizens, but minus all the POO!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with so many references to farts and poo, as NEVER THE BRIDE, and believe me when I say that I definitely have a good laugh over bathroom humor, but there was just a teensy bit too much of it here, HOWEVER, I still LOVED and enjoyed this story so much! Get ready to fall in love with a new set of endearing characters who we will all get to spend time with as there are more installments to come!!

Abbie Carter is a silly but sweet young woman who has a tendency to land herself in the most embarrassing circumstances which always end up happening in front of an audience! She is a walking train wreck, but she has such a huge heart and is adored by her close friends. Abbie has been the bridesmaid in quite a few weddings, but her prospects in the romance department have been depressingly non-existent. That is until she lays eyes on a stunningly handsome gentleman at the current wedding she is a bridesmaid for and ends up landing in his arms due to her inability to walk since her vision is blurred by hearts and flowers. The best man is Miller Davis, an American from New York City. He’s also been struck by cupid’s arrow as well. There is this magnetic force that is pulling these two together and oh how my heart got swept away by their cross-continental romance!!

 

 

 

Sadly, they spend a lot of time apart, since Miller owns a huge software gaming company and needs to be back in NYC to run his business, and Abbie’s life is deeply anchored with her adorable but gassy bulldog, Sumo, and her delightful and cherished friends in Dilbury. She lives in the cottage her father left to her when he passed away. It is her last connection to him and there’s no way she could ever imagine leaving it or the people she has come to love so dearly. This becomes an annoying road block for the couple. Neither is willing to make a compromise. Abbie believes Miller doesn’t love her enough because he refuses to move to Dilbury. Seeing as he was an orphan and has no family, she doesn’t understand why he can’t pick up and move. Miller, having grown up in foster care his entire life, has huge abandonment issues and sees Abbie’s unwillingness to move to NYC as proof that she’s not as into the relationship as he is. So the two continue throughout the story to act like complete jackasses. I wanted to shake the both of them.

 

 

 

But throughout the story, there are so many hilarious moments to be had due to Abbie’s unfortunate mishaps! I loved all the scenes with her bulldog, Sumo and all of the hi-jinx that occurred with her bestie Georgie and all of the unfortunate incidents that occurred at the many weddings that take place within the pages of this book! There was never a dull moment to be had. I laughed throughout and ok, I even cringed from embarrassment for poor Abbie! But along with the laughs, there were times my heart broke and tears were shed several times as well.

I am so in love with Charlotte Fallowfield’s writing style and am extremely excited about this fabulous series. Knowing that there is so much more to come, makes me so happy but the wait for book two is going to be excruciating!!

NEVER THE BRIDE is currently available. If you enjoy RomComs with swoony Heroes and a plethora of belly aching inducing laugh out loud moments, this is a story you should not pass up!!

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2n6wts1
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2nBu0m4

 

 

 

*****Dee’s Review*****

3.5 Very Funny Stars****

Once you start reading Never The Bride you will enter a world of pure laughter that will be very hard to leave behind. You will want to stay in the quaint Dilbury Village, and follow along with the lives of its charming residents.

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Abbie Carter; twenty-eight, accountant, mother of a grumpy furry baby Sumo, and a forever bridesmaid.

Abbie has been unlucky in love, she has been down the aisle about eight times but always wearing a bridesmaid dress. She is a romantic at heart and wants to find her own Prince charming, and her very own happily ever after, like her parents had. In one of the weddings she attended amidst another disaster caused by her clumsiness, she’s caught the eye of the best man; a gorgeous American man that is able to turn her into a mess with just one look.

Miller Davis has been alone all his life. After being abandoned by his family he grew up with a goal in mind, to make something big of himself. He’s succeeded, now as an adult, he is a mogul in the video game industry and one of the most desirable bachelors in New York. From the moment he sets eyes on Abbie wearing her monstrous bridesmaid dress, he is completely turned on by her, and the more he talks to her, the more he wants to stay by her side forever. The problem is Abbie and Miller live on two different continents and it seems like the timing is never on their side.

Will Abbie and Miller be able to figure out a plan to let love into their lives?

I was laughing out loud with Abbie Carter. What a terrific character. Colorful, humble and totally relatable. This is a rom-com story that I’m sure everybody will enjoy.

REVIEW – SURVIVING HARLEY (Sex, Vows & Babies Kindle Worlds Novella) – by K. Webster

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SYNOPSIS

Taylor Cunningham is a diva talk show host who’s signed on for ninety days of marriage to a stranger.
All in the name of skyrocketing her career.

Harley Harrison is a bearded survivalist who’ll do anything to move past a broken heart.
Even if that means letting millions of people choose his perfect match and letting them televise his every move.

Opposites don’t always attract. Two people can’t be forced to be happy. And after nearly three months in marriage hell, they are counting down to the moment they can throw in the towel and divorce, without breaching contract.

But then everything changes in the blink of an eye.

One hot drunken night. A national scandal. Terrorists. Bombs. And total anarchy. This unlikely couple will be forced to work together…even if it kills them.

Will they survive and find love along the way?
Or is this marriage over in more ways than one?

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

The need to belong to him overtakes me and hope flutters in my chest. Fear of abandonment and a broken heart hide in the shadows as hope, this new sensation, shines bright, alighting every corner of doubt in my mind.

This book took me by complete surprise, and I absolutely loved it. I read the blurb and judging by the cover, I expected this to be a silly but super steamy erotic novella! K. Webster has been known to write a few of those. However, this was like two stories wrapped up in one perfect little package. A merging of the reality show”Married At First Sight” meets ”The Walking Dead, but without all the zombies!! This is exactly why I love K. Webster so much – you never know what you’re going to get with her. The story starts off light-hearted but then things get incredibly steamy followed by a healthy dose of the dark element that we have come to enjoy from this author!!

Taylor Cunningham is the host of her own television talk show. In an effort to increase her ratings, she goes along with the producer’s plans which involve her marrying a complete stranger that a matchmaking service sets her up with. She is then to have their wedding and lives together for the next three months televised to the viewing audience. Harley Harrison has had his heart broken in the past by a woman he thought he’d be spending the rest of his life with. Determined to find love again, he agrees to enter into this arranged televised marriage. Things start off a bit rocky between Harley and Taylor as she seems very standoffish and the two couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. But something changes and one night their growing attraction becomes impossible to ignore. The only problem is they forgot to make sure the cameras were off and their frantic lovemaking is broadcasted on air.

Just when you think that the biggest worry that these two have is that they’ll have to face all the negative and embarrassing publicity, a terrorist group has managed to turn off the electricity for the entire United States! Now, these two are heading out of NYC with a few belongings and supplies towards Harley’s family home in Montana. As you can imagine they are faced with an apocalyptic version of their country. People have become degenerates when there is an absence of order and lawfulness. Harley and Taylor are now fighting the battle of their lives just to survive in their new world. Throughout their journey, the love that builds between them only blossoms and all that matters is that they have each other. Luckily, Harley is a survivalist and has experience living off the land and doing without all the comforts of modern technology, and it also doesn’t hurt that he has an insatiable sexual appetite!

If you’re looking for something a bit different with some hotter than hell steam, make sure you pick this one up. It’s a quick read and thoroughly entertaining!!

SURVIVING HARLEY is a spin-off of THE ROAD BACK TO US, but can be read as a standalone. Be sure to one-click!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2n3fwil
Kindle World: http://amzn.to/2n36fH7

REVIEW – THINGS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Claire Lazebnik

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SYNOPSIS

From the author of Epic Fail comes the story of Chloe Mitchell, a Los Angeles girl on a quest to find love for her autistic sister, Ivy. Ethan, from Ivy’s class, seems like the perfect match. It’s unfortunate that his older brother, David, is one of Chloe’s least favorite people, but Chloe can deal, especially when she realizes that David is just as devoted to Ethan as she is to Ivy.

Uncommonly honest and refreshingly funny, this is a story about sisterhood, autism, and first love. Chloe, Ivy, David, and Ethan, who form a quirky and lovable circle, will steal readers’ hearts and remind us all that it’s okay to be a different kind of normal.

*****Dee’s Review*****

FIVE STARS*****

Uplifting and beautiful. Things I Should Have Known is a wonderful novel. A compelling story about a girl who’s trying to find love for her autistic sister. The love and acceptance these sisters have for one another took my breath away, and made my heart sing. I laughed and cried, and had the most amazing time reading this book. I’m completely enamored with Claire Lazebnik’s writing style, now that I’ve discovered her work, I’ll make it my mission to read every single one of her books.

Chloe Mitchell is seventeen, she’s a year away from graduating high school, has good grades, a great social life, and a gorgeous boyfriend. Chloe’s older sister Ivy is autistic; the Mitchell sisters have a wonderful bond. Chloe is always looking out for Ivy, and lately, she’s been noticing that her older sister seems lonely, so Chloe has come up with the great idea, to find Ivy a boyfriend.

Ethan Fields is Ivy’s classmate, and he seems like the perfect candidate to become her first love. When Chloe arranges their first friendly outing, Ethan also shows up with his brother, who turns out is Chloe’s least favorite person in the world, David Fields. David and Chloe go to school together, and they are constantly bickering and at each other’s throats. David is sarcastic, negative and plain rude. But the more the four of them go out in hopes that Ivy and Ethan will fall in love, Chloe realizes that there’s more to David than his bad attitude, and when things don’t turn out the way she’s planned and Chloe’s world turns upside down, her once nemesis is the only person who she can find solace with.

Honest and refreshing, this is a story that will make you smile. The devotion both Chloe and David had for their siblings was heartwarming and beautiful. I loved how inside a world of chaos these characters defended what was most precious to them, love.

Claire Lazebnik’s writing style was so seamless and entertaining that  I almost forgot I was reading a book. Her words transported me right to the heart of this novel. She made something unknown to me feel completely familiar. Lovely story, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.