Winning Love (Love to the Extreme #3) by Abby Niles

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

I was really excited to receive an ARC of Winning Love, because after reading Fighting Love a few months ago I was super eager to read Mac’s book. He was just one of those characters that I knew would have a great story, and let me just tell you Abby didn’t disappoint in the least! In the previous book, we catch a tiny glimpses that Mac was haunted by his past, but what I didn’t anticipate was just how truly damaged he was inside. I honestly couldn’t imagine the type of pain he was dealing with, but I have to say that being paired with Gayle was the perfect combination for them both. They each share a similar past that is affecting their everyday lives in two completely different ways. Mac has closed himself off from getting close to anyone, and has totally closed himself off from his past. Whereas Gayle has decided to live each moment of her life to the fullest, and she tries to help those that she can through her chosen profession. Now although these two have a bit of a rough start, I loved how they couldn’t help but challenge one another and how this led them to finding a common ground. But just when they reach it, they have the rug ripped out from beneath them once again.

Guys, parts of this book were just so achingly sad, and my heart hurt for all that Gayle and Mac have endured. If I were in their shoes, I’d find it hard to choose which one of them took the better route to handling that type of loss. I liked that Abby didn’t shy away from the type of conflict that Gayle’s job would present for Mac, but I also loved that Gayle stood her ground and tried to show him the reasons behind what she does, too. I think that it was handled in a fitting way for both of the characters, and I admired Mac’s ability to face his deepest fears. It was also touching how they each helped one another face down what they feared the most from their pasts. The romance aspect between these two was off the charts good, and you could just feel the intensity of their connection despite all the differences that they had. They really were a wonderful couple, and I was so happy they were able to work everything out in the end. Winning love was a thrilling, and oh so very emotional ride that had me on the edge of my seat too many times to count! I enjoyed every moment of it, and I’m definitely looking forward to where Abby takes this series in the future.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Abby, please head over to her website.

http://www.abbynilesauthor.com 

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Mastering The Marquess (Bound And Determined #1) by Lavinia Kent

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Reviewed by Kim

 

This book is a wonderful start to an exciting series! The characters were so full and fun, and I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. What a clever way to start a relationship between the 2 main characters.  I have never read a book with this kind of beginning, and I must say that I absolutely love how truly evil the villain is in this book. She's an OMG Villain and it's so much fun to hate her. The writing was very good, the story has an excellent flow, and it was easy to read. There are no moments that you think...hmmm...did I miss something, no, this book is written so well that everything meshes together very nicely.

I do look forward to seeing more of the family, they are just a hoot and I'm sure are going to be such a handful going forward. The lead-ins to follow up books were excellent,  and I am truly intrigued to see how it all plays out. 

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Lavinia, please head over to her website.

http://www.LaviniaKent.com 

 

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Committed: Drug of Desire by Sidney Bristol

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Reviewed by Kim

 

This book has it all. It was almost like 2 books in one. We start out with hot BDSM action, so hot it's on fire. The chemistry between them is out of this world and even though it's a book of fiction it feels so real and plausible. Then we start to see the action. The story unfolds into a thrill a minute ride. Then we move back to the hotness, and it all rounds out with the action taking over and keeping us on the edge of our seats until the very end. 

This could have easily become an overwhelming book but the side characters keep everything grounded and keep it from getting too out of control. The writing is really incredible. It just flows and unites two completely different stories into one amazing, spellbinding adventure and romance. 

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

 If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Sidney, please head over to her website.

http://www.SidneyBristol.com 

 

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Rough Surrender by Cari Silverwood

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

 Rough Surrender was definitely an enjoyable read, but I also found it to be a breath of fresh air as well. When so many books coming out these days all seem to be so similar, the uniqueness of this book is really what made it special for me as a reader. I loved all of the historical details that the author took the time to weave into the story, and you could really tell that she put a lot of effort into it, too. Upon reading the blurb, I was fascinated by the fact that this book was taking place during a time period and location that I haven’t yet seen done before in historical erotic romance, so that was another great aspect for me. Now I will say that it was a bit heavy on the sex side, but I was glad to see that it was seamlessly tied into the emotional side of the story. Rough Surrender also had plenty of mystery going on to keep the reader engaged as well, so I was captivated from start to finish.

I’ve read several historical BDSM erotic romances, but Cari set herself apart in this one with her character Leonhardt. He was an engineer by trade, so he had his own unique spin with his equipment he used during play. He was very reluctant to engage in his affair with Faith, but I found it endearing the way he let her lead the way. Faith was such a strong heroine in mind and spirit, but her sexual submission seemed very real to me making the scenes between them intensely erotic and exceedingly well written. Together they were a great combination, and it was no wonder that these two strong-minded individuals found themselves in love.

Moreover, I would really enjoy reading an additional story or two about the secondary characters from this book. We got that slight hint of a ménage with Hasim in there, so I was kind of expecting that to come to fruition and I was saddened when it didn’t happen. I think that the author has a really great chance to continue with this as a series, so I’d love to see that happen. Overall, I think this was a really well written and steamy read that all you historical erotic romance readers out there will enjoy, so definitely give this one a try.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

 If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Cari, please head over to her website.

http://www.carisilverwood.net/index.html

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Beyond Shame (Beyond #1) by Kit Rocha

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

I'm really ashamed of myself for not reading this book sooner, because this was such an amazing read! To give you guys some background info, the Beyond series takes us to a post-apocalyptic world where society is divided up into sections. Within each section they all have their own inner workings and rules that they abide by, which can also be a source of conflict between them as well. Now I generally don’t read post-apocalyptic/dystopian type romances, they have just never really been my thing, but I must confess that I was intrigued by the blurb for Beyond Shame. After hearing quite a few glowing recommendations from my friends, I bit the bullet and I’m ever so glad that I did.

Noelle has lived a privileged life in Eden being a councilman’s daughter but after being caught breaking the rules, she is thrown into Section 4 with only the clothing on her back. Lucky for her, she is saved by Jasper just before she falls victim to the many predators lurking within section 4 that are more than happy to divest her of anything they can. Jasper is second in command to Dallas O’Kane, and she finds herself as part of the O'Kane clan before she even realizes what she has truly gotten herself into. They open up her eyes to a world of lust and intense gratification that she has only ever dreamed about. This brings about a sense of awakening within Noelle, and she and Jasper embrace their undeniable attraction to each other. Unfortunately, she is also a distraction from his duties. When Noelle's past catches up with her and her life is at risk, will Jasper send her back to the privileged life he feels she deserves, or will he fight to keep her and allow her to embrace who she really is inside?

Like Noelle, I think that I’ve been sheltered and I’ve read quite a lot of erotic romances. These guys live a life of sexual decadence that may only live in books, but I can definitely see how she was so tempted by all that section 4 laid at her feet. Wow, doesn’t even begin to sum up what I thought about this book. It really was great read. Even though it wasn’t my favorite type of sub-genre, I found myself absorbed into this world of gritty chaos. Each character introduced to us was well developed, and the author leaves you craving their stories, too. I’ve used these adjectives to describe another book series that I loved, but it is more than fitting for this one too. It was gritty, raw, unapologetic, and incredibly sexy beyond words. Right now, I’m going to dive right into the next book in this series, so I’m definitely going to suggest this one to you guys. I can’t wait to read about Dallas and Lex, because the buildup in this one leads me to think that they will be an explosive combination! Now on to the next!

 If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Kit, please head over to their website.

http://www.kitrocha.com 

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Red Red Wine (Tastes of Seduction #2) by Jess Dee

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

I’m in a state of total bliss after reading Red Red Wine, and I cannot begin tell you enough how much I enjoyed this story from the very talented Jess Dee. Now I must admit to you guys that the whole jilted bride thing has never been my favorite kind of trope to read in my romances, but I had no doubt that Jess could sway me. She has an amazing ability to create characters you just can’t help but fall in love with, and she is able to capture such deep emotions between her characters for how short her stories are. To put it really quite simply, the woman’s talent amazes me.

"Fall as hard as you need to, I'll catch you."

So, now I need to get back to the subject at hand with Red Red Wine. Andrew Stafford is working himself into an early grave, and his business partner forces him to take a much-needed holiday. Upon his arrival, he is met with the drop-dead gorgeous Tori Worthing. The only drawback is that she is getting married that weekend so she is entirely off limits. When Tori finds out her fiancé plans to leave her at the altar she is absolutely devastated, but Andrew comes to her rescue and proves to her that her life isn’t totally crashing down around her despite how she feels right now.

"It was as essential as breathing. Tori was his oxygen and his lifeline. When she was around, he breathed. More than that, he lived. And right now, he'd never felt more alive.

Wow, did these two have instant chemistry. I loved the banter between them, and they were two characters that were far too easy to love. Andrew is commendable in his noble efforts to help Tori, but the passion these two share is something that is truly rare indeed and entirely undeniable. Not to give anything away, but a highlight for me was how much I loved that Jess gave Tori time to adjust to her new life after their weekend. Andrew was more romantic than I thought he was going to be at first, so I was pleasantly surprised by him. Overall, I just really loved that these two were brought together by a wonderful twist of fate, and I highly suggest you give this one a read. I did have to do a sneak peek on Jess's website just to be sure that Declan's book was coming after this, because I definitely think he is worthy of having his own book. I'm very eagerly awaiting what Jess has in store for him. :)

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Jess, please head over to her website.

http://www.jessdee.com/  

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Tempting a Sinner (The Sinners Club #2) by Kate Pearce

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Tempting a Sinner was another great offering from the very talented Kate Pearce, and I'm so happy to finally find out what was going on with Lord Keyes! Pearce takes us on an interesting journey of mystery and intrigue that left me guessing throughout the entire book as to what exactly was going to happen with these two next. I have to say that I absolutely loved this passionate reuniting of lovers that were torn apart by lies and deceit at a very young age.

Benedict Keyes has been estranged from his wife Malinda Rowland for over eighteen years. Upon her mother’s death, she embarks on a journey back to England to figure out who killed her father and exact her revenge. When matters take an unexpected turn, Malinda requests Benedict’s aid and she decides to take drastic measures to capture the Lord’s attention. Passion doesn’t even begin to describe what I feel these two share. They have amazing chemistry, and I adored that both characters were so very strong. Each scene was better than the next, and Kate proved to me once again that she is a master of historical erotic fiction. Now once these two lay all their cards out on the table, it is anyone’s guess whether the relationship between them will survive all that stands in their way.

Tempting a Sinner was a wild and very sexy ride with the perfect amount of suspense, romance, and eroticism. Not only was it exceedingly well written, but it was also a sinfully delightful read as well. I did find that it tended to drag on a bit in some areas, but the ending is where I think this story could have used a bit more. It just felt a tad bit rushed, and Keyes was a bit too accepting of what Melinda revealed she had been hiding the entire time they were together. I would have liked to see that more fleshed out, but other than that I really did enjoy this read so it was just a minor snag to me. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book, so I’m eagerly awaiting what is going to happen with Alistair and his disreputable brother. If you are looking for a captivating read with tons of passion and intrigue, then I definitely suggest that you give this series a try.

*I received a review copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Kate, please head over to her website. 

http://www.katepearce.com/

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Savor the Danger (Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #3) by Lori Foster

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Jackson has wanted Alani since he first set eyes on her, and now he is more determined than ever to have her. Problem is he wakes up next to her naked and so it seems he has already had her, but the problem is that he can't remember it. Alani is still recovering mentally from her kidnapping, and hasn't felt compelled to trust any man beyond her brother Trace and his friend Dare. Too bad Jackson is a temptation that she just can't resist though, and despite his overly sexual banter he is proving to be quite sweet underneath all his bravado. They are forced into hiding from an unknown potential threat to them both. Things are going to steam up pretty fast!

Wow doesn't even begin to cover it!

I honestly didn't think things could get much better after reading Trace's book, but I was happy to be completely wrong!  I fell totally in love with Jackson! He's the perfect alpha male with the right combination of sex appeal, humor, whit, and strength. What surprised me was the depth of his emotions, and his insecurity where her love for him was concerned. No matter how much of a bad ass he feels he is, we get to see the real side of him that is tender and loving.


Anyway... I could go on and on about how wonderful this book is, but just suffice to say that it is more than worth the read!  Lori has yet to ever disappoint me! I'm really excited to read the next one! My only complaint...that I have to wait so long to read the next book!

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Lori, please head over to her website.

http://www.lorifoster.com/  

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The Truth About Leo (Noble #4) by Katie MacAlister

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

 Katie MacAlister is back, and I honestly couldn’t be happier! I’ve always loved her trademark witty humor and her colorful cast of characters, so I was delighted to find that she was releasing another historical in her Noble series. I will admit, that I may be a bit of a MacAlister fan girl (it was her books that got me back into reading after all) but I think that she is an amazingly talented lady. The Noble series has always been my favorite of her books, so I’ve eagerly anticipated this fourth installment for some time now. I am exceedingly pleased to report that The Truth About Leo has definitely lived up to my expectations and it was so much fun to read!

We start out the book with Princess Dagmar (or her Serene Highness as she likes to be called) in a bit of a pickle, but that doesn’t keep the ever resourceful Princess down for very long. She jumps at the opportunity presented to her in marrying our injured hero, Leopold Ernest George Mortimer the seventh Earl of March, and quite quickly setting course for England. There these two embark on a thoroughly entertaining journey of intrigue and mystery that will keep you guessing as to what is going to happen with this couple next. I was pleased that Katie brought back the majority of the characters from the previous books in this series, so that we may catch a glimpse as to where they have gone since we last parted. As all of Katie’s heroines are known to do, the Princess stole the show for me. I just loved Dagmar (even if she does have an unappealing name). She is a resourceful woman, and I found her to be beyond funny. She has wit, intelligence, and a forthright manner of speaking that you just can’t help but love. On the flip side though, I wish we got to know Leo a bit more, but I did enjoy what little we got to know of him. Overall, The Truth About Leo was pleasure to read. If you enjoy well written stories with light-hearted humor in your romance and engaging plots, then I couldn’t suggest Katie more strongly as a great author for you to read. I’m definitely looking forward to what Katie has in store for us next.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

 If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Katie, please head over to her website.

http://www.katiemacalister.com/ 

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One Sexy Ride (Thompson & Sons #2) by Vivian Arend

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Reviewed by Tabatha

 

Len Thompson is the middle son, and the ever stoic backbone of the Thompson family.  He rarely complains and has always been the type to just keep to himself when others would chatter on.  He’s wanted Janey Watson since they were kids, but an unbearable personal tragedy happened while he was in high school that has kept him from ever acting out on their mutual feelings for each other.  What I could never really figure out while reading was why now? Yes we were told that she was planning on moving, although she didn’t seem overly keen on the idea, but we never find out exactly what she said in her drug induced night with Len to provoke him into action.  I honestly think she said something that night, but sadly we’ll never know.  Although I feel like One Sexy Ride had an overall feel good vibe to it, I just couldn’t get past the juvenile characterization of our hero that caused me to be unable to connect with him.  I have no idea of what their supposed ages are, since we are given very little in the way of character description, but he acted emotionally like he was still a teenager making it very difficult for me to view him as our sexy hero.   His inexperience when it came to women was definitely endearing in a cute and very sweet way, but I also found it funny that he somehow manages to become a powerhouse in bed despite this.  Now don’t get me wrong here because I do think that he was sexy, but it is a romance after all so he can’t suck in bed his first time, am I right?  All that aside though, he did do some really adorable things to win Janey back, so he definitely had that going for him there towards the end.

On the other side of things, I really enjoyed Janey even if it did take a little while for me to warm up to her.  I loved that her character was more aggressive; she had a really fun, strong personality and liked how she was the perfect balance to Len’s stoic nature.  Regrettably, she started the story with some questionable actions that I later found to be completely out of character for her.   What woman, in her right mind, takes a drink from a total stranger?  To me, that was beyond naive and nearly classified her as a too stupid to live heroine for me, but I’m glad I didn’t write her off completely until I got to know her better.  She really is a smart girl, so doing something that dumb just didn’t feel right for her character.  Casting those feelings aside though, she and Len definitely burn up the sheets, and I enjoyed the intensity that their relationship had in that regard.  Another slight snag, and it honestly wasn’t that big of a deal, was that I understood communication was going to be their issue early on given Len’s nature, but it also would have been nice to see them have some other issue since that really was kind of cliché. 

Anyhoo… the bottom line is that I think this book needed a few more edits to make it a really great read.  The base story line was a personal favorite of mine with the whole friends to lovers trope, so I had high hopes for it.  The one thing I just don’t like to see when I read are content errors, and I found too many to really push me to fall in love with this book.  There were too many mentions of things that were never followed through, so I found a lot of missing pieces in the story that were never really resolved.  What was really up with Mr. Jons, because it felt like more should have been there with him, and can I just say that the thing with his nephew, Brad, was just weird, too.  Also, what was in the pink wrapping paper there at the end? Do we ever find these things out? Nope, but I would have liked to.  Anyway…I’m digressing.    I would say that One Sexy Ride was a decent read overall. Now was it what I was expecting from this author given what I’ve previously read of her work?  Not really, but I’m interested in the family and what comes next for them, so I am looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.  

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

If you'd like to check out more about this series or other books by Vivian, please head over to her website.

http://vivianarend.com/ 

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