REVIEW BY BRANDY! MASTERED BY MAYA BANKS

 

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.
 
She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.
 
What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.
 
The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

Let me start out by saying that I love Maya Banks.  I really enjoyed the Slow Burn Novels and I love getting to read her new works.  That being said I was kind of disappointed in this story.  Evangeline was a hard character for me to connect with.  She was a bit to insecure and critical of herself.  I understand body issues or not liking yourself but she was a little more than that. 

Drake.  I love stories with dominating men and submissive women.  The D/s lifestyle is one that I think gets twisted and abused in stories at times.  So, hear are a couple of my issues with the book.  Keep in mind, opinions are like assholes and everyone has them.  What doesn't work for me might be the book that rocks your world.  To each his own.

First, no innocent is going to allow a stranger to call her into his office and go to work on her like Drake did.  Nope.  Not happening, especially one like Evangeline.  Second, hello secrets.  Drake just demands that she moves in and submits to him and she literally asks no questions?  Me on the other hand?  I need a background check, credit check, three personal references, DNA sample, lie detector test and a certified affidavit from his parents. Third, the way she allows him to treat her is just sad.  She was too innocent to allow Drake to have a stranger come in and have sex with her.  That is the type of thing that is discussed between two consenting adults beforehand not during.  

Yes, I KNOW that it is all fiction but I was just disappointed in Evangeline's character.  I don't mind a submissive MC but I want a submissive who realizes that she has the power in the relationship.  I also know that a true D/s relationship is based on trust and that takes time to build.  These two never got to that point.  

As this is a CLIFFHANGER, I will be anxiously awaiting Dominated to see if Drake has become more than the thug he seems and Evangeline can become more powerful than she appears. 

REVIEW BY BRANDY! DARKEST BEFORE DAWN BY MAYA BANKS

 

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

 I absolutely love Maya Banks.  That being said, I was expecting more from this book.  

I clicked with Honor.  I understand the need to help those who can't help themselves and her selflessness is inspiring.

Hancock.  I wanted to like him.  I really did but he just pissed me off and I couldn't get passed the fact that he is a douche.

**SPOILER ALERT**

How the hell do you think it is okay to "rescue" someone and then turn them over to monsters?  The greater good?  That's ridiculous.  Hancock goes into the Middle East to rescue Honor after she was the sole survivor of a terrorist attack.  The whole point of rescuing her was so she could be used as bait to try and bring down a bad guy cartel.  It just made him seem like an asshole because he seriously thought that sacrificing her for their mission was okay.

Honor was just as bad.  She was angry for a moment and then she accepted that this was the way it was going to be.  I have a problem with that.  She was stronger than that and her story should've reflected it.  

I will continue to read Maya but I have to say that I wish this story would have been more. 

REVIEW BY BRANDY! SUSTAINED BY EMMA CHASE

Blurb:
 Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled series, returns with a brand new funny, romantic, sexy story!

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will turn you on. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy and Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and arguing cases in the principal’s office.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

I absolutely loved this book!  I don't normally enjoy books written from a man's perspective but I loved Jake. 

Jake loves his life.  He has a clear cut path and doesn't expect any kind of deviation from it.  He keeps it simple and matter of fact.  He deals with clients that expect a man to get the job done and besides the obvious morons that keep repeating the same stupid mistakes, he does it well.  So you can imagine his surprise when he runs into a boy that is so much like him at that age it is unreal.

Chelsea McQuaid is a young woman that has her hands for.  At twenty-six she has taken guardianship of her six, count them six, nieces and nephews.  The kids all range from six months to fourteen years and while they are good kids, they still have some mischief up their sleeves.  This poor woman just longs for a little adult conversation but Jake has other ideas.  She makes it clear that she is a package deal and while Jake thinks he can handle it, he has no idea what to expect.

Picture it:  One hot, sexy lawyer + one innocent aunt + six devils in disguise = a book that I can not say enough good things about.

If you like books that make your heart flutter, your smile grow brighter and the laughter coming, then this is the book for you. 

PS:  It would be wonderful if we could all take a page out of the Judge's book and change the life of a child.

NEW RELEASE! BOUND FOR SALVATION BY KENDRA LEIGH

 

Title: Bound For Salvation

Series: Bound Series, Book #2

Author: Kendra Leigh

Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance, Romantic-Suspense

Release Date: June 15, 2015

Audience: Age 18+ due to mature themes and sexual content

Hell was hot, but the flames of deliverance might be the ones to burn … For the first time in living memory, Angel Lawson feels cherished. Ethan Wilde has taught her that love is possible for all, even the sinners among us. The bonds of his love free her from the shackles of her guilt. Inch by inch, he’s slid under her skin, folding himself around her soul like a soothing blanket. His love nourishes her starving heart, and his passion fuels the scorching flames of her deepest desires, driving her to the blissful edge of sweet insanity. Brick by brick, she tears down the protective wall she’s built around her heart, and the ice inside begins to thaw. To Ethan, Angel is the sole reason he exists, the blood in his veins, the drug to his addiction. He vows to mend her, to help her confront her demons and come to terms with a buried past that continues to haunt her. But what lies beneath the surface of Ethan’s past? Pasts left hidden to rot become dirty secrets. Secrets that can tear even the strongest love apart. And secrets have a habit of revealing themselves when least expected ...

Ethan paused at the foot of the steps to be sure I was shadowing him, and with one hand in his pocket, casually ascended the stairs. I followed at a distance, the way he’d followed me on the first night we met, and as I reached the summit, I caught sight of him disappearing into a room at the end of a wide corridor. The noise from the music and chatter faded into a distant hum as I made my way down the hall, my heart hammering rhythmically against my chest as excitement built up inside me, just as it had that night. The door to the room stood slightly ajar and tentatively, I reached out to push it open. The room was in darkness, but the brightness from the hallway cast a muted light into the room, enough so that I could just make out a large, silver, Las Vegas pool table. It was a games room. Suddenly, the chrome lights above the table flicked on, drawing my attention to the high quality, smooth, black cloth covering the table. Wilde was scrawled in gray writing across the middle. The rest of the room remained in the shadows. I entered the room slowly, a quick glimpse revealing, among other things, a foosball table, a pinball machine, and several vintage arcade games. A proper boys-with-toys room. I couldn’t see Ethan, but his presence was indisputable, like an electrical force field charging the space around me, exerting his force without any tangible contact. Behind me, I heard the sound of the door closing, the key turning in the lock. A combination of apprehension and exhilaration sped through me, a shiver chasing a trail up and down my spine, continuing down and under to my naked, clenching sex. Suddenly, there was a noise from behind me, somewhere to the left in the corner of the room. The sound of a dime being pushed into a coin slot and the whirring of mechanics—a jukebox. I didn’t turn around. Ethan’s imprecise location, the unfamiliar surroundings, the uncertainty of what was about to happen, all seemed to exacerbate my arousal beyond reason, and everything south of my navel began to pulse.

 

I gazed in bewilderment at the stranger in the mirror as I brushed my teeth. My hair was tangled and unwashed. Dark circles surrounded my red-rimmed eyes, too large for the hollows in my pale, haunted face. Turning away in disgust, I stripped naked and climbed into the shower. The steaming hot water cascaded over my tender, aching body, cleansing and soothing me, both physically and spiritually. When I emerged, I towel dried my hair and put on my robe, knowing I had only seconds to spare. As if on cue, I heard a commotion in the hallway before Ethan burst through the door to my apartment, frantically shouting out my name. He appeared in the doorway of my bedroom from the hallway as I entered from the bathroom and stared transfixed, his eyes wide with fear. The look of torment and suffering etched on his usually seamless face reflected that which I felt, and my heart constricted at the sight of him. His face was pinched, pain and misery evident in every crease and curve of his beautiful features. His bedraggled hair and bloodshot eyes revealed a state of turmoil and sleepless nights. The transformation was devastating. He stood before me, a mere shadow of his usual assertive, confident self, and suddenly my mind reeled with conflicting emotions. I hadn’t expected this. I’d imagined him shameful—remorseful even—that his deceit had been exposed, but this was an image of a broken man. Broken like me. Part of me wanted to run into his arms and kiss away the anguish and the hurt, and the other wanted to scream at him, pound my fists violently into his chest. I did neither. I just stood, rooted to the spot, incapable of any reaction.

 When I was asked to read a book called Bound for Hell, I was intrigued.  When I discovered that it was the author's debut novel, I was interested.  I love to support my indies.  I fell in love with Angel and Ethan and I made sure that Kendra knew I was waiting for the second book.  When she approached me about Bound for Salvation, I never hesitated.

We all have demons and sometimes those demons have demolished us.  The possibility of being rebuilt, worthy and loved seem like an impossible dream.  Angel found her dream in Ethan and he is determined to show her that her walls need to crumble. 

The passion and love these two share is amazing.  It is like a movie in my head that shows me what can happen when you have been retrieved from Hell and the man in front of you is offering you Heaven.  Do you take the plunge even thought there is still obstacles or do hide behind the fortress your heart as built?

Take the path that Angel and Ethan are on.  Trust me.

 

 Buy Bound For Salvation Now!

Kendra Leigh fell in love with books and the wonderful world of reading from a very young age. She was at her happiest when Enid Blyton whisked her away up into the magical lands at the top of the Faraway Tree with Moon-face and the rest of the gang. Books have been her constant source of escapism ever since. Currently residing in the UK, Kendra devotes her life to her devilishly handsome partner, scandalously beautiful daughter and cute as hell Shih-Tzu. As well as writing and reading, Kendra loves great TV, especially Dexter, Homeland and Breaking Bad. Bound for Hell was her debut novel and book one of The Bound Trilogy. Bound For Nirvana will follow Bound For Salvation and conclude the series.

Website Twitter (@KLeighBooks) Goodreads Amazon Page

  Bound For Hell, Book 1 of The Bound Trilogy, by Kendra Leigh Ethan Wilde. Billionaire. Business Man. Passionate. Powerful. Persistent. One of New York’s most eligible bachelors. Angel Lawson. Photographer. Gallery Owner. Burdened. Beautiful. Broken. A woman bound by the ropes of her sins and forgotten past, fearful of her future. A chance encounter… Consumed by guilt and tormented by the bonds of a tragic past, Angel Lawson’s life has been a solitary journey, condemned to live without love. In order to preserve her damaged soul from further rejection, sex is as close to a man as she ever plans to get. She was already hell-bound for her sins. One more wasn’t going to hurt ... ... or so she thought. When a passionate encounter throws her into the world of Ethan Wilde, Angel is helpless to resist the irrefutable desire and depth of raw emotion he ignites in her. Ethan is as intense as he is sinfully sexy. Irretrievably captivated by Angel, he seems just as intent on understanding her naked soul as he is desperate to possess every inch of her naked body. Angel craves his touch like a drug and yearns for the love he promises, but surrendering to the feelings he’s unearthed will mean exposing her fears and releasing the demons buried for a lifetime. Exposing her heart will leave it at risk of being broken. Will Angel choose to leave her life of solitude behind, or is the choice no longer hers? Ethan Wilde is used to getting what he wants … and what he wants is Angel. Relentlessly sexy. Emotionally deep. Tangled, twisted, intricately woven love story with romance and suspense. For readers 18 and over due to mature themes and sexual content.

Buy Bound For Hell Here!

 

 

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Review! Playing With Temptation by Erika Wilde

Erika Wilde

Playing With Temptation (The Player’s Club, Book #1)

Release Date: March 23, 2015

Synopsis

When Raina Beck is given an invitation to The Players Club, all she wants is a night of decadence with a gorgeous, sexy stranger. The seductive, mysterious man she meets fulfills her deepest desires and most erotic fantasies, giving her a night she’ll never forget. But forgetting him isn’t quite so easy. 

Logan Cruz prefers his women submissive and compliant in the bedroom . . . everything the independent Raina is not. Yet from the first moment he lays eyes on her, he’s determined to make Raina his. Despite her resistance. 

When Logan is assigned to protect Raina from a stalker, everything between them changes. Sex becomes more than just physical, and emotions run deep. Falling in love was never on Raina’s agenda, but can she let go of the past and surrender the one thing he wants the most . . . her heart? 

Purchase Links:

Amazon  B&N  iTunes  Kobo  Google Play

 Review

This is a nice erotica that gets the blood flowing! 

The passionate relationship between the main characters kept me enthralled throughout, but there was a lot going on in the background. Raina and Logan have the perfect chemistry, but she’s got a great deal of emotional baggage to ditch. I couldn’t quite relate with her, as far as how she’s judged due to her occupation or the fact that she even cares, but once paired with Logan she loosens up a bit. Logan; however, handles his affairs accordingly and knows exactly what he wants. Strong and domineering, he is a force that perseveres. 

I loved the sensuality of the book, as it’s written in a perfectly naughty manner, but Logan was my hook! Raina lacked the essential unwavering confidence that’s necessary for a heroine, but when she’s on her game she’s great. The mystery is enough to keep one in suspense, and the lead into the next installment is intriguing. I enjoyed this read, but it was all about the sex for me!

 

 

About The Author

Erika Wilde (aka Janelle Denison) is the USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances for multiple print publishers. 

So, why the new pen name? 

As Janelle Denison I’ve always written sexy books, but lately my writing has taken on more erotic elements that I wanted to keep separate for readers because not everyone likes their reading material on the spicier, kinkier side of romance. However, please be assured that even as Erika Wilde, you will still get an emotionally layered story with characters you’ll care about and fall in love with. That is always my goal, whether I’m writing straight contemporary romances, or more erotically charged stories. 

Currently, I’m working on The Marriage Diaries and making sure that Dean and Jillian enjoy exploring the more erotic side to their marriage. The series will be on-going, with no foreseeable ending as of right now, for as long as readers want to be voyeurs to Dean and Jillian’s sizzling new relationship. 

I’m also planning a spin-off series in the future, featuring the hot military men that work security for Dean at Noble and Associates. 

Author Links:

tsu   Twitter  Goodreads  Website

 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW! SEDUCTION BY VIOLETTA RAND (@TastyBookTours)

Perfect for readers of Abbi Glines, Seduction returns to the Devil’s Den, a Texas strip club where hearts can’t hide when the chemistry is right.

The night Marisela Gonzalez rides up to the Devil’s Den on her motorcycle, running from trouble and looking for her sister, she finds more than a place to hide out and work her red-hot body. She meets a guy brave enough to stand by a tough, terrified nineteen-year-old girl who’s been in the wrong place with the wrong jerk one too many times. And he’s ready to show Marisela how a real man treats the woman he desires.

An ex-cop taking over as the club’s head of security, Craig Hanson can handle anything—except the urgent need he suddenly feels to hold Marisela tight. Commitment has never been his thing, but all that changes when Craig finds something too real to deny between them. Sensual and vulnerable, Marisela’s got a scary past. And when it comes knocking, Craig goes all in to protect her—because seduction is the ultimate game changer.

Where do I even begin with this story?  This was one of those stories that touched me deeply on a personal level.  That doesn't always happen but when it does, I take note.

Craig was a douche.  There wasn't a lot that drew him to me in the beginning but it is humbling to see a man realize what his issues are and try to overcome them.  Marisela touched me deeply.  Her story is heartbreaking and the truth is that it is so very common.  Her strength and perseverance is inspiring.  While there are few things I would have changed with her actions after she returned to Corpus, the truth is we all handle these things differently.

This story is one that touches the soul and reminds us that we never truly know the pain another is hiding from.  I loved it and encourage you to read this amazing story.

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/seduction-devils-den-2-by-violetta-rand.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23298663-seduction?from_search=true

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/136346-devil-s-den

Buy Links   Amazon | Barnes | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Devils-Novel-Violetta-Rand-ebook/dp/B00N6PEWEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418866391&sr=8-1&keywords=seduction+by+violetta+rand

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduction-violetta-rand/1120261310?ean=9781101882689

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seduction/id926139790?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/seduction-40

Author Info

Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Violetta Rand spent her childhood reading, writing, and playing soccer. After meeting her husband in New England, they moved to Alaska where she studied environmental science and policy as an undergraduate before attending graduate school. Violetta then spent nearly a decade working as an environmental scientist, specializing in soil and water contamination and environmental assessments.

Violetta still lives in Anchorage, Alaska and spends her days writing evocative New Adult romance and historical romance. When she’s not reading, writing, or editing, she enjoys time with her husband, pets, and friends. In her free time, she loves to hike, fish, and ride motorcycles and 4-wheelers.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Website:  http://violettarandromance.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/violettarandromance
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ViolettaRand
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6952559.Violetta_Rand

Link to Rafflecopter Page, http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjM1YmFiZTdlYjI3MzI3YWI0NTU3Mjk0OWM3MTIyOjE4Ng==/?

RELEASE DAY REVIEW! CHERISHED BY MICHELLE HUGHES

Luca Phillips dropped me to my knees with a promise...

He was sexy and confident, absolutely brilliant and Luca wanted me.  I was infatuated from the first conversation, wanting to be what he needed.  For the first time in my life I understood what it meant to desire.  All he demanded was my trust.  I had been broken by my past and doubted I could give that gift, no matter how badly I craved him.

Luca's world was dark when looking in from the outside, but the light in his eyes promised something more.  Hope.  Together we could change the downward spiral my life was taking.  His words.

Kneeling at his feet, handing over control, he asked one question.  How far are you willing to go to be...

Cherished

Amazon      http://bit.ly/CherishAmazon  

iTunes       http://bit.ly/CherishiTunes  

B&N         http://bit.ly/CherishBarnes 

Kobo       http://bit.ly/CherishKobo  

Free 1st Chapter:  http://bit.ly/CherishScribd

This story touched me in a deep way. Everyone wants to find a relationship that is important to them. BDSM is a lifestyle that is misunderstood and judged harshly.  Michelle has done a wonderful job of weaving a story around truth.  Luca is a forever type of man. He understands Gina's (I know what you did there, babe) demons better than she does. Overcoming trauma is never easy and it takes a lot of strength to give another person something as precious as your trust. Luca earned it.  Thank you,  Michelle. You have shown us that we can overcome domestic violence and find our own forever types of guys.

 

                                                    

Michelle Hughes is an international bestselling romance author with over 15 books published. She is an Alabama native, married with five children, and formerly a singer/songwriter. Michelle is also the owner of Tears of Crimson LLC which provides exposure to independent authors and entertainers on a global level.

Blog:                    www.tearsofcrimson.com

Facebook:           www.facebook.com/authormichellehughes

Twitter:               www.twitter.com/michellehughes_

RELEASE DAY REVIEW! MANWHORE BY KATY EVANS #manwhore

 

 Manwhore 

Book 1, The Manwhore Series

Is it possible to expose Chicago's hottest player--without getting played?

This is the story I've been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don't be fooled by that last name though. There's nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he's a man's man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.

Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he's been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that's where I come in.

Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I'm determined to make him the story that will change my career.

But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I'm the one discovering him...or if he's uncovering me.

What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?

 

I was asked if I was interested in reviewing this and at first I was a little hesitant.  I know that Katy Evans is an amazing writer but I have gotten to the point that I was a little jaded about the whole billionaire romance novel.  They can get a little repetitive.   I read the blurb and was...intrigued.

Saint.  This man has made me decide that being a sinner is the way to go.  There is something about a man that knows what he wants and doesn't hesitate to go after it.  That is sexy as hell.  Rachel is a very naive young woman in my opinion.  She works for a failing magazine and has a shot to cement her credibility with her boss and get the story that all of Chicago wants to know.  Who is Malcom Saint?  

Rachel and Saint have a relationship that is hot, spicy and full of passion.  It begins with a trickle of sparks and turns into a full blown fourth of July celebration!  

Katy is an wonderful storyteller and her characters come to life.  It has been awhile since I read a book that left me with a hangover and begging for more. This is one that will leave you breathless.