New(ish) Release Review ~ Relentless ~ Elizabeth Dyer #2018NewRelease

Relentless by Elizabeth Dyer
Somerton Security #2
Release Date: June 12, 2018
Genre: Adult, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from Montlake Romance via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Ethan Somerton doesn't do safe or easy. He's all about the challenge. The risk. In order to rescue one of his agents, Ethan must infiltrate the ruthless Vega cartel. One tiny error - just one - and he's dead. Which means he needs Natalia Vega. Bright, beautiful, and cut sharper than the most lethal blade, she's finally reached her breaking point. Now Ethan must find a way to make her surrender.

Caught between desperate choices and no-win situations, Natalia has survived the unthinkable by becoming dangerous, relentless, and feared. When it comes to protecting her sister, there's no line Natalia won't cross. But when Ethan storms into her life with his cocksure arrogance, stone-cold competence, and seductive promises, Natalia wonders if she's finally found a way out. But discovering whether Ethan is salvation or destruction is going to require the one thing Natalia doesn't have - trust.

As the cartel implodes and loved ones are threatened, Ethan and Natalia are going to have to choose between love, loyalty, and the lies they cling to. They could run, knowing they'll never be safe. They could fight, knowing they'll probably die. Or they can trust in each other and do something far more dangerous.

Relentless was suspenseful with well-developed characters. There were a few times when they pacing slowed and a few places where I felt as thought Dyer "told" me rather than "showed" me but overall Ethan and Natalia's story served as a good introduction to Dyer's writing.

What Worked:

• Premise
  Ethan, feeling guilt and a lack of control, must ingratiate himself with the Vega family in order to save a member of his team. The target is Natalia Vega and Ethan would do well not to take her at face value. Ethan has his team at his back as he works against the clock to win Natalia's trust - and maybe more? - and gain the intel he needs. The premise hooked me and kept me turning the pages.
• Characters
  Dyer created a great cast with Ethan and Natalia at its center. She deftly conveyed the type of people Ethan and Natalia are - loyal to a fault, fearless, strong, smart - as well as demonstrating the close relationships they each have with the friends and family. I was particularly fond of the snark and wit shared between Ethan and his friends/team members, Parker and Georgia. These interactions served to illustrate Ethan's ability to trust whereas Natalia's interactions with her sister and others showed her intense lack thereof. Of course, her family runs a cartel so it was understandable.
• Romance/Suspense
  I lumped these two together because as this is romantic suspense, they were inextricably linked. And Dyer did relatively well in developing the romance in a way that amped the suspense. Wondering if Ethan and Natalia could build on the intense chemistry they felt while also moving toward their goals, wondering what would happen if they had to make difficult choices, kept me turning the pages. The dual POV, delivered throughout the chapters rather than alternating, also worked well in conveying the romance and the suspense.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• Pacing
  There were points in the story where the pacing slowed...not something you want in romantic suspense. Most of these places occurred when Dyer "told" me what Ethan or Natalia was thinking or feeling where actions would have "shown" it more succinctly and would have kept the pace moving.
• Romance
  While the chemistry between Ethan and Natalia was evident, I felt that their feelings occurred rather rapidly and mostly in their heads. If they'd spent a little more time together the romance would have felt more genuine.

Relentless, although #2 in the series, can be read as standalone. I was drawn into this world and these characters' lives deeply enough that I want to go back and read #1 as well as continue the series.

Audio Review ~ Rule's Bride ~ Kat Martin #AudioChallenge #ShelfLove

Rule's Bride by Kat Martin
Brides Trilogy #3
Narrated by: Anna Parker-Naples
Release Date: May 23, 2017
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
After their strategic "marriage of commerce" three years ago, Rule quite forgot about Violet Griffin, the teenage heiress to a Boston manufacturing fortune. He simply spoke his vows, took over her father's business, and returned to England to resume his usual pursuits: high-priced wine, high-stakes gambling, and highborn women. Yet when Violet, now a sophisticated woman, unexpectedly appears at Rule's London town house, husbandly duties no longer seem so odious - he can't wait to take his stunning bride to their marriage bed. Violet, however, is not so easily led: She has her own ideas and is seeking an annulment to marry another. But as Rule attempts to win her over, someone else is determined to frame him for murder and keep him out of the way for good...

While there were a few things that didn't work for me quite as well in this final installment, I did enjoy Rule and Violet's story.

Highlights:

• Character Development - Rule & Violet
  One common trait in all the Dewar brothers has been their loyalty to their family. Each brother made a promise to the father on his deathbed and each kept it. I thought it was interesting the way KMartin had Rule keep his promise and I appreciated that although he'd made some questionable choices, Rule did prove himself as loyal, honorable, and able to love. I've enjoyed the independent streak in all the heroines of this trilogy and Violet was nothing if not independent. Being American gave her a little leeway - very little - but she was smart and very determined. I admired her commitment to her values and her father's legacy.
• Plot & Sub-plots
  Even though there were elements in the sub-plots that didn't work for me on the whole - specifically the reason behind Rule's determination not to fall in love and the angst between Caroline and Luke - the plots and sub-plots wove together well to create a compelling story. I think had Rule's reasoning for avoiding love been explored more thoroughly, it would have had more of an impact on his character. I feel that same of Caroline's and Luke's characters. If they'd been developed a bit more, they'd have had more depth. Because they lacked some depth, I felt the tension felt more contrived that genuine. I did appreciate the inclusion of the impending Civil War in America and how KMartin wove that element in. I also liked how she created the suspense even though I did figure out a portion of the mystery and the resolutions felt a bit too tidy.
• Romance
  Witnessing Rule work at winning over Violet was fun. Although she realized she'd given her heart to him early on, she still didn't make things easy for him. She wanted love and she taught Rule how to love - that he had the capacity for it despite his belief otherwise. I also delighted in watching Rule fall without ever realizing that was what was happening. KMartin once again gave us a secondary romance - this time between Violet's cousin, Caroline, and Rule's best friend, Luke. Neither felt they wanted marriage but after circumstances demand it, their fall was angsty yet heartwarming.
• Narration
  As I've mentioned previously, Anna Parker-Naples' range for male voices is a little limited and I continued to notice this in Rule's Bride. She also struggled with her American accents. However, her ability to do a range of British accents is amazing and even though those few things niggled at me, I still found her narration - her pacing, and her ability to convey the emotion required - to be brilliant.

My introduction to KMartin and Anna Parker-Naples was a pleasure. I'll be on the hunt for more from them both.

My TBR List Review *May* ~ The Girl in the Sea ~ Lisa Akers #MyTBRL #BloggerShame

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. 

***

The Girl in the Sea by Lisa Akers
Let Me Go #3
Release Date: November 9, 2015/February 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an ARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame
Goodreads

Synopsis
A Gripping Psychological Romantic Suspense Novel

Book 3 of the Let Me Go Series:
Olivia has a new job; one that unknowingly lands her right smack dab in the middle of a dark, depraved world of prostitution and sex-trafficking.
And to make matters worse, she's finally found someone. She thinks he's everything she wants, but he's strictly an online friend. While he tries to remain hidden behind his avatar, she's at last ready to put her rocky past behind her, if she can convince him to step out from behind the curatin.
But when she invites her anonymous friend to her sister's wedding on the beautiful, beachy, sub-tropical have of Bald Head Island, he says no; he's not ready to reveal his true identity. Instead, along with an unexpected squall that blows in, Grayson--the mysterious brother of the groom--arrives.
Olivia is rightfully wary of Grayson. He's a dangerous, real, flesh and blood man, after all. So, when her own heart beats out a warning tempo, she takes heed. Danger finds her anyway, as the beach is slammed with murderous hurrican winds, and the two are thrust together.
All is not as it seems, and she must dig deep if she is to unmask the mystery of the man, and save herself, by forcing him to confront his own inner storms and secrets, while he battles his two biggest demons: revenge and redemption.
Fiction: Romantic Suspense, Psychological Suspense, Family Saga 
Trigger Warnings: abduction, vague references to prostitution and sex trafficking, violence to women

First of all, my apologies for the late review. This past couple of weeks have been SUPER busy with Sky being home (for only 16 days total) and end of school craziness on top of getting both she and Jax ready to leave for the summer (drum corps again). I haven't had enough time to dedicate to reading and blogging. James and Jax left on Friday morning headed to Arizona and Sky and I leave this coming Tuesday for Oregon. *sniff* It'll just be Berk and I (and James, of course) again this summer.

Second of all, I received this book as an ARC a long time ago...so long ago that the title was different. Akers changed the titles of all the books in the trilogy but I don't know if the content changed or not. So I'm letting you know my review is of the ARC. I'm certain the overall story didn't change though and it was a good one.

What Worked:

• Format
  After having met and coming to adore these 3 sisters, I was grateful that the early portions of the book included their POVs along with Olivia's - who was the MC. We also got Grayson's POV - the other MC - and that not only enhanced his character but also amped the suspense.
• Story
  While Akers has always tackled difficult subject matter - abuse, PTSD - she incorporated a relevant subject in this story...human trafficking. I'm excited over the fact that she apparently did some spinoffs of this series that delve further into this element and I'll pick up those but in The Girl in the Sea, I admired the fact she didn't stray too far from her "roots" so to speak, focusing on the themes she's made the heart of this trilogy - survival, redemption, forgiveness, and strong familial bonds. Those are the things that kept me riveted to her books in the first place. We not only get Olivia's story - seeing how tights she is with her sisters after all they've survived - but we also get Grayson's, who is the brother of Olivia's younger sister's fiance. I like and am invested in all these characters and I appreciate Akers giving us this tight-knit group of "family". I also appreciated the suspense elements - and there were a few. I found myself worrying over how things would unfold and I admit to not having guessed parts of the outcome.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• Suspense
  There were certain areas that felt a little rushed and I feel like would have had more of an impact if things had been fleshed out a little more.

The Girl in the Sea was a good read and I'm kicking myself for having let this languish for so long. I will be looking into more from Akers for certain. I want to add that I'm rather certain, having looked at the difference in page count from the original publishing to the current one, that Akers did flesh out the areas I felt needed fleshing out. I'll have to see about getting an updated version. :)

Audio Review ~ Under Her Skin ~ Adriana Anders #AudioChallenge

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders
Blank Canvas #1
Narrated by: Wendy Tremont King
Release Date: May 30, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 3.5-4 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge
Goodreads

Synopsis
Ivan thought the world was through giving him second chances. Who'd want a rough ex-con with a savior complex and a bad habit of bringing home helpless strays? Everyone in Blackwood, Virginia, knew he wasn't good enough for the fine things in life; they knew he was too damaged to save. He just needed to keep his head down, work himself to the bone, and pretend he was content with the lot he was given. Until she came into his life. Until she changed everything. Until he realized he would do anything, fight anyone, tear the world apart if it meant saving her. Contains mature themes.

Under Her Skin was a moving story with many stories woven in. It had a nice cast of characters with the MCs, Uma and Ivan, being the center. The narration was okay but I'm not certain I wouldn't have enjoyed the story more having read it rather than listened.

The story revolves around Uma, who is on the run from an abusive ex, and Ivan, who can't seem to escape the perceptions his looks give people. The way Anders explored the perceptions and prejudices people have toward others - Uma and Ivan specifically - how Uma and Ivan perceive themselves and how they build trust between each other and are able to eventually look past their outward appearances was brilliant. The way she filled in their backstories allowing us to see the events that shaped who they are as well as meeting some of those who helped in that shaping - both good and bad - gave Uma and Ivan depth and complexity. The way in which they meet and seeing how they are in daily life - the kindness and compassion they show others despite how they've been treated and the things they've endured - only added to that depth and complexity. Anders also have us a strong supporting cast - particularly Ms. Lloyd. She provided some comic relief with her stubbornness and her crabbiness. 

So the story was strong. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and too tidy. There was quite a buildup to the "showdown" and it culminated in much less of an explosion than I'd been anticipating.

As for the narration, Tremont King did fine with the voices although her range for male voices was a little lacking. What bothered me was her delivery which was so very slow. It mt made the pacing slow and that made it more challenging to stay engaged. I have the next 2 in the series and I'm thinking I might listen at a faster speed to see if that makes a difference.

New Release Review ~ Angels Fall ~ JA Huss & Johnathan McClain (@JAHuss @MisterJMcClain ) #2018NewRelease

Angels Fall by JA Huss & Johnathan McClain
Original Sin Series #2
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon


Synopsis
Sometimes angels fall.

Maddie doesn't really owe drug lord, Carlos Castillo, money. So she hadn't taken his threats seriously. Until now. He wants it, whether she owes it or not. And if she doesn't have it in six weeks he's gonna take her as payment instead.

Tyler would save the world if he could. That's a fight that lasts forever. And if there's one thing he's good at, it's fighting. So if Maddie thinks she's gonna deal with an insane drug lord on her own, she's crazier than he is.

She's got a debt she can't pay. He's got more money than he needs.
She's not gonna fall for his charm. He's gonna make sure that happens.

They're destined to be together. Even if Maddie doesn't know it yet. 
Sometimes your soul mate isn't who you'd choose, it's who you need.

Good thing you don't get to choose.

While Angels Fall didn't resonate quite as strongly with me as Sin With Me did, I'm still completely invested in Maddie and Tyler and eager to see where they go from here.

Angels Fall, well I think it suffered a little from that sophomore slump. It did some character building, which was important, but not a lot happened. There was more angst than action in this installment. The angst was courtesy of a very stubborn Maddie and while I appreciate her fierce independence, sometimes it's smarter - proves your intelligence - to ask for and/or accept assistance. She spent a great deal of time digging in her heels and I wanted to shake some sense into her. Tyler spent a great deal of time doing everything he could to earn her trust and that made me fallfor him that much more.

So this time around Huss and McClain pulled me along on Maddie and Tyler's journey and I trust they know where they're going...I just didn't enjoy the ride as much. However...that ending!! OMG!!! It has me chomping at the bit to see what Maddie and Tyler do next. I'm certain there will be more angst, more *ahem* steam, and more action. I'm vibrating in anticipation.

#COYER Review ~ Sparrow ~ L.J. Shen #ShelfLove

Sparrow by L.J. Shen 
Release Date: March 8, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Troy Brennan

Every southie in Boston knows that name. The son of a dead mobster. The heart throb with steel blue eyes. "The Fixer" who can make or break you in this city. 

Oh, and my new husband.

Sparrow Raynes

That's me. No one seemed to remember my name up until he barged into my life.
But then he caged me.
Kidnapped me.
And killed every chance I had to runaway from the place where we grew up.
Put simply, Troy Brennan clipped my wings.

I have dreams, big ones, but I doubt he'd ever let me chase them. I have no idea why he'd decided to take me as his wife. But I do know this: pissing off this man will not do me any good. At all.

Sparrow is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.

I've been hearing a lot of good things about LJ Shen recently and since I happened to have a few of her books already on my kindle, I decided to give her a go. Although I had a few issues with Sparrow, I can see what the fuss is all about *wink* and I'll definitely read more of Shen.

What Worked

• Character Development
  This is an area where Shen excelled. I'm not certain but I think Sparrow may be Shen's debut and so her characters are impressive. In Sparrow we have this street-smart young woman who's this total spitfire. She stands tall even in the face of fear and I admired her. In Troy we have...well, a hardened criminal, really. His father was the head of the Irish mob and even though Troy is no longer mob, he was raised immersed in it. He's a man driven by revenge - for the death of his father - and loyalty, fulfilling promises her made to his dad...including one concerning Sparrow.
  Y'all know I'm a fan of character growth and Sparrow has it, especially in Troy. I quite enjoyed watching their fall and particularly how emotion changed Troy.
• Setting
  I've never been to Boston but I feel like Shen did well in conveying the look and feel of the city.
• Emotion
  She was able to make me feel the emotional upheaval Sparrow felt at her situation...the far, the confusion, the anger, and eventually, the love. I could also clearly see Troy transition from cold and calculating to a feeling being. Shen uses dual POV to tell the story and that certainly made it easier to understand Troy.

What Could Have Worked Better

• Plot
  While the plot was compelling, I never felt it was exactly what it was aiming to be. I didn't feel like Sparrow had no choice in matters. I also felt liker the resolution was a bit too convenient. I didn't buy that Troy, doing what he did for a living and having been raised in the mob, wouldn't have done his due diligence.
• Editing
  There were things about the story that could have been tighter - made the story more solid - with some editing. I'm referring to content editing, not typos. There were a few things that could have been stronger, a few holes filled, had someone helped Shen focus.

Overall though, I'm happy I have Shen a try. I'll absolutely read her again. I'm eager to see how her writing progresses.

#COYER Review ~ Caged ~ Amber Lynn Natusch

Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch
Caged #1
Release Date: December 15, 2011
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Source: Freebie on Nook
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
"I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving - I barely breathed. My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie. I needed to go, to run somewhere, anywhere to beat back the reality that was rapidly closing in around me. The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning. He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly not, and I realized that was my new reality. I was too."

After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural.

As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered.

When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life.

She chooses poorly.

Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it.

Caged came as a recommendation from Lorna @RabidReads so it came as no surprise that I was immediately captivated. The prologue teased me just enough to have my curiosity piqued. There were some freaky things that Ruby endured and she was equally as in the dark, so to speak, as to what was going on as I was.

The story picks up ~9 months after the prologue and Ruby is settling into her life "after". I enjoyed getting to know her - seeing her creativity and her love for dance as well as the way she's embracing her newfound, if undesired, freedom juxtaposed with the images of her childhood. Natusch did well developing Ruby's character in this way, showing us how she'd been and how recent events had affected her and were shaping who she was becoming. This was the first time she was really able to figure out who she is, define herself, etc. She has a fun sense of humor and is intelligent.

Sean is this enigmatic character who keeps showing up when Ruby most needs him. I didn't feel like I got to know him well enough to have a real connection with him - which might be purposeful - but for whatever reason, I felt he always had Ruby's best interests at heart. Eric, on the other hand, always felt slimy to me. I didn't get that acquainted with him either but I still felt like he showed his true colors and they didn't color him trustworthy.

Without being spoilery, I'll just say that Natusch developed an intriguing mythology of her own and despite this being the introduction to the series, it wasn't an info dump in world building. However, we really only know the bones right now so I'm anxious to learn more.

My issues with Caged were in the details about Ruby. I understand why she was the way she was but I felt that at times she was too trusting and she behaved immaturely. She also had an interesting fascination with fashion considering where she was 9 months ago. One other tiny complaint is that Sean was so enigmatic. I felt some things he said were confusing - so Ruby was also understandably confused by him.

Overall though, Caged held my interest and has my curiosity piqued enough that I'm looking forward to continuing the series, seeing how Ruby continues to mature and learn more about this all-new world she's found herself in.

Review ~ Where the Four Winds Collide ~ Hildie McQueen #ShelfLove

Where the Four Winds Collide by Hildie McQueen
Six Pack Ranch #1
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance, Western
Source: Contest Win 
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Adeline Buckley escapes her abusive father only to find herself in a brothel, on a stagecoach to the untamed west and married to a stranger, all in that order. Plotting another escape becomes harder, the more she gets to know her new husband.

Jackson Pruitt didn't expect a secretive mail order bride to show up the same week cattle wrestlers absconded with a large part of his herd. The bigger surprise was the loveliness of the woman. Why would a beauty like her need to travel so far to marry?

Jackson and Adeline learn that secrets and marriage do not go hand-in-hand when both of their pasts comes knocking and both have to come to grips with the reality, that sometimes trust comes only after you lose it all.

I was drawn to this book for its historical element and that it's set in West Texas - for the most part - where I'm originally from. This served as my introduction to McQueen and I'm not a fan. I'll certainly seek out more from her.

What Worked:

• Character development. I quite enjoyed the characters. Adeline was well drawn as this young woman who's been mistreated by the men in her life - one who's been seen as property and insignificant. I liked watching her blossom under Jackson's treatment. Jackson is a good man. He's fair, hard-working, loyal, and he shows all these attributes once Adeline comes into his life. Secondary characters were well-drawn too, overall. There were a few that seemed more one-dimensional but they weren't all that important to the plot.
• Mail-order bride trope. I liked McQueen using this element. There was definitely a lack of women in the territories as the U.S. expanded west and this theme was well used in the story.
• The drama. The elements of the story used to create drama and tension felt genuine and realistic.
• The detail of daily life. I liked seeing Jackson work the cattle and Adeline go about daily chores.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• The detail of daily life. While I liked seeing Jackson work the cattle and Adeline go about daily chores, a bit more detail would have been welcomed.
• Speech. This story is set in West Texas where there is a definite pattern of speech and an accent. This is nit-picky of me but being from the area, I'd have liked to have had the accent conveyed.
• The resolutions. There were 3-4 plot points where the resolutions were a bit too easily come by.

Despite my "issues" with Where the Four Winds Collide, this story was inherently readable. I looked forward to picking it up and finished it rather quickly. My introduction to McQueen was pleasurable and I'll be reading more from her.

Audio Review ~ For 100 Nights ~ Lara Adrian #AudioChallenge #2017NewRelease

For 100 Nights by Lara Adrian
100 Series #2
Narrated by: Summer Morton
Release Date: January 16, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Avery Ross is living a dream. After struggling all of her life to make ends meet, a chance meeting with a powerful, darkly handsome man has catapulted her into a dazzling new world of penthouse luxury, elegant parties, and a wild, consuming passion with her billionaire lover, Dominic Baine. Nothing is out of his reach in business or in pleasure, yet the only woman he wants is her. Nick sweeps her to sensual heights she has never dared explore, commanding her body the same way he commands her heart. Yet Avery knows the fantasy she's living cannot last. With dark secrets and a dangerous enemy haunting her past, Avery must find a way to trust Nick with the truth before it destroys everything they share. But Nick is harboring secrets of his own as well. And when they come to light, Avery will be forced to decide if the love she feels for Nick is strong enough to endure a betrayal she may never be able to forgive. Contains mature themes.

So For 100 Nights picks up where For 100 Days ended, continuing Nick and Avery's story. While I'm still invested in the outcome, there was something missing in this installment for me.

Nick made a deal with Avery - for every day they'd been together on her terms, he got a night on his terms. Since Avery's housesitting gig is up, this means she's essentially living with and being supported by Nick. This was something that was hard for me to swallow since Avery's a strong, independent woman who's been taking care of herself for awhile. But whatever.

Things seem to be going well for them as individuals as well as a couple. Nick has a pet project that's gotten approval and Avery's art seems to be reaching new heights. As a couple they're getting closer and seemingly stronger. But there are still so many secrets and something from Avery's past is haunting her - literally.

Okay, there were a lot of things I liked about For 100 Nights. With the exception of them keeping things from each other, I really like Nick and Avery together. Their chemistry is explosive and For 100 Nights has lots of steamy good times. I liked Avery's friend, Tasha, and her new artist friends. I liked seeing a compassionate side of Nick. But there were things I didn't like - mostly that I felt Nick used sex where words would have been better. And the past - things were too easily resolved.

And then that ending! Wowza!! I honestly didn't see that coming. I had inklings but nothing to this magnitude. I'm eager to see where these two land.

This is only a 3.5 star read because while I like my steam, I like it as a side dish to the story. And while For 100 Nights had story, it seemed to arrive late. In my opinion.

Summer Morton once again impressed me with her delivery, voices, and pacing. And the steam, y'all! The steam!! *fans self* I'll be checking out her other work. 

Review - Taking Control ~Jen Frederick #BloggerShame #ShelfLove

Taking Control by Jen Frederick
Kerr Chronicles #2
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
I thought I needed only one thing in my life--the money and power to crush one man. But the moment I laid eyes on Victoria Corielli, my thirst for revenge was replaced by my craving for her.

No rule would keep me away; no obstacle too large to overcome. Not her will, not our differing social positions, not my infamous past. When she lost everything, I helped her pick up the pieces. When she trusted me with everything, she sealed her fate.

I've convinced Victoria she can put her heart in my hands. Now I have to protect it--from her shady stepfather and my business rivals, from enemies known and hidden. I'll do anything to keep her. And I might have to prove it, because now Victoria's risking more than her heart to be with me; she's risking her life.

I finished Losing Control and immediately dove into Taking Control. I *had* to know what came next for Tiny and Ian. And I thrilled at Frederick's use of dual POV this time around. Being in Ian's head was fascinating. However, Taking Control wasn't as gripping a read as its predecessor. Here's what worked for me and what could have worked better:

What Worked

• Dual POV - as I said, being in Ian's head, seeing the rationale behind his decisions and getting to see the depth of his feelings for Tiny was fascinating.
• Dynamics between Tiny and Ian - these two work well together even when they don't see eye-to-eye. I liked that there wasn't any unnecessary angst due to lack of communication. There was one instance where Tiny should have shared earlier but they talked things out rationally.
• Tiny blossoming - I enjoyed seeing her find her way in the new world Ian's love came along with. She found something else she enjoyed doing and was brilliant at compensating for her dyslexia. She's so strong and resilient. I admired her!
• Ian overcoming his demons - with Tiny's help. He's such an interesting man and his past absolutely affected who he was but making peace with events and people, letting go - that takes strength...and maybe a good woman by your side.

What Could Have Worked Better

• The threats to Tiny and Ian - I felt like the groundwork could have equaled a lot more suspense but it wasn't capitalized on.
• The showdown and revelations fizzled for me. Again, I felt there was quite a buildup and things could have been much more powerful with these particular plot threads.

Overall though, I liked following Tiny and Ian in their journey. I liked how the title paralleled Tiny and Ian's lives and how they each were approaching things. And I read that Frederick may write more in this world. If she does, I'll happily revisit.

Edit: There is a book 3 in this series focusing on a secondary character from Taking Control. Woohoo!

Audio Review ~ Your Inescapable Love ~ Layla Hagan #2017NewRelease #AudioChallenge

Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #4
Narrated by: Sebastian York and Lidia Dornet
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease, #AudioChallenge, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
Max Bennett was nine years old the first time he met Emilia. The two formed a tight friendship that lasted for years until she moved away. Now, years later, Max enjoys a successful career and loves his life: carefree and fun. He has everything he wants and does not intend to settle down anytime soon (even though his family might have other ideas). But when a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Emilia, he starts questioning everything. Emilia Campbell has a lot on her plate, taking care of her sick grandmother. After practically being left at the altar, Emilia has sworn off men...until the childhood friend she hero-worshipped and hasn't quite forgotten steps into her clinic. Max is every bit the troublemaker she remembers, only now he has a body to drool over. They are both determined not to cross the boundaries of friendship. But as their chemistry spirals out of control, can Emilia trust her childhood hero with the key to her heart and accept she might have found her one true love? Contains mature themes.

Your Inescapable Love gives us Max Bennett's story. Now I'm a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope so when I realized Max and Emilia had been friends when they were kids, I was eager to see how this would come together.

Max is a rather determined bachelor, believing he doesn't have time for romance since he's so focused on work. He's an excellent negotiator and makes Bennett Enterprises lots of money. Lest you think he's all work and no play, know that he and his twin, Christopher, are the pranksters of the Bennett clan, doing things like switching places to get out of dinner duty to kissing girls.

Emilia was raised by her Grams after losing her mother and having her father bail. Now she works hard as a physical therapist as well as caring for her Grams, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She is driven in her career and with the demands on her time caring for her Grams, romance isn't on her radar. 

Then Max walks into her clinic. And lucky Emilia is his PT. They immediately begin cathing up, not having seen each other for years. They also have an immediate attraction, something they both try to ignore until they can't.

I liked how their romance blossomed - Emilia having some baggage but Max being baggage-free and more than willing to take on helping Emilia shed hers. Some of Emilia's baggage felt a little contrived though. And I felt like their story could have had more depth in some ways. They had history and more could have been done with it.

The Bennett clan wasn't around as much in this installment and I found I really missed them. he dynamics between all the siblings adds more dimension to the stories and while they were present, they didn't have prominent roles and... well, I just missed that. I'm guessing Christopher will be the next to fall and I'm eager to witness that.

Lidia Dornet and Sebastian York narrated and were fabulous. They brought Max and Emilia to life and kept the story flowing. Dornet even added a bit of action in some scenes which better conveyed the emotions of those scenes. York is simply ear-candy. ;)

My TBR List Review ~ April #2 ~ Changing Tides ~ Sarah Darlington

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. 

As y'all know, I had a tie in the vote for My TBR in April so I read them both. Here's my second review...sorry it's late! ;)

***

Changing Tides by Sarah Darlington
Kill Devil Hills #2
Release Date: March 16, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
ELLIE
For years Ellie Turner's had a crush on the ruggedly handsome, beast of a man, television actor, Nate West. This isn't your average 'fan-girl crush' either, it's borderline obsessive, and totally inconvenient since, other that this one exception, Ellie's always been strictly into girls. But it doesn't matter...because Nate doesn't exist in real life. In real life Ellie has her own issues to worry about, including the death of her brother, the recent suicide attempt of her sister, and then there's always her annoying roommate Rhett to contend with.

NATE
Nate West isn't looking to start a new relationship. He's still heartbroken over the last girl who ripped out his insides, still learning how to manage his new-found fame, and, frankly, not even sure what time-zone he's in. His life is so full of stress, the last thing he wants is more of it.

So when Nate and Ellie meet on an airplane, nothing life changing should have come from it. But "sometimes in life--very rarely, I might add--you meet someone and you know instantly they're going to mean something special to you."

I really liked Kill Devil Hills so I'm not sure why I waited so long to jump back into this series. While Changing Tides didn't pack the emotional punch of Kill Devil Hills nor did I find it quite as compelling, I did enjoy Ellie and Nate's story as well as the continuing story of the Turner family.

Ellie Turner was a character I immediately liked when I met her in Kill Devil Hills. She's kind, loyal, brash, and funny...and very sure of her sexuality. In fact, she seemed rather certain of a lot about her life, which I admired, and it's also why she was completely thrown for a loop when she found herself attracted to a man. Not just any man, mind you. It just so happened that one Nate West was on her flight from North Carolina to California. The Nate West who happens to star in one of Ellie's favorite t.v. programs. 

Nate is immediately drawn to Ellie and he's shocked because that's a rarity for him. He's coming off a bad breakup though so he questions whether Ellie is just a challenge or more?

The way the relationship between Ellie and Nate was allowed to grow seemed very genuine. I liked Ellie's quote:

"sometimes in life--very rarely, I might add--you meet someone and you know instantly they're going to mean something special to you."

and it was very applicable to her situation with Nate. I don't know though. There was just something that kept this story from being quite as complex. Maybe it's because the focus wasn't entirely on Ellie and Nate? There was another focus in this story and I have to admit to being very intrigued and very eager to have all my questions answered where this other plot line is concerned. I *do* know it had nothing to do with Ellie falling for a guy. I mean, we can't help who we fall in love with. The heart wants what it wants...and all those other cliches. I liked how Darlington dealt with Ellie processing the fact that although she was attracted to women, she also had some serious chemistry and a connection to Nate. I also enjoyed watching Nate realize what he'd had in his previous relationship wasn't at all what he'd thought it was. And witnessing him woo Ellie was fun too! On top of that, it was a pleasure spending time with Georgie and Noah, Rhett, and other characters I met in the first installment.

So while I can't put my finger on precisely what caused my connection with Ellie and Nate to be somewhat weak, their story was a good one. And I'm anxious to continue this series.

Audio Review ~ Your Forever Love ~ Layla Hagan #AudioChallenge #ShelfLove #TakeControlTBR

Your Forever Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #3
Narrated by: Jeremy York and Kendall Taylor
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
Eric Callahan is a powerful man, and his sharp business sense has earned him the nickname Shark. Yet under this facade is a man who loves his daughter and would do anything for her. When he and his daughter move to San Francisco for three months, he has one things in mind: expanding his business. As a widower, Eric is not looking for love. He focuses on his company, and his daughter - until he meets Pippa Bennett. She captivates him from the moment he sets eyes on her. Pippa Bennett knows she should stay away from Eric Callahan. After going through a rough divorce, she doesn't trust men anymore. But there's something about him that draws her in. He has a body made for sin, and a sense of humor that matches hers. Not to mention seeing how adorable he is with his daughter melts her walls one by one. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it's the connection that grows deeper every day that has them wondering if love might be within reach. When it's time for Eric and his daughter to go home, will he give up on the woman who has captured his heart or do everything he can to remain by her side?

Pippa Bennett has been the driving force behind all the matchmaking in the Bennett family - as evidenced by Sebastian's wedding and Logan's engagement - so it was fun to see the tables turned on her.

Pippa hasn't had it easy in love - the only one to have married and then divorced in the Bennett clan. Her ex was a real piece of work - marrying her for her money - and he did a number of her self-confidence.

Eric Callahan is the CEO of his family's company and considered a shark in the business world. But outside of the office, he's a softie. Oh, he's all alphas but when it comes to his daughter, he melts with a look. He's a single dad, having lost his wife. Since then, he's devoted his life to his daughter and his business.

Neither Pippa nor Eric want anything to do with love or romance but when it comes to the other they can't seem to help themselves.

I enjoyed watching Pippa and Eric's second chance at love - the fall was sweet. I loved that the Bennett clan was present and we got to spend time with them. And I adored Eric's daughter Julie. It's always a joy when children are incorporated into a story and although she could have played a more prominent role, I didn't feel she was a gratuitous addition.

For all their reasons for avoiding romance, I felt Pippa maybe gave in a bit too easily while I was agreeing with Eric's mom in that he needed to pull his head out. There was also a little more predictability in this installment but it was still a fun read.

Jeremy York and Kendall Taylor did well with the narration, even with Julie's 12 year old voice. They both handled the multiple voices of the cast well, kept the pacing even, and infused the story with the proper emotions.

Overall, I'm still a Bennett Family fan...I'm eager to watch the rest of them fall. On to Your Inescapable Love.