Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
Dream Man #4
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER (summer), #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads
Synopsis
Get ready to ride...
Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't the tequila and hot sex talking. He's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss...
Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with her new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules...
So y'all know I started reading KA slightly out of order...I read Chaos when I should have read Dream Man so I'd been dying for Tack and Tyra's story, not realizing it was there...I'd just missed it.And y'all, I knew their story was going to ROCK but it ROCKED harder than I could have imagined. I've determined after reading Motorcycle Man that I have two distinct types and they're polar opposites. I love a broody intellectual as well as a tattooed motorcycle man. LOL
Tack and Tyra meet at a BBQ at Chaos which Tyra was invited to being the new office manager for Ride - Chaos' custom car and bike business. Some talking and drinking with Tack ensues and those things lead to others... However, those other things don't lead to what Tyra envisioned and to be quite honest, the fact Tack ever got another shot was a miracle but I digress. Come Monday, Tyra has to start her new job with Tack as her boss and things DO NOT start off well. But Tyra has a stubborn streak, which I adore, and she's determined to stick it out while letting Tack know what she thinks of him. That stubborn streak and Tyra's mouth are things Tack finds fascinating so he does all he can to get back in there.
All that combined with the mortification of meeting Tack's ex, meeting this kids who can be a handful, and Tyra's best friend, Lanie, getting into some trouble thanks to her fiance's dealings with the Russian mob - well, it all boiled down to the kind of KA read I adore and love. Oh, and we also got some time with the other Dream Man men and a few of the Hot Bunch, too. Awesome sauce, right?!?
Despite my initial reaction to Tack's behavior towards Tyra - okay, it took him a little bit to stop being an ass - Tack completely won me over. Which I knew he would since I already fell for him in the Chaos books but you'll love him too when he says things like:
And into the darkness, to this sleeping woman, he whispered, "You don't know this, baby, but some men have dream women too."
"I figured I'd find my way to beauty eventually. And I'd find absolution because I'd know, I earned the love of that woman, a woman who's got so much to her it'll take years to dig down and find the heart of her, that would be my reward."
See what I mean? Tyra didn't stand a chance but she did give as good as she got and that's something I adore in a heroine. So Motorcycle Man comes out on top as my favorite in the Dream Man series (sorry, Mitch) because I have two distinct types and Kane "Tack" Allen pushes all my buttons as the tattooed motorcycle man type. *wink*
No On But You by Brenda Novak
Silver Springs #2
Release Date: June 1, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads
Synopsis
Struggling to make ends meet after a messy divorce, Sadie Harris is at the end of her tether. Her waitressing gig isn't enough to pay the bills let alone secure primary custody of her son, Jayden, a battle she refuses to lose. Desperate, she accepts a position assisting Dawson Reed the same Dawson Reed who recently stood trial for the murder of his adoptive parents. Joining him at his isolated farm seems risky, but Sadie is out of options.
Dawson has given small town Silver Springs plenty of reasons to be wary, but he's innocent of the charges against him. He wants to leave his painful past behind and fix up the family farm so he can finally bring his dependent sister home where she belongs.
As Sadie and Dawson's professional relationship grows into something undeniably personal, Sadie realizes there's more to Dawson than the bad boy everyone else sees he has a good heart, on that might even be worth fighting for.
My second visit to Silver Springs was utterly satisfying. No One But You delivered a compelling story with fully-realized characters. I was tense, worrying over how things would work out, but I also was "melty" over Dawson, Sadie, and Jayden. *sigh*
Sadie Harris is doing her darnedest to gain her independence, her freedom, from her soon-to-be ex-husband and create a life for herself and her 5 year old son, Jayden. It's not easy since she's been unable to find a decent paying job and her ex is having problems letting go. When she applies for a position with Dawson Reed, she's apprehensive. After all, Dawson was accused of murdering his parents. But he was acquitted. And this job would really benefit Sadie's future.
There was something - a pull? - between Sadie and Dawson from the get-go. But neither of them were in a good spot to start up a relationship. And Sadie's issues soon became Dawson's, since her ex is a cop. These two had already endured so much but as they got closer, it was clear they had something special. Maybe because they both believed in the other? I admired them both - Sadie for using her wits in dealing with her ex and Dawson for being so determined to find justice. They were both hard working and together they were stronger. I liked what they brought out in the other - they were equals in the relationship, professional and personal - and that was especially good for Sadie.
The suspense over trying to figure out whether Dawson would clear his name and over an incident with Sadie kept me glued to the pages. On top of that, the worry over what Sadie's ex was going to do next and if he'd get away with it had me tied in knots. Especially since it seemed Sadie and Dawson were on their own where law enforcement was concerned.
I really like how Novak inserted commentary on how people are "tried and convicted" by the media these days as well as demonstrating that not all law enforcement are good, nor are they all bad. It was relevant and added that much more depth to Sadie and Dawson's story.
I'm very eager for my next visit to Silver Springs, a town and community I'm coming to really like.
Dead Hope by Nicky Wells
Release Date: February 2, 2017
Genre: Adult, Suspense, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease, #Goodreads
Goodreads ~ Amazon
Synopsis
DEAD HOPE is the new thriller by Nicky Wells, bringing you a delicious cocktail of crime, suspense, and romance.
Cat Hope doesn't want to go to prison. She needs a job, and she needs it fast; judge's orders.
Kay Mahon, office worker by day and hacker by night, is on the run from a past life that he'd rather not remember.
When their paths cross, they begin to investigate the truth behind the deaths of Cat's parents, the successful rock star couple Jackie and Adam Hope. Little do they know that their quest is putting Cat in grave danger.
I had the privilege of reading Dead Hope early and while I've read Wells before, this was something different. Wells took a new path with Dead Hope - that being the path of a thriller - and she delivered the goods. Dead Hope is compelling with great character development and although you know whodunit throughout, she keeps you turning the pages needing to see how it all shakes out.
Cat Hope is the daughter of a famed rock duo, one who has it all with, the exception of her parents who died tragically, and she's found herself in a bit of trouble. Her punishment, as strange as it is, is to be relegated to a new life - as a "normal" person. That being having no access to her trust fun - working for a living.
Cat starts out as a self-centered, spoiled woman - Wells seems to have a talent for creating heroines that have to win us over - but over the course of the story, she grows emotionally and it was a delight to witness even if learning things about her childhood - the things that caused her to be how she was - were troubling.
Cat meets Kay in her new job and as their friendship blossoms, they come to find they have some things in common in their childhood. This brings about Cat and Kay investigating Cat's parents deaths, opening a whole new can of worms.
The character growth wasn't limited to Cat although she grew the most. Kay, a very smart and talented man, having skills useful to investigating on the sly, was also rather prickly - not allowing anyone in...that is no one until Cat.
Wells did a fine job in creating suspense throughout - what would happen? Would Cat and Kay get caught? Everything flowed together naturally, keeping the pace even, despite knowing who the villain was. There were a few instances where my suspension of disbelief was strained but all-in-all everything worked. There was, of course, a romantic element - Wells didn't completely ditch her roots. And the romance between Cat and Kay was sweet, building naturally from their friendship.
I was rather impressed with Wells' foray into suspense writing. The nods to Bourne and other was a nice touch. Wells laid a nice foundation, used her skills in crafting a good story with characters I became invested in, and succeeded in delivering a thriller worth reading.
Question: You’ve been a bit quiet this past year or so. What’s been happening? Where have you been?
Nicky: After the release of my last novel, the romantic comedy “Seven Years Bad Sex,” I decided to take a little breather and to allow myself some time to think about where I was going to go next, writing-wise. I took a whole six months off, and I spent that time with family and decorating a part of our house. Wouldn’t you know it, six months flew by, and I found myself brimming with ideas for not one but several books, and I got busy writing and planning and writing again.
Question: Tell us about DEAD HOPE. How did you come up with the idea?
Nicky: DEAD HOPE was born with the working title of “Deep Cover”. When the idea came to me, I was still planning to write a romance featuring rock stars, and the key nugget is: what would happen if you transplanted a world-famous rock star into an office job like you and me might hold down? Moreover, what would happen if you removed that rock star from their natural habitat, the glittering metropolis, and placed them into a sleepy rural town? Romantic and comedy ideas flowed galore.
Question: So, DEAD HOPE was going to be a romantic comedy?
Nicky: A romantic comedy-slash- suspense, yes. That was the plan.
Question: How did you get from romantic comedy-slash- suspense to thriller? That’s quite a leap.
Nicky: It might look that way, but it was actually a gradual progression. I’m an OCD planner. I can’t write if I haven’t got the book planned out in minute detail, so I sat down and started weaving all my wonderful ideas together. But there was one central question I couldn’t answer: Why. Why would this whole thing happen? What would bring the rock star to the office job in the middle of nowhere?
Question: And?
Nicky: I did a spider map of all the possible scenarios that could have got the rock star into his unusual circumstances, and I got a bit carried away. I allowed myself to really think out of the box, and suddenly one scenario jumped out at me that turned the plot entirely on its head. Funny how a small idea can prompt a cataclysmic change! My hero turned into a heroine, and while she’s the daughter of a famous rock star couple, she isn’t a celebrity in her own right. But at that point, the romance theme was still dominant.
Question: What happened next?
Nicky: I finished planning and started writing. And as soon as I started writing, the thriller and crime ideas just took off. This baby wanted to be something completely different from what I had envisaged, so I had to abandon writing and re-plan. I went deep on the logistics of my core crime, my mystery, and I learned quite a bit about court and police procedures and forensics, more so than is evident in the story but lots of stuff that’ll come in handy in my next stories. In this way, DEAD HOPE turned from a romantic suspense into a crime thriller with a strong romance subplot.
Question: But there is still some romance?
Nicky: There is still some romance.
Question: What about blood and gore?
Nicky: That, not so much. I don’t like blood and gore and while there is some—it is a crime story, after all—the novel is all about solving the mystery. I guess I’m trying to follow in the tradition of Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton, not that I could ever hope to aspire to match their genius.
Question: Go on then, sell it to me. What’s DEAD HOPE all about?
Nicky: All right… here goes the elevator pitch!
A unique and delicious cocktail of crime, suspense and romance, “DEAD HOPE” is a compulsive page turner.
Cat Hope doesn’t want to go to prison. Kay Mahon is on the run from a past life that he’d rather not remember. When their paths cross, they begin to investigate the truth behind the deaths of Cat’s parents, the successful rock star couple Jackie and Adam Hope. Little do they know that their quest is putting Cat in grave danger...
About Nicky Wells: Love & Thrills
Nicky Wells writes captivating romance and breathtaking thrillers featuring famous (or infamous!) feisty heroes and extraordinary villains. DEAD HOPE is her eighth book and the first published novel in her “Wake Up Dead” themed thriller series, with the next two books scheduled for release through the course of 2017 and 2018. Nicky has previously published seven works of romantic fiction both with US publishing house, Sapphire Star Publishing, and
independently.
Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. She loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s hopelessly addicted to reading crime novels by the truck load.
Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas | Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York | Seven Years Bad Sex
Join Nicky: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google+
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Mara Dyer #2
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Suspense
Source: Purchased Hardcover
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads
Synopsis
The truth about Mara Dyer's dangerous and mysterious abilities continues to unravel in the New York Times bestselling sequel to the thrilling The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can't. She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren't. She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She's wrong. In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?
I'm not sure how often I meet an unreliable narrator, but I find I quite like them. At least, Mara Dyer. Despite having read book #1 at least 3 years ago and therefore having fuzzy recollections of the details, The Evolution of Mara Dyer sucked me right in.
This installment sees Mara's continuing search for answers about what's happening to her and why no one, save Noah, believes her. Oh and she's also doing her best not to be committed. And I want to believe Mara. I do. But then these unexplainable things happen and...and I doubt.
One of the details I did remember clearly was the incredible cast - specifically Mara's brother, Daniel, and Noah, of course. The romance between Mara and Noah. although not much time is devoted to it, is wonderful. Under the stress and constraints of Mara's circumstances, it's fascinating to see how they work together, support each other, and protect one another. A true foundation developing.
The Evolution of Mara Dyer is creepy, suspenseful, and messed with my mind. While some things were illuminated towards the end, there are still so many questions. One in particular had me wishing I already had book #3 on my shelf. And then I found it! :) Guess what I'm reading right now?!?
The Sugar Bowl series is fantastic! I listened to Sugar Daddy back in September. The cliffhanger ending had me deciding to wait for both remaining installments to be available before I continued, and that was a good decision. (Thanks, Lex, for that advice.) Once I had Sugar Free, the final installment, in my hot little hands, I listened to both Sugar Rush and Sugar Free back-to-back. This is such a great series and it solidified my appreciation for Sawyer Bennett's writing. And I'm not going to lie, Lucy Rivers' and Christian Fox's narration played a huge part in keeping my earbuds stuck in my ears for hours! They're incredible! Since I listened to them all so closely, I figured a series review was the way to go. Enjoy!
Sugar Daddy by Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Lucy Rivers and Christian Fox
Release Date: July 20, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Tantor Audio sent me a complimentary copy
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads
Synopsis
Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She's spent years trying to forget that night, even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her-until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela's TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend's world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner. The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who's done every dirty thing imaginable, there's something about the naive, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it's not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she's hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other-or bind them forever. Contains mature themes.
Sugar Daddy was more than a sweet read. It was gut-wrenching, suspenseful, and heartwarming. It left me dying to know what happens next. Bennett pulled me into Sela's story, wrapped me up in her vengeance, and turned up the heat with her romance with Beck. I'm hooked and sugared up!
Sela's story broke my heart. To come through to the other side after what she endured was nothing short of amazing. And I admired her choice of career - one where she could give back to people who might have suffered like she did. She had major emotional scars and to watch her progress - how Beck reached past all her scars and barriers - was incredible.
Beck was fascinating. He's smart and funny. And he has emotional issues himself. He maintains emotional distance, never dating, and mainly focuses on work. He's also been dealing with an increasingly reckless business partner in JT, who's also his best friend. When he meets Sela, something in him shifts and he decides he'd like to try to build something with her. Only there's tension between Sela and JT that Beck doesn't understand.
JT is despicable. And really, nothing more needs to be said about him.
My only issue with this story is the extreme measures Sela is willing to go to in order to exact her revenge. Not that I didn't understand the desire but I also felt it says something a little deeper about Sela and I'm not sure Bennett is trying to go there. Overall though, Sugar Daddy was riveting and I can't wait to see what happens!
As for the narration, Lucy Rivers had to grow on me but she so did. Her delivery, pacing, and ability to convey the emotion warranted was impressive. Christian Fox *is* Beck. I loved his delivery from the first chapter and am eager to hear more from him.
Sugar Rush by Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Lucy Rivers and Christian Fox
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Tantor Audio sent me a complimentary copy
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads
Synopsis
After posing as an escort for the Sugar Bowl online dating service, Sela Halstead is looking for one thing: payback. She's closing in on the site's heartless founder, Jonathon Townsend, and she needs Beckett North, Townsend's business partner and her lover, by her side. She'd thought that their intimate nights together had forged an unbreakable bond, but after a shocking betrayal, Sela begins to doubt the brilliant bad boy. When push comes to shove, can she trust Beck to do the right thing? Now that he understands the truth, Beck will stop at nothing to secure the reckoning Sela deserves. But between his desire for her and his disgust for JT, Beck doesn't exactly have a lot of control over his emotional state. Left with no other choice, he must summon all his discipline to maintain JT's trust and pretend that they're still friends. But how far will Beck go to prove his loyalty to Sela? He nearly lost her once. To keep her, Beck might have to kill for her.
This sequel was equally as thrilling as the first installment with jaw-dropping revelations and heart-pounding events!
Sugar Rush picks up immediately where Sugar Daddy left off. It broke my heart to see Sela dealing with how things went down with Beck but I also liked seeing Beck calm down and look at things rationally. The steps he took to make amends filled in all the cracks he'd made in my heart, as well as Sela's.
The direction things went from there were actually logical, if shocking, and understandable. As Sela and Beck took steps in making their relationship more solid - falling for one another even harder - the all plotted to exact revenge on JT. I admired them both for working towards a revenge that would appease them both as well as leave them relatively "clean".
The ending though - full of revelations that honestly made me sick - was shocking! I didn't see any of it coming. And I'm oh so grateful I already have Sugar Free in my possession. Lucy Rivers and Christian Fox are the perfect duo and embody Sela and Beck. *inserting ear buds*
Sugar Free by Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Lucy Rivers and Christian Fox
Release Date: October 18, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Tantor Audio sent me a complimentary copy
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads
Synopsis
Sela and Beck's deliciously sinful tale of sex, lies, and vengeance reaches its explosive conclusion in the final chapter of Sawyer Bennett's Sugar Bowl trilogy, which began with the novels Sugar Daddy and Sugar Rush.
For years, Sela Halstead dreamed of revenge, but the quest for payback has been anything but sweet. Now, once again, she finds herself at the mercy of Jonathon Townsend, his hands crushing the very breath from her body. And even though she escapes with her life, Sela fears she may never recover. In desperate need of shelter and comfort, she runs to the one man she can trust. Beckett North has stood by Sela since the beginning. But can he handle the brutal truth?
Beck will do anything to protect what is his--and make no mistake, Sela belongs to him, heart and soul. The passion between them runs hot, even as their world begins to unravel. With the legacy of his ruthless business partner hanging in the balance, Beck stands to lose everything: his fortune, his family, his freedom. But each touch of Sela's mouth on his skin, her nails down his back, makes it harder to let her go--and it might not even be his choice to make.
I am so happy I had Sugar Free downloaded and ready to go. Sela and Beck's story has been a thrill ride so far and Sugar Free didn't disappoint. In any way.
Honestly, I couldn't see a way out of the situation Sela and Beck had found themselves in. Well, I guess I could see one but I didn't like that option. After everything they've been through and sacrificed for the other, that option didn't sit well with me. But in light of there being no other options, I suppose it was better than nothing.
The revelations made in Sugar Free were shocking - some were even disgusting. When push came to shove, the character of all involved was truly shown and I was disappointed in a few characters but justified in my feelings for others.
The twist Bennett wove in - well, I didn't see it coming. It'd never crossed my mind and I'm always impressed when an author can surprise me like that.
The ending as well as the epilogue was perfect. Y'all know I always enjoy being a part of a journey with characters, particularly journeys where emotional growth occurs. Being with Sela as she progressed from a vengeful victim to a well-adjusted survivor was an incredible experience. Watching as Beck took her hand and walked beside her every step of the way - even when they stumbled - was heartwarming. They both grew - realized what was most important in this life - and it's been a journey I won't soon forget.
Lucy Rivers and Christian are on my favorites list now. I'd listen to Christian Fox read my grocery list or tell me he's sorry but all customer service reps are currently assisting other customers...Both narrators did an incredible job of conveying every nuance of emotion in this story. Fox's delivery in particular was very natural, easy...and I just loved it. I'll definitely be looking for more listens with them both!
Breathe by Kristen Ashley
Colorado Mountain #4
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on kindle
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads
Synopsis
There's nothing like the first time...
In Carnal, Colorado, Faye Goodknight is the town's quiet, shy librarian. She may also be Carnal's last remaining virgin. For years, Fay has had a crush on Chace Keaton, but the gorgeous cop has always been unattainable. She's resigned to live contentedly with only her books for company-until Faye suddenly meets Chace alone in the woods...
Chace doesn't think he's the good guy everyone believes him to be. He's made a lot of choices he regrets, including denying his feelings for Faye. Through his choices, he's come to believe the pretty librarian is too good for him, but after their time in the woods, Chace realizes that she may be his last chance for redemption. Soon, their long simmering desires grow to a burning passion. Yet always casting a shadow over their happiness is Chace's dark past...
Breathe - ah, Breathe. I have to admit that I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Chace. There are some things he did in his recent past that made me leery of him. Then again, he'd done some things that made me warm to him - so I was confused...at first. But he won me over. In a big way. He really was a kind and compassionate man even if he was gruff at times. He got caught in a situation *not* of his own making and he did what he thought was right. The fallout over some of it haunted him. And it broke my heart that these events - this set of circumstances he was trapped in - made him lose hope he'd ever get what he really wanted...a happy life with Faye.
Now Faye - she was always certain of Chace. She understood, to the degree she could, the situation Chace was living. And when the fallout affected him so greatly, she set out to free him of that. Faye was awesome. I adored her - her fierce protectiveness of someone she didn't even know if he knew she existed. Her goodness. Her kindness and intelligence. Her humor. Her love of books and nerdy t.v. She's my kind of gal!
I reveled in watching Chace and Faye come together - find hope, trust, and love. I cried over Faye's ability to change Chace's perspective on so many things. These two were literally the yin and yang to the other - perfect complements.
I also reveled in the double dose of suspense. It's scary to think of all the bad that can go on in a small mountain town where it would seem everyone knows everyone's business and everyone's friendly. But nope. Bad can take root anywhere. Thankfully, good tends to weed out the bad.
Breathe served as the perfect read at the exact time I needed it. It was a comforting escape even if it was suspenseful. I got to meet a few more residents of Carnal as well as visiting old friends. And I got to fall in love with Faye and Chace right alongside them. As always - a captivating story with enchanting characters - Breathe is another treasure from KA!
Werewolves of Chicago: Curragh by Faleena Hopkins
Werewolves of Chicago #1
Release Date: January 21, 2016
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2106NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads
Synopsis
The tight black dress.
The booze in her hand.
The soft-brown bedroom eyes.
The acceptance of his invitation to join him in the bar's locked bathroom right after they meet.
None of these things could have warned him she was a f-ing off-duty cop and after the same bad dude her was. Fuhhhhhhhck.
Detective Kara Monaghan and wolf Curragh Dominion are after the same guy, but by very different means. When they meet as strangers in a bar and chemistry flies, they have NO idea they're on different sides of the law until after they've had the delicious fill of each other. He wants her to go away AND come closer. What's a stubborn beast to do when his wolf has a mind of its own?
Ah, the backstory I missed by reading Howard first. I quite enjoyed being able to become acquainted with Curragh as well as seeing how he and Kara came to be together.
Curragh is sort of alpha of his pack of three - probably because he's the grumpiest. *wink* This pack is looking out for the residents of Chicago, taking the law into their own hands when necessary. There seems to be a general dislike and distrust of the police but I was never made to understand why. But it did make it humorous that Curragh would find the one in a cop.
Kara has recently relocated to Chicago from NYC. She's a good detective but finds it difficult to be taken seriously in a male-dominated profession. She decides to prove her worth on a case that's been haunting the CPD for over a decade. This hunt for this criminal puts her on a path to collide with Curragh.
I liked the romance between Curragh and Kara even if it was fast. Of course, the one mate thing helped to smooth over the quick pace they took to love. The banter and interactions between them were a lot of fun though. I enjoyed Curragh's "Mr. Grumpy Pants" meeting his match.
The mystery of the leader of the Russian mafia was shocking and rather gritty. There were some plot elements used that I thought were a bit easy but overall, I was enthralled, needing to know what would happen.
So far, I'm impressed with Hopkins' storytelling and am eager for Xavier's story. I'm interested to see how it's all tied up.
Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker
Ten Tiny Breaths #3
Release Date: November 4, 2013
Genre: Adult, New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I won a signed copy from the author in a Facebook giveaway
Rating: 5 Beautiful Bookworms!
Challenges: none
Goodreads
Synopsis
When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.
Owning a strip club isn't the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict "no sleeping with the staff' rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain's self-control...and it's been a long time since any woman has done that.
Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it's too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she's putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she's not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn't really exist--and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.
Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited--but losing him when he finds out what she's involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.
K.A. Tucker was highly recommended to me by Lexxie and others. I actually won Four Seconds to Lose in a giveaway Tucker was hosting and since I was getting to meet her in Denver (this past weekend), I decided to jump on the bandwagon, as it were. And I can't tell you how impressed I am with her writing! But I'll try. *wink*
Cain is one tortured soul...broody, moody...so naturally I loved him. He has some really dark stuff in his past - things he feels he must do penance for. So he runs a strip club where he does his best to protect his girls and get them out of the life. So many redeemable qualities in this guy. Unfortunately, he doesn't believe in redemption.
Charlie, bless her heart, doesn't really know what it's like to be loved or have real friends. Her mom was self-centered and died young and her step-dad - well, I'm not sure he'd know love it if bit him. Plus, he's into some bad stuff and has put Charlie in a bad spot. She feels unclean and unworthy. She just wants a clean escape but feels fate brought her to Cain's door. Yeah, these two are quite a match. I loved them together - once Cain started speaking to her.
The development of the romance was real and genuine despite all the things hidden between them and all their baggage. The wondering what would become of them if things went bad, if revelations weren't taken well, it all kept me on edge, flipping pages way past my bedtime. And the resolution, though it seemed simple, was something that hadn't crossed my mind.
Since this is actually #3 in the series, there were characters from the previous installments here but I never felt lost and honestly, I can't wait to learn everyone's story now. I regret not having read Tucker sooner but plan to make up for lost time. Tucker gave me a tight story with compelling characters and suspense. I'm excited to see what else she has in store!
Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley
Colorado Mountain #2
Release Date: April 23, 2011
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Source: Purchased on kindle
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Goodreads
Synopsis
She's ready for the ride of her life...
Lauren Grahame is looking to reinvent herself. After leaving her cheating husband, Lauren moves to Carnal, Colorado, and gets a job as a waitress in a biker bar called Bubba's. It's a nothing job in a nowhere joint...until Tatum Jackson walks in. Lauren has never seen a man with such good looks, muscles, and attitude. But when he insults her, Lauren doesn't want anything to do with him. Too bad for Lauren he's also the bar's part owner and bartender.
When the rough-around-the-edges Tate meets the high-class Lauren, he thinks she won't fit in at Bubba's. Yet there's more to Lauren than meets the eye, and Tate soon sets his mind on claiming her as his own. Before long, the desire burning between them is heating up the cold mountain air. But when violence strikes the town, Tate must reveal a dark secret to Lauren-one that may put an end to their sweet dreams.
I have to confess that I didn't instantly fall for ate. *gasp* I know! While I adore KA's particular brand of alpha, Tate rubbed me the wrong way to begin with. He did, of course, eventually win me over. Which was good because Lauren - I loved Lauren and I would have hated for her to end up with another jerk! LOL
Lauren is a divorcee - her husband cheated on her - for FIVE years!! - with her best friend. She's since been wandering the country in her car - searching for 'home'. She finds it in Carnal, Colorado. In Carnal, she finds *real* friends, a fulfilling job, and Tate - all reasons to show her particular brand of special. Because Lauren - everyone needs a friend like her and should aspire to be a friend like her. She's one of those people who just glows. You know what I'm talking about? Everyone loves her and she loves everyone.
Tate - well, I first thought he was a grade-A jerk. But KA slowly revealed more and more about him and I realized he was a good guy. He cared about people - showed it in unconventional ways. I liked seeing that even at 44 (YES! a seasoned hero), Tate, could grow and I enjoyed what Lauren brought out in him.
The suspense factor in Sweet Dreams was upped quite a bit when violence strikes this small town. Tate, being a bounty hunter and former cop, played a role in the investigation. The crimes were gruesome and the reveal shocking. But the thriller element added to the complexity of the story and I appreciated that.
As with any KA story, a robust secondary cast was present. From hippies to grumpy bartenders to a sweet, older couple of motel owners, I felt close to them all by the end. The Colorado Mountain series is a tad different than KA's Rock Chick or Chaos series in that we don't see the same group of chracters in each installment. There was mention of Nina, from The Gamble, but no sightings. It didn't take away from the story though.
This was my first KA read of 2016 that wasn't a re-read. And while I've been greatly enjoying revisiting everyone, getting to meet a new cast of characters was an incredible experience. I'm anxious to meet the next group and fall in love with a new set of characters. As soon as I'm over my book hangover. ;)
My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details.
Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.
Fun, right?!?
***
Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey
The Bourbon Street Boys #1
Narrated by: Emily Foster
Release Date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Source: Audible credit
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Goodreads
Synopsis
When a mysterious text message summons May Wexler to a biker bar in downtown New Orleans, she knows something is very wrong. Her sister has sent out an SOS, but when May gets there, she's nowhere to be found and May is the one in trouble--she's wearing pink espadrilles, she's got a Chihuahua in her purse, and she's in the middle of a shootout.
After tall, muscular Ozzie comes to her rescue, May has no choice to but follow him to safety. At the headquarters of his private security firm, the Bourbon Street Boys, she finds a refuge for the night--and the offer of a job. But it's not long before a gun-toting stalker isn't the only complication in May's life: the more time she spends with Ozzie, the less she can deny that they've got some serious chemistry. A wrong number got her into this mess...Will it also get her the right guy?
Wrong Number, Right Guy was a meh read for me. There were moments that were funny, a few that were suspenseful, but mostly I just kept wondering when it was going to get somewhere.
May meets Ozzy when he mistakenly texts her and she mistakenly thinks the texts are from her sister - who must be drunk texting on her new phone. Their meeting puts May in danger so Ozzy steps in to protect her and eventually gives her a job at his security company, in surveillance since she's a photographer. May begins working with Ozzy's team - getting trained as well as acquainted with them, while they're trying to locate and determine the threat level of the person who might be after May. There is a complication though - May and Ozzy are attracted to one another.
The story spends a lot of time doing a lot of build up - so much telling rather than showing. Teaching May the skills she'll need for her new job, May talking to and spending time with her sister and her sister's kids, May making friends with everyone - even the romance takes forever. Now I like a slow-build romance but this was ridiculous. (Nothing happens til ~chapter 44 of 52 chapters!) May is 29 and seems very naive and acts immaturely, although she can use a taser and a single stick advantageously. Her use of silly words and phrases drove me batty - "I've got to stop being such a weiner!" And despite the fact that there's a big cast of characters and we do spend quite a bit of time with them, we don't get to know them all that well. I like Ozzy and May's sister, Jenny, but I felt like I didn't really connect with anyone that well.
Okay, that's a lot of bashing. And there were parts I liked. I liked May's relationship with her sister. They were very close and very supportive of one another. There were moments of laugh-out-loud humor, like when May first uses her taser on a member of Ozzy's team. I liked May's and Ozzy's dogs, Felix - a chihuahua mix, and Sahara - a large mix-breed. I liked Ozzy. He seems somewhat socially awkward - he doesn't really know how to talk to May at first. He's very protective and loyal and once he gets comfortable around May, he's pretty funny. I think I'd like the rest of the cast as well if I'd gotten more details about them.
As for the narrator, I didn't mind her voice per se, but she didn't have much range. She didn't do the voices of the different characters that well, and there were quite a few. She also didn't read with enough inflection to move the story along or evoke the necessary emotions from a scene.
I do wonder if I'd have enjoyed this more if I'd read it. I'm not sure. It got so many great reviews though - so I'm thinking this is a case of 'it's me, not the book'. At any rate, I do have another novel from Ms. Casey - which I'll *read*, and then let y'all know my consensus on her writing (my opinion anyway). But Wrong Number, Right Guy wasn't for me.
Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
