Review: Breakaway by Bianca Sommerland

Breakaway

by Bianca Sommerland

(Dartmouth Cobras # 3)

If there is one thing that I can tell you about this series is that there's a lot of kinky f*ckery and it's hot as hell!!!  I was actually very excited about the two male characters in this book, both sexy and kinky hockey players.  I can't say the same about the heroine.

We first met Jami as Richter's daughter in the previous book.  Very troubled, not accepting of his father's life and choices, and to put it simply...a rebel.  Although for most of this book I thought she was doing a lot better, incredibly so, I find that her HEA would've benefited from being written later in the series.  Why?  Because I still found her a bit immature and whiny at times and I think that's because of her age and that she just came out of what happened to her in the previous book.

That being said, I would've gladly taken her place!  She has great chemistry with both Luke and Sebastian individually.  I always love when authors take their time to develop the individual relationships in a permanent menage relationship.  And Ms. Sommerland always delivers on that!  And just how they each have a relationship with Jami, which is the reason they all come together, there is also a beautiful and deep relationship between Luke and Sebastian.  I was left wondering if Sebastian's connection to Luke wasn't too strong and overpowering of his love for Jami.  But I guess the balance was there most of the time.

Sebastian is all tall, dark and Dom.  This is THE man that will leave you biting your lip and panting for more.  His presence is commanding but he's also very caring of those he loves and others that have gone through what he has.

Luke was the lost soul in this story, which made me sad because I never thought that's where his character would fall to.  I've always seen him as the happy and good humored one of the bunch.  I have to admit when he first did his scene with Chicklet I almost wanted to see them explore that relationship because it was pretty hot.  Luke is a Dom but he also needs to give up control.  Sebastian fit into that perfectly and it was very real to see them, especially Luke, struggle with what his mind and body where saying.

Then there's the rest of the crew!  Silver is pregnant and even gives birth in this book and that was just great to see.  Sloan is also going through stuff in his personal life and even his relationship, so some of their issues come back to be dealt with.  I love to see the new and old always woven in the story because we want to know what's going on in their lives.

Overall, this BDSM book is not for the faint of heart.  It'll make you tingle in ways you didn't think were possible!  I can't wait for the next installment about the kinkiest hockey team EVER!

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

 

Mr. Real

by Carolyn Crane

Code of Shadows #1

 



Everyone knows that Alix is a good time gal who just wants to have fun and doesn't take anything seriously, so when loads an occult computer programme on to laptop that materialises anything you click on in 24 hours time, she decides to do a little shopping....a nice new necklace, a new outfit and a new man! Sir Kendall, a super spy from a liquer advert is just what she needs, someone to take charge and bonk her brains out and who just happens to look like the man she has a huge crush on. Paul Reinhardt has the sudden urge to go on a road trip to Minnesota, however, when he gets there he sees the woman he loves with the character he despises: Sir Kendall, his childhood tormentor. But what has Alix unleashed? Eachday Sir Kendall seems to get stronger and more dangerous and has plans for Paul and Alix....

WARNING!! This book gives you FALSE expectations! I have been clicking and clicking on pictures of Captain Mal Reynolds aka the sexy Nathan Fillion, and what do I have NOTHING but a slighty achy index finger, a bucket load of horny and a bumper pack of condoms (safe sex people!)....


*clicks picture of Cap'n Reynolds...you never know*

But despite my ruthlessly smashed hopes of sexual bliss I loved this book! it was funny, touching, full of complex characters and an interesting storyline. It was also such a medley of genres, suspense, paranormal, romance, spy, thriller that it felt fresh and completely unique.

What Ms Crane seems to do best is create characters that you wouldn't normally expect; Alix at the beginning of the book, although likable and fun, was also a bit ditsy and used sex to reinforce her self esteem but throughout Mr Real she grew into something so much more and Sir Kendall, who was a two dimensional, cheesy super spy from an advert became interesting and dangerous, and it is sad but fascinating to watch him questioning his own existence as he realises something isn't quite right.

*clicks again and peeks out window*

As well as great characters this book also drew you in with its humour and the sweet 'n sexy romance going on between Alix and Paul. Paul was so adorable and I loved that everything that Sir Kendall thought was horrid about Alix Paul seemed to love, the way she dressed, the way she joked it really came through that everything about Alix made Paul love her more and more and brought him happiness, even if he didn't want it to.

*clicks frantically on PDF of Mal accidently knocking the condoms on the floor*

This was a great book with a winning combination of romance, fun and great storytelling, Carolyn Crane has once again come up with a quirky and strangely moving series and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

*ARGH! Damn you Carolyn Crane *shakes first*....wait what was that noise....*

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Ties That Bind by Jaci Burton

The Ties That Bind 

by Jaci Burton

I love stories about second chance at love.  This was a different take on it.  I didn't read this as part of the original anthology, although I had that on my TBR for a while. 

This story was different because Lisa and Rick were high school sweethearts and then Rick got Lisa pregnant when she was 16 and things changed.  They got married but quickly things didn't work out so they got divorced.  However, they raised their daughter together and were always in each others lives.  Now their daughter is 18 and going to college.  And she's making her mom, Lisa, kick start her new life with going away on a tropical vacation.  Except that was all a setup so Rick and Lisa can get back together.

The premise is really sweet and just makes you happy that their love was able to persevere.  I also thought the whole coming together idea was great, compliments to the daughter.  The only thing I didn't like or understand was how much she fought them getting back together.  I just didn't get the why, I thought that was unnecessary conflict when there could've been something else.

I really did enjoy the story though and I think the author did an amazing job at conveying these characters back story and feelings in such a short time.  And oh... did I mention it was frecking hot?!?!

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: The Fangover by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

The Fangover

by Erin McCarthy and Kathy Love

Better start off being honest.  I knew about this book, mainly because Erin McCarthy is part of the duo writing it and I happen to love her work.  Was I terribly interested in reading it, though?  Well, it was probably one of those "Oh yeah I gotta get to that someday".  Of course, I also thought this had two separate novellas.  Then I happen to win an ARC of this at RAW and my grabby hands had to read it right away.  Well, I was so pleasantly surprised!

Call me whatever you want but I didn't co-relate the fact that the book is called "The Fangover" with the movie "The Hangover".  Yeah, that joke went right over my head (see what happens when you're not paying attention?).  And that is exactly how I can possibly describe this book.

Vampire rocker kills himself (meets the sun) and his friends are throwing him a funeral "party".  They get a little tipsy and somehow they all wake up the next day without recollection of how that night ended or what happened.  All they know is that a human was turned and got married to one of the band members (vampire), the dead vamps sister is stuck in bat form, another band member is missing a fang and oh yeah, there's a passed out human priest in the bath tub.  And let's not forget about the parrot!  Now they just have to backtrack and try to figure out what went down.

So, there are actually two main couples throughout this story.  One is Stella and Wyatt.  Stella is Johnny's sister (dead vamp).  Wyatt has been a member of the band for a while and has had a crush on Stella for just about that long.  This was just the perfect opportunity for him to show her that he would be there for her and that they can be good together.  I liked the fact that their romance started before the drunken behavior night and that we are given glimpses into their past.  Even though Stella got on my nerves a bit at times, Wyatt made up for being extra sweet and caring while still being hot.

Then there's Cort and Katie.  I actually enjoyed them a bit more.  Katie used to be human and was part of the day band.  Cort has had a crush on her for a while but humans have always been off limits so he stayed away.  Now, not only did he turn her but he married her.  I thought their romance was cuter even though I also wanted to pull my hair at their lack of communication and misunderstandings.

In the end, this book was a fun parody, not meant to showcase deep emotions but to make you laugh and it definitely achieved that in my opinion.  A little bit of comic relief while throwing in some sexy vamps who are just not all there.

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Hell Hath No Fury by Jamie Brenner

Hell Hath No Fury

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 6)

The moment has finally come!  The last installment in the Gin Lovers serial.  If you haven't been reading this along, like me, then I think you're missing out.  The world Ms. Brenner created is addictive and alluring.  After the past few episodes, I was very excited to read this last one.

The events leading up to this book, and then everything that happens in this last episode, had me biting my nails and pulling my hair.  This series is full of intrigue.  I admit there were times reading this episode that I didn't know which way the author was going to go with the ending and our main love interest.  But rest assured there is a HEA.

Basically Jake is going to jail and the only one that can do something to save him is Charlotte.  She has the big fish the cops need to drop the charges against Jake.  And yes, that would be her husband.  Incredible how much Charlotte has changed throughout this serial and has come out of her shell and sharpened her claws.  She is feisty but smart, knows when to push and when to let things go.

We get a resolution with all the characters in the series and I was happy with everything.  Obviously the one I was most anxious about was Jake and Charlotte.  But this was actually my reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5.  Rafferty, who has been Charlotte's silent ally in the house, was showing feelings for her in this one.  To bring this up this far into the story I thought was unnecessary.  It had me scared that out of nowhere Charlotte would end up with someone that she didn't have feelings for.  And on that same token, how could Rafferty stir anything in Charlotte when she's in love with Jake and doing everything she can to help him?  OK rant over.

That one minor thing aside, I think this serial is a must read.  If you are not into serial books, then make sure you pick up a copy of the full length book which will include all the episodes, which comes out in February.

I was so excited to know how it ended but now I know I'm going to miss reading it!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

TART by Lauren Dane Spotlight - Review, Excerpt + Giveaway

  

Tart

by Lauren Dane

(Delicious # 1)

Ms. Dane has done it again.  TART is everything I was anxiously awaiting!  There's a wonderful new set of people in this series and women that have a close friendship and now it's their turns to find love. You'll feel right at home in their lives just as we did with the Brown Siblings.

Starting with Juliet.  We read about her in the CHERISHED anthology.  She owns a pastry shop and is a very independent woman, always used to doing things for herself and succeeding at them.  She doesn't have the love and support of her own family either.  But she's also the type of woman that will do anything to help others and sometimes that can get in the way of her own happiness.

She's had a crush on her buddy Cal for years, but then she thought Cal was gay, and then we he started dating both men and women she kind of gave up on the hopes that he would ever look her way.  So when hunky cowboy Gideon comes into town and she's doing business with his grandfather's farm, she acts on the sizzling chemistry she feels with Gideon.  Of course that's just what Cal needed to kick start him into action because Juliet should've always been his.

I like how Ms. Dane starts this series off in sort of the same way as her Brown Siblings, with a permanent menage.  And it works.  They all care about each but their individual connection with Juliet was cemented perfectly.  She's the anchor that makes the relationship work and when permanent menages can be hard to imagine working, Ms. Dane has a talent for making me believe that they can.

And just as the relationships and love were perfectly and independently developed, the sex was as well.  I can't say there's one thing she didn't explore and I loved every minute of it.  There's Gideon and Juliet, Cal and Juliet, Cal and Gideon and all three together with different roles.  It was hot and had me bothered! ;)

Then there's the familiar faces we love to read about.  I love the Brown siblings and I'm happy to report there's a lot of them in this book.  Erin, Todd and Ben are around and offer support for their menage relationship.  Erin and Juliet develop a close friendship which was nice to see.  Gillian and Adam are also getting married so they are going through the stress of that as well as the excitement.

I have to admit I might've gotten almost teary eyed at some parts and while this book is hot as hell and perfectly written as far as the relationship goes, it's also a bit emotional and sweet.  I can't wait to read more from this series!!  Wonder who will be next?

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

Excerpt
Delicious: TART by LAUREN DANE

Copyright 2012, Lauren Dane

All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

Releasing in digital formats and trade paper, November 6!

“What’s going on?” Gillian walked in to Tart four days later with a look on her face that made Jules suck in a breath and steel herself.

“Um. A clue perhaps? What do you mean?”

Gillian put a hand on her hip and glared. “You won’t return my calls. Your texts are boring and lack even a basic amount of snark. Cal is moping around. Mary says you’re not here when she arrives in the afternoon and Gideon called my house looking for you. What in God’s name is going on?”

Jules sat in a nearby chair and told Gillian everything.

“Well, I can see why you needed the space to think. But why you wouldn’t come to me to let me help, I can’t imagine.”

“You have enough going on in your life. This is just . . . it’s . . . I don’t even know.”

“Don’t be daft. Enough going on. Sure, a wedding and a bossy fiancé and a teenaged son who is at turns sweet as pudding and then surly. But you’re my best friend, it’s my job to listen to you. Also, really to deny me the story of how two ridiculously gorgeous men offered to share you? Mean.” She fanned herself. “Well, are you interested? You know in both?”

“The thing is—and I’ve been thinking on this nonstop since that damned kiss—I’m with Gideon. I chose him when I went to his place to tell him about the kiss. But then he was all, hey, take us both and now I’m torn.”

“Torn because you’d rather have just one than both? And if that’s true, that’s okay too, you know. I’m not sure I could manage two men at once. Adrian gives me more than enough to do.”

Jules wiped a counter down to keep moving. “Do I want them? Individually? Sure. Look at them! It’s more than their looks, of course. I’m falling in love with Gideon in a big way and I’d be a liar, liar, pants on fire if I denied how long I’ve loved Cal. But together? At the same time? I don’t know.”

“Is it the overabundance of penis? Or worry that they’re not interested in your parts best?”

Jules laughed and then hugged Gillian tight. “Thank God for you.”

“I say this about you all the time.”

Jules was so glad Gillian had come in. She needed this so badly. Needed the support and honesty she got from her best friend.

“Gideon loves you. I admit that I’ve got a natural bias toward Cal. I’ve known him longest. He’s like family. But since I’ve met Gideon he’s been nothing but good to you. And you do deserve to be happy. If you can’t imagine being with them both, then don’t do it. Cal will get over it. He’ll have to.”

“What kind of flesh-and-blood woman with a pulse wouldn’t imagine being with them both? I’m only human, Gillian. I’ve imagined it all right.” So much her wrists hurt from masturbating so often.

Gillian grinned and cocked her head. “Have you thought about talking to Erin? I know she can be sort of bold and wild, but she’s a wonderful listener. She puts a lot of work into her relationship with Todd and Ben. It can work if you do it right and you have the right combo of people.”

“Honestly if you were telling me this story, I’d yell at you to get out of here and jump both men. You’re very patient.”

“You love them both. I know this about you. You’re thinking this over because it would change everything. No matter what decision you make, everything will be different. There’s no way around it, I’m sorry to say. Once Cal kissed you, things were thrown onto a wholly different path.”

“I know.” She paused and then blurted it out because she needed to say it. “It was a really, really good kiss. If he’d kissed me like that six months ago, we’d be happily together right now. He’s quite a dumbass for a man who looks as good as he does.” Jules chewed her lip a moment and then just said it. “I’m afraid Gideon will think the same thing about his kisses and they’ll get sick of me. It’s stupid and petty and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Gillian made one of her polite little growls of annoyance. “He’s a fool for waiting so long. As for the kiss? I’m glad. I mean, I figured it was. You two, well, there’s years and years of built-up stuff between you. But back to the threesome thing. I don’t think this is about them both secretly being totally gay and then they’ll find out and dump you. I can understand why you’d worry. But they both want you. I’m telling you the total truth when I say I’ve watched Cal watch you for years. He’s in love with you, Jules. Not with anyone else. Same with Gideon.”

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