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

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

Review: Redemption by Fire by Andrew Grey

Redemption by Fire

by Andrew Grey

(By Fire # 1)

This was totally an impulse buy.  I saw a review for the last book in this series on a blog that I love and follow and being the stickler I am for reading in order, I rushed and bought book one.  Loved that it was a short story because I was feeling some m/m withdrawals in between all my "required" review reading so this hit the spot.

However, writing a short story I think has to be hard and as a reader it's difficult to connect on all levels with the story.  I think that's what lessened my enjoyment of this story.  This is the first I read by this author and it was very well written and I did enjoy what was presented.  However, I felt that something was missing.

In a nutshell, Dirk is a firefighter who almost dies in a fire while rescuing a baby.  He's always been an asshole and really none of his co-workers like him.  While he's recovering at the hospital, the new "kid" at the station is the only one that goes to visit him.  And the first thing he does is he throws in his face that he thinks he's gay and because he has to live in the closet, that's why he's such an ass.

Of course, Dirk is and he feels an immediate attraction to Lee.  And while Dirk is recovering things heat up between them.  And then Dirk has to deal with the repercussions of going back to work and whether or not he will come out to his friends and family in order to keep Lee, who is happily out.

I think there was a lot of growth for the characters that happened "off the pages" and that's what I didn't like because I felt that people just changed who they were so quickly and with no real reason as to why.  But time had passed so I'm sure things and feelings prompted those changes.  That's just something you lose when reading a short story and I think this one was affected by that.

However, that being said, I did enjoy Dirk and Lee together, as well as Dirk's turnaround with this co-workers and friends.  I'm not sure if the next story will still be about the same couple since the issue of coming out to his father wasn't really addressed at the end of this book.  But I will definitely continue reading the series either way.  Quick, hot and entertaining read!

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.”

Berkley Heat is giving away a copy of TART to one lucky US maiden!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Reversal by Cara McKenna

Reversal

(Curio #3)

by Cara McKenna

Cara McKenna takes readers back into the sensual world of Caroly and Didier. REVERSAL is written from Didier’s POV and it’s always my favorite place to be. Readers learn firsthand of his struggle with agoraphobia and experience the lingering effects that one terrible trip has caused him. But in the safe harbor of his home, Didier is slowly able to rein in his anxiety and panic to the point where he feels human again.

Caroly returns with more than just a smile and good faith in him. Whenever Didier sees Caroly, it’s as if a blanket of comfort is draped over him. He immediately feels more at peace. But Didier wants more and wishes to completely lose himself, to submerge into the fantasy that Caroly’s presence brings forth. This time Caroly resists, telling him that she doesn’t wish to become the means in which he hides from his problems. So together, they face his fears united and stronger than before.

REVERSAL is another agonizingly sweet love story for Caroly and Didier that delves deeper than before. McKenna first weaves an intricate web that Didier must find the strength within himself to escape from, then slowly unravels that to reveal a vulnerability that is striking and real. A story about unparalleled trust, inner strength and courage, McKenna simply shines with this series of vignettes.

*Review Copy provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Driver's Seat by Casea Major

The Driver's Seat

by Casea Major

Short stories are always hard for me to rate or review because it takes talent to make me care about two characters (especially when it's not part of a series and I know them already) that I will only spend about 60 pages with.  This is the second short like this I read by Ms. Major and I have to say she nails it again.  

Belenda is a bit shot attorney driving through a small town in the middle of nowhere during a storm.  She's had a horrible week, she's supposed to be meeting up with her assistant for some R&R and then her car battery dies.  Not only that but when she tries to keep driving after getting that fixed she crashes her car as well.  Not a good week.  Except things are looking up because the man that comes to her rescue, twice, is sexy as hell and makes it very clear that he wants her.  There is a twist to the story and that is Jack's secret.

The chemistry between these two was great, they were good together and sexy.  The perfect short and sexy distraction you won't want to miss ;)

*Review copy provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon