ARC Review: Sweet the Sin by Claire Kent

Kelly Watson had a tragic young life; her father,whom she was very close to, was killed in front of her during a hike in the woods one evening and shortly after that her mother simply abandoned her one day in the quest to take down the people responsible. Kelly overcame these beginning tragedies, mostly, by being adopted by a kind, weathly couple who passed away but left her a generous trust fund. Now a portrait artists for pets, Kelly has a string of one night stands behind her with no plans to make a commitment to any man. Then the slightly older and ridiculously sexy Caleb Marshall enters the scene. Also not one for a commitment, when he happens to meet Kelly in the park and they hit it off he reconsiders his stance for the first time in a long time. What he doesn't know is that Kelly thinks he is the one responsible for her father's death, and Kelly is playing him to get any information she can to prove it.

Kelly has always known the company behind her scientist father's death but she and her mother couldn't prove it. Now she has the chance to prove it and she will use her body, soul, and mind to get any information she can. The problem is she is falling hard for Caleb, and despite the fact that him falling for her is the plan, she has to deal with the conflicting emotions of falling in love with the man who may have had her father murdered.

This was a captivating read, and Kelly's emotions were raw and honest through the story. As I got closer to the end I panicked because I realized I had a page count that did not promise an ending! The good thing is that the next piece of the puzzle will be out in October and I can't wait to finish it. Kelly and Caleb were amazing together, these two strong people, who aren't necessarily the nicest people in their everyday lives, are scratching and clawing their way to keep from falling in love with each other but they just can't help it. Great read.

ARC Review: Hard Ride by Opal Carew

Once upon a time in college, the adventurous Maggie was best friends with a shy but cute guy named Devin. He came from money but wasn't a jerk about it and Maggie was crushing on him hard. What Maggie didn't know is that the feeling was mutual, but just before he decided to ask her to take their relationship to the next level, Maggie withdrew from him and pretty much everyone but her sister. Devin was dealing with his own family issues as well, and years later he is a self made man with a new kind of family.

Desperate for money for pay for her sister's medical treatments, Maggie gets herself into a dangerous part of town and into a potentially dangerous situation. However, Devin, road name Shock, steps in to protect her. He also offers to take care of that cash situation for her, but there is a catch. She must sign a contract that states she will be on the road with him for a month; there are also a list of sexual activities that she must be open to, including sharing herself as Shock and his crew appear to be very open with each other.

Shock tries to come off as a tough guy but he is really a squishy sexy marshmallow. He is adorable and it's obvious that he has unfinished business with Maggie from way back in college. Maggie is half adventurous and half prude, but she is still very likable. Together they have amazing chemistry and Shock is all of the steamy, patient, virile man you can handle. A very hot read with some welcome kinky fuckery to top it off.

ARC Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

I love the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley, and Ride Steady is another fantastic entry into the Chaos world. Carissa and Joker were worlds apart in high school; she was the cheerleader that was dating the big man on campus and Joker, then known as Carson, was a quiet but sexy young man who couldn't wait to out from under his abusive father's thumb. When finally the time came to leave, Carson Steele and Carissa Teodoro had a brief magical moment, and then they both went on to live their lives. Carissa married her rich high school sweetheart only to be cast aside cruelly when she became pregnant with their first child and left practically destitute, while Carson joined the Chaos Motorcycle Club, the bikers he had always watched through the fence to their garage when he was younger. Carissa added a few pounds and Joker added a lot of hair but their connection was still electric when years later Joker got off his bike to help the single mother with a flat tire. She thought he looked familiar, but he knew exactly who she was. Who knew Joker was so hot? I had a feeling he was!

I love their story. You could call this a second chance romance, but they really never had a romance in high school - they traveled in different circles, but the handsome Carson had a reputation for pleasing the ladies. Carissa had a terrible crush on him despite her relationship with her philandering boyfriend turned husband. They both suffered in their teens; Carissa lost her mother and sister, and Joker was physically abused, so it makes sense that the two of them yearn for a family to call their own. Joker can't even let himself think along those lines; he had some wonderful neighbors who gave him support as a teen and then he found his Chaos family, but to hope that Carissa would ever see him, see Carson, was almost too much to wish for.

These two had sizzling chemistry, and Joker was the hot hottie alpha biker of my dreams. A little bossy, a lot sexy, and a perfect match for the sweet but sassy Carissa. Loved this book!

The Rundown: Game of Thrones vs The 80s

To get us in the mood for the finale (this never gets old!)

GAME OF FUCKIN' THRONES

Now, I thought it would be hilarious to take some scenes from The Dance with Dragons and mash them with 80s movies. Take a look:

ARC Review: Opening Up by Lauren Dane

Opening Up is a sexy May-December(ish) erotica from Lauren Dane, set in the world of custom cars and bikes. PJ (Penelope Jean) Colman comes from serious stock. The Colmans have been part of the racing/custom world for years. A 25 year old college drop out with colorful hair, tattoos, and piercings, PJ has just as much stake in the family business as her straight laced siblings, but her father and uncle won't take her seriously. She has a new direction she thinks would be great for Colman, and that's when she meets larger than life Asa Barrons. He is big, frowny, tattooed, pierced, and 37 years old. He also can't take his eyes off of PJ, and she doesn't want him to, but Asa is having a hard time feeling okay about their age difference. However, PJ is not the bubble headed rich spoiled brat people assume she is because of her name. She knows what hard work is, and is artistically talented. These two come together like tsunami waves crashing and it. is. HOT.

You don't have to know anything about custom cars or paint jobs to get this couple, and that is the gift of Lauren Dane's writing. She makes us love PJ's sensual moxy and Asa's marshmallow covered surliness. Asa is a supreme alpha with a taste for darker bedroom activities. One of the things I loved the most was that sometimes PJ wasn't feeling it and told him so! It was another level of reality that made me love the characters even more. Another gold star for Lauren Dane! 

ARC Review: Arrow's Hell by Chantal Fernando

The Wind Dragons MC is back! In the sequel to Dragon's Lair, it's Arrow's turn to find a happily ever after and unfortunately for him, fate has chosen the sister of one of his MC brothers. It's been five years since some of the events of Dragon's Lair, most notably the death of Mary, the woman Arrow was seeing and a well loved club regular. Arrow blames himself for her murder, and took revenge on the rival MC responsible by killing their president. For five years Arrow has lived in his own hell. Meanwhile Anna, a PhD student back in town to finish her degree, is being kept under her brother's thumb which means sticking close to the MC and reporting her whereabouts constantly. This puts her into constant contact with Arrow, and although he usually looks grumpy as hell, their chemistry pulls them together.

The road to love is never easy, and while Arrow is a sexy beast, sometimes we want to hug him and punch him at the same time. He is punishing himself not only for Mary's death but also for his attraction to Anna. He wants her bad, and Anna has been lusting after him since they met. Chantal Fernando brings the heat, sexiness, and chemistry that was so successful in the first book of this series, but there is tenderness and heartfelt passion (with a healthy does of angst) that is all Anna and Arrow. Another great entry in the series, and I'm excited for next one! 

ARC Review: Asking for It by Lilah Pace

Vivienne and Jonah are a match made in heaven, but for a completely taboo reason: they share the same rape role play fantasies. If you are thinking to yourself, Gee that's fucked up! well, you are right. However, this book was so well written you won't be able to put it down. Asking for It is a fascinating, well researched, hot, and disturbing erotica. I loved it!

Vivienne has a strained relationship with her family, but is in love with her little niece and keeps in just enough contact to keep that relationship going. She has a fantastic therapist and has worked through a lot of issues, but her romantic life has suffered because of her need to be forced during sex. Her last boyfriend couldn't handle treating her that way in the bedroom and when he drunkenly rehashes the private details of their relationship at a party, Jonah approaches Vivienne with a proposition.  Despite the fact that Jonah is a man of few words, he makes Vivienne's fantasies come true in vivid color. Their chemistry and careful but abandon free scenes are breathtaking and exciting. To be the answer to another person's fantasies is such a perfect way is enviable. When their games stir up more personalized feelings for Vivienne, she realizes she and Jonah need to figure out if their role playing games can combine with a traditional relationship, or if they even want to do that.

Jonah was a rock. While it seems strange to lust after a man who has a fantasy of forcing a woman to have sex, we get to know Jonah in a way that just makes it okay, in fact, he is just all around hot. He makes sure that Vivienne is safe at all times and he cares. Even as a man of few words and sometimes terrible communication, he still manages to make Vivienne and us feel good about him. I can't say enough about how much this book struck such a chord with me, but it was fantastic. Luckily for me, the story continues in Begging for It, slated for the fall. 

ARC Review: At His Service by Suzanne Rock

Karin Norell is an extremely hardworking intern at what was once one of the most prestigious hotel empires in the world. The Palazzo Hotel, owned by the Perconti family, has taken it's share of hits as the siblings waste money and personally and tighten the purse-strings at Perconti Inc, to the detriment of the businesses. Leo Perconti, known as The General to the employees and paparazzi, has come into town to check up on his brother and the hotel. When he mistakes Karin for a "gift" his brother offered to send to his room, their connection is instant and hot, and is the beginning to a torrid love affair between the two.

The Perconti family is given even more paparazzi attention than the Hiltons as the siblings are young, gorgeous, and rich, but their businesses aren't doing well. Karin has great ideas, and Leo is smart enough to listen. I enjoyed the chemistry between Karin and Leo, and his nickname is well earned with his alpha tendencies. There were some tender moments between the leads, but in the end there were so many sexytimes (which I typically love!) that the storytelling wasn't moving along the way I needed to make me feel more connected to the characters. There were so many interesting directions to go in, and apparently we have not heard the last of the Perconti family. 

The Rundown: Game of Thrones vs The Wire

The Hardhome episode of Game of Thrones was EPIC. Definitely the best episode of the past several weeks and probably the best this season. Definitely worthy of Omar Little's commentary. I present to you Game of Thrones vs The Wire's Omar: