Review: Reaper's Fall

Reaper's Fall by Joanna Wylde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Painter and Melanie's story has been much anticipated, especially considering we have been watching snippets of it in the background. Finally we get the whole story, and it was another great entry into the Reaper's saga by Joanna Wylde. It was so good in fact, that I forgot to add it to my reading list. It showed up on my Kindle and I proceeded to read it in (mostly) one day.

Mel and Painter met when Mel was a teenager, and Painter was in charge of keeping her out of the way and keeping her entertained. When some bad shit went down, Painter took the fall for the club and went to jail. Mel wrote him religiously, but when he got out he ignored her. This push and pull of passion and silence would continue to happen on both sides for years until finally the gauntlet gets thrown down.

This book is as wild a ride as any of Jo Wylde's reads are, and all I have to say is keep 'em coming!

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Review: Hold Me Close by Megan Hart

You can always count on Megan Hart to tell a heartfelt and subversive story in the erotica genre, and for that I am grateful. In this tale, we have Effie and Heath. They were kidnapped and held against their will for 3 years in the basement of a psychotic man's house. There they forged a life long bond. There, Heath knew that he would love Effie forever. There, Effie knew she needed to experience more than Heath, more than life had given her up until that point.

Obviously they escaped and years later Effie and Heath are still in this holding pattern where they are best friends, and Heath's love for Effie and her daughter Polly (not Heath's child) is obvious with every action and move Heath makes. Effie is still looking for love elsewhere but when she and Heath come together, it's beyond chemistry. Heath and Effie know everything about each other, including where to bite and how hard to slap. We know they belong together, but the real question is, will Effie figure that out when it's too late?

The current story is told parallel to the teens' captivity, as well as parallel to Effie returning home. Time jumps a bit here but it is easy to follow once you get the rhythm of the pacing. Effie's story is complicated, messy, and full of triggers for some people. Effie's world in the present is finally reconciling with the past and she is facing those demons head on. Another great deep erotic read by Megan Hart.

Review: The Bad Boy CEO by Sugar Jamison

Colt King and his brothers have been summoned back to their hometown of Destiny, Nevada. His aunt, the woman who raised them, is sick, like hospitalized sick, and her request for her grown up boys is the only thing that can get them to come back to town. The King brothers have a sordid history with the town which has affected them in different ways; for Colt, he became a ruthless and cold businessman who would love to see nothing more than the town of Destiny wiped off the map, and he could probably buy the city and make it happen if he really wanted to. What he doesn't count on is running into the gun toting Zanna, who is staying at his aunt's house as a tenant.

As the time passes it becomes apparent that this clever aunt has plans for her three nephews that include women she knows will be their kryptonite. For Colt, Zanna is the fire to his ice. They argue like cats and dogs but are attracted like the strongest of magnets. Their banter is hilarious and sexy, and their chemistry is off the charts. Zanna has lived in the big city, and has a low level thug ex boyfriend to prove it, but she is ready to start over in a decent place like Destiny. As long as her past doesn't catch up to her, things should be great right?

I look forward to reading about the other King brothers and their romantic entanglements. This story between the ice hot Colt and the fiery but sweet Zanna was a lot of fun.

Review: Reap by Tillie Cole

When we meet the man called 221, he isn't a man. He is a beast with one sole purpose: to kill for his master at his master's whim. His real identity is Zaal Kostava, the last heir to the Kostava Georgian Mafiya family, and he was kidnapped by one of his father's allies and forced to become his slave and guinea pig for experimental drugs. Zaal's family is mortal enemies with Talia Tolstaia's family, so of course these two have to do the star crossed lovers thing and fall in love.

This was a sexy read. Zaal is dangerous and unpredictable because of the obedience drugs in his system, but when he sees Talia and thinks that she is a gift from his master, he protects her with a fierceness that will make you swoon. He immediately falls for her, and she for him. The external dangers and family dynamics keep this book moving fast and make it an exciting read.

Zaal and Talia have some hot chemistry, and the way it is written, I could hear the hot Eastern European accents in my head the whole time. Fun, hot read!

Review: Before the Dawn

Before the Dawn by Lindsey Fairleigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For the full First Look,head over to Heroes and Heartbreakers!

Before the Dawn delivers with action, adventure, resolution, and drama in a huge way!



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Review: Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe

It's always so nice to read something that feels different, even if it takes a simple concept and puts a fresh spin on it. Everything I Left Unsaid by Molly O'Keefe takes perfect strangers with dark secrets and turns them into the most unlikely of lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the next in the series.

Annie is on the run from an abusive husband. After years of mental abuse from her mother, she entered into a marriage way too young to a man who mentally and physically abused her...until she decided to make a run for it. She found herself at a run down trailer park a few states away and on her first day there, a cell phone stuck in the cushions of her couch began to ring. Dylan was on the other line. And that's when the story gets really interesting.

Dylan and Annie had this super sexy relationship and I loved how it progressed through the phone. The phone allowed both of them to be versions of themselves that maybe they needed to grow into. Seriously sizzling phone boning aside, these two had a connection that would not be denied. Dylan was seriously alpha and protective; Annie was coming into her own assertively and owning her own sexuality. Panty dripping hot interactions between these two and I can't wait to read more!

What is Dark Romance?

Head on over to Heroes and Heartbreakers to see what I had to say about the definition of Dark Romance and see what recent Dark Romance reads I recommend!

Review: Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashley

Outstanding book, just to get that out of the way. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Talk about the second chance romance to end them all, this is it! The fact that this is set in a motorcycle club is incidental, so if MC reads aren't your thing, this is the exception to break through to this genre.

Millie has been living her life for 20 years, existing really. On the other side of town Logan, road name High, has been existing the same way. Once upon a time these two were inseparable. Then one day Millie ended it all and broke not only Logan, but herself. This book chronicles their past and their present, helping us understand what happened and why, while helping these two get back on track.

If you know Kristen Ashley's heroes, you know they talk a certain way, are dangerous but live within a moral code, and they love hard. In Walk Through Fire we meet a heroine who loves harder than these heroes and makes a sacrifice that is unimaginable. This was so well written, kudos to Kristen Ashley for this comelling story. The pacing was spot on, especially with the dual timelines which can be tedious if done sloppily. Millie and Logan are written to make you believe every second of their 20 years of anguish without the other by their side. Reading their story was like catching up with your best friend from high school as she told the story of the last 20 years. Amazing, amazing read. Easily my favorite of the series.

PS Can we get an Elvira novella???

Review: Body Shots by Anne Rainey

Body Shots tells the tale of Crystal Shaw, a woman who has an abusive ex husband in her near past, and the co-owners of Kinks club, Trent and Mac. At her bestie's urging, they go to Kinks in the hope that Crystal makes a connection with someone and maybe learn more about the BDSM lifestyle. She gets more than she bargained for when both men approach her and ask her to spend the night with them. From then on, the trio navigate a poly triad relationship.

This trio fell hard and fast. Trent and Mac were best friends and business partners, and while they have shared women sexually before, they never felt strong enough to share a woman in a committed relationship before. These three had plenty of hot scenes and obviously were fond of each other, but untlimately I don't know if I believed Crystal's six month turnaround from abused housewife of several years to poly double penetration queen. (Don't even get me started on her mother's 360.) Perhaps it was the pacing and the short amount of time the whole trio spent together; after the first explosive night the men wooed Crystal separately.

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The men were hot and passionate, Crystal was sweet and willing, and they made a great triad. The sex scenes were often and long, so if you are looking for a hot triad read, this is it!

Review: Once Kissed

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once Kissed was a delightful and sensual read with a cheeky hero and a sharp heroine. We also get a hilarious clue as to who the next O’Brien sibling will be to find love when Declan, who is used to being a smooth talker, makes the ultimate flub. In the meantime, Curran and Tess will keep you enthralled!

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Review: Grit by Margaret McHeyzer

Jaeger Dalton isn't a nice guy. As the President of his motorcycle club, he probably shouldn't be and definitely can't be, and I didn't really like him at all, so there we go. I have read my share of Alpha-holes, and Jaeger is definitely more "hole" than "alpha", but he also has to be a little bit charismatic in order to hold office. It's this bit of charisma that kept me reading, and this bit of an honor code that his club had that kept me reading, as well.

Phoenix Ward knew her dad left her with some problems, but she didn't realize how many problems until Jaeger's club rode in on her farm. They were trouble enough, but the club that rode in after them were the REAL problem. Her father's gambling and drinking had deteriorated to the point that he gambled away her precious farm to Jaeger's club; according to the other club her father had gambled away HER. When Jaeger offered her protection (well, he demanded she come with him) she really didn't have a choice. But she planned on getting on her feet and going on about her business.

Nix and Jaeger were quite the pair. They fought like cats and dogs, usually because he said something idiotic. Even Jaeger's MC brothers would call him out on his arrogance and lack of filter, which I seriously appreciated, but I did find myself chuckling to myself during some of these moments. These two are not star crossed lovers, nor do they have a pretty romance. If you are looking for a gritty, sexy read with an arrogant hero, this is a perfect read for you!

ARC Review: Darker the Release by Claire Kent

Revenge is still the name of the game in Claire Kent's Darker the Release. We met Kelly Watson and Caleb Marshall in Sweet the Sin when Kelly organized an elaborate deception in an attempt to get close to Caleb. She needed to find out if he or anyone at his company was responsible for her father's murder. The plan was to make him fall for her, and that was a slam dunk. The plan was NOT for her to fall for him, and unfortunately for Kelly that is what happens. In Darker the Release the stakes are raised even more as the truth about her charade chases Kelly and the truth about her father's murder continues to elude her.

Kelly and Caleb are raw and carnal with each other. In fact, the most honest they are to each other is during intimate moments. Their chemistry is off the charts and hot to read. This was no silly caper; Kelly was on a dark mission and willing to sacrifice her feelings for Caleb to find out the truth, even as her growing feelings for him hoped against hope that he was not responsible for her father's murder.

Sizzling intrigue and sexy times - a great read!

ARC Review: All I Need is You by Wendy S. Marcus

Neve James and Rory McRoy are not your typical romantic hero and heroine, and thank goodness for that. While it's not that uncommon for a tiny, petite woman to be a lead love interest, it is pretty unconventional for him to be 5'4". Neve is a dancer/gymnast and hopes to be picked up by Cirque du Soleil; Rory is a military man with what I call a "Mighty Mouse" physique. He is plenty strong and a Boston boy who is inextricably involved in his family's bar, and always has been.

While overseas, Rory finds himself the recipient of a pen pal letter from Neve, a woman who has no problem with her sexuality or owning the fact that she enjoys it. Their exchanges are hot and sweet at the same time; when Rory has some leave, Neve decides to surprise him, but a misunderstanding derails the beginnings of a hot relationship in real life for these two. Determined not to let that misunderstanding keep him from pursuing Neve, the next time Rory is home, he is home for good, and he decides to go for what he wants: Neve.

I loved these two so much. Neve showed the perils and freedom of being a woman who has her own agency. She has a close relationship with her brother, but for the most part her self worth was damaged at a young age. The opposite, Rory came from a place where he always new exactly what his worth was; his family was a close Irish Catholic family that ran a successful but busy bar in a neighborhood where everyone knew everybody else. He knew he was loved and needed but that could also be overwhelming. Together, these two made life make sense for them, and it was a seriously sexy ride. Great read!

Review: Breaking Bailey's Rules

Breaking Bailey's Rules by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Breaking Bailey’s Rules so much because of the fun and sexy tone that Brenda Jackson delivered.

For a First Look, see what else I had to say over at Heroes and Heartbreakers!



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