The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian

I’ve been playing a fun game this week called “Let’s See How Many Cat Sebastian Books I Can Read”.  I’m winning.  I re-read The Ruin of a Rake.  Then started The Soldier’s Scoundrel.  Finished that in less than a day and then immediately downloaded, started, and finished The Lawrence Browne Affair.  I’m in love.

I do believe that this might be the first romance novel I’ve ever read where the main character suffers from a very evident psychological disorder—in this case a strong anxiety disorder.  It’s undiagnosed, given the time, and unfortunately everyone writes the strange Earl off as a mad recluse.  Becoming a madman is exactly what Lawrence Browne is afraid of, it runs in the family after all.  He spends all his time working on complicated inventions, is completely intolerant of other people, and relies on his loyal canine to get him through frequent bouts of anxiety.  And yet, beneath all that terrifying and mysterious exterior is a man with ragged self-esteem and no confidence in himself.  It was so terribly sad to watch Lawrence doubt himself time and time again.

Enter Georgie.  Georgie is a swindler through and through who has inserted himself in Lawrence’s life for two reasons.  First, the job opening for a secretary gives him the perfect excuse to leave London and escape the gang that’s hunting him down.  Second, the mad Earl is the perfect mark for yet another scheme of his.  When Georgie arrives at the ramshackle castle he expects to find a mad man, but is surprised to find a lonely, scatterbrained, brilliant—albeit misunderstood—man.  Georgie knows he isn’t going man, Lawrence is simply different.  But Lawrence doesn’t see it that way and he’s convinced that he must push others away in order to save them.  As Georgie learns more about Lawrence he begins to question whether he can actually go through with his plan to fleece the man.

Together Georgie and Lawrence explore one another tentatively and emotionally.  Lawrence is convinced that his feelings for men are shameful and sinful, but slowly Georgie’s love and attentiveness convinces him that he has nothing to feel ashamed about.  It was an absolute pleasure to watch Lawrence be accepted for who he was rather than looked down upon for his differences.  Their love was full of a tenderness that absolutely cannot be compared to any other relationship out there.  Brief respites of love for a man who spent his life receiving very little of it.

Every scene with Georgie and Lawrence left me feeling drugged and bothered.  However, there was plenty of excitement in the subplots to dampen some of my disappointment in the scenes not directly related to Lawrence and Georgie.  Smugglers, angry townspeople, Lawrence’s estranged son, and a rakish uncle will keep the readers more than occupied.  I was positively thrilled to uncover the mysteries the lay around the decrepit castle in Penkellis.

I’m telling you.  There was nothing about this book that I didn’t love with my whole heart.  It was some of the best writing combined with some of the best characters and those two combined equaled a book that I will read and reread time and again.  My heart explodes every time I pick up one of Cat Sebastian’s novels, whether it be the first of the fourteenth time.  Her books will never bore you.  They’re the sort of books you’ll think about late at night when you’re trying to fall asleep and early in the morning when you’ve just woken up.  Reading this books make you feel like you’re a part of something amazing and if you don’t buy them all up you’ll be missing out on something special and unique.

View Cat's Amazon page here.

Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath (AND GIVEAWAY)

Is it just me or is there something about the winter that puts you in the mood for some stuffy English dudes?  I certainly hope it’s not just me.  Thank goodness my Avon Addicts box came with not one, not two, but three copies of Lorraine Heath’s newest novel, Beyond Scandal and Desire, out January 30^th, 2018.  Also, do you see how beautiful the cover is?  I don’t usually judge books based on their covers but there’s something about these particular colors that makes it hard to ignore when it’s sitting there on your shelf.

It took me a few tries to get started on this novel—not because of anything that the novel did, but rather that’s just my usual pattern with historical romances—but once I fully invested myself I was sunk.  Beyond Scandal and Desire had a complicated revenge scheme, orphans, gambling dens, and wicked innocence.  So… basically everything I love in my historical romance novels.  It had a really wonderful flow to it that kept me interested and engaged the entire time I was reading.

This is the age-old tale of the revenge of the bastard.  Mick Trewlove is the bastard child of a duke who dumped him on the doorstep of a widow without a thought to whether he lived or died.  He has spent his entire life trying to make something of himself with the express purpose of taking revenge on the father who abandoned him.  Now he finally has that chance, but Lady Aslyn—with her impeccable reputation—must be an unfortunate casualty.  He tries desperately to keep a detached view of the situation, but Aslyn—with her kindness, beauty, and open-mindedness—is making it very difficult for him.

I will admit that I wasn’t smitten on Aslyn, our female heroine, right off the bat.  She’s uppity and posh, confused and cautious, judgmental and upptiy.  There were a few moments where I was certain that she didn’t deserve Mick.  But as the story went on and I got to see her spirit, her wit, her desire to do what’s right damned the consequences, she started to grow on me.  By the end I was totally Team Aslyn, especially with such a kick ass name.  On occasion regency women can be a tad boring with their rules and propriety.  And then sometimes they’re too far on the other end of the spectrum with their wild disregard of societal standards and penchant for making out with any men who cross their paths.  There’s a time for every sort of woman in my book, of course, but it was actually quite refreshing to find Aslyn who falls right in the middle of that equation.  She was witty and bold, but with a naivety about her that was incredibly charming.

Mick was the type of man you want to find behind the pages of any and all romance novels.  He’s the man every woman dreams about meeting when they’ve accessed the part of their brain that craves the forbidden.  Honestly, he’s the dream male protagonist in any historical romance novel.  He’s handsome, dark, brooding; the type of man who dominates a room without even trying.  He is dangerous and unforgiving, but he would do anything for his adoptive family.  That’s the sort of man who is the most attractive.  Rakes are all well and good, but there’s something really amazing about a guy who loves his family.  Mick has some wildly sexy moves that will have you leaning in and pressing your nose to the pages.

This story isn’t fast-paced, but most historical romance novels are a little slower in comparison to other subgenres.  It was a happy, tumultuous read and the best part is that I’VE GOT TWO COPIES TO GIVEAWAY.  Does the above sound like a novel that you’d like to get your hands on pre-release date?  Yes?  

To enter you can follow me on Instagram: @romantically_inclined or Like my Facebook page: Romantically Inclined Reviews.  OR you can do both and double your chances of winning as I’ll be giving one copy away on each social media page!  One winner from each page will be chosen at 12pm tomorrow (Saturday, December 30th).

The Soldier's Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian

The Soldier’s Scoundrel is another male/male masterpiece by Cat Sebastian.  After my first venture into her works—The Ruin of a Rake—I was completely and totally obsessed with the way Cat weaves her erotic tales.  Not to be a broken record, but it seems positively nuts for me to spend money on books when I’ve got an entire shelf of my bookshelf dedicated to books I still need to read and review (and many of those have a time limit).  Still, LGBT romance novels are few and far between and Cat writes some of the best historical romance novels I’ve ever read (male/male or not).

The Soldier’s Scoundrel involves—wait for it—a soldier and a scoundrel.  The soldier is Oliver Rivington, a gentleman through and through.  He suffers from a war injury to his knee that limits his mobility and some bad memories of his time overseas that limits his emotional availability.  Looking for something to fill his time now that he’s back he finds himself embroiled in some shady business lead by business entrepreneur, and scoundrel, Jack Turner.  Jack moved up from the dark alleys of London’s slums and now runs a small business helping women solve their problems in a discreet manner.  The last thing he wants is some wealthy gentleman following him around and slowing him down, but Oliver isn’t as easy to get rid of as he’d hoped.  But the more time he spends with the handsome, polite, well-mannered Oliver the more his distrust of the elite seems to crumble and the more worried he becomes about these dangerous feelings stirring inside him.

This novel was amazing from start to finish.  And rather long, which is great because I never wanted this story to end.  I think I could read an entire life story of Jack and Oliver and never get bored.  I loved every little bit of background information that Cat fed me about her character’s and every interaction between Jack and Oliver send sparks of pleasure shooting through my body.  They had some incredibly genuine chemistry and a whirlwind romance from start to finish.  I waited with baited breath for every single interaction between the two of them and was constantly rewarded with page after page of some of the sexiest relations I’ve ever read.

If you’ve never delved into a male/male romance novel before then I strongly suggest you check out Cat’s works.  The Soldier’s Scoundrel is the first in the Turner Series, so you can start right away and you won’t have to catch up! They’re filled with such heat and passion that I find myself thinking of them long after I’ve finished.  Hell, I think about The Ruin of a Rake at least three times a week and I read that book months ago.  I don’t know how long it’ll take me to get over this one…maybe not as long, given that I’m about to hop online and purchase the second in the series as soon as this review finishes.  As a blogger and bookstore employee there’s little need for me to buy books when there are so many opportunities to receive them for free, so that should tell you exactly how much I love Cat Sebastian and her books.  I actually paid for them.

Purchase all of them and don’t think twice.

2 For 1: "The Art of Running in Heels" and "Simply Irresistible" by Rachel Gibson

When I received my Avon Addicts package in the mail I was over the moon.  A box full of books from a variety of authors and genres is a blogger’s dream come true.  When I received the box I was a hairbreadths away from moving out of our apartment and it seemed as though every other item of mine was packed away in some sort of box.  So, I opted for the e-book included in the box, The Art of Running in Heels by Rachel Gibson.

The Art of Running in Heels is the classic story of a runaway bride.  Lexie Kowalsky entered a competition much like The Bachelor and won herself a husband.  Only… when the time comes to marry him she leaves him standing at the altar, hops a seaplane, and meets Sean Knox, hockey player for the Chinooks.  Lexie isn’t looking for a new husband, but she can’t help but be drawn to the closed-off knight in rusted armor.  Too bad Sean isn’t interested in getting to know the bubbly blonde who has been forced into his life.

I think that this novel will be particularly alluring to fans of dating shows who love the drama that comes along with competing to date another person.  It was big boobs meets small dogs which probably won’t make any sense until you read this book.

Lexie was brash, bold, and unapologetic.  Sean was a cocky basted who wasn’t looking for anything past a one-night stand.  Together they made quite an oddball pairing, but in the end they seemed to work out, building off one another’s strengths and filling in each other’s weaknesses.

I don’t know that I particularly related to either character.  Lexie was over-the-top all the time and it got rather tiresome hearing about her boobs all the time (from her and from Sean).  Lexie also enjoyed preaching her opinion all the time, repetitively.  Honestly, though, despite the fact that it bothered me I think it was actually rather realistic and I can’t exactly fault Ms. Gibson for that now can I?  Sean was sort of an asshole, but you know, I’ve enjoyed assholes before and I could enjoy them again.  Their faults don’t make them bad people… I suppose it just makes them seem most like people.

There were parts I liked and parts I didn’t like about this novel, but I really think this is one of those times that the reader is going to have to decide for themselves.  I didn’t put it down, but I don’t know if it’ll go on be shelf to reread.

Funnily enough, after reading The Art of Running in Heels I picked up Simply Irresistible to discover that it is the story of Georgeanne Howard and John Kowalsky… parents to Lexie.

Though I didn’t necessarily love The Art of Running in Heels I very much enjoyed Simply Irresistible.  It was dramatic, hilarious, and full of awkward missteps between both characters.  Georgeanne, it turns out, is the original ‘runaway bride’, leaving her rich fiancé—twice her age—at the altar and hitching a ride with the oblivious John Kowalsky, player on her would-be husband’s hockey team.

Georgeanne has spent her entire life using her wit and charms to cover for her learning disability.  She knew she would never be the smartest one around, but she worked hard to ensure she’d always be the prettiest and most well-mannered.  Only… John doesn’t think so.  John only sees a ditsy, buxom blonde good for the bed but not for a partner.  After a quick one night stand he dumps Georgeanne off at the airport and says good riddance.  But seven years later he discovers that Georgeanne never went back home… and she has a secret she’s been keeping from him.

This book was drama and southern charm done right.  At the start of the novel Georgie was a rather immature young woman with a romanticized view of the world and John was a jaded asshole with a large number of personal issues.  I absolutely adored the character progression when the story fast forwarded seven years.  Georgeanne found her confidence and became more than what she’d been labelled as a child with a learning disability and I was so excited to see that.

I don’t want to spoil too much, so I won’t go into depth about the secret that blows both their lives wide open, but it’s quite a riveting twist that will keep your nose to the page.  Overall, I really enjoyed this novel with its quirks and hilarity.  I guess it isn’t so strange that I would adore one novel in a series and be lukewarm regarding another series.  It happens all the time.  I would definitely recommend Rachel Gibson’s work for fans of sports romances, despite the fact that it’s light on the sports and heavy on the romance.

Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss Book 1) by Nalini Singh

Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh is your typical ‘opposites attract’ story with an exciting twist of rock star meets librarian.  Molly has spent her entire life trying to stay out of the limelight, but when Zachary Fox, lead singer for the band Schoolboy Choir, sets his sights on her she finds herself powerless to resist his dirty words and charm.

Those who love their men large and in charge will enjoy Fox’s bold personality and unapologetic sexuality.  He’s the rough and tumble sort who enjoys being in control of every aspect of his life, including his women.  This isn’t an erotic novel with whips and chains, however, so if you prefer your readings to be something you can read in public without blushing too much then you’ve found your book.

Molly was a tiny bit eye-rollingly naïve, but sometimes that’s what you’re craving out of your characters.  She’s incredibly insecure and unexperienced, but understandably so given that she’s trying desperately hard to forget a damaging experience from her past.  Her insecurities get the best of her often throughout the novel and, at times, it can get a little frustrating to watch her talk herself in circles.  Still, the insecurities weren’t at all outside the realm of possibilities with someone as sheltered as Molly.  I only wished that she might develop more of a healthy self-esteem as the story went forward, which she eventually, sort of did.  Maybe I've just been spoiled lately with strong, empowered women.

Rock Addiction was a very exciting read.  It was a whirlwind of anticipation, emotions, and drama and I took great pleasure from the experience.  I kept thinking that the story would end—quite possibly because the story moved wonderfully quickly—but to my delight it kept going and going and going.  It’s nearly impossible to be bored reading about Fox and Molly.  I think that anyone who loved their novels fast-paced, intense, and filled with tattooed men will find Rock Addiction to be a thrilling read for a cold, winter day.

Out now and freeeeeee on Amazon for Kindle.  I'm not sure how long it'll last so don't delay!

Wrong by Stevie J. Cole and LP Lovell

Title: Wrong

Author: Stevie J. Cole & LP Lovell

Wrong by Stevie J. Cole and Lp Lovell is exactly that.  Wrong.  It was so kind of the authors to give you a warning of what’s to come right there on the front cover.  Because dear lord almighty, this book will have you, at times, feeling as though you may be going to hell for your reading choices.  In.  The.  Best.  Way.

The characters are morally questionable.  Especially Jude, the dangerous bookie who rules his ‘kingdom’ with an unforgiving hand.  He’s handsome, yes, but cruel and, in fact, a murderer.  Readers must be able to put aside their scruples for the greater good of an unbelievably sexy story.  Victoria actually starts off with all her ethical ducks in a row, but it isn’t long before Jude’s corruption wisps away whatever goodness she once had inside of her.

This is not the romance novel that will have you feeling warm and giddy.  Wrong will have you sitting there running a hand over your neck and vaguely wondering whether it’s possible for one book to set the feminist movement back seven steps all on its own.  It’s that ridiculously wrong, but god, for some reason I wanted to keep reading and reading and reading.

The passion between Jude and Victoria is explosive, abusive, and, at times, confusing.  Your mind is telling you that what you are reading is wrong, but you keep reading anyways because you have to know what happens.  You have to know if these characters are truly as bad as they seem.  If there’s any chance of redemption for Jude and any chance of getting back on the right path for Victoria.  Or maybe their bound for mutual destruction.  You have to know one way or the other.

I’m not giving you all this information because I want you to put aside this novel in favor of some light hearted Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Nora Roberts.  Not at all.  I just want any reader to be going into this novel with their eyes wide-freaking-open.  There are a good number of people who would find themselves incredibly turned off by a novel of this sort.  Even the open-minded should be cautioned.  This is Fifty Shades of Grey on crack.  This is Fifty Shades of Grey but with all morality eliminated.  The characters have few redeemable qualities.  The romance is violent. This story will make you hot, but it will not make you feel good.

Only a specific reader will be able to stomach the chaos of this novel, but that reader will find themselves quite pleased with what they find in the first book of the Wrong series. The first book is free on Kindle.  Reader beware.

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Title: The Ones Who Got Away

Author: Roni Loren

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Publication Date: January 2018

Blurb: Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away.

Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey. A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long riff and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought...

Review:

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is a daring tale about the courage it takes to survive and who doesn’t love a story about survivors?  I certainly do.  Roni Loren told a dark tale that many wouldn’t have dared touch and she did so with the respect it deserved.  This story starts off at 100 miles per hour and keeps at that speed throughout its entirety.  I had my nose pressed to the pages from start to finish.

Getting to know Olivia as a character was a real treat.  She was bold, brash, and completely unapologetic.  She said what she meant and she meant what she said.  It was quite refreshing.  Her feelings for Finn and the honesty with which she expressed them made for an amazing, emotional read with which I really connected.

And Finn.  Oh lord, Finn.  My only regret reading with this novel is that it didn’t really delve into Finn’s time between high school and the present and I imagine Finn has experience some tough shit.  Not only that, but some more backstory would have been fabulous simply because Finn is such an honorable, respectable man who has clearly spent his life trying to make up for a few high school mistakes.  I wanted to know everything about his life. 

It’s a beautiful thing to watch two people meant for one another find each other.  Finn and Olivia were written together by fate and only their own stupidity could keep them apart.  I appreciated that they didn’t play around with one another but rather opened themselves up to their need and passion.  The story moved quickly, for two people who haven’t seen each other in ten years, but it wasn’t so quick that I didn’t believe it possible.  It had just the right balance.

I’m very excited for more stories by Roni Loren.  It’s clear that this book is not the last time we will see these characters and I’m especially excited for Rebecca’s story, Finn’s prom date that fateful night and the reason Olivia ended up with a gun pointed at her head.  She has some major secrets she’s hiding and I’m eager to watch her explore them.  The Ones That Got Away was a fabulous, contemporary read with dark emotions and some incredible story-telling.  It will be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.

Breathless (a Love Serial) by Maria Luis

Title: Breathless

Author: Maria Luis

I downloaded Breathless by Maria Luis for one reason.  It was free.  That’s one of the best reasons to download a book, in my opinion.  Yes, I have a million and a half novels on my shelves waiting to be read.  Yes, I have almost no time to read those books, let alone a new one.  But yes, I have no self-control, so basically I thought fuck it and downloaded it anyways.  It was a quick, breezy read that took no more than two hours, though I’ll admit I’m a quick reader.

Breathless was wonderfully unique.  Author Maria Luis wrote this ‘love serial’ novel chapter by chapter pausing between each to allow her readers the opportunity vote on what happened next for her characters Jake and Claire.  The best part of the whole thing is that you can’t even tell that the story was a mix of different reader’s votes.  It flowed just as perfectly as any novel out there which is certainly a testament to Maria Luis’ talent regarding this writing business.   I would have loved to be a part of the voting process, but hopefully I can be a part of the next go around.  I’ve got some ideas.

Breathless follows Claire Halloway, an aspiring actress, as she takes odd jobs from investigating cheating boyfriends to wearing a chicken costume and handing out samples outside a restaurants.  Her most recent gig as a chicken has put her directly in the path of Jake Matthews, rich attorney with a handsome face and a sweet car.  She enjoys looking at him—who wouldn’t?  He’s hotter than sin--, but she’s not willing to let herself go any further than that, until one night when Jake shows up at her home with an interesting proposition.

Claire is a stubborn, independent young woman with a past that she’s trying to keep firmly in her past.  Her internal dialogue had me laughing out loud multiple times as I read.  Jake was sexy, cocky, and in desperate need of a woman to shake up his life.  He wasn’t an insufferable asshole though, which I so appreciated.  I loved the banter that Claire and Jack shot back and forth as they desperately fought to ignore their feelings for one another (however short-lived that fight way).

The whole story was pretty short, which obviously meant that there were some sacrifices regarding plot, but overall the story had a great pace and an enjoyable amount of action, sexual and otherwise (wink).  I think that nearly all romance readers would appreciate this speed read with all its quirks and hilarity.  And it’s free for two more days (until December 18^th).  Order here.

Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Lori Wilde

Title: Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside

Author: Lori Wilde

Blurb: Wearing a too-tight “Santa Baby costume, held in by a double pair of Spanx, Paige MacGregor runs headlong into a gorgeous, gray-eyed hunk of a long, tall cowboy.  And not just any cowboy, but country-western star Cash Colton, visiting Twilight to perform in a charity concert.  Most women would melt at his feet, but Paige knows all too much about self-assured men with cocky attitudes, so she tells him to get lost.

Cash is in town, nursing his own broken heart, but Paige has knocked him off his feet.  He’s convinced she’s perfect—someone to inspire his music and share his now-empty bed.  True, he’s not marriage material, but he’s determined to convince her that they’re perfect together—at least for a while.  But what he doesn’t count on is falling in love with the one woman who isn’t about to give him the time of day.

Review:  I haven’t really felt much in the Christmas-y spirit lately, so I thought that Lori Wilde’s Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside in red and gold with the wreath on the cover might be just what I needed.  In a little disappointing turn of events I totally forgot, until this moment, that I’d thought the book was going to be holiday themed.  Other than taking place during the Christmas season, there wasn’t much to remind me that I’d originally sought out the novel to be immersed in snow, Santa, and singing Christmas Carols.  Not that this wasn’t a delightful novel… it just wasn’t the winter wonderland I’d expected it to be.

If you can believe it, in my twelve years as a romance reader I’ve never read a Lori Wilde novel.  I have the hardest time finding new authors to enjoy (I’m picky and super judgmental), but being an Avon Addict has really created a wonderful opportunity to discover some fantastic new books/series/authors, etc.  I’m blessed, truly!

I have found that I really enjoy Lori Wilde’s writing style and characters.  I have no doubt that this book was a member of a family (there seemed to be an understanding that I would know who certain characters were), but I liked those characters that I was able to meet.  I felt that her writing style came across very natural and not at all flowery and romantic like some of the novels I’ve read lately.

Paige was a down-to-earth, charming woman who was average without being boring.  She was so incredibly relatable that a few times I found myself wishing that she was a friend of mine.  There was nothing outright spectacular about Paige, but by the end of the novel I was absolutely convinced that she deserved the sun, the moon, and stars—and most importantly a break in life.

Cash was your typical attractive, too cock for his own good superstar with a troubled childhood and difficulty expressing his emotions.  He should have come across as an overdone trope, but honestly I enjoyed reading about his troubles, his faults, and his dreams for his future.  I wanted to know more about him and, eventually, I wanted to see him happy with Paige (though it took some time for me to trust him).

I think that anyone looking for a light read this holiday season would be pleased with their choice should they pick up Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside.  The drama was to a minimum and the sarcastic, witty remarks were at a maximum.

Disturbing His Peace (The Academy #3) by Tessa Bailey

Title: Disturbing His Peace (The Academy #3)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: April 24^th, 2018

Publisher: Avon

Blurb:

Danika Silva can’t stand Lt. Greer Burns. Her roommate’s older brother may be sexy as hell, but he’s also a cold, unfeeling robot. She just wants to graduate and forget about her scowling superior. But when a dangerous mistake lands Danika on probation—under Greer’s watch—she’s forced to interact with the big, hulking jerk. Call him daily to check in? Done. Ride shotgun in his cruiser every night? Done. Try not to climb into his giant, muscular lap and kiss him? Umm…

Greer doesn’t let anything—or anyone—distract him from the job. Except lately, all he can think about is Danika. He’s wanted the beautiful, cocky recruit since the moment he saw her. But she’s reckless and unpredictable, and Greer is painfully aware of what can happen when an officer doesn’t follow the rules. Probation seemed like a good idea, but now Danika’s scent is in his car and he’s replayed her voicemails twenty times. Christ, he’s a goner.

Danika’s melting Greer’s stone-cold exterior one ride-along at a time. Being together could have serious consequences… but breaking a few rules never hurt anybody, right?

Review:  I guess it’s no surprise that after gushing profusely about the first two books in the Academy series that I would be about to do the same thing for the third installment, Disturbing His Peace.  Do authors know which two characters in a series are the most anticipated?  Do they do this on purpose?  Could they be that cruel?

Yes, they could.

Tessa Bailey is the cruelest of them all, putting off the romantic relationship between Danika and Greer until her final book, making us all suffer through those little scenes in the first two novels until we were foaming at the mouth for Greer to finally get what was coming to him with that tight butt and domineering personality.  I was beyond ready to read about Danika rocking his world and turning his well-ordered life upside down and I was not the least bit disappointed by this novel.

One word: Spanking.

Should I end my review there?  I won’t.  But I could and you’d probably get the gist of my excitement and hopefully hop right on your computer and pre-order Disturbing His Peace at your earliest convenience.  For those of you who might take a little more time to convince, feel free to continue reading.

I love, love, love strong women. This should be obvious from the type of novels I read, but if it wasn’t… there it is.  Danika is top of her class at the police academy, strong-willed, dependable, and she could probably wrestle most men and win, which I think is incredibly impressive.  She’s an awesome example of the sort of female we should all strive to be: cool, calm, and confident… and funny.  Really, really funny.

Greer is in my top five of favorite male characters ever.  Of course that top five list is really like forty guys, but top forty doesn’t sound nearly as impressive.  There’s a lot of ties on the list.  Twelve guys tied just for first place!  But man, Greer is something else.  He’s rigid and a perfectionist and there’s something about him that makes you want to mess up all the papers on his desk and watch him go mad.

He has a place for everything and everything is in its place.  Except Danika.  She won’t fit into the little box he has set out for her and that frustrates him to no end until finally the frustration builds into an explosion of passion and lust.  It’s writing at its finest.  It’s perfection, just like Greer.  I read and reread portions of this novel until I thought my head was going to boil from the heat.

I loved watching Greer battle his personal demons and seeing such a strong man learn to accept support from Danika.  There’s something immensely attractive about a man discovering how to ask for help.  He was such a treat to experience and I implore everyone reading this review to put this novel on their To Read shelf.  And while you’re waiting, get to reading Indecent Exposure and Disorderly Conduct.  (Click the links to experience those wonderfully obsessive reviews).

I am devastated that this series has come to its end with Disturbing His Peace.  But with Tessa Bailey pumping out books like nobody’s business I know I won’t have to be upset for very long.  Soon another novel will come and take the place of Most Loved on my bookshelf, but this one will always hold a special place in my heart.  Get to pre-ordering.  Right now!

Head Coach (Hellion's Angels #2) by Lia Riley

Title: Head Coach (Hellion’s Angels #2)

Author: Lia Riley

Publication Date: November 21, 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

My best friend is currently living with us which can make reading and reviewing a little more difficult than usual because she’s feeding my Netflix addiction.  We’ve watching Back Off, Haters, Grey’s Anatomy, Mindhunter, and Stranger Things since she’s arrived here.  (Obviously we haven’t gotten all the way through Grey’s).

Still, when I sat down to write this review she told me she would write it for me, despite not having read Head Coach by Lia Riley.  Here are her words on the novel: “This book was saucy with a side of sexy.  Much sex was had.  It was a very fun time for everyone involved.”  Is she wrong?  No, surprisingly.  There was much sex and Neve and Tor’s relationship was very saucy with a side of sexy.

I loved the build-up of the love-hate relationship between Neve, a sports reporter, and Tor Gunnar, the stoic head coach of the Hellion’s.  She’s the biggest thorn in his side, always gunning for the best story and asking the questions Tor hopes that no one asks.  He has reason not to want to be around her, but for some reason he finds himself drawn to her strength, her tenacity, and her beauty.

Neve throws everything she has into her work.  She isn’t looking to complicate her life with a relationship right now, especially not one with the moody Tor Gunnar whose personality is less than stellar and who clearly despises her.  Certainly not him.  It doesn’t matter that he makes her gut clench and her chest ache just from being close to her.

There’s more than a spark between these two.  There’s an explosion.  A forbidden splash of heat across the pages.  Their relationship was really wonderfully done.  I thought there could have been a little more drama, but that’s a subjective opinion obviously.  I’d love it if my characters had off-the-wall explosions every other page, but that’s not realistic and it can get a little old.  There’s probably just enough drama in here to keep the average reader more than pleased.

I like Lia Riley’s habit of putting strong women with strong men, but adding just a little bit of weakness between them to draw you in.  I want to see them both struggling with past demons, working through their damage to come out stronger together and that’s how her characters work.  Her novels are easy, enjoyable reads that have you reading so quickly that you don’t even realize you’re half way to the end until it’s over.  The perfect read for a Sunday afternoon.

Head Coach comes out November 21^st, but if you’re looking for something to read before then you can always check out Mister Hockey, her first novel in the Hellion’s Angel series, featuring Neve’s sister Breezy and the hot hockey captain, Jed West.  My review of Mister Hockey can be found here.  

Follow by Tessa Bailey

Title: Follow

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: TODAY

Blurb:

He wants her soul. Too bad she already sold it.

Family is everything to gambling den darling, Teresa Valentini. Blood comes first, especially before men. So when her brother lands himself in hot water, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to save him. And showing up topless in her unwitting savior’s motel room is turning out to be the furthest thing from a hardship…

Will Caruso is the bad boy of New York’s financial scene…and he just found out the very thing that drives his success is a damn lie. Now, he’s exchanged his high-stress life for the open road, no one but his Great Dane…and half a million Instagram followers to keep him company. When a mysterious beauty arrives, her secrecy prods his suspicions, even while she tempts his lust to the breaking point.

Teresa met Will under false pretenses, but the bond consuming them is real. They’re strong enough to overcome a little betrayal…aren’t they?

Review:

Wowza.  Wow, wow, wow.  WOW.  Did I say wow?  Tessa Bailey’s Follow came out of nowhere for me.  There I was still recovering from her last novel Indecent Exposure (review can be found here) when all of a sudden I received an email asking if I wanted to read and review her upcoming novel Follow.  Uh, yes, sign me up immediately.

I didn’t even read a blurb about Follow before picking it up.  I just instantly downloaded it and began reading.  I was drawn in by the idea of mob threats, and deception, and family before everything.  It was intriguing from the get-go.  There was only a brief moment where the speed with which the characters moved had me wondering whether this story was going to seem like someone’s wet dream fantasy rather than a romance novel, but that was quickly overtaken with the hilarity of the dialogue and the passion between the characters.

Teresa is a relatable woman.  Sure, she works at an illegal gambling den, she’s got a history with the mob, and she’s working one last job to save her brother… but other than those things she’s totally relatable.  It was so refreshing to have a female character who knows she’s attractive and isn’t afraid to use that to her advantage.  Too often I feel like female protagonists are forced to do the whole “I’m attractive but I don’t know it” song and dance.  How exhausting.  Teresa don’t play that game.

Will is drop dead gorgeous, of course.  And rich.  Oh, and he loves his dog.  I would be rolling my eyes at his perfection, but he was just too damn likeable.  His personality eventually won me over and his attraction for Teresa was the cherry on top.

I love their relationship.  Tessa Bailey’s characters always have the hottest sex, but Will and Teresa take it to another level.  There is some incredibly sexy role-playing but what is even sexier is Will’s dedication to ensuring that Teresa is always okay.  That their relationship is unaffected by the dangerous nature of their role play.  His checking up on her was without a doubt the most amazing part of the novel.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a male character do that and it made me realize that maybe I’ve been expecting too little from my men.

Overall, fabulous read.  Just fabulous.  It had action.  It had passionate sex scene after passionate sex scene.  It had draaammmmaaa.  It had… everything, basically.  Nothing was lacking from this book.  It had me reeling time and time again.  When Tessa Bailey’s name comes across my computer screen I put down whatever I’m doing and I start reading.  Immediately.  You will, too.

Third Son's a Charm by Shana Galen

Title: Third Son’s a Charm

Author: Shana Galen

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Publication Date: November 7, 2017

Blurb: Fiercely loyal to his friends and comrades, Ewan Mostyn is the toughest in a group of younger sons of nobility who met as soldiers and are now trying desperately to settle back into peaceful Society. Ewan trusts his brawn more than his brains, but when he's offered a job watching the Duke of Ridlington's stubbornly independent daughter, he finds both are challenged.

Lady Lorraine wants none of her father's high-handed ways, and she'll do everything in her power to avoid her distressingly attractive bodyguard―until she lands herself in real trouble. Lorraine begins to see Ewan's protectiveness in a new light, and she can only hope that her stoic guardian will do for her what he's always done―fight for what he wants.

Review: Third Son’s a Charm by Shana Galen is a breath of fresh air among regency novels.  I love regency novels, but I have found lately that they’ve been getting a little stale.  We’ve always got the young woman who’s unacceptable by societal standards and the rake who wants her.  Don’t get me wrong though, I love that plotline, but I was looking for something a little more exciting.

Enter Lorraine and Ewan.  Lorraine was quite an interesting character.  She was both innocent and daring, bold and reserved.  I never knew what she was going to say when she opened her mouth.   She was a delightful person, if not a bit dense at times but really… who isn’t?  Throughout the novel she became more confident in herself and in being herself.

Ewan was the star of the show though.  He was everything you want your male protagonist to be and more.  I love handsome rakes who have everything going for them, but for once it was nice to get a guy whose only fault isn’t that he finds it hard to express his feelings.  Rakes are always clever, intelligent men who know how to charm their way into or out of any situation they’d like.  That’s not Ewan.

Ewan’s entire life he’s been shamed for his lack of intelligence.  He’s told over and over again that his only redeeming quality is his large size and people expect very little from him other than brute strength in bad situations.  He’s a man with a learning disability, a slight stutter, and low self-esteem.  When have you ever read a romance novel with a man like that?

It was such an amazing treat to get to know Ewan. I loved delving deeper into Ewan’s past and watching the effect that Lorraine had on his belief in himself and his confidence in his own brain.  He was a brilliant character that brought forth a lot of emotion from myself (and I’m sure he’ll do the same for other readers).

I think people will be excited to read about the relationship between Lorraine and Ewan.  They were complete opposites who filled voids in one another that they each didn’t know they even had.  I loved watching the barriers between them break down… and I loved watching Lorraine get a little smarter with each interaction with Ewan.

Pre-order this book if you’re looking mix up your regency collection or even looking to start it. You’re going to want to read it over and over again.

Soft Limits by Brianna Hale

Title: Soft Limits

Author: Brianna Hale

Publisher: Carina Press

Publication Date: October 30^th, 2017

Blurb:  Graduate student Evie Bell spends her days ghostwriting memoirs and her nights playing out her most intimate sexual fantasies by penning fan fiction. When a famous stage actor bursts into her life, she's drawn to his dark, sensual presence, despite herself.

He calls me chérie, ma princesse, minette.

In Paris, Frederic takes Evie firmly in hand, leading her down a sensual path neither of them could have imagined, and pushing them both dangerously near their limits.

I call him Daddy.

Evie is wary—fearing Frederic is a villain both onstage and off—but again and again, Frederic draws her in. Yet the closer they become, the more Frederic holds back, wanting to protect Evie from his despicable truth. He isn’t the man she believes him to be, and his secret may very well destroy them.

Review:  As is becoming a habit with my reviews, this is the first novel I’ve read by Brianna Hale and one of the first romance novel I’ve read of its kind.  Period.  I didn’t read the blurb before scooping up this book, so I wrongly thought that this would be your average, every day romance.  I was horribly, wonderfully wrong on that front.

Soft Limits is a Daddy BDSM romance with an eighteen year difference in age between Evie and Frederic.  Two new experiences in my reading repertoire.  I want to let you readers know right off the bat what you’re getting into because if you go into this expecting a light romantic read you’re going to be really surprised when Frederic comes out dressed like a neurotic priest (slight spoiler here, ladies).  I don’t want any of you being blind-sided by the erotic nature.

Soft Limits is a contemporary novel, but the way Brianna Hale writes had me wondering if I’d fallen straight into a dirty version of Pride and Prejudice.  The whole thing screamed 1800s England, so I was incredibly confused when they referenced things like Instagram and electric cars.  The writing style was to die for though and I truly enjoyed the way Ms. Hale weaves her stories and draws in the reader through her character’s dialogue.

Evie is a wonderful character who really resonated with me in some ways, but in other ways she was a total foreign concept to me.  She was quirky and odd, but also strong and empowering.  A walking contradiction, to say the least.  I’m sure every woman can commiserate with the internal battle we face between wanting to be strong feminists, but also longing to be cared for and trying to come to terms with the battle within us.

Frederic is… well, he’s Frederic.  He’s dangerous, intriguing, warm, and welcoming.  He understands boundaries, but knows when to push them.  He’s the ultimate male protagonist.  The one you’ve been searching for.  Sexy, domineering, loving, and tortured by a secret that will ruin him.

The whole novel was honestly amazing.  I started off thinking that the Daddy Dom thing would be awful strange, given that it’s not exactly something I’ve sought out before… or even thought of before, but as I read it my opinion began changing.  By the end I found myself slack-jawed and totally wrecked for other novels.  Quite a delightful read in the dirtiest, dirtiest way.

The book comes out October 30^th and if you’re a fan of some darker BDSM then I suggest you check it out. Only 2.99!

So Over You (Chicago Rebels series) by Kate Meader

Title: So Over You

Author: Kate Meader

Release Date: December 19, 2017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Blurb: Three estranged sisters struggle to sustain their late father’s failing hockey franchise in Kate Meader’s sizzling Chicago Rebels series. In this second entry, middle sister Isobel is at a crossroads in her personal and professional lives. But both are about to get a significant boost with the addition of a domineering Russian powerhouse to the Rebels...

Isobel Chase knows hockey. She played NCAA, won silver at the Games, and made it thirty-seven minutes into the new National Women’s Hockey League before an injury sidelined her dreams. Those who can’t, coach, and a position as a skating consultant to her late father’s hockey franchise, the Chicago Rebels, seems like a perfect fit. Until she’s assigned her first job: the man who skated into her heart as a teen and relieved her of her pesky virginity. These days, left-winger Vadim Petrov is known as the Czar of Pleasure, a magnet for puck bunnies and the tabloids alike. But back then... let’s just say his inability to sink the puck left Isobel frustratingly scoreless.

Vadim has a first name that means “ruler,” and it doesn’t stop at his birth certificate. He dominates on the ice, the practice rink, and in the backseat of a limo. But a knee injury has produced a bad year, and bad years in the NHL don’t go unrewarded. His penance? To be traded to a troubled team where his personal coach is Isobel Chase, the woman who drove him wild years ago when they were hormonal teens. But apparently the feeling was not entirely mutual.

That Vadim might have failed to give Isobel the pleasure that was her right is intolerable, and he plans to make it up to her—one bone-melting orgasm at a time. After all, no player can perfect his game without a helluva lot of practice...

Review:  Holy %&$#.  If I could end my review of So Over You by Kate Meader with those words (and symbols) I would, but I feel I owe it to you to describe what an outstanding novel this was. 

First off, I didn’t read the first novel in the series because I didn’t even know there was one until I read the blurb and saw “second entry”.  Whoops.  All that means is that I’ve got more reading to do.  This book was so amazing that I have no doubt that the ones about her sisters and other members of the hockey team will be equally as spectacular.

The only part of the book that I didn’t like was the cover because I didn’t feel that it accurately encompassed what I was about to fall into.  I went into this read reluctantly thinking I was about to read a so-so sports novel and was just hoping that it wasn’t a complete waste of my time.  Oh my god.  I need to stop judging books by their covers because my life would be so much worse if I’d never read So Over You.

Maybe I’ve got a thing for Russian men?  I’ve found that some of my favorite books involve Russian men.  Vadim is definitely in my “Top Ten Hottest Men Ever” list.  Whether it was his accent (that I picked up on throughout the entire novel), his penchant for speaking Russian, or that internal dialogue of his… long, drawn out sigh.  He is something else.  Whenever he opened up that beautiful mouth of his and spoke dirty I found myself whispering, “Holy shit” out loud in my empty living room.

Isobel was a wonderful protagonist.  She was strong and confident and a star on the ice, but she also had those insecurities we all like to see within our characters.  I really enjoyed learning more about her and getting to watch her work her way out of the dark and into Vadim’s arms.  The best part was that she gave as much as she got… and what a treat that was.

And the two of them together?  Some of the best scenes I’ve ever read.  There wasn’t a spark… there was a full out forest fire happening between those pages.  I kept expecting the book to turn to ash in my hands.

The way Kate Meader writes is like a song and it was a song that I wanted to go on forever and ever.  I finished the book right before bed and Vadim hummed through my dreams all night.  If you’re going to pick this book as your next read (please do!) then make sure that you’re alone, that you’ve got wine nearby, and that you’ve got all night to get it done.  You will not be able to put it down.

P.S. Did I mention the next book is actually a male/male novel about their team manager?  Somebody needs to come and pick me up off the floor.

Pre-order your copy from your local independent bookstore or get it for your Kindle here.

Bad For Her (A Bad Boys Gone Good Novel) by Christi Barth

Title: Bad For Her

Author: Christi Barth

Release Date: October 3, 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

Blurb: Doctor Mollie Vickers loves the tight-knit community of her tiny Oregon town. But she’s not a fan of the limited dating options. Sleep with a guy who tried to copy off her in junior high? Pass. Mollie’s sex life is flat-lining… until a deliciously handsome man she’s never seen before stops to help her fix a flat tire.

As an ex-mobster, Rafe Maguire’s no saint. But he’s trying to turn over a new leaf. Although he probably shouldn’t kiss the hot doctor on the side of the highway. Or suggest a no-strings fling with a woman he has no business pursuing. Rafe’s life is too complicated for love—his new WITSEC-provided identity doesn’t fit him at all and there’s a U.S. Marshal watching his every move. He can’t tell Mollie the truth… but their chemistry is scorching and being good doesn’t mean he can’t be a little bad.

Mollie can’t resist the guy who looks rough, talks tough, and is loyal to the bone. But it’s obvious Rafe is keeping secrets. When the truth comes out, Mollie must decide if she could ever love an ex-mobster… or if this bad boy has truly gone good.

Review: Ex-mobsters, witness protection, and a hint of danger… I expected Bad For Her by Christi Barth to be a fast-paced, crime-filled suspense novel with a hint of danger and a lot of sex.  What I got was something completely different.  Bad For Her is slower-paced, overwhelmingly hilarious, filled with adorable family moments, and… well, yeah, some hot sex.

I absolutely loved the characters in this novel which takes place in a small Oregon town.  Usually too many quirky characters feels forced, but somehow the author gives each character their own spin so that they’re entertaining and loveable rather than stale and overdone.  This is obviously the first in a series so I’m excited to delve further into the lives of these wonderful characters and see what other secrets they’re hiding.

Let’s talk about Rafe.  Serious, sexy, incredibly hot Rafe whose life in the mob has left him overly confident and wonderfully fit.  The confidence wasn’t annoying, however, and neither were his muscles and those romantic moves of his.  I about died and went to heaven every time he made an advance on Mollie.

Mollie is smart, attractive, witty and kind.  She’s a fantastic woman and the best part about her is that she seemed so real.  She had so much charm and love to give to those around her.  She’s the sort of woman you want to be your friend and that’s the sort of person I like reading about.  Nothing worse than a character you want nothing to do with, it makes it so much harder to get into the novel.

Together the two of them have unbelievable chemistry.  It certainly got my blood pumping a few times and then there were a couple times that had my blood boiling and those moments were even better.  Woosh.  If you pick up this novel make sure you have a cold glass of water—or better yet a beer—nearby to quench that thirst you’ll develop.  In the end though it’s clear that the relationship between them isn’t just heat in the bedroom… there’s a real relationship developing there and it’s a great thing to get to watch it happen.  You find yourself more eager for them to finally admit their feelings than for another bedroom scene.

This is the perfect read for those who aren’t just looking for hot sex, but who also don’t want a soft, happy read with implied sex, if you know what I mean.  It’s a great compromise.

You can purchase the novel at your local independent bookstore or a Kindle edition here.