The Pawn by Skye Warren

Title: The Pawn (Endgame Series #1)

Author: Skye Warren

Publication Date: OUT NOW, BEEN OUT A WHILE, I’M JUST REALLY BEHIND IN THE TIMES

Do you ever read a book and you’re so glad that you’re in the privacy of your own home?  Well, I read this book on an elliptical in a public gym at eleven in the morning.  Let me tell you right now… reading erotica on an elliptical in the middle. of. a. public. gym. is not a joyful time.  I was sweating and only 50% of it was from the workout.  The other 50% was a reaction from the explosive chemistry between Gabriel and Avery.

Blurb from Goodreads:

The price of survival… Gabriel Miller swept into my life like a storm. He tore down my father with cold retribution, leaving him penniless in a hospital bed. I quit my private all-girl’s college to take care of the only family I have left. There’s one way to save our house, one thing I have left of value. My virginity.

A forbidden auction… Gabriel appears at every turn. He seems to take pleasure in watching me fall. Other times he’s the only kindness in a brutal underworld. Except he's playing a deeper game than I know. Every move brings us together, every secret rips us apart. And when the final piece is played, only one of us can be left standing.

Review:

Are you turned on just from reading that description? Am I allowed to ask that of my blog readers? I don’t know.  This is one of those books that I heard about, but wasn’t going to actively seek out as I’ve already got nine million books on my wait-list, but it came up for free on Amazon one weekend and I couldn’t resist.  So, when I needed a book to read on my Kindle while working my butt off I figured, why not?

I did an hour of cardio.  Want to know the last time I did an hour of cardio?  Never.  I told myself, “You are not getting off this elliptical until this book is done.”  I’m a fast reader and the book isn’t all that long, but I will admit to frantically flipping electronic pages desperate to find out what happens.

The book is a little darker than your average erotica, in my opinion. Avery, star of the virginity auction, is pretty young & there’s the whole… you know, auctioning off her virginity portion.  But of course she’s not about to get forced into anything she doesn’t want (wink wink, can you wink in text?).  If you don’t find the idea of a virginity auction, a hot dangerous man, and mild dominant/submissive relationships then I’ll tell you right now this book won’t tickle your fancy.

The relationship between Gabriel and Avery is explosive.  Madly so.  I don’t know that the character development is as fleshed out in this book as it could be, especially with Gabriel, but the later books (at least as far as I’ve read) make up for that.  You want to become Avery.  You want to become Gabriel.  You want to fall into their relationship and get drunk on the passion.

When The Pawn ended I clicked “Purchase” on the next book in the series so quickly I almost sprained my pointer finger (it was a phone purchase, obviously).  I suggest you give this book a chance if you’re a fan of the Crossfire Series, 50 Shades of Grey, Anne Rice, or anything of the like.

Purchase here for a Kindle version.  Otherwise, please support your local independent bookstore and order it from them.  Your money matters.

Too Hard To Forget (Romancing the Clarksons) by Tessa Bailey

Title: Too Hard To Forget (Romancing the Clarksons)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Review: Peggy Clarkson was the biggest problem I had with this book.  Do you want to know why my biggest problem with this entire book was Peggy Clarkson?  Because her name was Peggy.  And that’s it.  The only problem with this book was that I don’t like the name Peggy.  The rest of this book was flawless.  FLAWLESS.

Peggy Clarkson, ex-university cheerleader, and Elliot Brooks, head coach of the football team, were involved in a hot, tumultuous and very secret relationship that ended with her in love with him and him dumping her unceremoniously into a cab and sending her away.  Peggy has spent years trying to piece her broken heart together, but has determined that nothing will be right without a little revenge.  She’s returned to her alma mater and she’s ready to make Elliot Brooks pay for what he did to her.  The problem is that Elliot Brooks has been paying for the way he treated Peggy for years and now that he has a second chance to make things right he’s not going to let her slip through his fingers.

Too Hard To Forget is the first novel I’ve read by Ms. Bailey, but oh my gosh I am absolutely obsessed.  I have big plans to purchase the first two in the Romancing the Clarksons series and I have plans to wait around for the rest in the series.  Too Hard To Forget is a wet dream.  Is it okay to say that in a review?  It sounds weird, but you will one-hundred percent agree with me if you give it a chance.  This book was scandalously hot.

The chemistry between Elliot and Peggy is explosive.  It jumps off the page, buries itself deep in your chest, and has you gasping for air.  Not an exaggeration.  The way Ms. Bailey creates her characters makes them so utterly real that you find yourself wondering whether you’re reading a non-fiction book or a romance novel.  Peggy and Elliot are each fighting their own serious demons.  You want them to succeed, but you’re also screaming at them to just give in.  And I mean literally screaming.  I was screaming at a book.  There were some scenes that were physically painful to experience because their pain seemed so real.  But, in a fun trade off, you also experience their joy, so it’s sort of fair.

This is the sort of book that one second you’ll be reading and the next you’ll be zoning out because you’re so desperately wishing it was you between those pages experiencing that amazing, unattainable level of passion.  At least, I hope that isn’t just something that I do…

I think this might give 50 Shades of Grey a run for its money in terms of sheer amounts of sex.  That’s the thought I want to leave you with.  Swoon. 

Release date is April 25, 2017 and if you don’t pick up this novel you’ll be making a huge mistake. 

A Study in Scoundrels (Romancing the Rules #2) by Christy Carlyle

Title: A Study in Scoundrels (Romancing the Rules #2)

Author: Christy Carlyle

Publication Date: April 11, 2017

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Blurb from Goodreads:

Sophia Ruthven is the epitome of proper behavior. On paper at least, as long as that paper isn’t from one of the lady detective stories she secretly pens. She certainly isn’t interested in associating with the dashing Jasper Grey, the wayward heir to the Earl of Stanhope, and one of the stage’s leading men. But when she learns Grey’s younger sister Liddy has gone missing, she can’t deny her desire to solve the mystery…or her attraction to the incorrigible scoundrel.

Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.

As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?

Review:

Is it just me or is there something freaking hot about the proper English language used in these regency romance novels.  For those who aren’t familiar with the term regency romance novels I have provided this Google translation: Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency romances are a distinct genre with their own plot and stylistic conventions.  Now, back to the hotness factor: the way the characters in these novels speak to one another makes me long for days where men shouted, “Show me your knickers” out of moving stagecoaches rather than “Show me your tits” from moving cars.  Okay, I exaggerate.

As is my tradition with these reviews lately this is the first novel I’ve ever read by Christy Carlyle.  I often find myself searching out regency novels with abandon because, as I mentioned, I love the language, the banter between characters, and the rarity of independent women.  Have I mentioned how much I adore independent women?  In contemporary novels every female character these days is a powerful, independent women which is positively awesome, but in regency novels strong females are usually seen as disappointments to womankind and there’s something so satisfying when they get the man regardless.

In A Study of Scoundrels Sophia isn’t the ‘strong, independent woman’ that we discussed previously.  She’s your average girl who’s trying to be a proper young lady, but being tempted by the ungodly handsome and incorrigible Jasper Grey.  I feel as though we can all relate to that; trying to be our very best but always being led astray.  She’s a very real character.  Resilient, but not so much so that she doesn’t doubt herself from time to time.

And Grey.  His story line is so sad, right from the very start.  I found tears in my eyes and not happy ones, which is odd for a romance novel.  You never expect them to make you cry.  Actually, you probably hope they don’t make you cry, but don’t worry!  The tears are short-lived.  You’ll find yourself laughing at Grey’s wit and charm much more often than you find yourself wanting to wrap him in a hug to squeeze the hurt away.

The storyline is rather tame as far as storylines go, but the depth of the characters more than makes up for the somewhat basic plot.  It was cute and there was some mystery to it, so I don’t want to make you think that it was tedious or not worth your time, because it is!  It’s just not the nail-biter that regency novels tend to be (with all that scandal and drama that London is known for).

If you want a curious mystery being solves by two amateur detectives with explosive chemistry then you should give this book a read.  You won’t be disappointed.  The book came out today: April 11, 2017.

As always, please support your independent bookstores (unless you’re a Kindle reader and can’t, for obvious reasons).  To find your nearest Indie Bookstore click here.

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Her Scottish Mistake by Michele de Winton

Title: Her Scottish Mistake

Author: Michele de Winton

Publication Date: April 10, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

Blurb I Created:

Janie is just looking for one last hoorah before she has to settle down in her tiny Texan town and take over the family business.  Thailand seemed like the perfect trip.  When she meets a handsome Scot she starts to wonder if a vacation fling isn’t just the memory to take back home with her.  What she doesn’t know if that her good-looking friend is really Blaine Galloway, popular Scottish television star, incognito.  Blaine is hiding from the paparazzi and his pretend fiancé for a spell until he can head back home a free man.  He has no intention of possibly ruining his life by being caught with a woman on his vacation.  But Janie isn’t the sort of woman he thought he’d be trying to avoid. She’s bright, and funny, and more innocent than he knows what to do with, but there’s something about her that makes it so he can’t stay away.

Review:

Are you heading on a vacation soon and need a funny novel to keep you entertained while you’re doing all your relaxing?  Then look no further.  Her Scottish Mistake by Michele de Winton is a delightful romantic comedy that will having you chuckling and wondering if maybe your life wouldn’t be better if you had a hot Scot in your life, too.

Romantic comedies aren’t really my go-to sub-genre of romance novels, but every once in awhile it’s nice to read something that’s got more laughs than drama.  I’m so used to reading romance novels with murder, mayhem, and mystery in them that it was enjoyable to read something that was more on the innocent side as far as problems go.  There will be no ‘edge of your seat’ moments or scenes that have you wanting to reach through the book and pummel a character (my personal favorite).  But I acknowledge that many people don’t like that type of novel.  Those people should read Her Scottish Mistake.

The book was an easy-breezy read which, in light of everyone going on in the world and on television and in our newspapers, was a delightful change of pace.  It’s the sort of book you could finish in one sitting if you had a couple hours and have a pleasant smile on your face the entire time (unless smiling during a book is something you prefer not to do, in which case look elsewhere).

I did feel that de Winton did a great job creating her characters and building their emotions, desires, and motivations.  Blaine and Janie are nicely rounded characters with positive and negative qualities.  This is good because who wants the perfect character inside their novel?  I always hate when there’s not a single thing about a character that has you groaning because there’s not a person out there without some irredeemable quality.  Plus, de Winton adds some fun quirks to the characters that really had them jumping off the page. 

If happy-go-lucky beach reads are what delight you, then I think this is a book you should add to your shelf or Kindle. I feel like there should honestly be a sub-genre of romance novels called “Plane Reads” and this would be top of that list!  Michele de Winton definitely has talent when it comes to creating stories and devilishly handsome characters.  For comparison, this book was like reading Debbie Macomber with wayyyyy more sex (like a lot). Grab a cocktail because Her Scottish Mistake comes out tomorrow, April 10^th.

Note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

By Her Touch by Adriana Anders

Title: By Her Touch, the second book in the Blank Canvas series.

Author: Adriana Anders

Publication Date: April 4, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Blurb from Goodreads:

Undercover cop Clay Navarro left the Sultans biker gang a changed man. Its ringleaders may be awaiting trial, but he wears the memory of every brutal act he was forced to commit tattooed across his skin. He doesn't have space in his messed-up life for anything gentle--not now, maybe not ever. Dr. Georgette Hadley is drawn to the damaged stranger's pain, intimidated but intrigued by the warmth that lies beneath Clay's frightening exterior. But when the Sultans return looking for revenge, she finds herself drawn into the dirty underbelly of a life forged in violence...that not even her touch may be able to heal.

Review:

First, if you haven’t read the first book in the series Under Her Skin I suggest you pick it up and start reading immediately because it is a masterpiece that needs to be worshipped.  You can read my review of it here.

Now onto the good stuff: This book will hold you spellbound.  SPELLBOUND.  I don’t know how Ms. Anders does it, but she is going to make you feel things that have you wondering whether you’ve ever really felt anything before.  She had my skin itching, my heart thumping, and my whole body tense with despair, hope, love, fear, and relief (not necessarily in that order).  I swear there’s a permanent knot in my back from clutching my Kindle to my chest so hard that I’m surprised it didn’t snap in half.

We met George, the selfless tattoo removal specialist in the first book of the series, Under Her Skin.  That’s really the only reason you would need to read the first book first, but I still recommend it because it’s so heart-breaking and unbelievably well written that you’ll be thinking about it days later.  If that’s not a good enough reason to read a book then I’m not sure what your motivation to read is. 

George is smart and kind and, while altogether functioning, a little broken.  She and her pages bypass the fiction world and grab you right by your heart.  There’s no other way to explain it really.  You just read and hope that she figures things out in the end, like we all hope to do. Clay- handsome, dangerous, miserable Clay- is quite the male protagonist.  He’s strong and capable and a protector at heart, but watching him battle with himself over his past and present and future is a despairing experience.  You want to reach through the pages, wrap the guy up in your arms, and vow to protect him from himself. 

There are no perfect characters in Ms. Anders’ books.  Her characters are real and in such pain that you forget they’re fiction and find yourself praying that they find the peace they deserve. It’s a refreshing experience from the flawless, strong, and steadfast characters that we so often find (and love) in other novels.

The best part of this particular novel?  Ms. Anders can write. These are some of the best written, most captivating and unforgettable books that I’ve read in a long time.  The chemistry between her characters is unique, volatile, and passionate without being over-the-top or roll-your-eyes cliché.  Her overarching plot is exceptional and I’ve never read anything like it.  And the way she writes is unbelievably poetic, the words just falling into you as you make your way through the world she has created. 

As always, please support your independent bookstores (unless you’re a Kindle reader and can’t, for obvious reasons).  To find your nearest Indie Bookstore click here.

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(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)