In His Hands (Blank Canvas Series) by Adriana Anders

Title: In His Hands (Blank Canvas Series)

Author: Adriana Anders

Publication Date: August 1, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Blurb:

Abby Merkley has been a member of the Church of the Apocalyptic Faith since she was a child, and there's no way out...until her darkly handsome, brooding neighbor defies the rules and takes her into the safety of his arms.

He should frighten her, but everything inside Abby thrills at Luc Stanek's rough manners and shockingly gentle touch. He excites her, ignites her, leaves her shaken and wanting more. But evil men follow in her footsteps, and it may take more than one fierce beauty to defend her loving beast

Review:

Author Adriana Anders is a force to be reckoned with.  I don’t think there’s a romance novel out there that has moved me as much as those in her Blank Canvas series.  Every novel rips a hole in my chest that is so deep and painful I wonder if I’ll ever feel whole again, but thankfully Ms. Anders knows how to write an ending so full of love and warmth that you forget the pain and are more than willing to subject yourself to it over and over again.

Adriana Anders writes some of the darkest, most passionate romance novels you’ll ever have the intense pleasure of reading.  Her stories are unique, captivating and utterly romantic in a way which no other romance novel can compare.  In His Hands gives you moments of torment and desperation intermingled with heart-wrenching scenes of open and honest love between two exceptional characters, Luc and Abby.

Luc and Abby, much like the characters of her previous novels, are special.  How can they not be?  Ms. Anders has a wicked talent for creating characters who are so wacky and beautiful and vulnerable that you simply cannot help but fall in love with them.  They're so different from one another and their pasts are so complicated.  They shouldn’t work together, as a pair, but Adriana Anders makes us believe that the romance between them is more than possible, it's inevitable.

Reading In His Hands, the third book in the Blank Canvas series, you can almost imagine you’ve fallen into a modern fairy tale with elaborate scenery and lively characters, some of whom you’ve seen in previous novels (if you’re already a fan of her works). Her writing is poetic; so rhythmic and beautifully worded that you often forget to breathe.

This series is perfect for those who like their romance novels with a little more… everything.  More drama, more chaos, more danger, more sex.  You won’t be disappointed by what you find between these pages.  In His Hands doesn’t come out until August 1, 2017, but that gives you more than enough time to read up on the first two in the series Under Her Skin and By Her Touch.

Please pick up, or download, this series.  In fact, to entice you further you should know that the first book is available on Kindle for only $1.88 right here.

Still need convincing?  Read my previous reviews: Under Her Skin & By Her Touch.

P.S. If you like these reviews you can follow me on Instagram (@romantically_inclined) or like the page on Facebook (facebook.com/romanticallyinclinedreviews).

The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian

Title: The Ruin of a Rake

Author: Cat Sebastian

Publication Date: July 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

Blurb:

Rogue. Libertine. Rake. Lord Courtenay has been called many things and has never much cared. But after the publication of a salacious novel supposedly based on his exploits, he finds himself shunned from society. Unable to see his nephew, he is willing to do anything to improve his reputation, even if that means spending time with the most proper man in London.

Julian Medlock has spent years becoming the epitome of correct behavior. As far as he cares, if Courtenay finds himself in hot water, it’s his own fault for behaving so badly—and being so blasted irresistible. But when Julian’s sister asks him to rehabilitate Courtenay’s image, Julian is forced to spend time with the man he loathes—and lusts after—most.

As Courtenay begins to yearn for a love he fears he doesn’t deserve, Julian starts to understand how desire can drive a man to abandon all sense of propriety. But he has secrets he’s determined to keep, because if the truth came out, it would ruin everyone he loves. Together, they must decide what they’re willing to risk for love.

Review:

The Ruin of a Rake is a work of art that the gods have seen fit to bless us with.  I made the horrible mistake to start reading it at 10:00 pm on a work night.  I constantly scold myself whenever I start a book late at night because I know that I can’t put a book down until I finish it.  Which is why I was up until 2 in the morning and extremely tired today at work.  But you know those books that keep you buzzing for days afterwards?  That’s.  This.  Book.

I’ve always had a love of male/male romance novels, but lord almighty they are so hard to come across (at least in my experience).  I have a small collection of Yaoi (m/m manga books) though, so I can sate my obsession that way.  But imagine my excitement when I discovered not only a male/male romance novel, but a regency/historical one at that!  I literally squealed for joy and was so excited when HarperCollins saw fit to grant my most desperate wish and allow me to read an advanced reader copy.

The characters Julian and Courtenay are some of the most amazing characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about.  Ms. Sebastian has a way of making you think you know who they are and then just flipping you right on your head.  They were dynamic, complicated, and had such depth to them that I found myself believing that they were real people who’d lived hundreds of years before me.  When the book ended I was like… give me more.  THIS CAN’T BE IT!

I would like to pause my review right now, but I feel I need to make it known that as I’m writing this my fingers are itching to reread it.  Literally, I feel like an addict being deprived of their favorite drug right now.  Now back to the review…

The chemistry between Julian and Courtenay was unreal.  The flames leapt off the page to lick my fingers time and time again.  I found myself nose to the page a couple times, stomach clenched, wondering what could possibly happen next between them.  The passion between both men had me feeling as though I’d jumped into the ocean and couldn’t find my way back to the surface.  I had to take breaks a couple times because the emotion kept overwhelming me.

The Ruin of a Rake is an absolute gem.  If you’ve never read an LGBT romance novel make this your first!  If you have, then you’re going to love this.  Hands down.  No doubt in my mind.  Cat Sebastian is a brilliant author and I’m going to be desperately seeking out her other novels with abandon.  PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ THIS BOOK.

Please support independent bookstores by pre-ordering through one of them, but if you have a Kindle you can pre-order here.

Unraveled by Nicole Dykes

Title: Unraveled

Author: Nicole Dykes

Publication Date: OUT NOW
Publisher: Self-Published

Blurb:

Shriller

I have everything I could possibly want. My career is at an all-time high, I have a hot, low maintenance girlfriend, and a group of friends that have become my family. Then it all comes crashing down and I’m forced to rely on that group to get me through. In particular, my friend Alex who I’ve known for half my life. Hopefully I can get out of this with our friendship and my balls still intact.

Alex

I finally have it all together. I’m engaged to an actual adult, instead of waiting around for my usual immature type of guy to commit. I own my own salon and live close to my best friend and her growing family. Then I get a phone call stating that my longtime friend had an accident and everything starts to unravel. Now it’s up to me to get him through this mess while keeping everything I’ve worked so hard to get.

Review:

Unraveled by Nicole Dykes is a dramatic whirlwind of sex.  Some of you might be thinking, “That doesn’t sound like my kind of book.”  Others might be thinking, “Wow, that sounds exactly like my type of book.”  I happen to enjoy whirlwinds of sex with interruptions of drama and exes who belong far in the past.

I would like to start off by mentioning that this book is not a standalone book.  If you like series, great!  If you don’t, you might want to take a chance because author Nicole Dykes’ books are all available on Amazon for $0.99!  You heard me. $0.99!

Unraveled has Shriller and Alex, two people who are more similar than different (they just can’t see that).  Shriller is an internationally known racer and adrenaline junky with the looks to land him modeling jobs when he isn’t racing.  He’s the typical alpha male character, you know… the type that are so unpopular in romance novels these day (totally a joke.  We obviously love them).  And he’s sort of blind to his own feelings re: Alex.  He has a quirky sense of humor that will have you chuckling between all the sex.

Alex is a fun twist on the usual romance heroine (although, these days her type is probably becoming more popular).  She’s covered in tattoos.  She’s her own kickass boss.  She’s got lots of piercings (but none rival Shriller’s cough cough penis piercing.  Did I just type that?  Yes, yes I did.)  She’s a fun character to read because it’s clear that author Nicole Dykes has given her a distinct personality.  When you’re reading Shriller’s sections and Alex’s sections you don’t just read the names at the top of the titles and see who you’re reading, you know who you’re reading.  I like that in a book.

The writing is simple.  Not in a bad way.  Sometimes I’m looking for a book that has all that dramatic language and work usage that has me rolling my eyes, but also into it… you know?  Think like… Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  But sometimes you want something realistic, where the characters talk like your best friend and her boyfriend, where their words are the same ones you use and where you feel like you might be the characters between those pages because they are just like you.  That’s Unraveled.

Unraveled is book 5 in the Monroe Family Series.  I haven’t read any of the others and you don’t have to.  It sure sounds like there’s some good stories in those pages though.  The next book in the Shriller and Alex story is Undone and it isn’t out yet, but you’ll probably be clambering to get your hands on those pages.

You can order Unraveled and the other books in the series here.

Chasing Red by Isabelle Ronin

Title: Chasing Red

Author: Isabelle Ronin

Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Blurb: He had everything- wealth, adoration, a brilliant future.  Until one chance encounter changed everything.  The moment Caleb Lockhart spotted the mysterious woman in her siren-red dress, he couldn't tear his eyes away.  For the first time in his life he wanted something.  Something he knew he could never have.

The unforgettable stranger he dubs Red.

Review:

Chasing Red by Isabelle Ronin was… interesting.  It was one of those books where I picked it up expecting one thing and I got a completely different thing and now I have to reconcile those thoughts with one another.  It’s a confusing process.

First things first, beautiful cover.  I absolutely love looking at; all bright and happy and welcoming.  I’m always excited about a good cover, even though I try not to judge by them (book blogger humor).

Chasing Red is one of those books that hit popularity on the popular writing site WattPad and was selected for publication by Sourcebooks.  Books that take this path in life are a curious sort.  It’s been my experience that these sorts of books are not the same books that might hit the bestsellers list had they been published in the mainstream manner.  Not necessarily a bad thing.  Sometimes mainstream publication paths have a way of shutting down certain types of books until their audience stands up and cries out: “This needs to be published!”

I’m not going to lie and say that this book blew me away, but neither am I going to say that I didn’t like it. I think those that will like this book the best are going to be fans of 50 Shades of Grey or Colleen Hoover; books that have incredible amounts of drama and passion, but little else (re: mystery, crime, some other subplot).  The romance between the main characters is the story here, so it doesn’t need anything else.  It’s a perfect vacation read that will have you turning the pages to see what sort of trouble the couple gets into next.

If you want your books with levels of intellectual depth, mature characters, and maybe a murder mystery or two then Chasing Red probably isn’t for you.  I tend to fluctuate between drama, drama, drama books that give me an escape from reality and incredibly intense books that have me more panicked than before I sat down to read.  This is the former.  If you want to read something that will let you immerse yourself in another world and someone else’s problems for a couple hours then you’ve found it.

You know what you like to read.  And by now you know whether this book is for you or not.  I think it will make some readers very happy.

You can pre-order it here for your Kindle, but as always consider supporting your local indie bookstore.  To find your closest store click here.

A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes

Title: A Most Unlikely Duke: Diamonds in the Rough

Author: Sophie Barnes

Publication Date: July 27, 2017

Publisher: Harper Collins

Blurb: He never thought he’d become a duke, or that the secrets of his past will cost him his greatest love...

Raphe Matthews hasn’t stepped foot in polite circles since a tragedy left his once-noble family impoverished and in debt. The bare-knuckle boxer has spent the last fifteen years eking out an existence for himself and his two sisters. But when a stunning reversal of fortunes lands Raphe the title of Duke of Huntley, he’s determined to make a go of becoming a proper lord, but he’ll need a little help and his captivating neighbor might be just the woman for the job…

After her sister’s scandalous match, Lady Gabriella knows the ton’s eyes are on her. Agreeing to tutor the brutish new duke can only lead to ruin. Although she tries to control her irresistible attraction to Raphe, every day she spends with him only deepens her realization that this may be the one man she cannot do without. And as scandal threatens to envelope them both, she must decide if she can risk everything for love with a most unlikely duke.

Review:  I'm having some deja vu here re: falling in love with men's accents through the pages of a book.  I mean, I'm not even hearing them talk.  I'm hearing my own voice in my head but somehow I'm attracted to it.  And I feel weird about that, but I'm not going to question it right now.  A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes is a wild ride of romance, annoyed butlers, and hot accents.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that rough and tumble Raphe is the kind of guy who drifts through your dreams at night.  He's the best guy from the worst of circumstances and the best part?  He's just trying to do what's best for his little sisters.  Doesn't it make your heart go thump thump thump against your breastbone?  Just mine?  Sigh.

This was such a cute story. Raphe is dreamy.  His sisters are adorable.  The bad guy is bad. The parents don't understand (of course).  And the girl, oh man, the girl is a little dopey.  Although, I suppose if I lived in a time where women had to make choices that didn't align with what they wanted from their life I might be a little hesitant to let the most handsome man ever love me.

Gabriella is a really quirky, fun character.  So many Regency novels have strong, independent women willing to break society's rules for true love.  Gabriella wants to do that, but she's being pulled down by familial pressures.  And she really struggles.  It's sort of refreshing to see, or read, that struggle.

This novel was sort of light in drama, compared to some of the other Regency novels I've read, but it was still there.  There was plenty of content to make your heart sing, your pulse speed up, and your hands tired from turning pages so quickly.  I don't think you'll be disappointed if you pick up A Most Unlikely Duke.

If the book sounds like something you might enjoy you can pre-order it here, but as always consider supporting your local indie bookstore.  Find your closest store here.

A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns

Title: A New Leash on Love

Author: Debbie Burns

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: July 4, 2017

Blurb from Goodreads:

When Craig Williams draws the short straw and has to take his daughter’s adorable new puppy to a shelter after the holidays, it’s just another painful episode in the fall-out of a miserable divorce. He needs to pick up the pieces of his life, and, after a fiery confrontation with Megan Anderson, the young woman running the shelter, he wants to put the whole episode behind him. However, when he keeps finding new ways to reconnect with her, he realizes Megan’s compassionate and caring nature just might be the perfect salve for his broken heart.

Review:

There’s a lot of things I loved about A New Leash on Love and a few things that made me sort of roll my eyes.  Not necessarily in a bad way, after all, it’s impossible to write a romance novel without a few cliches, but I do prefer to roll my eyes as little as possible while reading.  I’ll let you make up your own mind.

A New Leash on Love is a contemporary romance novel filled with innocence and puppies.  The passion in this novel burns light pink, not red hot, so if you’re looking for something to make you blush and sweat while you read this isn’t going to be the sort of novel for you.  It’s the sort of book you wouldn’t think twice about reading curled up next to your mom.  Sweet, and warm, and just a little bit frustrating.  The perfect combo for a relaxing afternoon read.

Craig and Megan meet with a whirlwind of sparks.  I love sparks.  However, those sparks taper out into a soft glow throughout the novel with a few attempts to relight, but never fully reigniting.  Some people love their books explosive and other people don’t want something that makes their heart explode, they just want something that will make their heart do a delightful pitter patter.  That’s this book.

These characters, and their stories, are believable.  Megan could be the girl at the supermarket.  Craig could be the guy at the gym.  I find something pleasing about that.  So many novels build characters that are above and beyond the people we see every day that you start wondering if these characters could even exist.  Debbie Burns’ story lets you know that they do.

Who could dislike a book with such a large focus on animal welfare?  If you’ve ever owned a pet you’ll love Megan’s devotion to her animal shelter.  Learning about all her adorable charges made me want to go out and snatch up a couple more cats and some dogs to boot.  If only my landlords allowed more than two pets…

One of the portions of the book that had me going ‘hmmm’ was that everything seemed to work out in the character’s favor.  Okay, not everything, but it’s like Ms. Burns couldn’t give us more than a couple pages of suspense before she felt obligated to fix the problem.  I personally prefer a little more “will it work out?” in my books, but someone who doesn’t want their heart palpitating dangerously will be the perfect candidate. 

I, also, tend to have a problem with characters meeting, falling in love, and living happily ever after in a short time span. I either want my characters to have known each other previously or for the passion to be that over the top that they decide they have to be together forever or they’ll simply die.  I need to believe that they couldn’t find what they have anywhere else.  Megan and Craig’s relationship was sweet, but I don’t know that I’m believing it’s the end all-be all relationship that a romance novel should have.  It felt a teeny bit rushed.  Maybe I’m being picky though because I have no qualms about someone jumping into bed with a stranger… Who knows.

If the book sounds like something you might enjoy you can pre-order it here, but as always consider supporting your local indie bookstore.  Find your closest store here.

Can't Hardly Breathe by Gena Showalter

Title: Can't Hardly Breathe
Author: Gena Showalter
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: HQN

Blurb: Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her longstanding crush on former Army Ranger Daniel Porter. Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out...but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.

Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves the curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.

But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.


Review:

I'm a huge fan of Gena Showalter.  Huge.  In college a friend heard that I was a romance novel fan and recommended that I read The Nymph King, book #3 in Gena Showalter's Atlantis series (don't even get me started on that series).  I was sunk from that moment.

Most of the books I read of hers are paranormal in nature.  The Atlantis series, the Lords of the Underworld series, Angels of the Dark series, etc, etc, etc.  The woman cranks out books like nobody's business. You should see her list of upcoming novels (it's like one or two every month!)

If you've never read the Lords of the Underworld series then let me tell you: read it.  READ IT.  It's out of this world (literally and figuratively).  The men are ridiculously hot.  Unfairly hot, really.  And the storylines... woosh.  She has really mastered the "secondary character" situation there.  So much so that before you've even finished the book in your hands you're wondering who she's going to write about next.  There are so many characters whose stories you need to know.

Now, about the book at hand here: Can't Hardly Breathe.  I have to say, after reading her paranormal books I found it a little hard to come back to reading about mere mortals.  That's not to say that this book wasn't good.  It's just... her writing style is completely different between the two books and I found it difficult to adjust.

The storyline isn't unique, which is actually good because I think there are so many women out there who can relate to feeling beneath their crush.  Dorothea is every woman in some ways, but very much herself in other ways.  It made for a refreshing character, even though sometimes I wanted to scream at her to be more confident in herself.

Daniel was certainly someone that many women will like.  He oozes confidence and sex appeal, but he isn't quite sure how to use that on Dorothea which makes for some laughs along the way.  He certainly knows how to use his body to bring pleasure to others- that much is evident.

I don't know that Can't Hardly Breathe had everything that I like in my romance novels, but I think it would very well suit those who like a contemporary "insecure woman turned strong and independent" story.  It had sexy times, it had laughs, it had some drama.  Gena Showalter has some amazing stories out there.  Start here, start paranormal, doesn't matter.  You'll have a new author to follow for life.

You can pre-order her upcoming book at your nearest indie bookstore, located here.  If you read on Kindle you can purchase your book here.

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