Monday, December 28, 2015

REVIEW - Lucky Numbers - GG Carver

Title - Lucky Numbers

Author - G.G Carver

 
 
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25902346-lucky-numbers?ac=1&from_search=1

 

Synopsis

Lucy Eaton had a job she loved as a Teaching Assistant at a Special Needs School and a boyfriend who struggled with commitment issues. Life was good, not great, but good, until one day Lady Luck paid Lucy a visit and a life that most people could only dream of opened up to her. With the creases of every day life ironed out, she could sit back and live the dream.
But what if that dream doesn’t turn out to be what you thought you wanted?
Want and need are two very different things. The head wants, but the heart needs, and as generous and fortuitous as life can be, it can also be incredibly cruel. No one gets to live a creaseless life. That is something Lucy will soon discover.




What I Thought

Lucy is a fairly normal woman, with a fairly normal life. She's in a non relationship with an ex, that's going nowhere thanks to Mark and his foolish ways but she is just plodding along with the everyday. Until suddenly she's not. At a random visit to a Saturday market, Lucy meets the mysterious Lady Lavinia and  receives these "lucky numbers" and it's all change.
"32974615. What the hell could they be? A phone number, or a bank account maybe? Going over everything she had been told, Lucy dissected every sentence, but none of it made any sense. The noise from the market faded back in as she headed into the crowds. Lucy turned to take another look at the old wagon that had tempted her curiosity for so long. Her attempt to satisfy it only served to inflame it more. "


The numbers are not what she thinks they are, but there is a lottery win and winning the lottery obviously changes everything, for good and bad and its no different for Lucy, she hires dad and son duo to help her do up her garden in her new home and this generates whole new relationships and anxieties for everyone involved. With Joseph bringing a whole new breath of life and a whole new set of challenges.

"I'm sorry. It's an affliction I have. I simply can't help but speak my mind when I see a woman I want."


Along with the men stirring up Lucy's life there are the children and the special needs school where she works. And Lucy loves these children, that love goes both ways and these children are great little people, who I have to mention.

Drama & twists. Humour and sorrow, this book takes you through it all.
If ever there was a writer, who could paint a picture with words, It's G.G Carver. His attention to descriptive detail is awesome and yet never over done.

This is a love story, but it's more than love between a man and a woman (although all credit to Mr Carver there, he knows how to write a couple) It's about love between family, friends & self.

Be prepared for the feels.
"He was oblivious to it of course, but to everyone else it was plain to see. He was brave, honest decent and kind. Qualities that shouldn't be so rare in the modern world but sadly were. He had risked his own life with nothing but the tiniest speck of a chance that he might save another."

 
Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5
Characters = 4/5
Heat = 3/5
Writing Style = 5/5
Overall Rating = 4/5


 
 
 
 
 

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

REVIEW - Degrees of Control by Eve Dangerfield

Title - Degrees of Control

Author - Eve Dangerfield


 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28024761-degrees-of-control?ac=1&from_search=1



Synopsis

Charlie and James have nothing in common … except a particular interest in a certain type of sex. Even though their chemistry is so hot it could burn a house down, neither of them is foolish enough to mistake their physical connection for love. Right? Watch what happens when you mix a masochistic yoga teacher, a domineering male model, and one night of uninhibited fun in Eve Dangerfield’s new romance novel Degrees of Control.

Seeking satisfaction…

Charlie Bell is your typical yoga teacher. She’s friendly, earnest and has some slight masochistic tendencies. After a painful break-up she’s determined to address her long-denied kinks and her friends have just the man for the job.

James Hunter is a model turned corporate suit. It’s a boring gig but strings-free screwing has always been his preferred form of entertainment. After a "chance" encounter at a party, James agrees to school Charlie in the harsher side of sex. He knows she’s too sincere for a guy like him but he can’t possibly resist a starry-eyed submissive like her. But what begins as a casual encounter soon becomes a connection that runs deeper than Charlie and James could have ever imagined.

Content Notes: Intense, D/s Elements, Spanking, BDSM, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary

 

What I thought?

This is the first book I've read by Eve Dangerfield. It won't be the last either. From the first page I was drawn in. The writing style is great. Easy to read great beginning-middle and end. The characters are detailed and well-written about.

The main characters in Degrees of Control are Charlie Bell and James Hunter. Charlie is a yoga teacher and James is the director of operations for livestock exporting company. They met at this party and at first they have a sex- only relationship. The both of them have this amazing chemistry that you are going to have to read for yourself. They are also my favourite characters in this book. James calls Charlie "Blue-eyes" Charlie is short for Charlotte. There's a lot of scenes too that deal with BDSM and being dominant/submissive.

The supporting characters are Charlie's friends- Sophia Hunter, Haley and Jordan. They help Charlie out. They also blend into the story which I like.

Parts of the story I liked:

"I know what you want, darlin'. You go on and ask me nicely and you might just get it."


"Keep your southern fried bullshit to yourself. And know this, Charlie is the sweetest girl I've ever met and if you hurt her, or infect her with some kind of disease, you will die. Slowly."



"James couldn't help it, he smiled. Charlotte was the strangest girl he'd spent time with lately, not because she was weird of even kinky, but sweetness seemed to pour from her skin like molasses. She knew he was pissed and tried make him smile and he let her."


The ending was good too!

Star Ratings:
Plot- 5/5
Characters- 5/5
Heat-4.5/5
Writing Style 5/5
Overall Rating- 4.5/5


 
 




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Friday, December 18, 2015

REVIEW - Broken Ever After by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

Title - Broken Ever After

Author - Stephanie McManus

 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28199338-broken-ever-after-ever-after-6?ac=1&from_search=1


Synopsis

Sometimes when you get to the end, it's necessary to go back to the beginning . . .

Not every story has a happy ending . . .

It's time to go back. Back to the story that started it all. The untold story of how an angel fell in love with the devil himself. How did Patricia and Jack's story unfold all those years ago? You already know how it ended, but how did it begin? Was he always the devil?
And when it's all over, find out if the others truly got their ever afters.



What I Thought


I am absolutely with out a doubt in love with the Ever After series and Broken Ever After finally made the series come full circle. I legitimately don't know what to do with my self now. I have always wondered how Patty and Jack ended up together and now we have the answers.

Jack is a product of his environment. He comes from an old school mob family and it's known that he will take over the business when the time comes. He's slowly been moving the pieces into place to take over sooner rather then later. Much like a game of chess. Everything Jack does is thought out and we'll calculated. Until one night he saves Patty.

Patty is from a well off family. Although her parents don't pay attention to her she has one person who she stays for. At 17 she loses that person and leaves the only home she's ever known. To say she is in over her head is an understatement. When Jack comes into her life everything changes.

Jack tries to keep Patty out of the family business. Although sometimes everything doesn't go according to plan. Accidents happen, lives are lost, lives are made, plans are put into action sooner rather then later. We finally got the answers as to how Patty ended up on her own with Jaxyn. We get answers as to why Jack treated Jaxyn the way he did. The question is is there such a thing as redemption? And if so will Jack get it?

I always wanted Jack to be the awful guy he was made out to be. When I read Jaxyn’s book I felt like he was more cold and broken vs. Just a cold as*hole. After reading this I feel as if I was right. No matter his flaws he always did the right thing when it came to Patty. She was the only one he would ever truly love. I loved how we got a glimpse of the Ever After crew in here. Like I said before this book really made everything come full circle. This is one of those series that you mourn the end of.

Here are some of my favourites from this book:

"I just mean that this thing between us is inevitable. I’m not going away, and if you’re honest with yourself, you don’t really want me to."

"I’m just saying that love doesn’t always work out the way you hope it will. It’s messy and ugly. Makes you soft. Makes you weak and dependent."

"That’s not something you will ever be. And don’t let anyone, not even me, make you feel otherwise. Nobody in this life gets to tell you what you’re worth. You tell them. Better yet, you show them."

"I’ve realized that who we are isn’t just what we do. It’s how we look at the world, how we look at people and how we make other people feel."

"But even the devil was once an angel , and maybe there’s something good left in Jack. Something more than just what he’s become."

"You’re the light in all of the dark that fills my world. I never craved the light until I knew what it was to be in it."


 
Star Ratings:
Plot - 4.5/5
Character - 4.5/5
Heat - 3/5
Writing style - 4.5/5
Overall Ratings - 4.5/5
 
 

 

REVIEW - Pieces Of Forever by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

Title - Pieces Of Forever

Author - Stephanie Hoffman McManus

 
 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22736879-pieces-of-forever?ac=1&from_search=1



Synopsis

When Olivia Adams said "I do" and promised to love her high school sweetheart, Tyler Tate, forever, she didn't expect forever to end so soon. After a tragic accident one year later, she is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered forever. Struggling to make it through each day without him, she tries to cling to the one dream she thought she had left, making it to the National Women's Soccer League. When once again her world is turned upside down, she's left to figure out who she is without Tyler and without soccer.

Casey Hunt was never supposed to be more than her athletic trainer, but when they find themselves neighbors, will he be the one that helps her find the faith and strength she needs to build her life again? And what will Olivia do when he begins to awaken feelings in her that she thought died with Tyler? She has to decide if she's ready to open her heart back up and risk love again. But the secret Casey is keeping might be the thing that destroys her second chance at forever.

Recommended 17+ for mature content



What I Thought


Sometimes one has to hit rock bottom before learning to fly. Pieces of Forever is what I call a come back love story. It’s tragic and heart breaking but at the same time its beautifully whole.


Olivia fell in love when she was 12 to the boy down the street. He was the ying to her yang and kept her grounded and out of trouble. They had the kind of unwavering love that every girl hopes to have. Only to have it ripped away from her a year into their marriage. Suddenly she doesn't know what to do or how to be on her own at almost 21. All she has is soccer which she plays on the college level until she takes another blow and is forced off the field.

Casey works with Olivia’s soccer team. He loved watching her flourish and is hating watching her drown. So he becomes what she needs, a friend after almost all hers walk a way. Only problem is he's always had a small flame for her that only grows with the more time they spend together.
Casey is simply amazing. He's the kind of guy that will drop everything if Olivia asks. He will hold her when she cries and help her take her mind off of everything going on. Will this budding friendship turn into the forever kind of love Casey is wishing for? Or will it all be taken away once his secret is out?


I really enjoyed Pieces of Forever. It was different then what I am used to reading from McManus. I love how she tied in her Ever After series. Not only did I enjoy the main characters but the secondary as well. Casey and Olivia’s friends were the type of friends everyone wants. McManus made me feel like I was there. I got completely lost in the book. Pieces of Forever reminded me that you never know how much time you’ll have and to never take life for granted.

Here are some pieces of Pieces of Forever that stuck with me:

"You two had the kind of love that keeps Disney in business. It’s the reason Taylor Swift writes songs and the reason I keep downloading those damn romance novels. Everyone wants that fairy tale and you had it. That’s not the kind of love that ever ends. He’s watching over you. I know it because I know there’s no power, not even death, which could stop that kind of love."

"Sometimes a song can reach right inside you and expose everything you’re keeping locked up in there, like the song was written just for you. It rips you apart and it’s heart breaking, but it’s also healing and comforting knowing that someone else out there gets it."

"You need someone who pushes you and sparks that passion that made you such a fighter. I think you need to let Casey breathe the life back into you and remind you of who you are, because I do think he knows who that is, even if you doubt it or don’t know yourself."

"Every day he was patient and gentle with me. Never demanding, except when his mouth was claiming mine. He never asked more of me than I wanted to give him and he reminded me of why they call it falling in love. Because it’s effortless and out of your control. For me it felt like I would never stop falling."

 

Star Ratings:
Plot- 4/5
Characters- 4/5
Heat- 3/5
Writing style- 4/5
Overall Rating- 4/5






 

Thursday, December 17, 2015

REVIEW - Alpha Wolf's Pet Trilogy by Eva Gordon

Title - Alpha Wolf's Pet Trilogy

Author - Eva Gordon


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26212067-alpha-wolf-s-pet-trilogy-box-set-by-eva-gordon
Synopsis

The Alpha Wolf’s Pet Collection includes the entire trilogy. Each book is a different stage in the romantic relationship between alpha werewolf, Dominic and Mia, his human lover. The danger they face and a twist to the werewolf story. Paranormal steamy romance and page turning suspense.

Alpha Wolf’s Pet, Hidden Book 1

Alpha Wolf’s Pet, Kept, Book 2

Alpha Wolf’s Pet, Hunted, Book 3


What I Thought

The Alpha Wolf's Pet trilogy follows the fledgling relationship between dominant, alpha, werewolf Enforcer Dominic and human lover Mia.

Mia is in witness protection, as she is providing evidence to bring down a Russian mob known as 'Chess'. She's been in witsec a while but is quite useless at keeping to the terms of it and keeps putting herself back in danger. In her latest move, she is relocated, with her new identity (Mia), to a boho cottage on the edge of a private estate and warned in no uncertain terms to keep herself to herself. No more breaking the rules.

Dominic is the owner of said private estate. He's well built, handsome and is instantly attracted to his new neighbour Mia, but he knows she's lying. As the local packs alpha and a well know enforcer to the hierarch Dominic has to make a difficult choice, take her as his pet and risk whatever she is hiding affecting his pack, or walk away.

He takes the risk and finds out the truth and declares he and his pack will support Mia in eliminating the threat to her life and keep her safe while they do so. But of course things aren't that straightforward. Between them, their enemies are plenty and in a twist I didn't see coming, some of their enemies are also in cahoots.
"From behind her, large gloved hands covered her eyes and pressed her against a thick chest. Her heart soared. Dominic. She whirled around and gasped. 'NO'. "

Packs fight, lives are lost and there are revelations galore. This relationship is never easy for Dom & Mia. Everything around them is crumbling and at times causes them to question their relationship. There are rules regarding human relations and Dom has a predestined mate. It's one thing after another, but like a true alpha, he knows what he wants and he is willing to do battle for it. Taking down every wall that's put in his way. All whilst maintaining some vigorous sexy time with his pet Mia.

I did have some issues with this trilogy, there were some language issues, spelling / grammatical issues etc. and sentences not making sense, but it is still very readable and if you can overlook these issues, its a decent story with a lot of thought and detail gone into the plot, the background and the consistency, and an unexpected helping of humour.


" ' No. My friend Lisa is into vampires. Lisa devours romance novels, she finds vampires sensual.' His wolf's heart slowed. 'Do you?' Like the mythical horror creatures, werewolves loved blood. 'Me? Not that I read that genre, but I've always preferred werewolves over vampires. The look so much better shirtless.' She kissed his blonde chest hairs. 'Team Jacob all the way.' "



Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5
Characters = 3.5/5
Heat = 3.5/5
Writing Style = 2/5
Overall Rating = 3/5




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Top 10 List - Millionaire/Billionaire Romance





Here is our Top 10 List of Favourite Millionaire/Billionaire Romance Books. Some are very well known, and others not so much! But if you love your leading man with a huge wallet or bank account, check out these awesome stories!!




Fifty Shades of Grey - EL James - Goodreads

Everyone's favourite brooding, stinking rich Alpha male lead, with lots of secrets and skeletons in his rather luxurious closet.

This Man - Jodi Ellen Malpas - Goodreads

Addictive tale of a man with a huge bank account, and even bigger mansion where all the naughty after dark activities take place. Alpha dominant male lead of perfection!!

Enthrall - Vanessa Fewings - Goodreads

Not just 1 rich alpha male, but 2 on offer in this amazing story. Another tale of naughty shenanigans for the rich and famous at an exclusive BDSM club. Incredibly hot and naughty scenes in this one, and perfect rich men.

Gabriel's Inferno - Sylvain Reynard - Goodreads

Not quite billionaire proportions, but our professor in this story still has plenty of money, and is shockingly intelligent to boot. Lots of secrets to unveil, and a brooding, stroppy, hot Alpha to top it off.

Rush - Maya Banks - Goodreads

Rush - Alluring, Powerful & loaded. Gabe is a man used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now is his best friends little sister. Mia.

Release Me - J Kenner - Goodreads

 Release Me - Damien Stark is a man unlike any other, he is nothing Nikki Fairchild has ever known. Separate they're dynamic, intelligent & enigmatic. Together theyre explosive.

Hardwired - Meredith Wild - Goodreads

Hardwired - Blake is a Dom like you've never seen one before and Erica is the least submissive Sub you could ever read. These two carve their own relationship their own way, but of course, everygood hero has an enemy and their enemies are in attack mode.

Knight & Play - Kitty French - Goodreads

Knight & Play - A troubled Norwegian, sexy as sin, rich business man. Said business man's new PA who happens to be smart, beautiful and a distraction waiting to happen. This is not your average office romance.


Secrets, Lies & Lullabies - Heidi Betts - Goodreads

Secrets, Lies & Lullabies - A Diamond business CEO has a night of passion with a stranger who is unbeknown to him a corporate enemy but the consequences of their shared night far surpass business and leave two people very confused and untrusting of each other. (Clue in the title wink emoticon)


Bidding on Brooks - Katy Regnery - Goodreads

Two friends, seven days on a boat, and a lot of steam.





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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

REVIEW - Dagger - Sam J.D & Thomas Hunt





TITLE - Dagger


AUTHORS - Sam J.D & Thomas Hunt





Synopsis:


Dagger Drake is a fast-mover, living his life in afterburner. As one of the best of the best, a fighter pilot with the famous Deadly Rattlers, he pilots his Viper jet with the same ferocity that he chases women with. One magical night at the Officers’ Club changes him forever when a curvy Southerner crosses his path. Lauren Carter is like no one he’s ever met—her classic beauty, her sharp wit, and the depth of her haunting soul captivates him. When they collide, the chemistry explodes with more intensity than the massive satellite guided bombs Dagger drops from his F-16. When a horrific crash dredges up an unthinkable loss from Lauren’s past, can their love triumph? 

Dagger is the first full length standalone novel of the read-in-any order series American Fighter Pilot, following the lives and loves of the 491st Deadly Rattlers, an F-16 squadron training the next generation of aviation warriors at the historic and fast-paced Home of the Fighter Pilot, Nellis Air Force base in glittering Las Vegas, Nevada. Strap yourself in for a ride on this jet-fueled steamy contemporary romance, written with a unique authenticity that gives the reader a realistic behind the scenes glimpse into the fascinating world of the American Fighter Pilot. 

Recommended for those 18 and over due to strong language, sexual situations, and some mild war-related violence. 

Aviation fiction, military romance, soldier romance, fighter pilot romance, fighter pilot fiction, inside the real world of the Air Force F-16 Viper pilot 




My Review:

I won't lie and tell you I wasn’t a little nervous to read this book. Sometimes when you have a book that is written by two authors you worry about the flow. Can you or will you be able to tell which person wrote this part. I can now say that this couple managed to write side by side flawlessly. 

When I signed up to review this book I assumed it would be Iraq or Afghanistan the Hero would be fighting against. But within the first few pages there was mentions of ISIS, Syria, and Russia. I was caught completely off guard. These are groups/places with issues going on right now. It was surprise, but a pleasant one. 

I have gotten into the sync of reading books that were either written from the heroine's perspective or from both the heroine and hero. This one though is just from the hero's. It was a nice change of pace for a romance book. I didn't feel as if it went too deep into the romance though, compared to typical romance books. But it did give a realistic view of fighter pilots and how they operate. It kind of balanced out. 


Lauren is a waitress and student. She moved away from her past in the South to go to school. She has a background with pilots and has decided to never go there again. Lauren experienced what no loved one should ever have to experience. That was before she knew Jack. Lauren tries to fight her feelings for him but it's a lost cause. He is her other half. But what will happen when Jack finds out about her past? Will he be able to handle the fact that she kept a huge secret from him? 


Jack aka Dagger doesn't do relationships with women. He's been burned in the past causing him to take the one night stand approach with women. Until he sees Lauren one night in one of the fighter pilot watering holes. He will do whatever it takes to get and keep Lauren. But she's put off by what he does. When it comes time for deployment will she be able to handle it or will their already fragile relationship crumble under the pressure? Or worst case scenario will he even make it home in one piece. 


With all that said I did enjoy Dagger. It wasn't your typical military romance book. I was thankful for a realistic book as well on this front. You can tell that Mr. Hunt knew what he was talking about. 


Here are a couple pieces of the book that stuck out to me for one reason or another: 

“In the icebox…is the food from 1940?” 


“All that extra leave I’ll get after I return from combat duty… Tahiti for sure” 


“she shook her head to straighten out her wind-blown hair. Dagger thought she looked gorgeous there on the wing of his airplane… his two favorite things in the world at this moment.” 





STAR RATINGS:

Plot- 3/5 
Character- 3/5 
Heat- 2.5/5 
Writing style- 3/5 
Overall- 3/5 








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