REVIEW - Woven Interests (The Tapestry Series #3) - Natalie Alder

 TITLE - Woven Interests (The Tapestry Series #3)

AUTHOR - Natalie Alder

 

Synopsis:

Uptight, serious, introvert…those were the words most used to describe James. 

The middle brother in the Becker family, owners of a prestigious race horse farm in South Carolina, though austere was covertly a playboy.

Unable to resist a beautiful body, whether male or female, James never had a desire to commit to just one. A consummate player, he had no interest in a relationship.

Never say never. A broken ankle is the catalyst that leads James to considering a relationship. Falling for a man already in a committed relationship with a woman was intricate enough. But the likelihood of their woven interests in each other becoming a real relationship is threatened by shallow judgment, the media and a trouble making former barn hand.

Warning: m/f/m, f/f/m, and m/m romance with strong language and explicit sexual content intended for mature readers only.

 

What I Thought?

Woven Interest by Natalie Alder is book 3 in the Tapestry Series.  

To be honest, when I started reading it I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.  

I didn’t read the synopsis so I was a little shocked about the different sexual content between the characters.   

At first, I wanted to put it down and not continue because that is something I don’t read everyday. I’m glad that I continued on with the story though. Natalie writes with great detail and her characters are well built together, that when you are reading about them they seem to be real life. Natalie has become an author that I like and I don’t even read the Synopsis anymore of her books.   

  

Woven Interest is about James' story. James Becker is the middle child of the Becker family. He helps out his father on the Bridgeton Pass Farm. He likes to play polo with his teammate and friend Austen Cleary. James is attracted to both male and females.  

Will James be in a relationship? You’ll have to read this book to find out. 

I like how Natalie brings other characters from previous book in the series to this one.  William, Audra and J.P., Cole and Sara, Casey and Tanner.  

The new characters in this book are Remy who’s a clothing designer. Savine a supermodel who is also Remy’s girlfriend and Austen.

Quotes/parts of the story I like:

“I’m cute like a puppy. Come on, invite me to go out with you tonight. I’m in desperate need of some socialization, booze and entertainment. Carnegie is no Paris.”

“No one thought to ask you how you were doing. How you were handling these milestones in your children’s lives without Mom here. I’m sorry that you were alone and struggling last evening.”

“Look, I don’t know anything for certain. I’ve never felt anything like this, I’ve ever been interested in two people at the same time…I don’t know what to do with these feelings. I do know that I want you very badly tonight and I do not feel guilty or as though I’m cheating on Savine. I know she likes you a lot. I almost feel like she’d encourage this. I know when she kissed you the night you came to Austen’s for dinner and I was right there, a few inches away, watching her kiss you so passionately I got so f***ing hard. That was the most beautiful, most erotic sight to see my woman kissing another man we both desire. I know Savine, I know her kisses. She kissed you with love and passion that night. It was amazing to watch. I wasn’t the least bit jealous. I thought it was beautiful. It turned me on.”

Star Ratings:

Plot= 5/5

Heat = 4/5

Writing Style=5/5

Overall Rating 4.5/5

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REVIEW - Make Me Forget - Brandy Lynn

TITLE - Make Me Forget

AUTHOR - Brandy Lynn

Synopsis:

*Inspired by true events*

Where do you turn when the ones who are supposed to love you most, hurt you? 

When is enough, enough? 

That is the exact question Chloe Evans had when she escaped her own personal hell that terrifying night. Even though the road to rebuilding her life has been tough, she's spent the last few years trying to mend her battered soul. Doubting that all her efforts are even worth it, she begins to feel she will forever be tied to the man who took everything away from her.

Ryder Matthews is the epitome of what most girls associate with perfection. With his good looks, bad boy persona, multiple tattoos and piercings he is every girl’s fantasy; every girl except Chloe Evans that is. Ryder sees Chloe as a challenge...one that he's more than confident he will win.

Drew Nichols is every girls dream guy. He’s sweet, sincere, trusting, and most of all patient. He’s exactly what Chloe needs in her life, but is he who she wants? 

We all have things in life we'd like to forget about. Some bigger than others. When Chloe uses college as her diversion to escape the memories, will either of them be able to make her forget?

My Review:

Make Me Forget is a story that contains some rough content. Warning that it does contain some descriptive language that can be unpleasant. The author does mention that this contains mature subject matter, but I believe she should also include a warning that this book contains content which might cause triggers or mental distress. With that being said, the content is very descriptive, but I think it is used in a way that helps tell the story and is not disrespectful.

I really liked the plot of this story, but I feel like too much was happening at once. The plot changed over the course of the book and I felt that instead of the plot changing, this book could have easily been two, maybe even three books. I also would have loved to see some of the minor characters getting their own books as well and turning this into a series. With that being said, the content of the book was good. I really liked where the author was taking me. I just wish we could have finished the first journey before taking a sharp left into another one.
The author was able to use her words well.  I think the author was able to describe scenes to me in a way that I could actually picture the scenes playing out in my head. I love when a book can do that. Even though some scenes brought about some negative feelings, I was still able to picture them in my head, which brought out a lot of emotions within me.

The main characters are developed a little fast in my opinion, but they are developed. Ryder starts off as a playboy rock star who sleeps with anything and everything. Throughout the book we are able to learn through both his pov and the other main character’s, Chloe, pov why he acts the way he does. Chloe develops herself. After a rough childhood, she is a freshman in college. She had a new best friend and is learning how to deal with having a social life. We are able to see her change throughout the book as well, going from a shy freshman, to becoming a woman. With that being said, I also think her development was rushed. I was actually surprised at times due to her actions. It was contrary to how I felt she would have really acted.

This book was not only told from 2 pov, but 3. Drew is another man who is interested in Chloe. We are able to see certain parts of the book from his pov. I understand that the author wanted to show parts of the book through his eyes, which is nice, but I think it also was confusing at times. It took away from the story because we are reading about Ryder and Chloe and we randomly get to also read Drew’s thoughts. I think that this would have been handled better if they concluded the first book, then had Drew explain his pov in a novella or second book.

Overall, I really did think that this book had a good direction going and I liked the plot. I just wish it was separated into at least two different books so that it didn’t feel so rushed. I wanted to really have a minute to bask in the conclusion of the first plot, but was instead thrusted into a second plot. Unfortunately, I would probably not recommend this book to my friends because the ending left me disappointed. Although I liked the way the author was able to describe each scene, this was not enough to make this book a must read for me.

Favorite Quote:

“No problem, princess. I’ll always catch you when you fall.” Make Me Forget

Star Ratings:

Plot = 3/5

Characters = 3/5

Heat = 3/5

Writing Style = 2/5

Overall Rating = 2.5/5

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REVIEW - Switch - Jennifer Ryder

TITLE - Switch AUTHOR - Jennifer Ryder Synopsis: With an ex fiancé leaving her in debt, breaking up with her girlfriend and struggling to find a place she can afford, Sophie McKenna has hit an all-time low. Everyone thinks she’s a lesbian, and she likes it that way, but her estranged parents know better.  The foul-mouthed motocross mechanic, Rocco De Luca, only has his incarcerated brother left. Every day is a battle of the mind and of the bottle. Tequila and easy women soothe the pain, but they never fill the void. Rocco doesn’t mind offering his spare room to the hot lesbian he refers to as ‘Suds’. She won’t be clingy, far from it, and he’s keen on the idea of getting to see a bit of girl on girl action.  With such volatile personalities under the same roof, and being in April and Spencer’s wedding party, they both have to learn to get along, even though they can’t stand each other. He never thought he might actually grow to like her. She never thought she might actually hate him less. *Contains content for over 18 years of age. CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE Release date TBA - September 2015 My Review: Switch is a romantic novel, but it's more than that. It starts off slow with the main characters actually not even liking each other. The story unfolds slowly, but in a totally satisfying way for the reader. It definitely has realistic feel to it. Switch is part of a series, but this can be read as a stand alone novel. Some of the supporting characters have their own books, so if a reader reads this one and likes the other characters and wants to know more they can go back and read those books. Switch is told with alternating point of views between the main characters, Sophie and Rocco. They have a rocky past with each other, but due to unforeseen circumstances they are thrown together. I love how the author uses the alternating views to share with the reader how each character feels about the other. This also allows for us to watch how their feelings change for each other throughout the book. I love the main plot of the book. With that being said, each character also has their own issues they're going through individually. Sophie is recovering from a traumatic event in her past, while Rocco is dealing with something that is still happening within his family. Also, I love that this book shows that first impressions are not always true. Both of these characters had first impressions of each other that were completely negative, but through the story they slowly learn to become friends with each other and realize that their first impressions were wrong or at least misguided. There is definitely comedy and heat in this book. Sophie and Rocco's interactions with each other are sometimes downright hilarious and make you laugh out loud. There are also plenty of times in the book where heat comes into play. I think that what I love most about this book is that the author shows a strong woman who is trying to be independent and trying to do things for herself. I like that she doesn't depend on a man to get her where she wants to go. I also like to this book tackles a couple of serious situation. I don't want to give anything away, but just be on the lookout for serious situations that the author expertly handle and uses in a positive light for the book. Although reading it at first was kind of hard emotionally, I think that it was used in a positive way to show the seriousness of the situation and that there is ways to cope with it. Overall, Switch is an amazing novel. I love the story in the authors writing. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend or family member. I honestly cannot find anything about this book that I did not like. This is definitely a five-star read for me. Star Ratings: Plot= 5/5 Characters=5/5 Heat=5/5 Writing style=5/5 Overall=5/5 Favourite Quote:  "I'll make you a bet. You lay off the tequila tonight, and I won't hang up my underwear all over the bathroom.""You can hang 'em up if you want. I can't guarantee I won't touch them though." "Ewww, gross," I say, as I laugh and lightly punch him in the arm. "One way or another I'll get those panties," he says with a wink of one of those dark eyes. Reviewed by Jenn. **A copy of this book was provided, in exchange for a fair and honest review** CLICK THE COVER TO PURCHASE

NEW FEATURE - Top 10 Lists - Dark Books

Starting this week, we are going to be posting an exciting new feature on SBR Blogs.

We are going to be sharing our favourite recommendations in popular genres and sub genres. 

With anything from Dark books, to hot Rock Stars, to forbidden romances. We are going to cover it all. And give you our very favourites. 

So stay tuned each week for our Top 10 Thursday's, here on Seraphim Book Reviews, or on either of our blogs facebook pages, to find out some of the very best reads, we want to share with our followers. Plus plenty of links, and reviews to help you out with your choice!

For our very first Top 10, we are going to be choosing Dark Books. It can be quite a wide category, and we didn't want to limit it to just Dark Erotica, so our choices are a mixture of Dark Erotica, Dark Suspense, Dark Romance, basically anything that has content that is of a darker, or questionable nature than normal contemporary or romance books. If one of our review team has reviewed one of the Top 10, we will include the review alongside the Amazon purchase link. 

•  Captive In The Dark - CJ Roberts - Review | Goodreads
•  Tears Of Tess - Pepper Winters - Review | Goodreads
•  Raw - Belle Aurora - Review | Goodreads
•  Killing Sarai - J.A. Redmerski - Review | Goodreads
•  Empathy - Ker Dukey - Review | Goodreads
•  Snare - Clarissa Wild - Review | Goodreads
•  Asylum - Lily White - Review | Goodreads
•  Sociopath - Lime Craven - Review | Goodreads
•  Dirty Bad Wrong - Jade West - Review | Goodreads
•  The Life Of Anna Series - Marissa Honeycutt - Review of Book 1 | Goodreads

Click covers to purchase on Amazon

Now that you have read our Top 10 Dark Books, what dark books have you read that stood out for you, and that you would add to a Top 10 list? 

We would love to hear from you.

Also, if you would like to request a Top 10 for our Thursday post, please feel free to send us some suggestions. :)

Stay tuned for next week's Top 10, MC Books!

REVIEW - Snare (Delirious #1) - Clarissa Wild

TITLE - Snare (Delirious #1)

AUTHOR - Clarissa Wild

Synopsis:

** Author's note: This is a dark romance that will mess with your heart and mind. **

His secrets will destroy her.

Taken.
Humiliated.
Used.
With his smart mouth, dirty talking, and possessive behavior, Sebastian Brand has me hooked in the most shameless way. I’m obsessed with him. However, now that I’ve escaped the mental hospital, he seeks to control my every move.
The overwhelming aloofness in his attitude and the darkness in his mind tells me there is more to this man than sheer dominance. Depravity is his playground and pain is a necessary evil.
Keeping me away was his first instinct.
Capturing me was his second.
Claimed by a man with the exterior of an angel and the mind of a brute, I will do anything to unveil his secrets and face my own demons.
A body in exchange for freedom. A heart in exchange for truth.
Life is never a given. Only a certain death.

This is Volume 1 in the Delirious Series, which contains 3 volumes and a prequel. This book is a full-length novel. These books should be read in order.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, strong language, drugs and alcohol, dubious consent, and graphic violence. Contains a cliffhanger.

My Review:

Snare, book 1 in the Delirious series. 
Definitely read the prequel to Snare (Seek) first, it helps a lot!!

So luckily I had read the prequel to Snare first, and it actually makes reading this book a little easier. Snare begins with our main character Lillith, who is fresh out of a mental institute, and after memory problems and blanks, is starting to piece parts of the last 6 months together, with the help of Sebastian, the sorta hero, sorta evil bad guy. It's still too early to tell. 

Now I know my review is kind of confusing, but so is this story. It's a complete mystery, and the story is all over the place, and you have to piece all the parts together. But it's incredibly clever, and addictive, and it's hard to work out who can be trusted as yet. 

So the too-ing and fro-ing in the timeline is kind of hard to work with, and it's a bit confusing, but now that Lillith is out of the mental institute, it's becoming far more clearer information, and easier to tell what is real. 

Now as we are getting the story in pieces, and it feels like a giant mystery, secrets are unravelling at lightening speed, and the background to what is going on, is starting to come out. Now I can't explain any of the background story, which is what happened to Lillith and why she was put in the mental institute, and how she came to meet Sebastian, but what I can say is, WOW this background is seriously clever. Like genius idea clever. I love how it unraveled, and how detailed it all is. I wish I could say more, but seriously it can't be spoiled. It's dark, nasty, and stupidly bad, but so clever!! 

I'm also starting to enjoy the characters more now in Snare, than I did in the prequel. Lillith is finding her real self, and without all the craziness, and the confusion, I like her alot. Sebastian is sexy, but far too secretive and confusing with his emotions and motives. But still very hot and mysterious.
The sex and heat in this book is stupidly hot. The tension and chemistry is on fire, even if it's a little risky and dubious, it's still amazingly hot!!

A great dark read, with stacks of heat and suspense. 
4 Stars.

REVIEW - Dirty Bad Strangers - Jade West

TITLE - Dirty Bad Strangers (Dirty Bad #3)

AUTHOR - Jade West

Releases September 19th

Synopsis:

He calls me his dirty girl. 
He’s just a caller, a sex line client, an anonymous pervert like all the others.
Except he isn’t.
He’s under my skin… his voice, his laugh, his twisted fantasies.
He wants to watch me with other men. Lots of other men.
He wants me blindfolded and bound and taken by strangers until I’m a used-up mess.
Then he wants to take me himself.
I should hang up, report him to my supervisor.
But I won’t. I can’t…
… because I want him, too.

Gemma Taylor was born to be a chatline operator. Her filthy mouth and a filthier imagination make her hot property on sex chat. The hours are great and the money’s even better. She’s onto a good thing; finding her feet in the big smoke of London with a couple of old school friends.
Until he calls.
The rules of chatline are clear: no personal information, no breaches of confidentiality, and absolutely no other forms of communication of any kind.
So why is she giving him her number? Why the hell is she planning on blindfolding herself and leaving her door unlocked for him?
Gemma Taylor’s in deep. 
And she’s about to get deeper. 
Much, much deeper.

My Review:

Good god that was intense!! 
After the crazy addictive ride that was Dirty Bad Wrong, followed by another whirlwind of all things nasty but hot with Dirty Bad Savage, I was more than ready and eager for Dirty Bad Strangers.
The synopsis was hotter than hot, and held so much mystery, and the promise of another filthy and twisted story, that you can't help but devour in one sitting.
So when seeing this bad boy show up on my kindle, I was more than excited, and pulled an intense all nighter on it. I most definitely wasn't disappointed. 

This book in some respects was even better than it's predecessors. More nasty, more dirty, more twisted, and so much more hotter. But with the added incredible bonus, of one of the most awesome main characters in recent dark books, Gemma. 
With her mane of fiery red hair, generous and voluptuous curves. She was gorgeous in a natural way. She is not your stereotypical protagonist in books, she is so much better. She is real, and sexy and has a great attitude and personality to boot. Gemma's kink was a bit different and bit risky, but she didn't care. She knew what she wanted, and she would have it. 

Jason, her dark and mysterious caller, luckily turns out to not be a psycho with murder in mind. But everything else he has in mind is pretty nasty and twisted, and of course sinfully hot. Just like him. He also shows throughout the book, that he is far from the shallow world he has one foot in, and I loved him for it. 

As with all the other Dirty Bad books, the sex scenes in this book are crazy hot. They aren't conventional and run of the mill, they are serious kink and stupidly steamy. And I think that's why I always get so excited about reading this series. You never know what you are going to get, or what you are going to read next. It's different and shows another world, a world where people are free to explore their desires, and nobody will mock them for it. 

As with the other 2 books in this series, there is always a connection between them all. Club Explicit and the regulars that frequent it. There is usually 1 or more characters from the previous books that show up, which I love. This time it's the sweet and bubbly Cara, who is Raven (Bec's) girlfriend. She turns out to me a good friend to Gemma, and introduces her to Explicit, and a new family of friends. I love how they all come back at some point. Even if the hotter than hot, Masque only had a brief moment, it was still nice to see him back. ;)

I 100% recommend this book, and of course the series. Although it is a standalone, the entire series has been incredible, and definitely worth reading. If you love your books hot, but a little different and extremely exciting. This is definitely the book for you. 

"I'm not going anywhere, dirty girl, the night is young."

STAR RATING:

Plot = 5/5

Characters = 5/5

Heat = 5/5

Writing Style = 5/5

Overall Rating = 5/5

My review of Dirty Bad Wrong (Dirty Bad #1)

My review of Dirty Bad Savage (Dirty Bad #2)