ARC Review: Rules of Seduction by Joya Ryan

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Rules of Seduction by Joya Ryan
Series: Serve #7 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 9th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

He’ll be the dream and the dirty fantasy…

Through with both her controlling ex and relationships, Ava Webber is determined to explore the spicy and sometimes forbidden appetites of the exclusive BDSM nightclub, Serve. Here, she’ll get exactly what she needs…as long as it’s from a man she doesn’t know.

Nolan Hart ensures that Serve’s clients get what they want, how they want it. But with one look at the curvy brunette, Nolan knows he’s the man to fulfill her desires. As the anonymous lover, he’s Ava’s dirtiest fantasy. Outside of Serve, he’s her charming, smartass friend.

But Nolan wants more. More than Ava is willing to give. And as long as the blindfold stays on, she’ll never discover that the two men she’s falling for are one and the same…

I’ve read and loved two of the three Tessa Bailey books in the Serve series, so I was excited to read more from the series! This is my first Joya Ryan, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed it. Rules of Seduction centers around Nolan, the man who works at Serve, an exclusive BDSM club, who’s in charge of fulfilling clients’ needs. I’m not the biggest fan of BDSM books, but every once in a while I’ll give it a try. These types of books are usually a hit or miss, and while I didn’t LOVE Rules of Seduction, it was a hot, quick read that was easy to enjoy.

Ava Webber came out of her previous, long-term relationship a shell of herself. She lost herself somewhere along that relationship, but now with a successful career, she’s been able to move on. But while she’s moved on, that doesn’t mean she wants to enter into a relationship again any time soon. This is where Serve comes in, a sex club catering to any and all its clients’ needs. When Ava goes to Serve, she wants to forget her life for just a little while – she wants an anonymous man who will consume her with no strings attached. But meeting Nolan Hart has her questioning whether she truly wants a relationship with someone or not.

Nolan has never met anyone quite like Ava – she fascinates him, and the more he gets to know her, the more he wants her. So when Ava details the kind of man she wants, Nolan’s ready to be that man – especially since he’ll be completely anonymous. Nolan doesn’t do relationships either, but being with Ava, both in and out of the club, makes him fall hard and deep for the first time.

“I want to belong to you. If you’ll have me? I want to give myself to you. And I want you to give yourself to me. Because together, we’re more than we could ever be apart.”

Rules of Seduction is so sexy – the anonymous hookups between Ava and Nolan are seriously on fire. I really enjoyed the angst of the story as well, with Nolan deciding whether or not to reveal himself to Ava as her mysterious man. This is a fun, quick read that fans of the series would enjoy. It’s very light on the BDSM. I didn’t connect well with Ava or Nolan, but I was able to overall enjoy their story.

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Serve series

#1 ~ Owned by Fate (Tessa Bailey): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Exposed by Fate (Tessa Bailey): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Mistaken by Fate (Katee Robert): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Betting on Fate (Katee Robert): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Driven by Fate (Tessa Bailey): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#6 ~ Protecting Fate (Katee Robert): Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Rules of Seduction (Joya Ryan): Ebook • Goodreads
#8 ~ Bind Me Before You Go (Harper Kincaid): My Review • Ebook • Gooodreads

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7May2015

ARC Review: Two of Hearts by Christina Lee

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Two of Hearts by Christina Lee
Series: Golden Arrow #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 5th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A gripping standalone adult contemporary romance about finding yourself while taking a second chance at your first love…

Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional — not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.

Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.

Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.

Two of Hearts is the first book I’ve read from Christina Lee. I’d really been looking forward to this one when I read the blurb since I LOVE second chance romances. I found Two of Hearts fairly enjoyable, but sadly, the romance and plot were a bit underwhelming. Still, I really liked the underlying sense of family and friendship tied with the Indian culture that’s portrayed heavily in this book.

Dakota and Shane were each other’s first loves, but when the time came for them to fight for their love, they instead let each other go. They reunite under unfortunate circumstances, at Dakota’s father’s funeral. Dakota and Shane have grown to their full potential in their separated years, but the chemistry between them hasn’t faded for a second. But while Dakota is hesitant to start something again with the boy who broke her heart, Shane recognizes that Dakota is the only girl meant for him and he fights for them and their relationship.

“Don’t you know how much I’ve thought of you over the years? Wondered how you were doing, if you were okay? Whether you still thought of me, too?”

I really would have liked the romance to take center stage, but the book focuses a lot on the casino that Dakota is running. Dakota and her family are being attacked for inheriting an Indian casino but not being fully Indian. There’s a suspenseful angle to this novel, with suspicious characters that Shane, as a U.S. Marshal, is investigating. I found the suspense a bit boring, so I couldn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.

What I liked about Shane and Dakota was how when they separated, they were able to fully grow and follow their ambitions. They didn’t hold each other back, and once they became the people they wanted to be, they found each other again. Even though I didn’t connect with the main characters, I found their story to be sweet and sexy.

This was a good, but not great, read. I was bored during the middle of the book, at least until the suspense finally picked up. If you’re a fan of second chance romances, you should give this a try.

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Golden Arrow series

#1 ~ Two of Hearts: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Three Sacred Words: Ebook • Goodreads

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3Mar2015

Release Day Review: Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy
Series: The Fowler Sisters #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 3rd 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emma Chase—the second novel in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sizzling series about three powerhouse sisters and the men who would have their hearts.

People say the youngest child has it easy, but nothing can be further from the truth. Unlike my two sisters, Violet and Lily, I’m never in the limelight. I just work my butt off for Fleur Cosmetics and get little to no thanks for it. I’ve been pushed too far one too many times, and I’m finally brave enough to do something about it.

Maybe my newfound courage has something to do with the amazing pink and white diamond necklace I wear to the party in Cannes. The instant those dazzling heirloom jewels touch my skin, they excite some deep, aching need inside. And when that guy—that totally gorgeous guy—locks eyes with me, I know this nice girl is going to be naughty.

For once it’s my turn. My turn to say no to my father, to outshine my sisters, to walk away from it all—straight into the arms of a mysterious stranger. But what if Caden is much more than I bargained for? Sure, he makes me feel sexy and free in a way I never have before, but there’s something else I can’t quite place—something dangerous. Maybe our “chance” meeting wasn’t so random. Maybe he was looking for me for a reason. Whatever his motive, there’s no going back now.

And maybe I don’t want to.

I highly enjoyed the first book of The Fowler Sisters series, so of course I was looking forward to Rose’s book! Unfortunately, Stealing Rose fell a bit flat for me. I definitely didn’t enjoy Rose’s book as much as I did Violet’s. I had a hard time liking or connecting with the main characters, and though the plot held potential, because I didn’t like the characters, the story just wasn’t working for me. My heart just wasn’t into this book, sadly. It mostly an okay read – though if you’re a fan of Owning Violet, I still think you should give Stealing Rose a try. You might like it more than I did.

I don’t measure up. I’m in Lily’s and Violet’s shadows and I hate it. The biggest obstacle I’ve ever had to overcome is being their baby sister. They’ll always be ahead of me, no matter what I do or what I say.
Being the youngest sucks.

Rose is the youngest of the three Fowler sisters, and she’s the sister that’s always overlooked. She doesn’t feel appreciated at her job at Fleur Cosmetics – she’s a hard worker, but no one, not even her father, the head of the company, notices. And when her father is promoting his nasty bitch of a girlfriend instead of Rose, Rose decides to say fuck it, resign, and take some time to herself.

Caden Kingsley is a thief. He cons and steals from the rich to help support himself and his mother after his late father left them destitute. He’s good at what he does, even though he’s not exactly proud of it – he’s a criminal, plain and simple. When Caden and Rose meet for the first time, Caden is aiming to steal a necklace of hers, but he never expects to feel a connection with her. He decides to pursue her, but he can’t have both the necklace and the girl. So which would he choose?

For once, I want to stick. I want to live a real life, not some constant con game. I want to be real with Rose. And if that means sometimes it gets ugly, and sometimes I’m scared, mad, sad, or whatever-the-hell emotion I’m struggling with, I still want to do it.
So I’ve got to fight for it. Own it. Own me. Own her.
Own us.

It’s a whirlwind romance for Rose and Caden, though Caden is keeping what he does a secret. He’s no longer entirely sure about his ‘career’ as a thief. It threatens what he has with Rose, and he has to decide whether he can give up his life as a thief for something that could turn into so much more.

You stole my heart, Ro. I may be the professional, but with us, you’re the thief. You reached right into my chest and took my heart like it fully belonged to you. And I think it does.

Stealing Rose had tons and TONS of sex! Oh my lord, Caden and Rose no doubt heat up the pages, but sometimes it felt a bit too excessive. In this case, I would have rather had more character and story development than sex. This was mainly why I didn’t grow to care for Rose or Caden – all they did was have sex. The romance just didn’t feel like it grew in a genuine way. I didn’t understand how these two fell in love with each other. As for the characters themselves, Rose didn’t feel strong enough to me – the development with her and her father/job wasn’t too clear, and it felt rushed at the end. I liked Caden a little better, with the way he wanted to change into a better man for Rose.

I wasn’t a fan of Rose or Caden, but that didn’t entirely ruin the book. I enjoyed it well enough. Caden was redeeming at the end, which ended the book on a much better note. If you’re a fan of a hot and steamy book with an intriguing storyline, you might enjoy Stealing Rose more than I did.

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Fowler Sisters series

#1 ~ Owning Violet: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stealing Rose: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Taming Lily: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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4Feb2015

ARC Review: Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Too Hot to Handle by Katie Rose
Series: The Boys of Summer #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 27th 2015
Purchase: Ebook
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Katie Rose’s Boys of Summer series returns for a delicious double-header—with the story of total opposites who are drawn to each other like moths to a flame.

Nikki Case is no fan of baseball. Her ex gambled away a fortune on the sport, and now her PR firm has tasked her with cleaning up the league’s most notorious bad boys. The New Jersey Sonics are known for wild womanizing and booze-fueled brawls, so Nikki expects the worst. Her first stop in the battle to win hearts and minds is star hitter Jake Baldwin—a legendary ladies man so smokin’ he threatens to melt her tough-girl armor.

Although his teammates prank her without mercy, Jake admires the way Nikki gives as good as she gets. She may be the queen of frost, but there’s kindling beneath those sultry curves—and he’s just the man to ignite it. But when a PR nightmare lands the Sonics in headlines across the country, Nikki is ready to walk. Only then does Jake realize how important she is to the Sonics’ success—and that winning the love of a good woman is no game.

I’m such a big fan of sports romances, so when I saw the smokin’ cover of Katie Rose’s Too Hot to Handle, I had to read it! I always love a good sports romance book that can get me into the sport and game, especially when I am pretty much the least athletic person ever!

Jake Baldwin is a certified manwhore. He charms his way through women and he’s not looking to settle down anytime soon. But when his team continues to get bad publicity, Jake meets his match in the woman whose job is to clean up the New Jersey Sonics’ act.

Nikki Case is the woman who’s tasked with fixing up the Sonics’ reputation, but it’s not that easy. The players are rough on her, playing pranks on her, but she’s determined to succeed in her job. She aims her focus on Jake, the star player, but she never expects him to turn his womanizing charms to her.

What starts as a prank for Jake turns out to be so much more as he spends time with Nikki. He slowly manages to take down those walls around Nikki’s heart, but for all his womanizing ways, is he ready for more? I really enjoyed Jake’s character – he may have been a manwhore prior to Nikki, but he’s also a man with a heart of gold. And when he falls, he falls hard. He was just the sweetest with Nikki!

Too Hot to Handle was a sweet and sexy book that fans of sports romances will definitely enjoy. It’s pure fluff, but entertaining fluff. I was rooting for Nikki and Jake to make it work between them. It’s a fairly predictable book, but I was engaged the whole time reading. These two made an adorable couple, and some scenes between them just pulled at my heart! For those looking for a sweet, sexy, quick read, this is for you!

Reading Order: The Boys of Summer series

#1 ~ Bring on the Heat: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Too Hot to Handle: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Heat of the Moment: Ebook (Sept. 22, 2015)

23Nov2014

Release Day Blitz + Release Day Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Hitched by Karpov Kinrade

Posted in 3 hearts, Giveaways, Reviews, Spotlight by Lacey

Happy Release Day to Karpov Kinrade! Hitched is LIVE!

Hitched by Karpov Kinrade
Series: The Red Shoe Memoirs #1 (full reading order below)
Release Date: November 23rd 2014

He called me “wife.” This man standing naked in front of me. Tall. Dark. Sexy as sin… He’s my husband?

Disjointed images from the night before, the night I can’t entirely remember, float into my mind. Meeting him in the bar. Sharing tidbits of our lives. I own a company that plans bachelor parties. He’s a pediatric heart surgeon. We both live in Las Vegas, but we come from very different worlds.

And then I remember that kiss. The way his lips brushed against mine, gentle at first, then harder, deeper, with more urgency. Sex in the elevator. Hot, forbidden, delicious.

I remember the way he made me feel. The way our bodies fit perfectly together. But I don’t remember marrying him. And now, he won’t let me go. Dr. Sexy who saves children for a living. He wants the summer to prove we are meant to be.

I can give him a summer. But can I give him a lifetime?

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…or it changes your life forever.

WARNING: This book has lots of sex and lots of swearing. Now go enjoy it.

Buy Links:
Amazon • B&N • iTunes • Kobo

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Hitched, because hello, look at that blurb! Maybe I’m a sucker, but I always end up reading these types of books where the main characters accidentally get married. Hitched wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. It was sexy, flirty, and fun. Anyone wanting a quick, light-hearted, hot read should definitely check out Hitched!

Our heroine Kacie wakes up hungover and not remember anything from the night before… which means she has no clue how she ended up married to the sexy doctor Sebastian Donovan. Sebastian is literally sex on a stick, and add in the fact that he saves children for a living just makes him a total package. He’d be the perfect guy to end up accidentally married to, right? Well… Kacie’s not exactly looking to get married, not even to her attractive husband. But Sebastian sees the potential the two of them have, and they strike a deal. Kacie will get her annulment if she agrees to spend the entire summer spending time with and getting to know more about Sebastian.

“We’re from two different worlds. It would never work. What could a girl with a business degree who plans bachelor parties possibly have in common with a fucking pediatric heart surgeon?”
He throws his arm over my shoulder. “I don’t know. But there’s no harm in finding out, right?”

And by getting to know Sebastian, I mean Kacie and Sebastian get hot and heavy A LOT. Maybe a little too much, but only because the book isn’t very long. Still, Kacie and Sebastian do start getting to know each other better outside of the bedroom. It’s easy to see that Sebastian loves Kacie, maybe even since the beginning, so Kacie’s the one who holds back between the two of them. She’s not sure how to juggle a blossoming career and marriage. She’s worried she might have to give up one or the other, so she’s afraid to commit to spend her life with Sebastian, no matter how much she wants, and eventually loves, him.

Hitched was short, sweet, and sexy. I didn’t get hooked onto this book as much as I expected, but I definitely enjoyed it. It did get cheesy at times, and things seemed to be too easy for the characters, but I was able to overlook that for the most part. I’d recommend Hitched to anyone in the mood for a fun (and hot) read!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Now here’s an excerpt of Hitched! ❤

As I sink into the luxurious heat, my body breathes a sigh of relief. The tension and stress from the last few days drains out of me, and I close my eyes and lean back, enjoying the music, the sips of wine, the calm.

But it doesn’t take long for my mysterious future ex-husband to creep into my mind, undoing my reverie with memories of our torrid night together.

His hotel room had an extra large bath, one we used to full avail.

He undressed me slowly, his long fingers and strong hands caressing my body with each movement as I stood still, breathing deeply, taking in the moment. I stood naked before him while he was still fully clothed, and the disparity between us sent waves of erotic charge through me.

As I pull this memory up and view it like a movie in my mind, my hand dips under the soapy water and between my legs. I spread my labia and tease my clit, slipping a finger inside of me as I remember him doing the same that night.

His hand over my mound, finger exploring my wet center, my pussy aching for more of him. I could see his cock through his slacks, hard and demanding, and I wanted to free him from that constraint, but I also wanted to continue enjoying this moment as he worshiped me with his eyes and explored me with his body.

I rub at my clit, fingering myself as I use my other hand to tease my nipples. I want this to be him touching me, his fingers, his hands, his tongue and mouth. His cock. But I settle for the memories as I bring myself closer to climax.

He knelt in front of me, his mouth positioned at my pussy as he flicked a tongue out and lightly licked my clit. My body shuddered, knees weak as he pushed his tongue deeper into me, fingers digging into my hips, holding me tightly against his mouth. My hands fell to the top of his head, to his thick dark hair as he pleasured me beyond reason. The bath filled with water as I came hard in his mouth. He finally let me undress him, just before lifting me up and placing me in the steaming bath. He got in beside me, then pulled me onto his lap, impaling me on his hard cock.

My wet pussy took him in greedily, eagerly, and our bodies rocked together in the water, his hands exploring my breasts, waist, hips, his fingers finding my sensitive, swollen clit and sending me over the edge again, quickly this time, as I came on his cock.

I’m nearly there, the memory of him inside me tipping the scale as I come to thoughts of him, alone in my bathtub.

And I realize then that getting him out of my mind is not going to be as easy as signing a few papers.

Reading Order: Red Shoe Memoirs series

#1 ~ Hitched: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Whipped: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Stripped: Goodreads (release date TBA)

Karpov Kinrade is the pen name for the husband and wife writing duo of bestselling, award-winning authors Kimberly Kinrade and Dmytry Karpov.

Together, they write all things sexy in romance, mystery and paranormal that will get your blood boiling and keep you turning pages.

Look for more from Karpov Kinrade in the Call Me Cat trilogy, the Seduced Saga and the Forbidden Trilogy. Read all about their extensive book list at www.readKK.com.

They live with three little girls who think they’re ninja princesses with super powers and who are also showing a propensity for telling tall tales and using the written word to weave stories of wonder and magic.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Newsletter

10 HITCHED fabulous swag packs (poster + bookmark + postcard + red shoe keychain)
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