ARC Review: Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke

Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke

Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke
Series: Anderson Brothers #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 30th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Love thy sexy jerk of a neighbor…

CEO Michael Anderson might be something of a “control freak.” Still, he’s not quite sure why his therapist thinks dogsitting will fix anything, especially since he and the canine share a kind of mutual loathing. And to make matters worse, a house sitter moves in next door disrupting his peace-and his dates-with the worst possible music at the worst possible time… every time.

Free-spirited artist Mia Argaropolis has settled into the perfect gig-housesitting in NYC’s Upper West Side while working as an art therapist. Too bad she’s stuck living next door to a bossy control freak with a penchant for calling building security when she blasts music to drown out the noises coming through his bedroom wall.

Post-apocalyptic dinner rolls that nearly take her kitchen with them, a douchebag ex, and a Shih Tzu with the personality of Godzilla attack Mia in one day, and her unlikely neighbor comes to the rescue. Like it was her fault. And now, somehow, they find themselves engaged? Both agree, this neighborly feud just got taken to a whole new level.

This book was an absolute delight to read! I read it without having read the previous book (both can be read as standalones) but now I’m thinking I should go and read that one too! I was a huge fan of the humor and the charming characters in Neighbors with Benefits – this book had me smiling nearly the entire book. For those looking for a fun, sexy, romantic read, I definitely recommend Neighbors with Benefits!

Michael Anderson is kind of a stuck-up control freak. To get him to loosen up, Michael’s therapist gives him the responsibility of caring for an adorable dog named Clancy. Michael detests the dog, mainly because it’s the one thing in Michael’s life he can’t control. Actually, it’s one of two things – his sexy next door neighbor is the other.

Mia Argaropolis is the complete opposite of Michael – she’s free-spirited, messy, speaks before she thinks, an artist. She loves messing with Michael, getting his uptight panties in a twist, but even though they get off on a rough start, he comes to her rescue when an ex-boyfriend of hers starts harassing her. One thing leads to another, and Mia has a fake fiancé in Michael and Michael has a dogsitter in Mia.

I loved the hilarious, witty banter between Mia and Michael, especially since you can tell there’s some hot chemistry going on underneath it all. These two characters could not be more different, but together, they worked. Mia brings out a lighter side in Michael, and Michael protects and believes in Mia when no one has for her before. Their relationship is so sweet and genuine, if a bit rushed. The book is pretty easy and quick to read, so their relationship wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve liked.

Still, Friends with Benefits is a fun, quick read that I enjoyed so much. I was charmed by Michael and I adored Mia’s character. They made such a sweet couple (and there are definitely some sexy moments between them too). If you’re a fan of the ‘opposites attract’ phenomenon, Neighbors with Benefits is perfect for you!

4 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Anderson Brothers series

Sleeping with the Boss by Marissa Clarke Neighbors with Benefits by Marissa Clarke Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke

#1 ~ Sleeping with the Boss: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ Neighbors with Benefits: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Chance of a Lifetime: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads


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Release Day Review: To Tempt a SEAL by Sara Jane Stone

To Tempt a Seal by Sara Jane Stone

To Tempt a SEAL by Sara Jane Stone
Series: Sin City SEALs #1
Publication Date: June 30th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

He can resist everything…except her.

For the first time in her life, art therapist Lucia Lewis is ready to live. And the masquerade ball in Las Vegas is just the place to find a ridiculously hot guy to complete her wicked to-do list. The only rule? Her elegant Venetian mask-which conceals the scars that have always held her back from the life she deserves-stays on.

Navy SEAL Cade Daniels heads to Vegas on a mission to keep his best friend’s little sister out of trouble. Except the woman he’s sent to find is all heat and flame…and perfectly capable of handling herself. And him. But the moment Lucia’s mask slips, the need to heal her, body and soul, is complete and absolute temptation.

But revealing himself could cost him the one thing he isn’t willing to risk…his heart.

This was a really sweet, enjoyable romance between a hot, sexy SEAL and a woman looking to fulfill her fantasies.

Lucia Lewis has scars on her face that have kept her from living life to its fullest – so when she’s in Vegas for a weekend, she decides to take charge of her life and find a man who will fulfill her ultimate sexual fantasies. And who better to fulfill those fantasies than one sexy, willing SEAL?

“From the moment I first saw you staring at the painting, I wanted you. Come to bed, gorgeous, and claim your fantasy.”

Cade Daniels finds himself tasked with secretly keeping an eye on his best friend’s sister, but he never expects the sister to be a gorgeous beauty. The chemistry between them is hot and he’s instantly attracted to her, so when he hears about her wanting to find a man to fulfill her fantasies, he’s game. It gets incredibly hot and steamy between them once they begin a no-strings sexual relationship, but both of them soon realize that once won’t be enough for them.

“You want to be the girl in my fantasies?” He took her face in his hands. “You are my fantasy.”

I really liked To Tempt a SEAL – the writing is on point, and the characters were likable and relatable. It might not be the most creative or unique book ever, but I still enjoyed what I read. I liked how well-developed the characters were and I definitely enjoyed the steamy parts of the book. Cade and Lucia only spend a few days together before they start falling for each other, which felt a bit unrealistic, but other than that, I have no complaints. This was an easy, sexy read and I’m looking forward to the other books in the series.

3.5 hearts
lacey

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


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Release Day Review: Caught by Clare James

Caught by Clare James

Caught by Clare James
Series: Elite PR #1
Publication Date: June 30th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

She was hired to clean up his image. He wants nothing more than to get her dirty.

Watching sex tapes at the office is just part of PR professional Vivian Blake’s job, especially when she has to clean up a celebrity’s image. Except that her newest client isn’t quite that easy. Racecar driver Jarod Cage is beyond hot, and his onscreen “performance” is already compromising Viv’s cool professionalism.

While Jarod hasn’t exactly been discreet about his personal life, he never thought his reputation could cost him both his sponsor and his racing career. Now he has to put his future in the hands of a tiny, pixie-like publicist. Which is becoming a problem, because the heat between them is about to redline. But when you go this hard and fast, putting on the brakes is the most dangerous thing you can do…

I was really excited for Caught after reading the blurb – it’s not often that I read about racecar drivers, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the story sometimes came across as a bit flat. It wasn’t a bad read, but it wasn’t very good either. I didn’t connect well with the characters, so Caught was just an okay read for me.

Vivian Blake works in PR, and her latest client is famous racecar driver Jarod Cage. After his latest scandal with a sex tape gone viral, her job is to clean up his act and make his public image presentable so that he’ll be able to continue his racing career. But while she’s good at her job, she’s not so good at resisting Jarod’s tempting ways.

Jarod Cage is sexy, Southern, and a total ladies man. But for some reason, he’s incredibly drawn to his publicist, a woman who’s the complete opposite of him. As his publicist, Viv is in close proximity to Jarod many hours of the day, which causes the attraction between them to only grow. It’s not long before Jarod and Viv fall into bed, and they are explosive together.

I really liked how the chemistry was portrayed, and I definitely liked seeing Jarod the bad boy fall for a woman who’s nothing like him. Sadly, both their characters felt flat to me – I couldn’t connect with them and I wasn’t a fan of how the romance played out. This doesn’t mean I didn’t like Jarod or Viv – I mainly just wasn’t invested in their story very much. But the chemistry and racing aspect of the story was a definite plus in the book, so overall, Caught was okay – a good, but not great, read.

3 hearts
lacey


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Release Day Review: The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey

The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey

The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey
Series: The Allure #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 29th 2015
Links: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

From: JosephineKeller@LLDesigns.com
To: LilyNBlack@gmail.com
Subject: Justin Timberlake Nudes!

Lily, you predictable perv. I knew you’d open this email faster if I tempted you with a glimpse of JT’s “PP”. Well, put your pants back on and grab some bubbly because I have much better news to share.

I GOT A JOB!

As of tomorrow, I’ll be the new executive assistant at Lorena Lefray Designs. I am SO excited, but there’s one itty bitty problem: I won’t be Lorena’s assistant. I’ll be working for her older brother, Julian.

I know what you’re thinking- “But Jo, what’s the problem?”

Google him. Now. He’s the man in the fitted navy suit whose face reminds you that there’s hope yet for this cruel, ugly world. Keep scrolling…Do you see those dimples? Yup. That’s the Julian Lefray I will be reporting to tomorrow morning.

Lord, help us all…

XO,
Jo

What a sweet, sexy, hilarious book! The Allure of Julian Lefray was exactly what I was in the mood for – it was sweetly romantic, with tons of laugh-out-loud moments and main characters with great chemistry. I adored this latest romantic comedy from R.S. Grey!

If I was a provocative temptress from a James Bond movie, I’d have picked up my champagne, held his eye as I took a sip, and then seductively whispered, “Is there room for two on that flight in your pants?” or y’know, something equally as seductive. But since I am Josephine, weird-girl-from-the-country, I stayed silent and took another sip of champagne.

Our heroine, Josephine Keller, is a fashion blogger who has just moved to NYC in hopes of making a career in the fashion industry. Jo is adorable, sometimes awkward, but she’s a sincere kind of heroine – basically, she’s endearing as hell, and I adored her. Landing a job is her first priority in NYC, since she’s close to broke and her parents aren’t exactly supportive of her dreams. Nonetheless, she is determined to accomplish her dreams, and though there are a few fumbles and awkward moments along the way, she gets a job working not for famous fashion designer Lorena Lefray, but Lorena’s hot, sexy brother Julian.

Julian Lefray is highly intrigued by and attracted to his new assistant, though he knows he shouldn’t feel the way he does about her. I loved that we get Julian’s POV in this book – it was fun to see his side and his struggles with fighting his desire for Jo. I liked that he wasn’t the clichéd manwhore – he’s a workaholic, but he’s sweet and loyal to the people he cares about, one of which Jo is quickly becoming.

I’d gone thirty-one years without knowing her, yet now it felt wrong to even go one weekend without speaking to her.

Jo and Julian have serious chemistry together, and it’s difficult for them to resist, but they set it aside to form a friendly relationship. Jo can’t risk losing her job if she sleeps with Julian, her boss, but they spend so much time together that their friendship quickly, genuinely turns into something more.

“What’s gotten into me, Jo?” he asked with an incredulous tone.
He took a step closer to me, pulling his body flush with his. His hands gripped my upper arms and his mouth met my hair, just above my ear. His chest pressed against mine so that I could feel his wild heartbeat hammering a crazy rhythm.
“You,” he bit out.

It gets pretty intense between Julian and Jo, but what I really enjoyed about this book was that it never lost its easy humor. I found myself smiling so much at the banter between the characters, and some of the situations they got themselves into were absolutely hilarious.

The Allure of Julian Lefray is a feel-good office (even though they’re technically not in an office for the majority of the book) romance that I couldn’t help but enjoy. It had sweet, hilarious, endearing characters I loved reading about. I’m really hoping the author will be writing a book about Jo and Julian’s best friends – she set up their story perfectly in this book. If you’re in the mood for an easy, fun, sweet read, The Allure of Julian Lefray is for you!

4 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: The Allure series

The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

#1 ~ The Allure of Julian Lefray: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Allure of Dean Harper: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads


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Release Day Review: Priest by Sierra Simone

Priest by Sierra Simone

Priest by Sierra Simone
Series: Priest #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 29th 2015
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

There are many rules a priest can’t break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I’ve always been good at following rules.

Until she came. Then I learned new rules.

My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I’m twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.

I am a priest and this is my confession.

Oh. Myyyyy. Goodness. This book… was seriously dirrrrty!!! I mean, I was totally wanting expecting it, but I had no idea what I’d be in for. As an erotica, this book would be 10/5 for me – it’s seriously that hot, dirty, and raunchy. I’m nearly ashamed of how much I loved the dirtiness of this book. It’s taboo to the max – a priest who breaks his vows of celibacy… and is kinky as hell. (If you are sensitive about this topic, I highly recommend you turn away from this book.) I’ve read so much that it’s hard for a book to make me blush… but this one, this one set me on fire.

I knelt down behind her and spread her legs, spread them so that her cunt was gloriously bared to me. “My little lamb,” I whispered. “You are so very, very wet right now.”

I love taboo stories, and Priest was spot-on in its yummy taboo-ness. Twenty-nine year old Tyler Bell is a good priest who is faithful to his God and church – that is, until Poppy Danforth walks into his church one day and changes everything for him. From the first time he hears her voice, he is addicted to her, and try as he might to stay faithful to his religion, temptation wins, and so ensues an erotic journey between a priest and a woman who is temptation personified.

“This is so wrong,” I said, moving my mouth even closer. I could smell her, and she smelled like heaven, like soap and skin and the delicate female scent that every man hungered for. “But just one taste,” I murmured, talking more to myself that to her now. “God wouldn’t punish me for just one taste.”

Holy mother of god, this book is one of the dirtiest, filthiest books I’ve ever read. Priest is downright sinful, I tell you, but I LOVED the sinfulness. Sierra Simone’s writing is perfection, practically dripping with erotica and sensuality. I’m a HUGE fan of her writing in this book, so I’m sad that I didn’t actually love this book as a whole. I enjoyed it for the most part, the sex scenes were delightfully naughty, but I didn’t love it like I was expecting to. While the erotica and writing were superb, the actual romance and plot were weak in comparison. I loved Tyler, the hero, but Poppy, the heroine, I just never connected with. It’s not that she was weak or anything – in fact, she’s a strong, intelligent, independent woman. But I felt like her sole purpose in the book was just to be Tyler’s temptation and downfall, and I didn’t see any depth to her. We don’t really get her POV, mainly Tyler’s, so that might be why I couldn’t connect with her.

Tyler’s character, on the other hand, I really liked, though I had issues with him too. He is… an endearing sort of man. I loved the filth that came out of his mouth, definitely, but as a whole, he’s a kind, compassionate man. He’s funny sometimes, his narration is easy to read, and he has a dirty, dirty mind. He’s a likable character, but I thought he fell into his desire for Poppy way too quickly for a priest. I would have liked to see more resistance from Tyler, if only to intensify the forbidden aspect of the story. I also couldn’t understand how he fell in love with Poppy – but the two do fall for each other, which puts Tyler in a difficult situation: having to choose between his faith and duty, and the woman he loves.

“Whatever happens after this, I just want you to know that this was worth it. You were worth it. You were worth everything.”

The main things going for Priest were the smut, writing, and taboo. Those were pretty much perfectly crafted, but the plot and romance disappointed me. Still, it’s a provocative, addicting read that I was engaged in from start to finish. I honestly still can’t get over how fantastically filthy this book is – if you’re looking for a dirty read, look no further than Sierra Simone’s Priest.

3.5 hearts
lacey

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


Reading Order: Priest series

Priest by Sierra Simone Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone

#1 ~ Priest: Ebook • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Midnight Mass: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads


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