Early Review: Ruled by Elle Kennedy

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Ruled by Elle Kennedy
Series: Outlaws #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 1st 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

In the latest novel in the series with the “sexiest, baddest, hottest”* outlaws around, one woman must choose between the two men who want to claim her…

…Or does she?

Despite his magnetic personality, Rylan can’t seem to seduce Reese, the deadly leader of their town of outlaws. Winning her over is a welcome challenge, but her indifference isn’t the only thing standing in his way. If he wants Reese, Rylan must also win over Sloan, her stoic protector…

Sloan has always loved Reese, but their painful past has stolen his chances of a future with her. Rylan’s interest in Reese only intensifies the tension—until Sloan begins to wonder if the reckless man might be the one person who can bridge the distance…

The last time Reese fell for the wrong man, she had no choice but to kill him. Now, she desperately wants to take what both Rylan and Sloan are offering. But if she makes the wrong call again, she risks losing them both.

To say I’d been dying to read Ruled ever since finishing the previous Outlaws book would be an understatement. You have no idea how READY I was for Reese, Sloan, and Rylan’s story because hello, THREESOME!!! And SLOAN!!! And now, all I can say is that Sloan is one of my favorite heroes from Elle Kennedy, and Ruled might be the hottest book she’s written yet. If you thought you were ready for the steam thanks to Claimed and Addicted, think again, because Ruled will seriously blow your mind with the chemistry between this threesome.

Reese is the queen of her outlaw community. She is fierce, independent, badass – she will do anything and everything to protect her people. But there’s only one person she allows to protect her and stand by her side: Sloan, her quiet, stoic right hand man. These two are tied to the knot, and there is essentially no Reese without Sloan, and vice versa. But what Reese doesn’t know is that Sloan has been in love with her since forever. Will Sloan ever be able to win his queen? Or will he need the help of a new man to get her to open up to him – to them?

The only thing he didn’t like about the man was this creeping feeling he had that he was losing Reese to him. But was he really losing her? Or was Rylan the key to winning her?

Rylan – the irreverent, perpetually horny Rylan – has also wanted Reese since the moment he met her, but he’s gotten nothing but rejections from her. But when the stress piles up on the outlaw queen, Rylan offers his body as a way to relieve it. But there’s only one catch from Reese – that Sloan has to be there to watch them. So what starts off as an insanely hot exhibition act turns into so much more when the chemistry between Sloan and Reese, Reese and Rylan, and even Rylan and Sloan ignites. This is a threesome with no shortage of lust and raw desire – but can Sloan and Rylan ever get Reese to be vulnerable enough to admit to loving them?

“There is nothing we won’t give you,” Sloan said softly. “Nothing you could want that we can’t deliver.”

The steam in Ruled went above and beyond my expectations. Elle Kennedy knows how to write erotica, and I’m seriously hoping this won’t be the end of the Outlaws series. I’ll admit, I really wasn’t that into the plotline regarding the evil dystopian government – all I cared about were the main characters. It just wasn’t as engaging as the love story, and some details about it were too rushed. So if you’re like me, and just want the sexy hot threesome to set your panties on fire, trust me, you won’t be disappointed with Ruled!

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

Reading Order: Outlaws series

#1 ~ Claimed: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Addicted: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Ruled: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Nov. 1, 2016)

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20Sep2016

Release Day Review: Billionaire on the Loose by Jessica Clare

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Billionaire on the Loose by Jessica Clare
Series: Billionaires and Bridesmaids #5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 20th 2016
Links: Ebook • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The New York Times bestselling author of the Billionaire Boys Club novels is back with a sexy, sweet romance that proves opposites definitely attract…

Taylor is a genius when it comes to computers, but understanding the opposite sex is beyond her. Because she always fumbles her flirtations, she needs help in finding her Prince Charming. So when her friend, Gretchen, sets her up as a tour guide for a new guy in town, she says yes despite her misgivings.

She just doesn’t expect Mr. Charming to actually be royalty…

A faction in his country wants him to be king, but Loch has no intention of taking the crown. To keep from being named as the next successor, he hatches a scheme to marry a totally unacceptable American woman. Quirky Taylor seems like the perfect person for the job, until Loch realizes he likes more about her than her ability to keep him off the throne.

When Loch’s secret schemes come out, his chance of happiness with Taylor are blown—unless he can find a way to get the nerdy object of his affection to believe she’s truly the queen of his heart…

I’m a sucker for Jessica Clare’s billionaire books! I’d been excited for Billionaire on the Loose since reading The Billionaire’s Favorite Mistake and being introduced to Taylor and Loch. A romance between a computer genius/online gamer nerd and one of the heirs to the crown of Bellissime – how could I say no to that!?

Normally women fell into his lap. The one time he was the one pursuing? He couldn’t get her to leave her damned apartment.

Becoming king of Bellissime sounds like a nightmare to Loch, so to stay out of the media and prevent gaining any popularity, he hides away in New York. He plans on meeting up with his cousin, but the last person he expects to keep him company is a clumsy, gorgeous girl he can’t keep out of his mind. The chemistry between them blows his mind, and he knows he wants more of her – and she’d be the perfect American candidate for becoming his wife and thus losing his spot as heir to the throne. He has a hard time getting Taylor to give him the time of day though – but what happens when feelings start to develop and the truth of his intentions come out?

The heroine is definitely the highlight of this novel for me – Loch was slightly forgettable, but that was forgivable when I focused more on Taylor. I love when characters challenge gender norms, and Taylor is the perfect example of that. She’s a female gamer and who is totally unapologetic about who she is and what she does – I LOVED that about her. She’s also slightly awkward and clumsy, especially around men, but that only endeared her to me. Taylor and Loch are total opposites – he’s a smooth, handsome player while she has no social skills – so if you love the opposites-attract trope, this book is for you!

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

Reading Order: Billionaires and Bridesmaids series

#1 ~ The Billionaire and the Virgin: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Taming of the Billionaire: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Billionaire Takes a Bride: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ The Billionaire’s Favorite Mistake: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Billionaire on the Loose: Ebook • Goodreads

The Billionaires and Bridesmaids series is a spinoff series of the Billionaire Boys Club. Though it’s not necessary to read it prior to Billionaires and Bridesmaids, some recurring characters from the older series appear in the new series.

Reading Order: Billionaire Boys Club series

#1 ~ Stranded with a Billionaire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Beauty and the Billionaire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Wrong Billionaire’s Bed: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Once Upon a Billionaire: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Romancing the Billionaire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ One Night with a Billionaire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6.5 ~ Beauty and the Billionaire: The Wedding • Ebook • Goodreads (Nov. 15, 2016)

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8Sep2016

ARC Review: The One Real Thing by Samantha Young

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The One Real Thing by Samantha Young
Series: Hart’s Boardwalk #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street is back with the first in a sexy new romance series set in a small town on the Delaware coastline.

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her.

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for….

First, I have to talk about the gorgeous cover of The One Real Thing!! The colors look so, so pretty together. Sunsets are always stunning, and I love that it’s a theme with the covers of the series. As for the book itself, TORT is a good introduction to Hart’s Boardwalk, but I can’t say that I loved it or connected all that well with it. This book might not be for everyone, but I see the potential this series has, and I’m still very much looking forward to the upcoming books.

Small-town romances are usually a hit or miss for me, but TORT lies somewhere in the middle. While I adored the tight-knit community and all of the secondary characters, I just didn’t connect with the main characters at all. Jessica and Cooper didn’t feel unique, and though their romance was sweet, it was too slow and underwhelming. Nothing about them particularly sparked – that being said, it sounds like I hated them, but I truly didn’t. They were just OKAY, but they did grow on me near the end of the novel.

I struggled with a big chunk of the middle of the book – I’d find myself skimming because things just weren’t moving along fast enough for me. Of course, if you’re a fan of the author (her On Dublin Street series is amazing) and you have a lot of patience, I’d definitely recommend giving this book a try.

TORT is a great introduction to the series and its characters. I’m excited to read more about the rest of Hart’s Boardwalk’s quirky inhabitants – shy Emery, volatile Vaughn and Bailey, and even Cooper’s ex-best friend. I have high hopes that the series will continue to grow and get better. This is Samantha Young, after all!

Reading Order: Hart’s Boardwalk series

#1 ~ The One Real Thing: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Every Little Thing: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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8Sep2016

ARC Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold…

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast….

I’ve missed hockey romances so much! I haven’t read one in quite a while, so Rookie Move came at the perfect time. Plus, this one is a second chance romance, one of my favorite tropes, so how could I NOT enjoy it? If you’re a fan of the author or second chance romances, you need to get your hands on this book. It’s full of fun, flirty banter, a wicked sexy hero with a dirty mouth, and a sweet romance that will make your heart flutter. I seriously ADORED this book, and I can’t wait for more of the series!

Damn, how he’d missed her. This was too much and yet not enough, either. He deepened the kiss, stroking her cheek with his thumb, his groin tightening at the feel of her skin under his hand. She tasted like the happiest years of his life.
She tasted like his.

Six years ago, Georgia Worthington broke both her and her high school sweetheart’s hearts when she left him. They haven’t spoken or heard from each other since, but right when Georgia is trying to prove her position as the Brooklyn Bruisers’ publicist, none other than Leo Trevi, the one love of her life, gets traded to the team. Georgia won’t let anything get in the way of her job, but Leo is hard to resist, so she has to avoid him as much as necessary. But Leo has other plans, one of which includes winning the love of his life back…

“It’s exactly this easy. You and me, alone together. There’s not one thing about it that’s complicated. You’re mine, Georgia Worthington. I don’t care what your fucking dad thinks. I spent six years trying to get over you, and it didn’t take. Our time is now.”

I had so much fun reading Rookie Move. It’s the perfect summery read – a heartwarming romance that will make you smile, some delicious chemistry that heats up the pages, and wonderful characters you can’t get enough of. I loved Leo so, so much. His dedication and love for Georgia, even after all those years, has never waned. He is the SWEETEST hero you will ever meet – and his being a hockey player is just a plus. 😉 And Georgia herself is such a strong, independent woman, despite what happened to her in the past that caused her to break up with Leo. I felt for her, I hurt for her, I was happy for her. She made me feel so many emotions! These two are brilliant characters by themselves, but together, they are like magic.

This isn’t quite the 5 star read for me, because the third person POV isn’t my favorite, and I couldn’t really connect with the characters as much as I wish I did. But this is totally a me thing, and I have no doubt that tons of other readers will love this first Brooklyn Bruisers novel. I’m so excited to see what Sarina Bowen has in store for us next in the series! (And can Nate and Becca PLEASE have a book!?)

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

Reading Order: Brooklyn Bruisers series

#1 ~ Rookie Move: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Hard Hitter: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Jan. 3, 2017)
#3 ~ Pipe Dreams: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (May 2, 2017)

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23Aug2016

Release Day Review: Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #15.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 23rd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The “alpha author of paranormal romance” presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible…

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander…

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play…

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries…

Nalini Singh is one of the few authors I’ve read who’s capable of writing so much in so little. Despite the novella length of each of the stories in Wild Embrace, they are all packed with heart and emotion. I seriously loved reading Wild Embrace – it’s only made me even more immersed and in love with the Psy-Changeling world. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss out on these four stories!

Echo of Silence: If you’ve missed the old Psy-Changeling romance where the two characters are different species, like I’ll admit I have, then you HAVE to read Echo of Silence. The heroine, Tazia, is human, an engineer who’s captivated by her Psy station commander. As a Psy, Stefan is quiet and in control of all emotions. This novella is set before the Psy broke Silence, so it’s forbidden for Stefan to fall for Tazia, but when they start to work together in close proximity, you can feel the developing emotions between them. This story warmed my heart and is definitely my favorite in Wild Embrace.

Dorian: This is the shortest of the novellas, and not a romance, but I loved it anyway. We’re back with Dorian, getting snippets of his past and present, back from when he was struggling with his latent Changeling to now in his utter happiness and contentment with his mate and adopted children. We also see much of Dorian’s friends, including all the sentinels and Lucas. It was great to dive back into DarkRiver, because I’ve definitely missed them.

Partners in Persuasion: I loved the idea of this novella, with a romance between a SnowDancer male submissive and a DarkRiver female dominant. And obviously, Nalini Singh doesn’t disappoint – I was fascinated with this Changeling pairing role-reversal. Felix and Dezi’s romance is seriously the sweetest! It grew at a slow, genuine pace and put a smile on my face.

Flirtation of Fate: Kenji and Garnet is the main reason why I was most excited to read Wild Embrace, because throughout the series we’ve seen the chemistry between these two as they go head-to-head and we don’t know why they aren’t already together. Well, now we finally find out the reason and I’ll admit, Kenji’s reason for pushing Garnet away was a little disappointing. I didn’t feel like it warranted him breaking her heart and staying away for years. But other than that, it was wonderful to see these two, who have always been meant for each other, finally get together.

Is it too soon to already want more Psy-Changeling? I seriously can’t get enough of this series, and Wild Embrace has only just barely whetted my appetite for more. While this book isn’t necessary to keep up with the series, it’s still an incredible, entertaining read that gives you an even more in-depth glance at the Psy-Changeling world. I wouldn’t say you need to be all caught up to read this either – whether you’ve read all fifteen books out so far, or just one, Wild Embrace has all the PNR goodness that Nalini Singh is so good at delivering.

Reading Order: Psy-Changeling series

#1 ~ Slave to Sensation: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Visions of Heat: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Caressed by Ice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Mine to Possess: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hostage to Pleasure: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Branded by Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Blaze of Memory: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Bonds of Justice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Play of Passion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#10 ~ Kiss of Snow: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Collection #1 ~ Wild Invitation: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#11 ~ Tangle of Need: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#12 ~ Heart of Obsidian: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#13 ~ Shield of Winter: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#14 ~ Shards of Hope: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#15 ~ Allegiance of Honor: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Collection #2 ~ Wild Embrace: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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