ARC Review: Opening Up by Lauren Dane

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Opening Up by Lauren Dane
Series: Ink and Chrome #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 16th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane delivers Book #1 in her Ink & Chrome erotic romance series.

The men of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop are great with their hands… and they’re not afraid to get dirty.

PJ is exactly the kind of woman Twisted Steel owner Asa Barrons doesn’t need. The last thing he wants to do is mix business with pleasure, and PJ has some of the best custom detailing he’s ever seen. But the chemistry between them won’t be denied, and soon he’s introducing her to a whole new world in the bedroom, pushing her far beyond anything she’s ever experienced. PJ finds she can’t get enough, but how far is too far before he consumes her completely?

Opening Up is the first book in Lauren Dane’s new Ink and Chrome series. I had high expectations for this one, based on what I read from the blurb – and while it’s a fairly okay, good read, the writing and plot just weren’t exceptional enough to truly grasp or hold my attention. I was intrigued in the beginning, but when things felt flat, I got bored a lot. Still, for those who like erotic romances (and this one is HOT) with a gruff, domineering alpha-male, then you might like this more than I did.

This book was off to a promising start – Penelope Jean “PJ” Colman, daughter of the richest man in town, is a sexy, badass, confident woman who wants to be able to contribute more to her father’s company. She’s fantastic with cars, custom painting in particular, and she catches the eye of Twisted Steel co-owner Asa Barrons. Asa is alpha-male to the max – he takes no shit from anyone and exudes a sexuality that PJ can’t resist. But he happens to be thirty-seven to her twenty-five, which Asa feels is too young for him, despite the desire she sparks in him. Asa uses their age difference to keep her away, but his alpha-male tendencies are too strong when it comes to PJ and he claims her for his. The chemistry between Asa and PJ is seriously hot – I’ve heard Lauren Dane is an excellent erotic romance author, and I wasn’t disappointed with the chemistry in this book – and it gets even hotter when Asa’s kink comes into play.

PJ herself is dealing with issues with her family and company. The author does a great job of integrating the sexism and misogynistic attitudes PJ faces in the car industry, especially from her male relatives. PJ admirably fights for herself and her talent of custom painting to make a name for herself in the industry.

My main problem with this book is the writing. It was just too… flat. It was more a telling, not showing, and it got on my nerves the more I read. It’s not bad writing, but it’s not very good writing either. And it affected the way I perceived the novel, because for the life of me I just couldn’t connect with Asa or PJ, despite how much I admired them. I liked that PJ and Asa handled problems with maturity and communicated well with one another. Sadly, I felt like their story was just too tame, with not enough to wring emotions out of me.

That being said, it’s not a bad book. It’s more of an okay one. I really wanted to love it, but the writing was just not for me.

Reading Order: Ink and Chrome series

#1 ~ Opening Up: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Falling Under: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Coming Back: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Dec. 8, 2015)

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16Jun2015

Release Day Review + Excerpt & Giveaway: For the Win by Brenna Aubrey

Posted in 4 hearts, Giveaways, Reviews by Lacey

For the Win by Brenna Aubrey
Series: Gaming the System #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 16th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

Millionaire bad boy Jordan Fawkes has problems. Big problems.

That molten-hot intern he hooked up with at Comic-Con is now his assistant. No one can know they’re the stars of the cosplay sex tape that broke the Internet.

Business school hopeful April Weiss has drama. Big drama.

Working under the CFO of Draco Multimedia should be the opportunity of a lifetime for her, but Jordan Fawkes is the boss from Hell—a sexier-than-sin boss from Hell who holds all the cards for her future career.

And then there’s the small problem of a certain video…

This book was so much fun to read! It’s the typical boss/assistant trope, but with a fantastic twist that I loved – the boss and assistant unknowingly end up starring in a sex tape that goes viral. 😉

The blurb of this book hooked me in and I wasn’t disappointed. I may not have LOVED everything about For the Win, but it was a worthwhile read that I enjoyed a lot. It’s hot and sexy, with tons of sexual tension between the main characters, and there’s a good amount of witty banter flying between them too. I was rooting for Jordan and April from the very start.

April Weiss is in trouble – the hot hookup she recorded at Comic-Con was uploaded onto the Internet without her knowledge and has gone viral, and the company she’s interning at is in hot water because of it. They don’t know that she’s the star of it, but she’s terrified of losing her internship if they find out. Not that her internship is going so well either – she’s assisting the boss from hell: Draco Multimedia’s CFO Jordan Fawkes.

Jordan relishes making April’s life a living hell, but with a specific reason. He’s the one she recorded her sex tape with, and he had no idea their encounter was ever even recorded. He’s furious at April, but she doesn’t know she slept with him, and he intends to keep it that way. What Jordan doesn’t expect is the insane chemistry that just keeps getting hotter as they keep working together. Jordan wants April bad, and try as he might to resist, once with her just wasn’t enough.

“I can’t get that night out of my mind,” he ground out as he kissed his way all over my neck and exposed chest. “I think about it all the time.” His fist tightened again in my hair, as if with renewed frustration. “How hot it was to fuck you. All i can think about is how much I want to do it again.”

For the Win can be read as a standalone, so reading Mia and Adam’s first three books in the series isn’t necessary. We get both Jordan and April’s POVs in this novel, which I liked. Jordan was a supreme ass to April as her boss, which I didn’t like. He grew on me later on, becoming a better man, but he was certainly a jerk to her multiple times. April surprised me – she was a pushover who let people walk all over her, but she manages to grow a backbone and fight for herself. I admired how much she changed and her character grew throughout the book.

I enjoyed a lot of this book, but my only complaint is how slow the romance was between April and Jordan. I liked their characters and I liked the writing, but plot-wise, it moved a bit too slow for me. I wanted to see MORE of the romance – but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the romance at all, because I did. The tension between Jordan and April was well-written, and they’re explosive in bed. So other than the romance being slow, For the Win is still a highly entertaining read.

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

Now here’s an excerpt from For the Win! ❤

He was kissing me. My boss. The man I loathed. That smoking hot dude in the swim trunks with the surfer’s bod. He was kissing me.

My lips were bruising and swelling from the pressure he put on them as he forced my mouth open and slid his tongue inside. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to resist that all-consuming tingling feeling that was starting at the back of my throat, slithering down my spine, coiling in my center like a traitorous snake. I may have been annoyed with him, but this kiss and his hold on me aroused me in seconds.

Jordan’s arm remained locked around my rib cage, pressing me against him. The other hand traveled down my back, sliding along the silky material of my dress to fondle my ass. A low growl rose in the back of his throat and suddenly I was finding it hard to remain standing.

In my mind, I tried to summon up the memories of all those times he sent me back to the coffee shop. Considering it was almost every damn day, you wouldn’t think it would be that difficult. But his smell—that hint of spice and sage and a salty tang—filled my nose, turning my insides into warm goo.

His breath was coming fast, and that mouth—those lips, that tongue—were doing wicked things to me. All at once I was aching, from my breasts to the dull throb between my legs. Aching with desire, hot, thick and heavy.

There was a fire in my belly that only he could put out. The feel of his solid abs against my rib cage, his hot arousal against my stomach. His mouth teasing mine and never letting up. Everything in my body trembled and everything inside my brain was taking a back seat to this new feeling of pure, seething lust.

Reading Order: Gaming the System series

#1 ~ At Any Price: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ At Any Turn: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ At Any Moment: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ For the Win: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

I’m a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary romance featuring geek culture. My bestselling romance series, Gaming the System, is available in eBook and print format across all vendors.

When I’m not dreaming up people and worlds and writing them down, I’m also a mom, wife, teacher, avid reader, a proud geek-girl, a self-confessed gaming addict, a French-speaking Francophile, lover of nature and beautiful sunsets.

Website • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter

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10Jun2015

ARC Review: A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson
Series: A Pound of Flesh #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 9th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Orange Is the New Black meets Jennifer Probst’s New York Times bestselling Marriage to a Billionaire trilogy, featuring a strong-minded prison tutor who discovers that her sexy bad-boy student is far more than he appears to be.

Haunted by nightmares of her father’s street murder fifteen years ago, Kat Lane decides to face her fears and uphold his legacy of helping others by teaching inmates at a New York prison. There she meets arrogant Wesley Carter, who’s as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick-witted, and with a reputation that ensures people will keep their distance.

As teacher and student, Kat and Carter are forced to leave their animosities at the door and learn that one should never judge a book by its cover. As Carter’s barriers begin to crumble, Kat realizes there’s much more to her angry student than she thought, leaving them to face a new, perilous obstacle: their undeniable attraction to one another.

When Carter is released and Kat continues to tutor him on the outside, the obstacles mount. Can they fight the odds to make their relationship work? Will Kat’s family and friends ever accept her being with someone of his background? And will Kat’s discovery of Carter’s role on the night her father died force them apart forever…or unite them?

WOW!!! What an incredibly stunning book!

I’ll admit, the second I read the blurb for A Pound of Flesh, I wanted to read it ASAP. A teacher falling for her sexy prison student? HELL YES, sign me up!! I ended up absolutely adoring Kat and Carter’s story – I’m so glad I got to experience them and their profound love.

When Kat was young, she tragically witnessed her father’s murder, but vowed to follow through with what he wanted for her to do in life. She helps others by teaching a literature class at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility. She loves her job – it’s what she’s born to do, but a certain sexy, bad boy student tempts her in ways she’s never felt before. He’s her student, in prison, so he’s off-limits, but she can’t get him out of her head.

“You should be scared, Peaches,” he murmured. “I’ve done things that would make your pretty little head spin, and, you being this close”–he gestured with his chin between them–“well, let’s just say”–his eyes met hers–“it just makes me want to be bad all over again.”

Wesley Carter took the fall for a friend for a crime he didn’t commit and is nearing the end of his sentence in prison. He’s forced to take a literature class, where he meets the beautiful, caring Kat. He believes he’s not good enough but wants her anyway – there’s an undeniable chemistry between them that only amps up once he’s released and they have private lessons together. I absolutely LOVED the way the author was able to mesh the forbidden-ness of their relationship with how genuinely attracted Kat and Carter were to each other. The chemistry between them is a slow, sensual burn that soon ends up consuming them.

“Just one taste. Just one. That’s all I want.”
And then his lips pressed against hers.
Oh God.

Carter is so. damn. sweet. I was expecting this sexy bad boy, and while we get that (and he is HOT!), we also see such a beautiful, heartwarming side to him that he only shows Kat. He completely melted my heart every time he was sweet to Kat, his Peaches. He’s so protective of her, all the while exuding this aura of confidence and sexiness. There are just so many wonderful layers to this man, and as we get to see his vulnerable sides, it’s hard not to fall for him.

“You’re everything to me, Peaches. You always have been. Always. You’re the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.” He kissed her. “You’re my everything.”

Kat is a wonderful heroine. I may not have connected with her as much as I would have liked, but her story hooked me in from the start. She’s a gorgeous, independent woman who sees more in Carter than anyone ever has. She has a big heart, and I just really liked her character.

The thing is, while I never really connected with Kat or Carter, I truly enjoyed their story. It’s gorgeously written, and although the pacing was sometimes slow, I was able to get over that. The romance swept me away, and I loved that there was no unnecessary drama for Kat and Carter. A Pound of Flesh is simply a stunning story of them finding each other and falling deeply, passionately in love. It’s a beautifully written, emotional book, and I highly recommend it.

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

Reading Order: A Pound of Flesh series

#1 ~ A Pound of Flesh: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Love and Always: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ An Ounce of Hope: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Fate and Forever: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ A Measure of Love: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (June 21, 2016)

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10Jun2015

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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4Jun2015

Early Review: Zack by Sawyer Bennett

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Zack by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 9th 2015
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett goes for a hat trick with the latest romance in a sexy series about cool-as-ice hockey players and the women heating up their lives.

Warning: The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett.

Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under those baggy clothes.

Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.

OH MY GOD. YES. I. Loved. Zack! I’d been seriously SO excited for Zack’s book after reading what happened to him in Garrett. My heart was devastated for him… But I knew that his tragedy would make for an even better book. And yes, Zack absolutely did not disappoint! It’s currently my favorite of the Cold Fury Hockey series, which I highly recommend! It’s a fantastic series about hot, sexy hockey players who fall hard for their women… what’s not to love!?

Zack is a lot different than the two previous books in the series. It has a more serious tone to it, and at the same time, I laughed the hardest in this book. An odd combination, but Sawyer Bennett rocked it. I was a bit worried about how Zack would play out, but I should’ve trusted the author from the beginning. I absolutely adored Zack and Kate’s story – I loved the angst, the forbidden-ness, the sweet moments… it really was a fantastic book.

My insides feel dead, my capacity to care for much of anything seems lost, but there are two things that still keep me functioning. It’s the prospect of playing hockey again, and, most important, my son, Ben.

Zack Grantham is grief-stricken and devastated over the accident that led to the death of Gina, the mother of his son, Ben. Even though he never married Gina, he still loved her, and his heart is still in mourning over her. But life moves on, and when Zack is finally able to get back into hockey, he needs to hire a nanny to take care of Ben when he’s away.

Enter Kate Francis. A dorky, nerdy, hilarious twenty-three year old woman working her way through college. Kate is seriously the most endearing, adorkable heroine ever. I honestly love Kate more than Zack, because she’s just so funny, heartwarming, and incredible. I love Zack too, but he got frustrating sometimes… But Kate is pure heart and gold. I adored the way she took care of Ben and grew to actually love him. She’s so great with him, and she’s fantastic with dealing with a grieving Zack. She’s the only person to have been able to make him smile and laugh since Gina died.

Zack may not have thought much about Kate when she first starts working, but one glimpse of Kate in her short, revealing pajamas and Zack is hooked. The tension between Kate and Zack is out of this world… this book is hot, hot, hot!!! I was fanning myself like crazy once they start a sex-only relationship. Some scenes, like the one in Zack’s man cave… hot. damn. Of course, Zack doesn’t want feelings involved between them because he thinks he’s no longer capable of love after Gina. Which I get, but Zack is stubbornly oblivious to his own growing feelings for Kate.

There’s a part of me that wants to show her everything.
To show here all about exploration and intimacy and all of the different ways I could make her come. I want to learn her body and have her get to know mine. I want her wild with abandon, and every time I take her I want it to be in a way that completely possesses her.

Zack was frustrating in this book, with his refusal to accept his loving Kate, yes, but it was the kind of frustrating that I could understand. Sawyer Bennett did an excellent job in writing and explaining Zack’s character – we can appreciate how he loved Gina, but we can firmly see that Zack grows to be IN LOVE with Kate. His love for the mother of his son doesn’t at all diminish his love for Kate.

“You were what has been missing all my life.”

What was so unexpected about this book was how funny it was. I was expecting the angst, what with the guilt and forbidden aspect to Kate and Zack’s relationship, but I had no idea I would be cracking up so much throughout this book! Kate is so, SO funny. She says the most hilarious, crazy, adorkable things… she’s a complete dork! And Ben was absolutely adorable too – Ben and Zack together totally melted my heart.

If you’re a fan of the series, Zack is a must read! It wrung so many feelings out of me, but by the end I was smiling like a goofball. It was the perfect combination of sexy, angsty, and emotional. Aside from Zack’s frustrations, this book was nearly perfect!

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

Reading Order: Cold Fury Hockey series

#1 ~ Alex: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Garrett: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Zack: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Ryker: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hawke: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Max: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

Check out a special guest post with Sawyer Bennett, in which she interviews the Cold Fury players!

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