Aurelius by Jessika Klide

This is quite literally the climax that fans of Aurei and Siri have been waiting for!

What’s it About?

It’s my turn. I’m ready. I want the “Golden God.” I choose Aurelius Moore. F*ck, that’s a sexy name. I’m going to turn my Wild Thang loose on him because I know he can handle her. When Aurei returns home from his military obligation at the same time Siri has been dropped off by the taxi, she turns up the heat determined to let their chemistry take them on a thunderous ride. I’m going to scorch him, brand him, and make him mine!

First Impressions

Alright, so full disclosure right off the top. This post is going to be more of an observation rather than a review for one very important reason. This is the fifth book in the “A Scorching Stripper’s Love Story” series, and I haven’t read any of the previous books which came before this one. As such, it definitely feels like I’m a bit late to the game! You can tell this story picks up immediately from where the last book left off. Like, it literally feels as though this is just the next chapter in the story rather than a firm beginning to a new novel. It was a unique feature to be sure, as it almost give the sense of this series being a continuous periodical that flows from one book to the next.

Now, as a fresh newcomer to this series, I can’t say it was my favorite mechanism ever, as it didn’t really give me a chance to fully get to know our characters, or really understand the backstory and dynamic of their relationship which was presented in the earlier books. I kept wishing throughout the book that I could have been privy to a few more recaps of what came before. At the same time though, I can completely understand that if I had read this series from the beginning, too many recaps would definitely interrupt the flow of the series. It’s a uniquely outside of the box approach to storytelling, but if this book has showed me anything, it’s that this series doesn’t attempt to be conventional or predictable in any way!

Untold Secrets

From what I can tell, these two have been desiring each other for quite a few books now, but they have yet to act upon these desires. Until now of course. Wink wink. Readers finally get to see the climactic moment when Aurelius and Siri come together to, well…climax 🙂 Honestly, I’m shocked that with the amount of sexual vibes these two are emitting they haven’t consummated before this moment, and it makes me wonder what in the world they could have been doing for the last 4 books! It seems as though Aurei and Siri don’t want to rush into a sexual relationship, and even in this book we see how things are delayed a bit at the start.

As it turns out, in spite of Siri being an unbelievably sensual woman, she is still a virgin. When she finally decides that Aurei is the man she wants in her bed, he is mighty surprised to discover that she hasn’t been with another man before him. This prompts him to want to reveal every “dark secret” he has, so that she is fully aware of who it is that she’s giving such a precious gift to. And apparently, the dude’s got a lot of secrets. Rather than get into the nitty gritty details of everything though, Siri insists that she wants Aurei no matter what. There is nothing he could tell her that would make her want to change her mind, so they proceed with their sexual activities without really revealing any of the secrets of their pasts. If other romance novels have taught me anything, this is just a recipe for eventual disaster and catastrophe. I kept waiting for some kind of big momentous secret reveal later on in the novel which would test this budding relationship. Surprisingly, it never comes, but we’ll just have to wait and see if this holds true for future novels too.

We do get one brief glimpse of this dark side which Aurei is alluding to the morning after he and Siri explore each other’s bodies in every possible way. While he’s taking a shower, Siri quietly sneaks in with him for a morning quickie, but in the process she gets more than she bargained for. It’s in this moment that, I at least, discover Aurei suffers from PTSD due to previous tours of duty. He mistakenly lashes out at Siri, but she is quick to calm him back to reality. Now, it’s going to sound weird, but I wanted more of these moments! To see an emotional connection between Siri and Aurei that went beyond just their obvious physical chemistry. For all I know, it’s possible this was already discussed in a previous novel, or there might be plans to delve deeper in a future book. However, just based on what I was presented with here I wanted more of these scenes where Aurei and Siri share personal details about themselves. I wanted to see that darker side to Aurelius that he hints is lying beneath the facade of the beautiful Golden God.

Suggestive Entertainment

I might be a bit late to this series, but one thing is for damned sure. Siri is one sensual woman. She performs suggestive dance, and as Aurei describes it she is involved in “erotically charged entertainment”. While we don’t get as many recaps as I would have liked regarding Siri and Aurei’s relationship up until this point, we do get a few brief snippets as to the events which went down at a “Cock and Tail” swingers party which Siri attended in the last book. And holy shit does it sound like it was one hell of a party. We’ve got mention of pole dancing, a riding crop, masturbation, oral sex, and a rather erotic version of Russian roulette. Based on this brief overview I kind of get the feeling it might be too erotically charged for my tastes, but at the same time it sounds like Siri is all about helping people delight in sex, orgasms and pleasure. She’s not necessarily an active participant, but rather a guide for others to find a pleasure they may not have even realized they were seeking.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: A Scorching Stripper’s Love Story, book 5. This novel sort of ends how it begins. There really is no firm beginning or end, but rather it feels like a continuous story. You get the sense that the next book will pick up immediately from where this one left off.

Should you read it? I definitely wouldn’t recommend doing what I did, and use this book as the starting off point for the series. I felt like I missed out on a lot, and at times it was kind of difficult to follow the dynamic of Aurei and Siri’s relationship. That being said, if you’ve been a reader of this series from the beginning I imagine that this book would be the ultimate culmination to everything you’ve wanted from the very start. After so much build up, and witty suggestive banter back and forth the two have finally decided to give in to their sexual desires. And they hold NOTHING back.

Smut Level: Oh boy. Aurei and Siri perform all kinds of sexual acrobatics. At one point he has her pinned up against a wall with her legs thrown over his shoulders. Seriously, I get a cramp just picturing this scenario!

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Amazon Digital Services, LLC. 290 Pages.

Sizzle by Gina Watson

Hot tamales and Tabasco sauce, this book is steamy and totally awesome!

What’s it About?

A Louisiana fireman, Clay St. Martin liked his hoses bound tight and his women bound tighter. He’d not had a traditional relationship in years and was positive he’d found the answer to all his needs and desires: The Hoodoo Pot-Baton Rouge’s elite members only sex and bondage club. Eve Ivey had escaped the clutches of her evil ex, but still she constantly looked over her shoulder. That is, until she met Clay. At six feet five, he was a king among men. She’d certainly like to be his queen. He’d rescued her from a hurricane’s lashing winds and rising water, but his first mistake was in bringing her home. Yet she’d had nowhere to go. A bigger mistake would have been not going back for her. And now neither of them wanted her to leave. The only thing to do was let the storm rage outside while they focused on the personal storm raging between their bodies. A storm that was advancing on their hearts.

First Impressions

Clay is a member of the local sex club, and likes to tie people up. I’ll admit, this immediately put me on edge, as I’m not a huge fan of the whole dom-sub romance story line. However! I’m happy to report that this is in no way your typical d/s book. Sure, he’s a dirty talker and slaps her behind a couple times, but he definitely tones down his sexual urges when it comes to his relationship with Eve. Hell, at the end of the book he even gives up his club membership. Such a gentleman! For those of you like me who aren’t huge fans of BDSM, rest assured when I tell you that you can definitely handle this one.

I’m Burning Up Over Here!

In case I didn’t mention it earlier, in addition to being a member of a sex club, Clay just also happens to be a fireman. Hell yeah! He also rescues Eve in the midst of a hurricane. Double hell yeah! After rescuing her, Eve has no place to go, so she has to wait out the rest of the storm in Clay’s house. Mkay, I’m seriously considering moving to a high flood area for crying out loud!! Let’s face it, worse things could happen than being trapped in a house with a sexy fireman who also happens to be good at tying knots. How will they ever pass the time I wonder? Tee hee, giggle giggle.

Running From the Past

In addition to all the fabulousness of the setting, as well as Clay’s general fireman presence, we also have a really interesting back story happening here. Eve has wound up in this Louisiana town because she’s running from an abusive ex. There are some moments in the book where she cowers from Clay as she mistakenly expects him to mistreat her just like her ex. I must say these scenes were fascinating to read, as we see the dominant Clay treat her with nothing but care. Ahhhhh, I think I just swooned.

Series: St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders, book 1. I’ll be reading book 2 right about…now.

Should you read it? Um, did I stutter? Fireman here people. Fireman! The dynamic between Clay and Eve was mesmerizing, as we see the two learn to trust and open up to each other. I also loved that Clay was willing to adjust his sexual lifestyle to Eve’s needs. Such an unselfish hunk of man love. My only complaint was the ending was rather anti-climactic in regards to Eve’s past, but I think this will play out more in the second book.

Smut Level: Clay’s BDSM tool of choice is rope, as he ties knots all over Eve’s body at some…conveniently placed pressure points.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $10.99 Paperback. Self-Published. 220 Pages.

Sarah: Malcolm’s Prize by Sasha Holden

Well. That was…different.

What’s it About? 

So you are beautiful and sexy, yet lonely. You just want love, affection. But when you can’t reach between the bedroom walls into the bed of your best friends husband, with whom you live, it becomes more than love and affection you lust after. What do you do when the thirst you crave can’t be quenched? Set on the beautiful Australian Coastline, maybe, just maybe, all your dreams will come true.

This stylishly written romantic tale of three lives intertwined escalates over time into one of not just passion, lust and desire. Out of nowhere the unexpected arrives to release unparalleled scenes of erotica that sweep you away on a wave of ecstasy. Confused as you are, vulnerable and uncertain as you may be, you know deep down in places only you have visited, that he has been looking. There’s only one problem. While he’s been noticing, your best friend has been protecting. She’s not about to give up everything she’s worked hard for. And why should she. She has him, you just want him. Or should I say, need him. Three’s a crowd. Or is it?

First Impressions

This was a rather jarring read in 2 respects. Firstly, the writing style. It’s a short story presented entirely in poetry-style layout. Definitely a unique approach, but one that I ultimately found to be a hindrance. It sort of made the whole thing seem like one, giant, run-on sentence. There weren’t really any periods or commas throughout. It’s difficult to know where one thought ends and another begins, and sometimes this thought process would change mid-line. Hard to keep track of what’s what.

Secondly: the sex. Holy snickerdoodle! I obviously read a lot of books which feature a lot of sex, but this story took things to a whole new level of sexual that it almost felt like porn. There’s some girl on girl action, a heavy focus on butt sex and it’s preparation, as well as an extremely descriptive sex scene between Sarah’s parents. Sure, old people sex is a good way to stay active, and possibly break a hip, but it was almost like Fifty Shades with your parents. Once you picture that you can’t really un-see it.

A Bit of a Bother

The main thing that bothered me about this tale was the lack of a real story, or for the main characters to have a thought which didn’t revolve around sex. Sarah has been pining for Malcolm, he has been pining for her (he’s married!), but it seems like their entire connection was just sexual. She continuously refers to him throughout the book as her “Mr. Right”, but in my opinion he wasn’t so much a “Mr. Right”, as more of a live-action dildo.

Then you have Jess, who I couldn’t help but feel a tad sorry for. She’s Malcolm’s wife, as well as Sarah’s close friend, and she knows how much these two want to be with each other. She and Sarah also get it on at one point, but whereas it seems like Jess may have actually had some feelings for her friend, it was almost like Sarah just saw it as a way to get one step closer to Malcolm. As though bedding his wife was the right of passage to his penis. And then the whole thing concludes with a three-way! So…yeah.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: As a matter of fact, it is. Sarah’s Story, Book 1.

Should you read it? It’s extremely short, so you’ll probably finish it in one sitting. That being said, I personally couldn’t really get over the bizarre writing style, or lack of real connection between the characters. All three of them.

Smut Level: I probably should have paid more attention to the author’s note at the end of the synopsis: this series contains strong language and scorching sex scenes including masturbation, mutual masturbation, oral, anal, lesbian, threesome, slight BDSM and straight sex. That’s…quite a warning.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Amazon Digital Services. 136 Pages.

Jewell by Tina DeSalvo

Jewell is a bit down on her luck. She’s about to go on trial for theft, her business isn’t going so well, and her grandmother Mimi is losing her memory. She also has a hot piece of southern male who insists on following her around wherever she goes. Woe is me.

What’s it About? 

Once invited into New Orleans’ historic mansions to evaluate prized antiques, Dr. Jewell Duet held a coveted professorship at a top university. With her deep knowledge of Louisiana history and antiquities, she was the go-to person for anyone requiring professional appraisals. But, one hasty decision cost her both her reputation and possibly her freedom. Now, as she waits to discover if her future includes prison, Jewell knows that taking the job at Sugar Mill is necessary if she is to support her beloved grandmother who has advanced dementia.

Charming, sexy lawyer Beau Bienvenu’s attraction to the intriguing historian vies with his distrust of her motives. Beau has one simple goal when it comes to the family that rescued him and made him part of their clan…protect them at all costs. He doesn’t trust Jewell, nor her reason for taking the lowly job at Sugar Mill Plantation. What is she really up to? Is it possible Jewell and her quirky grandmother are there to try to profit from a Bienvenu family mystery? If so, both women are out of luck. Jewell and Beau are at odds about almost everything. The only things they agree on are that family is everything…and that their mutual attraction is inconvenient.

First Impressions

When Jewell arrives at the Sugar Mill plantation, Beau is immediately suspicious of her intentions. After a bit of digging he discovers she stands accused of stealing personal items from another estate, and he vows to stand guard over her as she works at Sugar Mill. Nobody is gonna scam his family! At first, I’ll admit I wanted to call him a jackass for insisting that she’s guilty before ever standing trial, or hearing her side of the story, but on the other hand you can definitely see where he’s coming from. The evidence against her is pretty convincing, and Jewell doesn’t help matters all that much when she doesn’t deny that she did in fact take something from the other estate.

A Family Affair

The novel begins with a focus on Jewell and her eccentric grandmother Mimi, as well as a few hints to the legal woes that Jewell is experiencing. However, once she arrives at Sugar Mill we switch gears completely to focus on Beau’s family history, and how Mimi might be connected to an unanswered mystery surrounding the plantation. This family history comes to dominate the story line, and unfortunately I thought it was kind of hard to follow. There were so many family members involved, both past and present, that keeping them all straight without a family tree was rather difficult.

Courtroom Drama

After focusing on Beau’s family history for the majority of the novel, and the budding romance between him and Jewell, it isn’t until the last 10% of the novel that we finally come back to Jewell’s legal troubles. Everything builds to one final courtroom drama which, although suspenseful, sort of seemed like an afterthought after being absent for so much of the novel. I wish they had talked about her trial more throughout the book, so that it didn’t fall by the wayside. In addition, although the characters don’t know who was responsible for the theft Jewell stands accused of, I thought it was pretty obvious from the get go who was responsible. I must watch too much TV.

Series: A Second Chance Novel, book 2. I never read book 1, but that wasn’t a problem.

Should you read it? I do think there could have been a better balance between the two story-lines going on, but overall the combination between the mystery of Beau’s family history and Jewell’s accused theft definitely holds your interest.

Smut Level: You will need some patience to wait for these two to finally get around to the good stuff, but they eventually go at it rough and steamy in the front seat of his truck. Oh my!

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Self-Published. 347 Pages.

Side Note: Beau is described multiple times as a handsome southern boy with a sexy Cajun accent. I’m sure we’re supposed to picture something like one of these guys:

 But all I could ever picture was Swamp People like this:

What Turns you On?

Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to divulge your deepest and darkest desires for all of the blog world to see. I’m not that much of a sicko! No, no, I’m talking about the descriptors, covers or themes you might encounter in different romance novels that make your toes curl, and have you fanning yourself because they take things to a whole new level of hotness. You might not be able to explain why you like it so much, but for some reason it just does it for ya. Let’s look at a few of mine, shall we?

References to Food

There is something about an author describing a man’s features in terms of food that I just can’t help but love. Prime example: a man with olive skin. I feel like you see this reference all the time! It’s a classic, and I love it. Recently, I’ve come across a few other food metaphors that help to make a leading man seem utterly divine. One book I just read said the man had a voice like dark chocolate fudge.

Oh…my…God. Now, I’ve personally never been a huge fan of fudge, but when it’s used to describe a man’s voice? Mother may I?! You’ll also see that a lot of authors describe a man’s eye color in terms of food, which is just deliciously delectable. Chocolate brown. Eyes like melted caramel. I always thought I liked a man with blue eyes, but damn! I’ll take some smooth caramel eye color any day of the week. Although, maybe I just need a Milky Way bar.

Man Back and Neck Breathing

If that title doesn’t catch your attention, I don’t know what will. I usually try my damnedest not to judge a book by its cover, but I’d say I fail at that goal about 9 times out of 10. A lot of romance novel covers like to feature a man with six-pack abs, but I find I’m more drawn to those that have a man’s back as the focus. Why do I like it so much? Hell if I know! But simply look at the covers below, and tell me they don’t do something for you. Add in the detail of a woman digging her fingernails into said back, and you just know this book will drip with sensuality. Then you’ve got the covers that have a man and woman clutching each other in a gripping embrace, and the man seems to be breathing heavily on the woman’s neck. Yup, that’ll do.

Friend Theme

If a book revolves around two friends who decide to take things to the next level, I will read it. There is often an intense amount of repressed sexual tension just waiting to burst forth, so they usually make for pretty sensual reads. The fact that these lead characters were friends first means that they have a deeper emotional connection rather than a physical one based solely on sex. Add in that initial sense of the friend being “off-limits”, and you’ve got an element of the forbidden mixed in with an undeniable urge to be more than friends. Yes, and yes!

Well there ya have it. Those are a few romance novel features that seem to get my blood pumping every single time. I’m sure you all have some of your own, so feel free to share them in the comment section. Also, be sure to check back in next Thursday, when I discuss “What turns you off?”

Until July by Aurora Rose Reynolds

We’ve got a leather-wearing biker bad boy who used to be in the military. Can you really get more alpha than that?

What’s it About? 

Wes Silver wasn’t looking for love, but when July Mayson literally knocks him on his ass during their first encounter, his world is turned upside down by the quirky blonde, and every moment with her makes him more determined to protect her. July Mayson doesn’t understand the pull she feels toward the bad boy biker Wes Silver, but she knows being with him is like nothing she’s ever felt before. Now all she has to do is tell her overprotective father, Asher Mayson, that she’s found her boom.

First Impressions

July first meets Wes whilst riding on her motorbike. She then proceeds to call him a jack ass before using her taser on him. Ah, isn’t that how all the great love stories begin?

This series is a spinoff of the Until series by the same author, but instead follows the children of the characters from the first books. I was so unbelievably excited for this book to come out, and it wasn’t half bad. I will say there are a LOT of characters in this book, considering that the original Mayson clan procreated like crazy. This made it a little confusing to designate who was who, and I really think that a family tree in these kinds of series would be extremely helpful. That being said, it was a lot of fun to see the characters from the original series again, not to mention that you can see how the story lines are being built between all of the characters for future books.

The Alpha Male

The Until series was packed full of alpha males, and it looks like that theme is continuing into this series as well. However, Wes was almost too controlling at times. Basically, whenever July would try to speak her mind about how their relationship was moving too fast he would call her a pain in the ass. Listen here duck monkey, being an alpha is fine in the bedroom and all, but don’t be a controlling dick when you’re outside of it. Speaking of the bedroom, Wes may not have written the book on dirty-talk, but he was definitely a co-author. He’s got a naughty mouth, and my goodness does she like it.

A Little Fact Checking

There was some intrigue in this novel surrounding a biker bar, and Wes tries his damnedest to keep July in the dark about it. However, in doing so we too are left in the dark, so I felt like that story line wasn’t really explained completely. All we really know is that there are some bad people doing bad things, and Wes and his biker bros are helping out. Maybe a chapter where we follow his character into this hellish biker bar to find out what’s what would have been helpful. There were also a few grammar issues. I get it people! The difference between your and you’re is confusing. And then when you throw there and their into the mix, well it’s just like somebody created words with 2 different meanings!

As for my last point, I’m kind of embarrassed that I know this, but it just demonstrates that a little fact checking can go a long way. Towards the end of the book, July and her friend pretend they are going to the premier of Fifty Shades of Grey, when in reality they want to do some sleuthing to follow Wes and his bros. Considering that all men are under the impression that their penis will shrivel up and die should they see that movie, he lets them go, and they are able to sneak away from the theater because their designated bodyguard refused to see the movie with them. However! I sadly recall that Fifty Shades of Grey premiered on Valentine’s Day, and I am 100% positive there is no way in hell that Wes would’ve allowed July to spend that day separated from him, so I know they didn’t actually go to see this during the premier in February! Again, it’s not like the plot fell apart because of this error, but fact checking is important.

Series: Until Her, book 1

Should you read it? You really need to love your alpha males if you’re gonna read this one. I’ll admit that I love a good alpha, but even I wanted to slap Wes at times for being too damn controlling.

Smut Level: They do all manner of dirty things, including a spanking session in her veterinary office. It kind of makes ya think what really happens behind closed doors at those places.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Self-Published. 238 Pages.

Double Dare by R.L. Mathewson

Goodness gracious golly monkeys how I love this series. For all of you out there who are contemplating giving the romance genre a try, I would recommend starting with the Neighbor From Hell series. Each one is funny, sexy, and has a male lead that I want to lock myself away with in a bedroom for at least 2 days.

What’s it About? 

Marybeth still couldn’t believe that she’d survived this long with a friend like Darrin, but somehow she’d managed to beat the odds and not give in to temptation and smother him with a pillow while he slept. Of course some days were more difficult than others…For twenty years he’s been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his move and now that it was here…He couldn’t seem to stop screwing up.

First Impressions

For a Neighbor From Hell book, this one definitely breaks the mold when compared to the other books in the series. Firstly, although it definitely has its funny moments which will make you laugh out loud, it’s probably the novel which has dealt with the most serious subject matter so far. Marybeth is unable to have children, and rather than have Darrin look at her as less of a woman, she tells him that she simply doesn’t want children.

Another big difference was in the progression of their relationship, in that they didn’t really have that initial phase of annoyance and hatred which was present in every other book. Instead, they were best friends since childhood. They still certainly had their moments where they pushed each others buttons, especially when it came to double daring each other to do crazy things. I must say though, I was shocked that throughout the entire book we were never witness to a triple dog dare.

Not So Secret After All

Marybeth and Darrin have been best friends forever, but for the last 6 years they’ve been keeping their romantic relationship “secret” from their family. That being said, they haven’t done a very good job at the whole “keeping it a secret” plan considering that practically everyone has walked in on them doing the vertical mambo up against a wall. Marybeth has been hesitant to make their relationship known because deep down she feels Darrin deserves someone better; someone who can actually give him children. Poor chica.

Overall I really enjoyed the story line, and their double dares provided several scenes of hilarity. However, I was rather disappointed that we never got to see that moment when they transition from being friends to lovers. That is always my favorite part of any romance novel between friends! I was cheated out of my moment! The prologue does offer a brief glimpse of the progression from friendship to something more, but basically they were friends in one scene, and then they flash forward a few years to Darrin rubbing up on Marybeth’s behind in bed. Oh my!

Series: Neighbor From Hell, book 6. The next one comes out in 2016! Is it 2016 yet?

Should you read it? You should read the rest of the series first, mainly because each book is a hoot, but also because you meet a lot of the characters from the previous novels in this one. It was sad to read about how Marybeth thought she was less of a woman because she couldn’t have children, but you’ve gotta love how Darrin tries to prove that she’s still all woman.

Smut Level: At one point there is a bet between the two over who can hold out the longest from having sex. If he wins, they get married. If she wins, he’ll never mention marriage again. This bet may have prevented them from actually having sex for a while, but there are some hilarious scenes of teasing and a tortured denial of gratification.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Rerum Industries, Inc. 305 Pages.

Nowhere to Hide by Lindsay McKenna

The two lead characters in this novel share a love of spelunking, also known as cave diving. Deep darkness. Tight spaces. Limited flashlight use. God, it’s like a horror movie waiting to happen.

What’s it About? 

Lia Cassidy left the Army scarred physically and emotionally after a vicious attack by two fellow soldiers. She turns to helping others, working at a Delos Home School Charity in Costa Rica that aids abused women and children. But when the deadly drug lord, La Arana, attacks the school, Lia finds herself on the run for her life. The only person she can trust is the ex-SEAL sent to protect her. Cav Jordan is strong, honorable and gorgeous…and intrigued by Lia. He knows she has suffered pain in her past, and he is determined to break through her barriers and earn her trust. But as Cav slowly chips away at the walls Lia has built, ghosts from her past threaten to destroy their fragile relationship.

First Impressions

The first half of this book was really interesting and suspenseful. A local drug lord has attacked the school where Lia works, killing two of her friends in the process. Cav has been hired as a bodyguard to protect her at all times, which means the sexual tension builds between them pretty quickly. The sad thing is I’m sure this crime threat happens all the time to real charities all over the world, but they don’t have billion dollar owners who can hire private security for all their employees. So for the entire first half of the book we are watching the blossoming attraction between Lia and Cav, while also waiting for shit to hit the fan with the drug lord. Very exciting. Unfortunately, the 2nd half is a bit dull.

Isn’t it Over Yet?

Surprisingly enough, all of the drama with the drug lord ends about half-way through the book. You’d think that would mark the end of the novel seeing as the plot line has officially ended. But alas, the story sort of drags on to show Lia and Cav dating in the United States, and making their relationship work. We went from the jungles of Costa Rista with a vengeful drug lord to basically a dating show in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Talk about whiplash!

I think the most disappointing aspect of this switch from suspense to a complete lack thereof was the fact that we never got to see the final showdown with the actual drug lord! The entire book switches back and forth between Lia and Cav’s points of view, and yet when Cav goes to take out the drug lord we don’t get to follow his side of the story where the action takes place. Instead we follow Lia back in the States, and just hear that everything was taken care of with the drug lord. Such an anti-climactic climax.

Let’s Tone it Down a Bit

At times, the writing kind of got on my nerves for being overly dramatic. For example, Lia describes the experience of cave diving as being a child carried within Mother Earth’s womb. Uhhhh…I don’t really have a response to that. There was also an excessive use of exclamation points, so that every little suggestion seemed like the best idea EVER! Another confusing aspect of the writing was that information would be repeated quite often, but as though the characters were hearing it for the first time rather than the 3rd or 4th. Sort of made it seem like it was an attempt to make the book longer.

A major aspect of this story is Lia learning to get used to her many scars, which she got after being attacked and almost raped while in the military. Cav is instrumental in helping her with this, and says how he noticed her beauty, not her scars, when he first saw a picture of her. In my opinion, this was ridiculously misleading, as the photo to which he is referring had her angled in such a way where the main scar covering half her face wasn’t visible. Listen up buddy, you can help the chica move on, but don’t down and out lie about never noticing her scars.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Delos series, book 1. The prequel to this novel, Last Chance, was awesome! Action-packed and suspenseful from start to finish.

Should you read it? There were some grammar issues throughout the book that you have to look over. I mean, at one point Cav was referred to as Cal. Personally, I thought it was pretty disappointing that the suspense ended at the half-way point, and we never even got to see how it ended.

Smut Level: There is only one sex scene at the very end, but the tension builds throughout.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here– This book comes out tomorrow! $4.99 Kindle Price. Blue Turtle Publishing. 278 Pages.

Rafflecopter Giveaway: Click Here for $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway!

Still Life by D.B. Kennison

The last 10% of this novel is wicked intense, as our heroine runs for her life from a psychotic killer. The fact that I finished this book while simultaneously watching Forensic Files probably wasn’t the best combination for my nerves. The fact that I did both of these activities about 15 minutes before my scheduled bedtime was probably the dumbest decision I made this month…so far.

What’s it About? 

Randi Lassiter is twenty-nine, divorced, and remarkably content with her nonexistent social life. Mainly because she moonlights for an attorney, nabbing adulterers—like her ex—with her camera. When she stumbles across a mutilated body, it takes fast talking to convince the arrogant detective she’s not a suspect. One look at him, and she pegs him as a guy who uses his sexy smirk to separate women from their panties. When Detective Jon Bricksen is named the lead investigator of the first murder this microscopic town has seen in forty years, he questions his decision to leave the death and violence of Milwaukee behind. Randi’s cleavage—and her questionable sleuthing skills—aren’t making his job any easier. Theirs is a partnership of aggravation until her small-town network results in critical progress. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they battle a growing attraction—and a killer who’s out to make them the stars of his next piece of deadly performance art.

First Impressions

This book has everything! I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first to read this novel. I figured it’d be really suspenseful, and make me fidgety with nervousness. Which it did. But it was also surprisingly funny, sweet, and sexy as hell. Everything builds towards a suspenseful climax which will keep you on the edge of your seat. In the end, I can’t say I really understood, or cared for, the motivation of the killer, but it was definitely an interesting story. It’s also probably a good sign that I don’t understand the psychotic reasonings behind a serial killer. Sort of makes me feel good about myself.

The Perfect Blend

Randi and Jon hate each other at first meeting. He thinks she’s interfering with his murder case, and she thinks he’s a dick. And not in the detective sense. Personally, I felt this novel was the perfect blend of romance and sexual tension with a murder mystery. Never would have thought those three things would go together.

Throughout the entire novel you’re questioning who dunnit, while at the same time wanting Jon and Randi to just kiss already. Right when our couple would start to make some headway in their relationship, the story would switch gears to the discovery of another body. Definitely a risky move style-wise, but I thought it really came together nicely.

Supporting Characters

There was some additional drama thrown into the story about half-way through, when Jon’s ex shows up to help out with the case. This was the one aspect of the story which I could have done without. Let’s face it, Randi and Jon have enough drama to deal with, what with a serial killer leaving bodies all over the place. They don’t really need his ex showing up to rock the boat.

Randi’s friend and co-worker was a wonderfully eccentric character who had me laughing out loud a few times. Not something I was suspecting in a romantic suspense, but it was a welcome surprise. Jon’s dog, Dammit, was also adorable, and a heroic character in his own right.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: The Randi Lassiter Series, book 1. Can’t wait to see what comes next!

Should you read it? Some of the murder scenes are pretty graphic, but overall it was a suspenseful mystery with some romance thrown in too. It’ll probably have you suspecting just about every character at some point.

Smut Level: There’s only one sex scene, but it is delightfully sexy kitchen nooki.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $4.24 Kindle Price. Samhain Publishing Ltd. 290 Pages.

Phantom Love by Rachel Pierre

If this book demonstrates anything, it’s that seemingly innocent church ladies can be wild and crazy chicas. Not to mention, there’s a chance they may have visited a sex shop within the last 24 hours.

What’s it About? 

They called him “The Phantom.” He would appear in church, sit in the back pew and then mysteriously disappear. Each of the young women in the ministry wanted to know who he was because he was so damn handsome and mysterious. Abby thought he was out of her league. Until a dare from her teasing girlfriends forces her to introduce herself to him. And she finds him quite charming to say the least. A mystery man who disappears for days at a time, drives a Bugatti and speaks French. Not to mention the fact that he was devastatingly handsome. Abby soon becomes the envy of all the women in the church as she begins dating the mercurial stranger. He is everything she wants in a man as he helps her grow spiritually and intellectually. She has never been treated with more tenderness and respect in all her life. But there is something about him that Abby can’t put her finger on. A sad event from his past that has traumatized his spirit. Something that is holding back his growing feelings for her. Can she heal his soul and keep his love?

First Impressions

“The Phantom” is a mystery. Nobody knows his real name, or what he does for a living. Throughout the entire book I was waiting for the ball to drop; the big reveal. Who was this guy? All of the church ladies gossiped about his possible nefarious past, and I was pretty curious myself. Was he a hitman? A drug dealer? Some other kind of criminal? With so much mystery surrounding this guy I was expecting something exciting. Well…nope. Nothing special. He’s just a wealthy guy who doesn’t reveal his name when asked for it. Honestly, kind of a let down.

What’s the Plot? 

Unfortunately, there really isn’t much of one. The whole book is basically a build-up to Abby and the Phantom having sex. He wants it to be special, while she just wants to rip off his clothing as soon as possible. The rest of the novel just focuses on them dating, and dealing with nosey church gossips.

The other major aspect of this novel was Abby uncovering the Phantom’s name. Personally, I thought it was pretty ridiculous that she quickly enters into a serious, committed relationship with this guy, and she doesn’t even know his name. I mean, I could maybe understand not knowing his profession, as it adds a certain sexy measure of mystery to their relationship. Sure, there’s the whole “what’s in a name” bull crap, but if you don’t know the guy’s name how are you supposed to know what to scream out in the throes of passion? Riddle me this!

Narration

While the male voices in the audio book were a bit too deep for my taste, I must say that D. Gaunt did a damn fine job with the female voices. She was able to inject enough personality by changing up the inflections of the characters, and it added another level of humor to some of the church ladies. I’ll admit, I laughed out loud a few times while driving alone in my car. I hope other drivers didn’t notice me laughing by myself. Awkward.

*A copy of this audio book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Nada

Should you read it? Overall, the fact that the Phantom didn’t turn out to be some kind of international spy was a bit of a let down. It sort of seemed like there was an unnecessary build-up of drama surrounding his entire character.

Smut Level: Lots and lots of build-up.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here for the $2.99 Kindle version. Click Here for the $14.95 Audible version. Self-Published. 179 Pages or 3 hours and 8 minutes.