Settle Down Now by Leenna Naidoo

I have never been a huge fan of reality TV. Mainly because there is no sense of reality in any of it. However, the dating show presented in this book takes things to a whole new level of “say what now?!”

What’s it About? 

Billionaire Charmaine Donnet’s search for Mr Right has gone public in the most humiliating way. Her dating coach, and trusted friend Joss, has decided to turn introvert Charmaine’s quest into a hit reality TV show. Charmaine finds herself interviewing potential Mr Rights live on air, and being wooed on the Indian Ocean while on board the beautiful yacht, The Sunflower. But it’s not all plain sailing. There’s Captain Robert Hart, the one man who truly hates Charmaine and whom, she suspects, would do anything to hurt her again. There’s Joss who’s behaving more like an enemy; and there’s the six potential Mr Rights–some of whom will do anything to win. Events take a dark turn when one of the potential Mr Rights goes missing at sea. Will Charmaine survive this desperate Hart’s cruise?

First Impressions

Charmaine might have all the money in the world, but she still wants a man to share it with. So, she hires a life/dating coach to help her out in that area. Although we find out how she made all of her money, we never really find out what drove Charmaine to hire Joss in the first place. Considering this is the underlying drive of the plot of the novel, I wanted a little more back story on why Charmaine felt she couldn’t find a man on her own. To say that things quickly get out of hand once Joss gets a hand on Charmaine’s love life is a bit of an understatement. Here’s why.

Manipulation

To put it bluntly, Joss is a manipulative bitch who is only looking out for her own interests. The fact that Charmaine never realized this is quite bothersome, and seriously made me question her intelligence level. Or lack thereof. Charmaine repeatedly tells Joss that she’s not interested in doing a dating show, and isn’t interested in any of the guys that Joss tries to set her up with. For some inexplicable reason, she continues to put up with her. I honestly wanted to slap some sense into both of these chicas within the first 50 pages or so. How Charmaine was able to reign in her hostility towards Joss for so long was a huge mystery.

Speaking of Mystery

So Charmaine gets sucked into starring in what just might be the most ridiculous dating show I’ve ever heard of. I don’t know what kind of people would’ve found the shenanigans presented in this show to be entertaining, but it gets so out of hand it makes The Bachelorette seem Emmy worthy.

There is definitely some mystery towards the end of the book as sabotage occurs on the love boat dating show. But when one of Charmaine’s suitors goes missing during a storm, and they determine he perished at sea, yet they still continue to air the show? I’m sorry, but come on! Even considering how ridiculous reality TV is, there is no chance this would ever happen in real life! That show would be cancelled faster than you can say falafel.

Speaking of Missing at Sea

It turns out that Charmaine and the captain of the love ship, Rob, have some history. When Rob first heard about this dating show premise, he thought the billionaire lady looked familiar. Turns out they were work rivals 10 years ago, dated for a while, and he had actually considered marrying her. The fact that he almost proposed to her years beforehand, yet had a tough time recognizing her earned some major eye roll.

The two definitely have some unresolved tension and animosity, and they slowly start to resolve some of that at sea. However, when all was said and done I really wasn’t convinced that the two were in love. They sort of warmed up to each other, but they still argued about their past, which had a lot of missing holes story-wise. I personally felt that sense of chemistry and true love was missing from the plot.

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

Series: Nope

Should you read it? There were too many unrealistic aspects for my taste. That being said, if you love reality TV, this might be right up your alley.

Smut Level: Our couple shares just one chaste kiss.

His New Submissive Boxed Set by Elanna Reese

Nope, nope, nope! Sorry, but I just can’t get into this kind of BDSM. Sure, I might be able to wrap my head around the whole d/s relationship in the bedroom, but once you take it outside into the real world it’s a whole different issue.

What’s it About? 

Jack finally accepts that finding a submissive who will meet his needs isn’t likely to happen. Until he meets Nekane. It starts normally enough with building sand castles and drinks in a bar, but ends with Jack bringing Nekane to the edge of the chasm that holds her darkest fears. Can Jack keep her safely tethered as she follows along the dangerous path of their desires? Can he meet her depraved needs while she is suffering for his pleasure?

First Impressions

Depraved needs and suffering for pleasure just aren’t topics I want to read about after a long and tiring day. I’m not saying I need ponies and wildflowers either, but my goodness, a relationship with a little respect would be nice. The relationship represented between Jack and Nekane seemed so demeaning I simply couldn’t sympathize with it. He shared her with others, she talks about feeling used, humiliated, fearful, and she’d cry during some of their scenes which would only urge him on even more. Nekane obviously has some issues from her past, which aren’t revealed to us in any of the 6 novellas comprising this boxed set. At one point she even questions Jack why she lets people she loves humiliate her. Yikes! Rather than take advantage of her obviously fragile mental state, maybe he should have put her in touch with a really good therapist.

Master or Dickwad? 

So, they have an unconventional relationship to say the least. But then when they introduce the whole Master/slave terminology I really had trouble finishing the boxed set. I couldn’t help but think of it as a really demented version of I Dream of Jeannie. Yes Master, no Master. Then when he presents her with his collar to wear, as well as a leash, their relationship transforms from master/slave to owner/dog.

He’s a dominant, she’s a submissive. Not too shocking. But they take this d/s interaction to a whole new level of degradation. He talks about how once she fully submits to him as his slave he will take away her decision-making power, to the point where she can’t drink, go to the bathroom, or even move without his say so. How is this sexy?!? Why doesn’t he just get himself a blow-up doll that he can literally manipulate at his pleasure, without having to worry about it providing any real human emotion? I have a feeling even cavemen treated their women with more respect than this guy.

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

Series: His New Submissive, books 1-6.

Should you read it? There are a crap ton of grammar issues, plus a man on a power trip who treats his woman like a dog. I guess some people are into that kind of thing?

Smut Level: It was hard to picture some of their scenes, not that I really wanted to picture them in clear detail, but I couldn’t always tell how she was tied up. There’s one scene where she has to walk with a spreader between her legs, and I couldn’t help but think of her waddling like a penguin.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $4.99 Kindle Price. LBD Books. 117 Pages.

London Lovers Series is on Sale!

Attention to one and all, and all and one…that’s a little redundant, isn’t it? Anyway, I hope you all are excited for the long weekend, and that you’ll be taking some time off from your busy lives to relax, and maybe even read a book or two. If you were wondering what to read this weekend, be sure to pick up this new adult college to London contemporary romance series and get swept away over your holiday break! See below for synopses of all the books in the series, as well as links to where you can get them on Amazon and my own personal reviews. Have a great weekend everyone! No working allowed!!

Becoming Us

The dreaded friend-zone… The last place I ever want to be with college basketball God, Jake LaShae. I am losing my mind trying to figure out what this gorgeous and confident man wants from me. I need to break through his walls. What is it about me that makes him not go there? What am I lacking? When a mind-blowing betrayal knocks the wind out of me, and I think I can’t feel any lower…Brody stumbles into my path-barefoot no less, and sexy as hell. His direct and mouth-watering swagger is a breath of fresh air. The feelings this man gives me are like nothing I’ve ever experienced. But Brody has a past. A past that makes it nearly impossible for him to trust me and let us become us in whatever capacity that may be. Just when Brody and I truly connect, just when I think that finding my soul-mate in college isn’t a total joke, Jake comes back into my life…and messes things up…possibly for good.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. Only $.99!! Limited time only!

Read my Review: Click Here.

A Broken Us

The moment those words come out of the doctor’s mouth, I feel sick.
So sick.
The life I have dreamed of…obliterated.
And Brody.
God, Brody.
How will he look at me?
How can he accept me?
He’ll know what I hid from him.
He’ll know everything.
It’s over. It’s completely over. I can’t tell him “I love Us” anymore.
Even though I do.
Even though it will kill me.
I can’t tell him anything. Everything is ruined. Pummeled. Broken.
I have to leave him. I have to give up us.
I know he’ll come after me.
I just have to do something to make him not want to.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.51

Read my Review: Click Here.

London Bound

When your past and present collide, can love surpass it all? When Leslie Lincoln, a spunky, red-headed American, suffers an awkward moment with an arousingly-sexy British man—she thinks her life can’t get any more pathetic. She’s done with men. She doesn’t need them. She especially doesn’t need their muscular thighs. No siree, she’s going to forget all about the brooding, complicated, and seductive “Theo” who captivated her on the dance floor of a London nightclub. Keep telling yourself that, Lez….. Immersing herself into a new type of romantic cleanse, Leslie thinks she’ll never lay eyes on Theo again. But somehow, he’s managed to bulldoze his way back in—her cheetah-print onesie pajamas be damned. He wants more. She wants to run. But he can’t seem to let her go. Both of them have a past—and neither want to share. How can love possibly survive in darkness?

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. Only $2.99! Limited time only

Read my Review: Click Here.