Reviews Published Professional Reader Challenge Participant 80% 2016 NetGalley Challenge 50 Book Reviews

Sunday, December 18, 2016

The Darker Side of Cane by Lacey Alpha

My Rating: 4 Stars
Series: Yes.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: Which is your deeper darkest desire.

Synopsis
What's your darkest desire? 

Rough and ready Jonah Cane specialises in fulfilling women's sexual fantasies but how will he act when a virgin walks through his door? 

When intern Evelyn Ash is assigned to write an article for Missy Magazine, she has no idea what's in store for her. Tasked with accepting three dates a week from an online dating site, Evelyn is approached by a mysterious, faceless profile. For the sake of her article, she accepts a date upon which she is whisked away to a country mansion where a masked man awaits her... 

As a steamy, sexual fantasy-driven affair unfolds, Evelyn begins to fall for the unpredictable and alluring Jonah Cane. But how will she act when she discovers Jonah's darkest fantasy? And does she love him enough to go through with it? 


The Darker Side of Cane is Fifty Shades meets James Bond! 


Treat yourself to this toe-curling romance and step into the dark sexual fantasies of alpha male, Jonah Cane... 


My Review

I got this book by the author for an honest review and it was a sexy and entertaining read!

The whole dating strangers for your job was hilarious and Evelyn inexperience just made it better. 
I couldn't help relating to her dating mishaps specially with the "dude" frat boy episode.

Who hasn't have an awful date with some guy who ended up being an idiot or had that butterflies in the stomach feeling while having a conversation with a guy, that even though you just met, it felt like you've known him forever.

And then she meets Cane, he is mysterious, sexy and intense and she can't stop wanting him. Since the moment they met he has been stalking her in a way that people may find creepy but when he is doing it, its just so good! 

The way in which he starts changing without realizing its happening is incredible, Evelyn keeps trying to run from him and he is there at every turn ready to fight for her.

I always fall for those guys who are so clueless and think they have everything under control, until they open their eyes and realize they are deep in love, and there's just one solution, being with the woman they love forever.

The sex scenes are intense and enticing I couldn't get enough of their angry sex scenes, just perfection!

We get a little bit of of exciting scenes at the end! Be prepare to follow them through this journey, I can't wait to read the rest!


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Dare Me (Dare Me #1) by Rebecca Shea

My Rating: 4 Stars
Series: Yes, Dare Me #1.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: It all started with a dare.


Synopsis

Five coworkers.
Four drinks.
Three glances.
Two fleeting smiles.
One dare.


A dare that will change my life.



That’s all it takes to send me plummeting into the arms of the mysterious Holt Hamilton. Behind his crystal blue eyes is a secret, one that screams danger but calls to me anyway.



My name is Saige Phillips.



I never walk away from a dare.





My Review


I got this book on Netgalley for an honest review and I loved the characters so much!

Saige is a sweet woman who has been through a lot and she is starting to get her life in track and following her dreams. 

Holt is the dark and sexy boss and he is everything a woman would want. 

They are perfect for each other, but Saige is not ready for anything serious because she is scared. She has a deep fear of opening herself up for someone and then having that person leaving, like her dad left her all those years ago.

Holt knows what he wants, and he is prepared to fight for her and convince her that he is not leaving. But he has a deep dark secret that could ruin everything.

When faced with a challenge what will Saige do? will she trust him enough to stay or will she leave and hide from her feelings.

Sometimes its hard to forgive the people you love, because the moment they hurt you you realize how much they affect you, and you find yourself getting scared of a potential worst hurting in the future. 

But in life you have to take risks and sometimes, the bigger the risk, the greater the reward. 
This book teaches us to put your heart in the line, because sometimes it's really worth it!








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Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Someone like You (Oxford #3) by Lauren Layne

My Rating: 5 Stars
Series: Yes, Oxford #3.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: A different kind of love story.

Synopsis
Lauren Layne’s bestselling Oxford Series continues with the poignant, heartwarming story of New York’s most eligible bachelor, Lincoln Mathis, a man who’s living a lie—until his dream woman takes away the pain.

Lincoln Mathis doesn’t hide his reputation as Manhattan’s ultimate playboy. In fact, he cultivates it. But behind every flirtatious smile, each provocative quip, there’s a secret that Lincoln’s hiding from even his closest friends—a tragedy from his past that holds his heart quietly captive. Lincoln knows what he wants: someone like Daisy Sinclair, the sassy, off-limits bridesmaid he can’t take his eyes off at his best friend’s wedding. He also knows that she’s everything he can never have.

After a devastating divorce, Daisy doesn’t need anyone to warn her off the charming best man at her sister’s wedding. One look at the breathtakingly hot Lincoln Mathis and she knows that he’s exactly the type of man she should avoid. But when Daisy stumbles upon Lincoln’s secret, she realizes there’s more to the charming playboy than meets the eye. And suddenly Daisy and Lincoln find their lives helplessly entwined in a journey that will either heal their damaged souls . . . or destroy them forever.


Book given for an honest review on Netgalley.

This is the third book in the Oxford series, now it's Lincoln time and I couldn't be happier!
I loved him since the first time I read about him, he had the player part down to a T, I really believed he was a ladies man, so he fooled me good!

Now the reality is much more painful, he has a secret that nobody could have expected, he is not this carefree guy we thought we knew. Life was unfair to him, and he is still haunted by this event and he is definitely unhappy.

Then comes Daisy, she is sweet and likeable, but she also has a secret she is keeping hidden from everyone. This secret is holding her back, and she has stopped living, staying like a recluse in her big house, not really living her life. 

Together they are a match made in heaven, they can't figure out why, and they are fighting it every step of the way, but they just make perfect sense. 

Confiding in each other is not as hard as they thought it would be and without realizing it, they start to free themselves from their big baggage.

Unfortunately, life is not fair and still has some challenges for this two beautiful and lonely guys, and they might not be strong enough to withstand what's coming their way.

It's a story about life and loss; about the true meaning of loving someone. The ugly part of the love story, when things don't go as planned and you end up alone with your heart broken and with guilt and fear as your only companion.

It's about learning to love again, even when you thought that everything was lost. Finding happiness again, changing the course of your life for a better one and learning to move on without forgetting.

A beautiful and sad love story.


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Author Info
Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian. 

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books. 

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website.






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“Lincoln, you know that I love you like a brother, but if you make a move on my sister, I will end you.”
Lincoln Mathis took a slow sip of his cocktail as he studied the fierce bride-to-be. “I hope Cassidy knows how lucky he is. You’re so delicate and gentle.”
Emma Sinclair, soon to be Emma Cassidy as of this time tomorrow, lifted one elegantly manicured fingernail and flicked his chest. “Promise, Lincoln. No hitting on Daisy.”
“I don’t hit on women.”
Emma gave him a look. 
He held up his free hand in surrender. “I don’t. They come to me. I’m like the stamen.”
Emma stared at him with wide, slightly accusatory brown eyes. “The what?”
“The stamen. The pollen-producing part of a flower, Sinclair. Don’t you watch the Discovery Channel? Animal Planet? I just saw a fascinating documentary on bees. See, when the bees land on a flower, their little feet pick up pollen from the stamen— “
“Mathis. Are you talking to my fiancée about semen?” Alex Cassidy asked, coming up beside Emma and setting a possessive hand on her waist.
“Stamen,” Lincoln clarified. “Not semen. Honestly, is sex all you people think about?”
“Yes.” This came from Riley Compton, a brunette bombshell whose status as New York’s foremost “sexpert” meant she had zero qualms about discussing sex at her best friend’s rehearsal dinner. “And you know, actually, the stamen is rather sexual. I saw that bee documentary too, because these are the sort of things you do when you’re nursing a never-satisfied baby, by the way, and the stamen is a flower’s male reproductive organ. Sexy, right?”
Emma inserted the arm not holding her champagne flute between the two of them. “Guys, it’s my wedding weekend. Can we not talk about flower boners?”
“Fair enough, Bride,” Lincoln said. “What do you want to talk about? Cassidy’s boner?” 
Alex Cassidy choked into his champagne.
“There will be no boner discussion,” Emma said. “Lincoln and I were just having a chat about how Lincoln will be maintaining his distance from my sister.” 
“Speaking of flowers, where is Daisy?” Riley asked, scanning the room.
“Running late. Knowing my sister, her dress had a slight crease from the suitcase, and she won’t make an appearance until every wrinkle’s banished, every hair’s in place, and there’s not a speck of lint anywhere.”
“Gosh, however will I keep my hands to myself?” Lincoln muttered.
“Lincoln, I swear to God—”
“He’s messing with you, Em,” Cassidy said, carefully tugging his fiancée away from Lincoln. “Don’t let him press your buttons. And Lincoln, man, what is with that drink?”
Lincoln glanced down. “It’s called a Jasmine. Gin, lemon, some Campari—”
“It’s pink,” Cassidy observed.
“Right? You want one?”
Cassidy rolled his eyes. “I’ll stick with wine, thanks. Ah shit, there’s my grandma waving us over. Emma, you up for talk about the state of your uterus?” 
Emma groaned. “Oh no. I thought she’d agreed to wait until after the wedding to talk about my eggs.” 
“I’ll go with you,” Riley said. “As the only one in our little group of friends who’s ever pushed a human skull out my—”
“Okay, I’m going to expand my taboo list,” Emma said. “No talking about boners, flowers, or vaginas.”
“Fine,” Riley said, as she entwined her arm in Emma’s and started leading her toward Cassidy’s grandma. “But if Grams starts talking about fertility, just follow my lead . . . ”
Lincoln smiled as he watched his friends walk away. He could follow, certainly, help run interference, but new mom Riley was a far better choice for this particular bridal-party duty.
Besides, as best man, Lincoln had enough to worry about. The ring, reconfirming transportation to the church tomorrow, the speech that he was going to slay tomorrow, the—
Lincoln’s best man to-do list scattered as his eyes landed on a woman standing in the doorway to the 
private event room. He did a double take. When had Emma found time to change? Generally speaking, he didn't consider himself particularly in tune with his friends' clothes. Especially the women, because, well . . .  he didn’t really give a crap. But he was pretty damn sure Emma had been wearing a white dress just ten seconds ago. 
Now she was wearing a short yellow dress, with fussy, flowy sleeves, high-necked and a bit demure—
No, not demure, Lincoln amended as she turned. Hot. The dress was backless, showing a smooth expanse of lightly tanned skin from the small of her back all the way up to long dark blond hair.
. . . Blond hair.
Emma had shoulder-length brown hair. A wardrobe swap, he might be able to buy, but the hair?
You idiot.
He was looking at none other than Daisy Sinclair, the forbidden fruit, in the flesh. 
He’d forgotten that Daisy wasn’t just Emma’s sister—she was Emma’s identical twin.
Other than the fact that she was, apparently, not to be hit on, Lincoln didn’t know much about her.
Well, he supposed  he now knew that she dyed her hair blond.
Or maybe Emma dyed hers brown?
Whatever. Girl stuff he didn’t care about one way or the other. 
And yet he didn’t look away, captivated somehow. He racked his brain for everything he’d heard about Daisy Sinclair.
He knew that she and Emma had grown up in North Carolina. But Emma left for New York City shortly after college, and Daisy had stayed. He thought he remembered talk of a recent divorce, although he didn’t recall the details.
Didn’t need to, really. Lincoln knew better than anyone that not all relationships had happy endings. 
Lincoln watched as Daisy hesitated just inside the doorway, unnoticed yet by the rest of the bridal party and out-of-town guests. 
Making people comfortable was a particular skill of his. Normally he’d be over there in a heartbeat with a glass of wine and some of his best banter until her shoulders relaxed and he’d coaxed a smile from her pretty face.
But he wasn’t entirely convinced Emma wouldn’t make good on her castration threats, so instead Lincoln merely studied Daisy. The woman was beautiful. No surprise there, since Emma was gorgeous. Yet, though their features were identical, they were attractive in entirely different ways. 
Emma was all polished confidence, stunning in an untouchable sort of way.
Daisy was softer somehow. Gentler. She seemed . . . touchable.
Lincoln’s cocktail froze on its way to his mouth as the forbidden rocked him back on his heels. Daisy Sinclair was not for him to touch for reasons that had nothing to do with Emma’s threats.
As though sensing a man’s brooding thoughts on her, Daisy turned slightly, her eyes locking on his. Eyes that he’d known would be dark brown like Emma’s, and yet eye contact with Emma had never felt like this.
Lincoln felt something akin to panic, because for a heart-stopping moment, it felt like Daisy Sinclair was seeing him. Not seeing the Lincoln he wanted everyone to see.
The real him.
He gave himself a little mental shake. Get it together, Mathis. The woman doesn’t even know you.
None of them did.
Not really.
He saw the moment of answering shock in her own gaze, sensed that for a split second, she considered turning and running. From him, from the party, all of it. 
Then he saw something else. Something familiar, because he’d done it a thousand times himself. She squared her shoulders, and he watched as a mask slid into place.
He knew even before she approached that Daisy was exactly like him—good at being around people only because she chose to be. Knew that perhaps once it had been second nature, and now it was nothing but a deliberate attempt to make sure everyone thought she was okay.
Daisy began making her way toward him, and he tensed for reasons he couldn’t identify before ordering himself to chill out.
It was just his friend’s sister. The maid of honor to his best man.
She stopped in front of him, and he caught just the faintest whiff of her perfume, a surprisingly elegant scent for someone named Daisy, before she extended her hand.
“You must be Lincoln Mathis, The Manwhore of Whom I Should Beware?”
Her voice was a surprise. It had the same low huskiness as her sister’s, but years in New York had all but erased the Southern from Emma’s whiskey-raspy voice. Daisy’s drawl was very much intact—a mint julep on a hot day.
He grinned and took her smaller hand in his. “Which would make you Daisy Sinclair, Delicate Flower to Whom I’m Not to Speak.”
She grinned. “Nailed it.” 



Shut Up and Kiss Me (Lost Boys #2) by Jessica Lemmon

My Rating: 4 Stars
Series:Yes, Lost Boys #2
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: Becoming a better version of yourself and finding your true love.

Synopsis
Cade: I tried. I really tried. I should be out of this small town by now, finishing my law degree and partnering up with my buddies, but I couldn’t resist one last street race. Now I’m sidelined in the hospital, and while my injuries will heal, I’m not so sure my voice will return. What kind of attorney can’t talk? Yeah, exactly. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to come back from this... until Tasha Montgomery reawakens every competitive bone in my body.


Tasha: I nearly watched Cade Wilson die on that lonely stretch of road. He’s damn lucky just to be alive, even if he doesn’t realize it. I know he’s destined for bigger and better things, but I don’t mind helping him get there as he relearns everything he took for granted. Cade’s a good student, a real perfectionist; I can tell how much his stutter bothers him. But when he lets his kisses do the talking, everything else disappears. And one day, maybe he’ll be able to tell me that he wants me—as much as I want him.

My Review

Book given for an honest review on Netgalley.

Second book in the Lost boys series but it can be read as a standalone.

Tasha and Cade were definitely fun to read about, their interactions were always hilarious and he couldn't help himself from looking at Tasha and and wanting to do so much more with her.

They were both damaged and tainted by their past relationships failures, but if they gave each other a chance they would be surprised by how similar and compatible they actually are.

The accident changed something inside Cade, is was like a wake up call and he realized that he didn't want anything of his old life back, his priorities changed and now he only needs to convince the girl he wants that he is the one for her.

Tasha is a really strong woman, even though she has had a privileged life, she has earned her spot in her job and her almost degree by hard work, no handouts for her.

She hated Cade, well the old Cade, the new one is actually really likeable and she is having a lot of trouble remembering the reasons why he is not a good guy.

They had great chemistry from the start, and I think his loss of speech actually helped him pay attention to what's really important in life and get to know the real Tasha a little bit more.

It was a story about learning how to be yourself again after having your life knocked over, it can happen with an accident or with someone really hurting you and changing life as you know it.


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Monday, December 5, 2016

Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4) by Tessa Bailey

My Rating: 4 Stars
Series: Made in Jersey #4
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: Two strong males fighting for their true love.
Synopsis
A sexy new M/M romance from New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey

When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.

Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.


Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction...

My Review

Book given for an honest review on Netgalley.

I haven't read the other books on the series, so they were all new characters for me, still I couldn't help myself from wanting to read this one, the prospect of this book was just irresistible.

I got to meet these two amazing and sexy alpha males that were perfection together, I couldn't get enough. 

Renner was this successful commanding guy who lived for his job, he had forgotten what it felt like to really live and experience true emotions, he spent his days detached from real life and the people around him, he felt it was better that way. 

His calm and rule based world then collides with Milo and everything went up in flames, he can't avoid being attracted to him and he admires this peculiar specimen from the sidelines since he is not in his league.

But Milo is full of surprises and he has a deal to offer that Renner can't reject. 

Young Milo was a really refreshing character, because even though he was really inexperienced, he knew what he wanted and he wasn't scared of sharing it with his friends and about what people would think. He was really free and that was just what Renner needed, this refreshing view of life to get him back into the world of the living.

So if you like M/M books this is definitely the book for you, I just couldn't stop from falling for this two sexy guys and you will too if you read this book.

A steamy and sexy must read !


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Saturday, December 3, 2016

Their Virgin by J.L. Beck

My Rating: 3 Stars
Series: Yes.
Sex Scenes: Yes.

Synopsis
What's better than one brother, of course two... 

Logan and Luke Armstrong are deliciously dirty twin brothers, that also happen to be Isabella’s next door neighbor.

Construction workers by trade their bodies are to die for. With ripped muscles and abs for days, Isabella finds it nearly impossible to avoid staring or watching them. 

When both of the gorgeous Armstrong twins discover the shy, virgin, bookworm next door has been spying on them they offer her a deal she can’t pass up.

One night. Unbridled passion. No strings attached. What does she have to lose, besides her virginity, and possibly her heart? 


With two men awakening the need deep inside you, how can you say no to love?

My Review

I got this book for an honest review and I regret to say this, but I was not as trilled as I though I would be.

This is not a threesome story, we know that sometimes characters have a life of their own and change paths; so I have to warn you, if that's what you were looking for, then this is not the book for you.

That being said, the idea of the story had so much potential, unfortunately it fell short in my opinion. The characters were good and the writing was great too (not counting the spelling mistakes, since this was a pre release copy), but the development of the story and the characters just didn't work for me.

We are used to fast love in romance books but this one felt fake. 
They have known each other for less than three days in which they have talked 15 minutes tops and they were professing eternal love to each other, it just didn't feel right.

They were definitely in lust, but I had a problem with Isabella saying she knew he was the one who she wanted to give her virginity to and loved him, since the moment she saw him, that was actually like two second ago.

The sex scenes were the best part of the book, he was really intense and she wasn't as Innocent as she looked which made the scenes really sexy and hot!


I think the book could be really good if the author decided whether its just a sex based book and kept the whole love part for some other time, or if she wants to give the characters a little bit more of a story and background on which we can base the love they supposedly feel for each other, otherwise it's just not working for me.



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His Doll: A Dark Bad Boy Romance by Isabella Starling


My Rating: 5 Stars
Series: No.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: Finding the person that is a match in all senses of the word.

Synopsis
How does that make you feel, doll? 
JACOB 

Don't fall for the patient. 
Don't fall for the pretty, broken, sweet little doll sitting across from you in the office. 
Don't fall for her lies. 
Don't fall for her looks. 
Most of all, don't fall for her deliciously broken mind. 
But life keeps throwing Alice at me, and her naturally submissive nature makes her such easy prey... 
And after all, the broken ones are the most fun to train. 

ALICE 

Jacob Hawke can only ever be a crush. 
He's been my therapist for years. 
Now, my mother wants me to live with him while she chases her dream job in another state. 
Mr. Hawke has been trying to put me back together for a long time now. 
Maybe he was supposed to break me all along. 


Full-length novel. Standalone, no cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed. 

My Review

I got this book for an honest review by the author and I loved it! It was just as amazing as I expected.

Jacob was such a strong character, he had a power about him that couldn't be faked. He knew what he wanted and he was ready to take it!

Alice was a troubled girl, her life was privileged but she was still unhappy. No friends and a mother who didn't even noticed her, were destroying her. She needed Jacob in more ways than she could realize at first.

Jacob wanted her, and even though he had a darkness within him, it was exactly what she needed. They were a perfect fit, he molded her to his every wish and in the process he got her to love herself again and find true happiness.

It's a different type of love story but it's still an amazing one. The fact that they found love in a place that nobody could have foreseen was even better. 

You can't choose who you love and even though it was hard for them to handle the situation and accept their real feeling, in the end they were rewarded with true happiness.

The sex scenes were superb, the way in which he understood her body and got lost in the pleasure he was giving her drove me insane!

She was young and immature, but she discovered herself and the true woman she was always supposed to be by being with him.

I still think she was too young for everything else that happened but sometimes life just changes your path and they were ready for what it threw their way.

I recommend!



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