Bingeworthy Books

Category: 4.5 Stars

Review: Hero By Night by Sara Jane Stone

Best book of the series so far. I knew when we were introduced to Lena that her book was going to be something special. As for Chad, he was such a great character. Despite his well earned reputation with the ladies, he was a perfect match for Lena. He needed someone he could date/have a fake relationship with and she needed someone to lead her back to the physical aspects of a relationship. She struggled on a daily basis to just exist in the real world, much less be touched or approached by others. Her therapy dog, Hero, was a huge help in helping her cope but she wanted more. Chad was more than willing to help out with that, he found Lena beautiful and had a such a gentle way with her. I loved they way he treated her. He went at her speed but also pushed her, commanded her and let her express her own needs.

Sometimes beauty knocked a man on his ass, leaving him damn near desperate for a taste, a touch, and hopefully a round or two between the sheets-or tied up in them. The knockout blonde with the large golden retriever at her feet took the word “beautiful” to a new level.

During the day, they went out on dates and spent time together and at night, they spent MORE time together getting to know each other in the most intimate way possible. Chad…is a dirty bird and Lena totally kept up with him. He tells her exactly what he wants from her and how and Lena- she totally returns the sentiment and holds her own with him. He completely empowered her to ask and even demand what she wanted from him.

Sometimes, a “manwhore” character can be hard to take. That same character magically changing his ways can also be hard to swallow. Ms. Stone wrote a character that I truly enjoyed. I understood his reasons for not wanting to commit to anyone but let’s face it, all it takes is the right woman…right? Lena needs Chad to give her space to and encouragement to be who she is now. Not who she used to be. And he does! So many veterans come home to families expecting them to be exactly who they were before and that’s an impossible expectation. How could they not be different? Lena needed her family to understand who she was after her deployment and how it changed her…for good. You’ll have to forgive me, I’m afraid I’m babbling about this book.

Chad needed to understand that he was worthy of love and a relationship. He had never experienced feeling possessive and protective of a woman until Lena. He stepped up for Lena when he sensed she needed a buffer between her and someone or a situation and he did it without making her feel bad about herself.

True story- this past weekend, my husband and I went out to dinner and a movie and he had participated in a gun/shooting competition. He proceeded to tell me about a competitor who was a former Delta member and he had a therapy dog there with him. He explained to B that the dog was there to help him when he felt anxious. I almost jumped up on the table because I was reading a book with a character with a therapy dog! Anyway, we had a very interesting conversation about the man and his dog and PTSD.

In a nutshell- this series improves with each book and Hero by Night is such a GREAT book. I cannot wait for big brother Brody’s book! (April 14!!) Add to your TBR

Independence Falls series:

Purchase:

Book 1: Full Exposure

Book 2: Caught in the Act

Book 3: Hero By Night

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January 20, 2015
Quote-Tastic Monday & Review: Riskier Business by Tessa Bailey

Welcome to Quote-tastic Monday meme hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

I’ve come to the conclusion that whatever Tessa Bailey writes, I will love.

Troy tried to pull her close, but she evaded him.

“Answer me. Will you insist on treating me like I’m breakable even if it means losing me?”

His head fell forward on a weary sigh.

“If it comes down to a choice between your safety, your life, and keeping you as my girlfriend, I’d keep you safe every time. I’m sorry. It’s how I’m built, Ruby.”

Ruby swiped at the tear rolling down her cheek. “What about how I’m built?”

Oh Troy, Troy, Troy,

Of all of the guys that Ms. Bailey has written, Troy has always been the hardest one to figure out.(His Risk to Take) I never connected with him as much as Brent, Derek or even Matt…etc. (My affection for him has grown, the more I read that book, the more I liked him.)

In this novella/installment I felt like my vision was cleared. I always thought that Matt was the uber controlling alpha but I think that Troy beats him. Now, I understand why. With Ruby’s background he was always in some state of fear that something would happen to her, something he could not control. Ruby, is all about taking care of herself, she has done so, for a long time before Troy ever came around. The two sides/personalities collide in this one. As always the sexytimes are ridiculously hot but I enjoyed how Troy and Ruby work through the control issue.

Bowen. Ahem. This guy, I tell ya, he is piece of work and he is AWESOME. Course I’m saying this because I’ve already had the pleasure of reading Risking it All and it was excellent. I cannot wait for all that Bowen goodness to be released. Riskier Business is a novella in the Line of Duty series and prequel to Bowen’s novel in the Crossing the Line series. The new series that begins with Bowen is going to be a fantastic “anti-hero” series.

Purchase Riskier Business:

Preorder Risking it All:

Available 1/26/15

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January 5, 2015
Review: Best Man for Hire by Tawna Fenske

I love this series and I love this author. Ms. Fenske made my Top 10 New to Me authors list earlier this month.

(See list HERE)

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single book she has released in this series and I think I love this one the most! It’s all because of Grant.

“Just so you know,” he said “I don’t generally condone violence.”
“Aren’t you a Marine?”
“I specialize in counterintelligence and human intelligence.”
“What does that mean?”
“I catch spies, or I get other people to catch spies. I don’t kill them. Much.”
“That’s reassuring.”

Grant is a bit less intense than his brother , Mac, and was kind of a breath of fresh air. Scaling a palm tree in a pink shirt…among other things. But let me tell you, when it comes down to it, Grant can get dirty with the best of them. When he lets loose with Anna, it’s pretty fantastic. He comes off as a perfect gentleman and he is but he really cuts to the chase when it’s just him and Anna. To Anna’s credit, she knew she needed to push Grant a little in order to get him out of his perfect gentleman role. I think she knew that Grant was a dirty bird deep down, he just needed the right woman to bring it out of him.

As for Anna? I loved her! She was funny and a bit quirky and she totally owned it.

“Okay, now you’re just ridiculous.” She shook her head and took a sip of wine.

“Please tell me you’ve got some sort of hideous fault. A huge goiter or a habit of tripping preschoolers in the mall?”

The whole crew (Sam, Sheri, Kelli and Mac) is back in Hawaii for Sheri (Grant and Mac’s sister) and Sam’s wedding and I loved the setting. You gotta love the whole Patton clan, even Mama Patton makes an appearance and throws in her (more than ) two cents.

“All my kids are thoughtful,” Stella said proudly.
“And excellent shots.”

In this one we are introduced to Schwartz, the lone wolf Patton brother and I CANNOT wait for his book. It’s going to be another good one.

As always, Ms. Fenske balances humor and passion so very well. I always find myself laughing out loud and highlighting a lot when reading her books.

Buy it now! Only 99 cents!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

December 31, 2014
Review: Falling for the Enemy by Samanthe Beck

Good grief, I’ve been sitting on this review forever. I’ve been going back and forth about it not because I didn’t like, but because I loved it. For some reason, I’ve struggled to articulate how much I enjoyed Ginny and Shaun. I have been looking forward to Ginny’s book since we were first introduced to her. Although, at the time I did not know she was getting a book, I just remember thinking, “I hope Ginny gets a book.” And then poof! not only did we get Ginny, we got another really great character in Shaun.

I think that Shaun and Ginny might be my favorite Bluelick couple and I’m glad the series ended on a couple that had such a satisfying storyline. I have enjoyed how well Ms. Beck combined the “Brazen” aspects and the small town setting in the Private Pleasures series . I truly enjoy a series where the author builds a community and updates the reader on the community (major and minor characters) in each book. Ms. Beck also did a fantastic job of carrying a couple of important and interesting storylines throughout all three books, that not only affected the main characters but affected the town too. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Ms. Beck is great “storyteller”. Not only are her books sexy as hell but they engage me on a deeper level than just the scorching hot sexytimes. 🙂

As I mentioned before, I was looking forward to Ginny’s book because she was such an interesting character. In “Light Her Fire”, she was fun and positive and not a heavy duty angsty female character. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed reading a female MC that wasn’t OTT crazy. Ginny was a great character, she wasn’t needy or bogged down with “issues” and Shaun was practically normal. Well, there is that tiny little issue of him being the current mayor’s son. Whatevs. Shaun and his “Sweet Virginia” had my knees all wobbly and he was a perfect mix of affectionate and dominant with some stellar dirty talkin’ thrown in.

Mercy, what a face. High, slightly sloping forehead, straight nose, cheekbones only God could have sculpted, and lips so perfectly kissable there ought to have been a law against hiding them beneath overgrown facial hair.

I truly enjoyed this book and series and I’m definitely looking forward to whatever Ms. Beck has in store for us for 2015. In the meantime, have you read Best Man with Benefits by Ms. Beck? It’s one of my Top 10 books this year!

Purchase Falling for The Enemy: Amazon // B&N // iTunes // Kobo

Book 2:

Purchase Light Her Fire: Amazon // B & N // Kobo // iTunes

Book 1:

Private Practice Purchase: Amazon // B & N // Kobo // iTunes

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December 18, 2014
Release Review: This Christmas by Jeannie Moon

I’m a bit of a Jeannie Moon junkie. Recently, I read Ms. Moon’s The Second Chance Hero and that caught me up on all of her books. To say that I was despondent would be an understatement. Then, I found out that Ms. Moon was releasing a holiday novella and felt the heavens open up and smile down upon me. (Dramatic much?) So, I tracked that book down and thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing, I was able to read it and bask in the loveliness that is Ms. Moon and her writing. (And now I’m stuck with no new Ms. Moon crack on the immediate horizon. Hold me.)

For a novella, this was a well rounded book. I didn’t feel shortchanged and the story was fleshed out so well. From the very beginning of Sabrina and Jake’s story which begins 10 years before, I really felt clued in to the depth of their relationship and exactly what was sacrificed by both of them when Jake left.

Fast forward 10 years later, her daughter, Charlie (who I loved) is ten years old and Jake comes back to town and face to face with his daughter….that he did not know he had. I ate this book up. Nom nom nom. I LOVED Jake and I loved the moments Jake has with his daughter, getting to know her. Jake was meant to be a father. Jake and Bree (Sabrina) were so sweet and I appreciated that there were no stupid back and forth games between them. It was such a lovely story of the two of them rediscovering each other. I loved the setting of the small town, Holly Point and her family home.

Thanks to Ms. Moon, I also discovered a new publisher, Tule Publishing. New publisher means new authors! Guess what? There’s a series that this book is a part of and they are set in NY also. Some in NYC (which… I LOVE LOVE LOVE New York City and I’m sucker for any book set in the city.)

•The recommended reading order is below but they can stand alone. Ms. Moon’s book contains a prologue and Ms. Blount’s contains an epilogue. These actually went live Monday night and I’ve already bought the other 3 (99 cents for a VERY limited time). My plan is to read them soon and share my thoughts about them with you.

Christmas in New York series
Book 1: This Christmas by Jeannie Moon
Book 2: All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen
Book 3: A Light in the Window by Jolyse Barnett
Book 4: Goodness and Light by Patty Blount

Purchase This Christmas:

❃ Goodreads // Amazon ❃

All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen

Cassandra Baines almost has it all: a flourishing career as one of the youngest English Lit assistant professors at NYU, an apartment in a city she adores, and a close circle of lifelong girlfriends that are like sisters. The only thing she doesn’t have is someone special to share it with. She’s been married to her work since Sean McKinnon broke her heart seven years ago.

Musician and bar owner Sean McKinnon keeps busy – too busy for a love life. He blew it with Cassie all those years ago, and no one has held a candle to her since.

But then one fateful night, of all the people in New York City, Cassandra walks into his bar, and he’s drawn to her as strongly as ever. She wants nothing to do with him, but he’s not going to give up so easily.

Can a bit of New York Christmas magic help two people take a second chance on true love?

❃ Goodreads // Amazon ❃

A Light in The Window by Jolyse Barnett

Adirondack girl-in-transition Jade Engel comes home to recharge after ending a career she never truly wanted, but soon realizes she’s in danger of also being swept off her feet by the boy-next-door, her former best friend, Ben Stephens. If only he’d stop kissing her every time she falls into his arms.

Everything local celebrity Ben Stephens ever wanted is in Starling. Then Jade comes home after an eternity away and sends his simple world into a tailspin. He’s determined to pursue her—the one girl who got away. But when their friends-with-benefits arrangement blows up in their faces, will they have the courage to put their pasts to rest in order to forge a future together?

❃ Goodreads // Amazon ❃

Goodness and Light by Patty Blount

Thirteen years ago, two teens met on the ramp to Ground Zero, on a cold and snowy day, strangers bonding in a moment of grief. The boy pressed a crystal snowflake ornament into the girl’s hand and disappeared into the crowd, unaware that his simple act of kindness saved her from the guilt that threatened to consume her.

Since losing her mom, Elena Larsen hasn’t set foot in New York City — until now. Agreeing to help her sister prepare for her baby’s birth seems like a good way to spend Christmas and Elena vows not to let the monstrous guilt that weighs on her heart ruin everything. But those plans go awry when she meets Lucas Adair, a man whose own grief and guilt just might rival her own.

When Elena discovers Lucas is the boy who gave her that crystal snowflake all those years ago, she can’t accept it as the sign Lucas believes it to be. For her, it means only one thing — even beyond the grave, her mother can never forgive Elena for breaking her heart.

For Lucas, New York is hallowed ground that he can never leave. He spends his days working in the Financial District and his evenings volunteering and it’s almost enough to help him forget what he did. Lucas knows better than to make plans with a woman who will soon be leaving, yet can’t help himself. There’s something about Elena that pulls him in. He doesn’t put much faith in signs but even he starts to believe Elena is his absolution. Now, he only has to convince her.

❃ Goodreads // Amazon ❃

November 11, 2014
ARC Review: Pushing the Limit by Emmy Curtis

I’m not sure but I think this may have been my favorite. Which is kind of unusual for me because I tend to prefer a little more lovin/sexytines between the MCs. (Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty but not as much as the two books before this one) The STORY in this one was sooooo good and the combination of romance and suspense was perfect. I think it was because the mystery subplot was so interesting and it helped that I just realllllly liked Matt. Matt. Matt. MMMMMmmmmatt.

Harry=Henrietta, who we met in the previous book was kind of a mystery to me. In Over The Line, she seems kind of insecure and a ninny at times. ( I think it was the circumstances of that book, more than her being actual ninny. ) Which, really couldn’t be further from the truth. She’s freaking archaeologist in the freaking desert…she’s really kind of badass in her own way. When she and Matt meet initially, she is not afraid to take what she needs from him and when they run across each other again, she does not back down then either. So, she was pretty awesome. She was dealing with some pretty serious baggage in her own life and I found it very interesting how her and Matt’s lives intersected with each other. Matt and Harry had absolutely crack-a-lackin’ chemistry and I’m telling you, do not miss this one!

This was such a fun book to read! I found myself sighing, laughing and turning the pages as fast as I could! Sadly, I do not have another Emmy Curtis book to look forward to but we meet some characters in this one, a guy and girl that I would absolutely LOVE to read about again. So, my fingers are crossed for more from this series and this author.

★ Want to read it? Ms. Curtis’s publisher is offering a digital copy via Netgalley. Please comment if you’re interested and be sure to follow the comments to see if you won! ★

Excerpt

Matt heard her sharp intake of breath and wondered if he’d misjudged his attempt at lightening her mood.

There was a second in which he opened his mouth to explain, when there was a shifting in the air around him, and just as his lightning instinct had him reaching for his weapon, a soft projectile thwomped into his face, knocking him backward and off the bed.

“No one makes fun of my pain without incurring the wrath of the pillow ninja,” she hissed.

Relief and outrage vied for pole position as he immediately planned his revenge. He let out an agonized groan.

“Oh my God.” He heard her scrambling over the bed to the foot where he’d fallen from. “I’m so sorry, did you hurt—”

He reared up, wrapping his arms around her legs, and launched her back onto the bed. She bounced like a rag doll as he grabbed the cushion he’d taken from the lobby and swiped at her as she tried to right herself.

“Ooff,” was the only thing she managed to say.

Victory is mine. “Truce?” he asked from a safe distance.

“My hand is caught in the headboard.” She giggled. “I swear it’s not a trap. I’m an honorable foe, unlike you. Look, or feel.”

Still keeping his distance, he put out his hand where he thought her shoulder should be. It was soft. Heat rose in his body.

“Okay, airman, it’s not my breast that’s trapped, it’s my hand,” she said with a totally audible grin.

“Sorry.” He thought he would run his hand up to her shoulder, then her arm to find her trapped hand, but it seemed all his appendages had minds of their own. He hesitated on her breast, feeling it swell beneath his palm. Shit. He stretched his hand out so just the center of it was touching her, and he circled it around her nipple. Its hardness tickled his palm. He meant to move it to her shoulder, but he swore he heard her groan. The sound sealed the deal.

His other hand found her flat stomach. He ran his fingers over her skin, making her shiver. “Does your hand hurt?”

“No,” she whispered. It was a tacit yes to everything else.

He lowered his lips to her stomach and kissed her, feeling it undulate beneath his lips. Kneeling on the bed now, he ran his hands up and down from her waist to her legs, legs to waist, and then with the same motion, he hooked her shorts around his

fingers and yanked them down. She gasped. He grinned in the dark.

“You’re kind of at my mercy now, aren’t you?” he said.

In an instant she wrapped her legs around his waist and tipped him over onto his side. Before he could recover, she rolled him over and sat astride him.

“I’m sorry? What did you say?” In the shadowy darkness she whipped off her tank. He could barely see her in the dark. No way. Nakedness or death? He grabbed her waist and held her as he sat up and pushed her down toward the foot of the bed. He

used the few seconds he was upright to flick open one side of the curtain covering the small window. A faint blue light lit the room. Just enough to see her in.

“I guess you weren’t really that trapped, then?”

“Not that trapped.” She smiled up at him, and he was gone.

He ripped his shirt off over his head and was about to undo his jeans when Harry beat him to it.

Her delicate fingers played with his fly, flickering touches on his hard dick through the denim. Grazing her nails along his length until he was desperate to feel her friction. As if she read his mind, she flattened her hand and pressed hard against him, making him groan and push himself against her.

She undid his fly, and when the heat of her fingers touched his flesh he closed his eyes and allowed his whole body to feel her.

Enough. He wanted her, right now. Stripping off his jeans, and managing to extract a condom from his wallet without fumbling, he retook the bed. He slid his whole body across hers touching every part of her with every part of him. She fit him perfectly. In every way.

Purchase:

Pushing the Limit: Amazon // B & N // iTunes // Kobo

Over The Line: Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Books-A-Million // GooglePlay // iTunes

Dangerous Territory: Goodreads// Amazon // B&N // Kobo // iTunes // GooglePlay

November 4, 2014
ARC Review: Chasing Temptation by Joya Ryan

When I read and reviewed Chasing Trouble (review) in September, I was so very excited to find a new author. I said in that review that Ms. Ryan was an auto buy for me and I totally stand by that statement after this book.

Let me tell you, Sebastian “Bass” Strafford is no fucking joke. There have been a number of edgy/dominant, ass slapping Alphas in the Brazen line. Sebastian is pretty high up there. The dude is MAJORLY edgy and really fucking serious about control. Oh holy crap. The dominance and control is a huge coping mechanism and Penny totally hung in there with him. While Sebastian thought of her as so sweet and innocent, Penny was no shrinking violet. She makes it clear to Sebastian what she wants- HIM. She took whatever he gave her and even pushed him for more.

I’m not a huge fan of the BDSM genre but I’m not opposed to some control and fanny slappin’ and Ms. Ryan did a fantastic job of creating a dominant MC that wasn’t an asshole. Edgy? Yes and kinda hung up on some issues, but easy for me to love. I wanted Sebastian to get his HEA and give in to the comfort, affection and love that Penny offered him.

It wasn’t just the sex. It was her. Not how she let him handle her, but how she handled him. It was how she arched for him, How she called out his name. How that sweet body just kept giving and taking. She’d given herself completely to him- he’d felt it.

And that was a heady drug he wanted another hit of.

Ms. Ryan does such a good job of marrying the physical acts and the emotion to each other. Sebastian has his reasons for not wanting to connect with anyone (reasons I won’t go into here) but he connects with Penny on a level that after awhile, he cannot deny.

And boy oh boy, do they ever connect… a lot. Holy mother of all that is hot and… HOT. Oh and Sebastian calls her “darlin”, which makes me all gooey. I just loved it.

“You’re in trouble now, darlin’.”

Not stopping until he reached for her, he tangled his fingers through her hair and kissed her hard.

She groaned at the contact and wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her like a wild man. Biting and sinking his tongue deep. Their teeth clattered, tongues dueled, and she clung to his bare back, sinking her nails in. Anything to get him closer.

See what I mean? Really good stuff. Cole, Jenna, Ryder, Huck and Lily from the first book make their appearances and I loved catching up with all of them. I can’t wait to see what/who Ms. Ryan has in store for Penny’s brother Ryder, Cole’s sister Lily and Huck in subsequent books in this series.

And even though it’s pronounced BASS as in ASS and not BASE…. I don’t care, I could not help myself. I am allll about Sebastian “BASS” Strafford.

Purchase Chasing Temptation: Amazon // B & N // Kobo // iTunes

Book 1, Chasing Trouble Purchase: Amazon // B & N // Kobo // iTunes

October 20, 2014