Bingeworthy Books

Category: 4 Stars

Review: And I Love Her by Marie Force

One thing I can always count on when picking up a Marie Force book is complete and utter enjoyment.

I’ll admit that Megan was difficult to like in the previous books because of her feelings for Will (Hunter’s brother) and her treatment of Cameron (Will’s GF). I truly wondered how Ms. Force was going to endear the reader to Megan. Did she? Did I like Megan? I did. Once Megan understood her feelings about Will, she was able to get out of her own way and realize just how incredible Hunter truly is.

Hunter…ohhhh Hunter. Hunter is a bit of a workaholic who dearly loves his family. He’s the older sibling, the herder and keeper of everyone else. He isn’t intrusive or annoying, he’s just always there, quietly in some way, making sure everyone else is okay. Ms. Force gives us more of Hunter and Hannah’s sibling/twin relationship and I truly loved that.

Once Hunter decided he wanted Megan he stopped at nothing to make her his. Hunter was much more alpha in the bedroom than I anticipated…. I totally did not see that coming! He even admits to Megan that he likes being the boss…

“I’m the oldest of ten kids. Bossy is my business.”

“Are you always like that?”

“Sometimes more than others.”

“Like when?”

“You really want to know?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t really want to know.”

He leaned in close to her. pressing his lips against her ear. “I’m really bossy in bed.”

A tremble went trhough her that he felt becasue he was sitting so close to her.

“Is that right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Bossy how?”

[…]

“I know what I want, and I know how to get it, but only after you get what you want.”

Uh yeah.

Hunter is all quiet, buttoned-up, fancy pants wearing and totally in control. With the exception of his feelings for Megan, once he lets them loose, he does not back down where she is concerned. Megan needs someone to tell her she matters and give her encouragement to be who she really wants to be. Can you imagine being told, “I really like you and I just want you to be you? I’m not going to put up with the walls you’ve put up because I want you… no matter what.” (In a non-stalkery way, of course)

I adore the family aspect that is prevalent in Ms. Force’s novel’s and the Abbott family is so completely fascinating. Elmer and Lincoln play matchmaker once again, I just love those guys.

Who’s next? Ella and Gavin. Ms. Force always manages to introduce a new couple and make you out of your mind and ready to read them immediately. She dangles a new couple in front of you like bait on a hook. Consider me HOOKED.

As always there are so many hilarious moments, Ms. Force never fails to make me laugh and inevitably, swoon.

Purchase:

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March 3, 2015
Review: Only for him by Cristin Harber

So, I’m a huge fan of Cristin Harber. Everything she has written, I have loved and I’ve often said that she is a talented enough writer to branch out into other genres. Only Him is not Ms. Harber’s first foray into the New Adult genre. Sweet Girl was her first book written in the genre (part of the Titan series) and it blew me away. The characters were older and more mature in Sweet Girl than they are in this initial installment.

When I originally read Only For Him, I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about it and honestly, there were some aspects of it that I wasn’t crazy about. To be clear though, the things that I wasn’t crazy about are purely things that as a reader of the NA genre, I’m just not crazy about in general. Internal monologues are a hot button for me, they seem to bother me more, the younger the character is. Emma and Grayson are young and immature and understandably insecure. So yeah, I wasn’t exactly digging that part. But that’s ok!

I went back through the book and my highlights and I have to say that I enjoyed it more on the second run through. I have a great amount of hope for Emma and Grayson as they mature and I hope that I get to read more of the Cristin Harber voice that I totally go crazy for.

Grayson and Emma have a really sweet love. It’s a genuine and very deep they love that they feel for each other and I appreciated that aspect of the story. Grayson is a guy that you just want to hug and take care of and all he wants to do is escape from the hell of his life and his father. Emma is his escape.

This is a serial, please keep that in mind as you are reading. Yes, this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and it fast forwards in time a bit. Despite my personal preferences, I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment of the series! 🙂

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February 24, 2015
Review~ Chasing Desire~ Joya Ryan

Joya Ryan has done it again with the third book in the Chasing series. By “done it again” I mean that she has written another book that I thoroughly enjoyed. And by thoroughly enjoyed, I mean that I may have had an out of body experience after Autumn and Huck’s first “encounter.” Um yeah.

Huck and Autumn are both filled with baggage. Autumn is used to being on her own, with no real friends or family to depend on. Huck has a huge issue with commitment and likes the be the guy who leaves at the end of the night. These two make quite a couple! Sometimes when characters are so rife with issues, it drives me nuts. I have to say that I did not feel annoyed at all by their issues and appreciated how Ms. Ryan set them up to move beyond those issues with each other.

Autumn has no real friends to speak of and she gets pulled into a group of girlfriends in Diamond. She never really had friends she could talk to and depend on and she never truly realized the value of having people to count on, until you actually do. She is a fantastic character, gutsy, independent and funny!

As for Huck? This explains it pretty well:

Jesus, the man was mouth-watering hot. A small town good ol’ boy with a wild side and ink to match it.

And…

No one looked at her the way Huck did. Like she was desirable. Like she was more than what she appeared.

He kind of took me by surprise at times. He is so hell bent on being that “leaver” but he is a really passionate, sweet and giving lover. Huck and Autumn are quite well matched, one isn’t all that dominant over the other so much as they just worked well in and out of bed. There were times where little things he said to her (“I’m lovin’ on you.”) made get all melty.

“It’s fine.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. You’re strong. Everything will always be fine.” He cupped her face and brought her lips to his. “But you deserve better than fine. You deserve amazing.”

Yeah. I kinda love Huck. Great book, great epilogue and I can’t wait for more in this series!!!

Purchase:

February 20, 2015
4 Star review ~ The Billionaire and the Virgin by Jessica Clare

This was the first book by Ms. Clare that I’ve read and I know it won’t be the last.

Rob and Marjorie could not be more different. Rob is president of a network that is basically Girls Gone Wild around the clock. Marjorie likes playing BINGO, shuffleboard and hangs out with older people. She believes in the goodness of people and could not be more different from Rob.

Opposites attract and all that? Correct? Sort of. After saving Rob from drowning, he becomes completely enamored with her and becomes hell-bent on getting to know her in every way he possibly can. Which, of course, means getting her naked ASAP.

Marjorie decides that she needs to step out of her normal persona and sex it up. What ensues is one of the most effed up first dates EVER. Marjorie has some serious wardrobe issues and Rob is totally acting like some kind of robot.

Honestly, I began to question whether or not I’d be able to enjoy this book.

My fears were allayed. Rob and Marjorie finally decide to be exactly who they are and at that point, I really started to enjoy seeing how these two very different people complemented each other and how they pushed each other to be comfortable in their own skin. Rob has a less than stellar reputation (completely of his own making) but through Marjorie, he begins to see how hurtful what he does can be.

This must be stated. The V card taking scene in this book was one of the most detailed and best I’ve ever read. The care that Rob takes with Marjorie is staggering. You don’t always get that kind of feeling in a scene where one of the characters is a virgin.

As I said before, this was my first book by Ms. Clare but I ran over to Goodreads and added her Billionaire Boys Club series (loosely connected to this series) to my TBR pile. I’m looking forward to reading those and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the Billionaires and Bridesmaids series.

Purchase:

February 17, 2015
Review & 10 Questions : Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

In 1986, I was 13 years old and the movie Top Gun came out. After seeing that movie, I decided I was going to be a pilot and fly a F-16 Tomcat. I had the aviator sunglasses, a tshirt with the Top Gun logo on it AND I even found a book about the F-16. Of course, it was all Greek to me but I was bound and determined to be a pilot. That summer, we were at the beach and we went to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL and I got to sit in a cockpit. It was awesome.

Fast forward many years and I ended up doing something totally different and Tom Cruise completely ruined my Maverick fantasy by jumping on Oprah’s couch and worshipping Xenu. Let’s face it, Slider was waayyyy hotter anyway.

I digress. Sorry, I was reliving my childhood in a way and I guess, explaining my connection to this book. I like planes and military romance….so this book was a good fit for me. I was not disappointed and I loved that the main character was a woman and she was training to be a fighter pilot. But first, she had to get into the same plane that killed her brother. How daunting is that?

Then, let’s add in having a one night stand with your super hot instructor, that you did not know was your instructor at the time of said one night stand. Um yeah. Then, let’s add in that you’re not supposed to have any kind of relationship with your instructor. You still with me?

Tinklee and Locke simply cannot stay away from each other. That’s all there is to it. You’ll have to engage in suspension of disbelief to get into their relationship and that’s ok! We read books to experience something different, to get away from it all. For me, this book combined my childhood love of a movie and my adult love of contemporary romance! I really enjoyed reading about Tinklee, Locke, ASH, and the guys Tinklee was training with. Not to mention I loved meeting her family and friends.

Did I mention Ash? He literally jumps off of the page and demands your attention. He certainly added to the delightful man candy that this book is full of. As for Locke, I liked that he knew who Tinklee was, what made her tick and he just let her be herself. He didn’t go all overprotective of her and act like a fool.

The moments when we are in the cockpit with Tinklee were well written and I felt like I was in there with her! I have to say that once I picked this one up, it was hard for me to put it down. It pushed all of my buttons, it was a funny, sexy as hell, and exciting read! I cannot wait to read more from this series and Ms. Rae.

10 Questions with Tinklee Pinkerton

1. What is your favorite word? Karma.

2. What is your least favorite word? No. If someone tells me no it will only make me want to try harder.

3. What turns you on? The scent of jet fuel.

4. What turns you off? Arrogance.

5. What sound do you love? The waves in the ocean. I have great memories of my brother and I growing up on the beach. I also met Locke on the beach and it was definitely a night that changed my life forever.

6. What sound do you hate? Loud explosions.

7. What is your favorite curse word? Holy Hell

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? I never wanted to be anything other than a fighter pilot and even today, there is nothing more I’d rather do.

9. What profession would you not like to do? Fashion Designer. My wardrobe consists of flight suits and cut off jeans.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Your brother has been waiting to see you.

Purchase:

January 30, 2015
✦✦ Review- Solving for Nic by Lexxi Callahan ✦✦

*Dreamy sigh* Nicolas Maretti… I LOVE you.

Actually, Lexxi Callahan, I love this book. While I enjoyed the first book, Sweetened with A Kiss, I felt like there was more there where this author is concerned. (As in, I felt there was a lot more potential there.) Thank goodness, I was right. I truly enjoyed this tale of a super smart woman who hides the true extent of her intelligence from… pretty much everyone. Especially Nic Marietti, who she has had a mad crush on for as long as she can remember. The thing is, the feelings are totally mutual. Nic and Lizzie have been in the same social circles for years and have been dancing around each other the whole time. Nic has kept his distance due to the age difference but Lizzie is 21 now and it’s on like Donkey Kong.

Lizzie is a very interesting character. She is so stinkin’ smart and she continues to hide it behind a party girl facade. Now, I don’t mean party girl in a Paris Hilton way, she is actually very sweet. She feels like she can’t be herself within her social circle and it’s kind of sad.

One dance at a wedding with Nic Maretti and the doors get blown off the mutual moratorium the two of them have in place where their feelings for each are concerned. Let me tell ya, that was a great scene.

The hand at the small of her back pressed against her before she could move away. She melted into him and tried not to think about the four hundred people she wished weren’t in the room with them.

“Lizzie, relax.” The gentleness in his voice made it worse.

“How?”

He leaned down, brushing his mouth across her forehead and setting off a chain reaction inside her. She would’ve jerked back if he hadn’t tightened his hold on her again.

The hand at her back stroked her lightly. “It’s okay, dance with me.”

This wasn’t a simple dance. Nothing was simple about being in Nic’s arms. She forgot reality. The connection between them so real it was easy to forget it was an illusion.

Ha! Their connection is soooooo not an illusion. I loved the chemistry and the connection that Lizzie and Nic shared.

Nic is kind of a playboy but not in terribly obnoxious way. The women he has been with are certainly nothing like Lizzie and she certainly feels self conscious of that. She splits herself in half by living in one world where her intelligence is recognized and celebrated and another where..it is not. Giving in to Nic forces her to marry the two worlds and acknowledge her true feelings for him. After spending time with Nic, it forces him to really take a look at his life and what he wants. And guess who he wants? 🙂

Solving for Nic had a little bit of everything, it was funny and super sexy. Ms. Callahan does a great job of weaving family drama and dynamics into her books and I know I’m looking forward to the next book. I’m very interested to see how in the world Ms Callahan manages to persuade the reader to like the “Red Queen.”

Purchase Solving for Nic:

Book 1: Sweetened with a Kiss:

Available now

January 28, 2015
Review: One Night of Trouble by Elle Kennedy

Love this series and I loved this book.

AJ- the perennial “good guy” is ready to shed that image and be the guy he really feels the need to be. The guy he really wants to be is quite a dirty bird. Oh yeah.

Brett is the perfect foil to AJ and they bring out the best in each other. You’d think since she has a history of being a “bad girl” she would lead him astray or cause him to do something wildly out of character. She doesn’t do that so much as encourage him to be the guy he has been burying for most of his adult life. This book isn’t rife with annoying issues and I appreciate that. AJ is living in the shadow of blame that he placed upon himself and Brett just wants to be a better person all round. She also wants to achieve success professionally and make her family proud of her.

Brett and AJ have crazy good chemistry… as in hot as fiyah! Ms. Kennedy is especially talented at creating characters that are so compatible and are so incredibly enjoyable to read about. Not only does she make me enjoy the physical aspects of their relationship, she fills in with the emotion to back it all up.

AJ pulled a cell phone from his back pocket and glanced at the screen. “It’s eleven fifty-eight. Looks like you’re about to turn into a pumpkin. Did you drive here?”

She shook her head. “I’m calling a taxi.”

“Or…” His eyes gleamed recklessly.

Brett’s throat went dry. “Or?”

“Or I could drive you home.”

Uh-oh.

Big uh-oh.

The awareness that had sizzled between them earlier returned in full force, leaving pinpricks of heat along her bare arms. The air was cool and she’d left her coat inside, but she wasn’t cold. Not by a long shot.

She knew exactly what would happen if she let AJ drive her home. She might have willpower when it came to alcohol, but around this man? With his sandy-blond hair and chiseled features and sparkling green eyes? And that incredible body? And throw in the fact that she hadn’t had sex in six months?

Willpower? Fat chance.

“What do you say, Brett? Do you want a ride?” No missing the way his voice went husky at the word ride.

Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

This was not the AJ Walsh she remembered. Back then he’d come off as a gentleman.

Right now there was nothing gentlemanly about him. His expression was downright smoldering, broad body radiating pure sex appeal. If he took her home, she knew it wouldn’t end with her walking up to her apartment alone.

But she still had to make sure she wasn’t misinterpreting that look on his face.

“What are you really asking me?” she said bluntly.

“I’m asking if I can take you home and screw your brains out.”

Her thighs clenched so hard she almost keeled over.

Okay, well, that certainly left nothing to interpretation.

“Judging by your response, I think you like the sound of that.” There was something smugly male in his voice.

Hers was embarrassingly squeaky and as weak as her attempted ignorance. “What response?”

He flashed a knowing smile. “What, you think I can’t tell when a woman is attracted to me?”

Nope, this was not the AJ she remembered. The golden boy was gone, replaced by a primal creature teeming with raw sexual energy. The electricity in the air was liable to burn her alive.

“Y-you…” She swallowed hard. “You don’t seem like the kind of man who does stuff like this. Sleeping with someone you’ve just met…”

“Why do women always take it upon themselves to decide what kind of man I am?”

“Am I wrong?” she challenged.

After a beat, he gave a sheepish grin. “Fine. I haven’t had a lot of one-night stands. But…” His eyes burned. “I have a feeling not going home with you tonight would be the biggest mistake of my life.”

Purchase the series:

January 15, 2015
Review: The Librarian Principle by Helena Hunting

After reading Ms. Hunting’s Cupcakes and Ink series earlier this year, I became a fan. I was quite excited when she announced she was releasing The Librarian Principle because I was quite intrigued by the blurb. I’ll admit that it turned into something a little different than what I originally thought and I’m totally cool with that.

This book was equal parts sexy as hell, funny and sweet. Imagine you take a new job and your boss is completely irresistible AND he has the hots for you. The feelings are completely mutual and it’s burning white hot between the two of you. Not only are you physically attracted to each other, but you respect each other and enjoy spending time together- fully clothed. But he is your BOSS and you’re a librarian and he is the principal. Dilemma, yes? How do you do your job and maintain a professional distance when all you can do is think of him/her? Well, you sneak around, which makes for some interesting situations. Maybe even engage in some role play? Sure. 😉

I loved Ryder and Liese and I was rooting for them the whole time and I was wondering how in the heck Ms. Hunting was going to give them their well deserved HEA. While the road to love is never paved so smoothly, Ryder and Liese had their fair share of meddling and not so well meaning people. Liese’s co-worker, Blake and her BFF, Marissa are hilarious and they added a nice dimension to the story. Marissa is hilarious, that girl could carry a book all by herself.

While this book centers upon a somewhat “taboo” subject, it did not feel heavy or angsty. I enjoyed reading how they navigated the challenges of their professions in terms of its impact on their personal lives.

“You okay? You seem a little antsy,” he observed as she uncrossed her legs for the third time in less than a minute.

“Yes, but I need a distraction.”

“From what?”

“You.”

“Me? Am I making you nervous?”

“No, you’re making me horny,” Liese said and slapped her hand over her mouth. So much for maintaining the upper hand.

“Really? I’m not even trying,” Ryder said in a smooth voice that made Liese want to climb over the center console.

“Don’t worry, I can resist temptation.” Liese pulled her hand away and clasped them in her lap.

“What if I don’t want you to?”

“Then I’d tell you that’s too bad since you’re the one who enforced the stupid clause in the first place.”

“Clause?”

“Yes, the no-naked clause.”

“I thought it was a mutual agreement.” Ryder raised an eyebrow but kept his eyes on the road. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for acts of coercion. Heaven forbid I come across as domineering.” There was that smirk again, as infuriating as it was charming. “If it’s too difficult for you to resist me, by all means let me know. I wouldn’t want to cause you undue sexual frustration.”

“You’re not egotistical at all, are you?” Liese shot back, crossing her legs. The fabric of her dress rode up, and she smoothed it down over her thighs.

Ryder’s eyes moved from the road to her lap, fixated on her hands moving along the satin. “So I’m not only domineering, I’m egotistical now? Maybe I need to be punished for being so difficult to deal with.”

“You do know the road is in front of you, not in my lap, right?” Liese ignored the comment. The conversation needed to end.

“Right.” Ryder sighed and returned his attention to the road.

“And you’re the one who said you were domineering, not me.”

“Am I?

“Sometimes.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay, sometimes it turns me on,” Liese murmured, fiddling with the hem of her dress.

“And other times?” Ryder prompted.

“Okay, it turns me on most of the time, although there are occasions when it irritates the hell out of me. Now stop asking these kinds of questions. Are you purposely trying to torture me? If so, I can assure you it’s working.”

Ryder took her hand again, bringing it to his lips. “I would never torture you intentionally—unless you wanted me to, of course.”

Liese snatched her hand away. The soft brush of his lips across her skin made the persistent ache low in her belly flare. “Not helpful,” she said. “Change the subject, please, or pull over.”

Ryder took his foot off the accelerator, clearly considering the request. His eyes moved over her in a feral sweep. Liese bit back a smile of triumph, trying to maintain her composure.

Purchase The Librarian Principle: Amazon // B&N // Kobo

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December 22, 2014
Arranged marriages and a review: Seducing the Princess by Diane Alberts

She was a princess, and he’d never be good enough for a woman like her.
She’d expect castles, horses, world tours, and jewels.
Not cape cods, dogs, Maine, and nightmares.

It’s an interesting premise, the princess and the bodyguard and it totally worked for me. It got me thinking about royalty and arranged marriages, specifically, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco. I thought of her when Isabelle talked about what was expected of her as a princess.

Charlene married a man 20 years older than her, who possibly fathered a couple of kids out of wedlock (actually he acknowledged at least 2 and has 2 by other women) and cried her way through the wedding ceremony. On top of everything else, she tried to leave the guy 3 times before the wedding. She was with him for 5 years before she married him and he played around on her during that time and yet she still married him. That must be one hell of an arrangement. I mean, look at the photos below, when he kissed her after the civil ceremony, I bet she threw up in her mouth a little. And the second photo? She is crying and he is looking at her like she’s out of her mind. She probably was. To top it off, she gave birth to twins this week, talk about immaculate conception.

Ok. This was what was going through my mind when I read this book. Isabelle had the pleasure of Gordon’s company, his intimate company, several times and realized that she liked the way Gordon took control in the bedroom. Think about it, you’re a princess and you’re expected to act a certain way and make decisions in terms of what is best for your country. Your personal needs and wants are not a high priority. Along comes this smokin’ hot, dominant and authoritative guy and he totally takes control in the bedroom and in some other aspects of your life. What do you do?

He tightened his grip on her shoulder. “You might own a fucking country, but tonight… I own you. Understood, Princess?”

She gasped, her stomach tightening at his naughty words. She’d never, ever been spoken to like that. Never talked dirty. It was a heady rush that she was doing it now. Here. With him.

“I understand.”

Isabelle found solace with Gordon. Once she let him in and let go, she found someone she connected with physically and emotionally. The other guy she was supposed to marry was a toad. Whether Gordon realized it or not, he was her Prince Charming. A totally hot and domineering Prince Charming ;).

Purchase: Amazon // B&N

December 19, 2014
Review: Game for Tonight by Karen Erickson

Remember me? Football girl!

I LOVE this series. This series is so solid for me, all 3 books are GREAT and frankly, I did not want this to be the last book. But I guess if you’re going to end it, ending it on a virgin football player, isn’t a bad way to go.

Oh, I hear you….a virgin football player? Let me tell you, it’s refreshing and you will LOVE Flynn. It’s a nice change of pace to read a male MC that isn’t a man whore. But don’t let that deter you, Flynn has been so focused on his football career, he has always felt like a relationship, much less sex would be a distraction. Flynn is truly a student of the game and is concerned that a woman will break his concentration and possibly compromise his athletic performance. That’s not to say he hasn’t done…anything. So he isn’t a complete freak of nature. 😉

Enter Aubrey, publicist extraordinaire and this woman has a rip-roaring raging crush on Flynn.

He also made Aubrey’s toes curl every time he so much as looked her way. A rather difficult thing to ignore, considering she was his publicist and worked with him all the time. As in, she had to stare at that handsome face and listen to that deep, delicious voice all the time, too. Which in turn led to her curling-toe affliction and the rapid development of her mad, crazy crush.

The thing is, the attraction is completely mutual and undeniable. Flynn began to wonder if there more to life than being a backup quarterback…

When these two finally give in to their attraction, FIREWORKS! From the very first kiss, I was completely sold on Aubrey and Flynn.

Aubrey was completely surrounded by a warm, big muscular man, and it felt so incredibly good to be in Flynn’s strong arms. He was kissing her as if his life depended on it, and she buried her fingers in his hair, holding him close.

Once Flynn gets a taste of the fantastic lovin’ that Aubrey serves up, he feels the need for MORE. They both have personal and professional issues to wrestle with that certainly didn’t help make things any easier. They each have a parent that is a pain in the ass and that doesn’t help.

Ok- I truly enjoyed this book and this whole series and that’s the best I can give you out of my very tired brain 🙂 Although, I’d still love more from this series because I love every single one of these books.

November 21, 2014