Review: Ember (Eagle Elite #5) by Rachel Van Dyken

Print Length: 278 pages

Publisher: Rachel Van Dyken (February 18, 2015)

From Goodreads.com: 

I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.

I know only pain and survival. 
That is until the Cappo's sister walked into my life. 
And changed everything.

She's a light who makes my darkness darker, her smile makes my heart turn to ice, and I can't escape the fear her seductive looks instill--knowing it's only a matter of time before I fail--again, and take her for myself.
This is the story of my redemption. 
But it's not pretty...I died, and now I'm alive, but not living, breathing but not surviving. I am Phoenix De Lange, son to a murdered mob boss, estranged brother, horrible friend, monster in the making, newest leader to one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra.
And I will have my vengeance.
Or die trying.
I am Phoenix De Lange. 
Death is all I know. 
Until she offers me a piece of life--I can't resist taking.

                              

                                                  *******************

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Phoenix's story had everything I have come to expect from an Eagle Elite Rachel Van Dyken novel. It had romance, mystery, comedy, those moments when you scream OH MY GOD in a totally inappropriate place, and most of all - hot mafia men.

It was clear to me at the start of this novel (having read all of the prior Eagle Elite books) that Phoenix De Lange had NO redeeming qualities. He was the worst sort of villain - and yet, his story had me softening towards him and realizing that even a monster can be saved. 

That being said, for a "darker" novel (I'm only classifying it as such due to the Mafia content), Phoenix's story had me laughing out loud several times (one such time that comes to mind immediately is Phoenix wanting to buy chickens just to feed other people's body parts to them - I know it doesn't sound funny to read it as I've put it, but trust me - in the story - it will make you laugh). 

Bee also had a large part in contributing to the comedy portion of this story - some of what she said (and did), you couldn't help but laugh at. At the same time, she was not only a vital part of the story, but you were able to gain a deeper understanding of things by seeing them through her eyes. She quickly became one of my favorite characters because of her unwillingness to give up on who she believed in - and what she wanted. 

Then there was that MOMENT (the one I unfortunately can't go into without spoilers) that I happened to be reading while waiting to get blood drawn, where I was so invested in this story that I YELLED "son of a b*tch!" in front of a bunch of people who were looking at me like I was crazy... yeah this was Eagle Elite at its best (and its only going to get better). 

As always, I would highly recommend this novel to not only fans of Ms.Van Dyken, but also to those who enjoy a good, complex novel. And the hot Mafia men don't hurt things either (although if you are new to Eagle Elite - you really need to start at the beginning). 

********************

  Ember (Eagle Elite #5) is available from Amazon.com

COVER REVEAL: THE HAZARDS OF SLEEPING WITH A FRIEND by: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Cover Reveal: The Hazards of Sleeping With a Friend
By: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Releasing March 26, 2015

Blurb

Warning: Sleeping with a friend might change your life forever.</em>

Sleeping with Kyle was never in the plans. Pretending to be his girlfriend was one thing, but letting our relationship become anything but platonic was another. The problem with mixing friendship with sex is that inevitably feelings get involved, and when that happens there's no turning back.

When Kyle's life fell apart around him, I needed to help, but doing that meant opening myself up to the most terrifying thing in the world—falling in love.

Rafflecopter Giveaway Winner’s choice of a paperback copy of one of the first 4 Hazards books!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About The Author:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

You can find out more by visiting: Twitter | Author Goodreads | Pinterest | Website | THE HAZARDS SLEEPING WITH A FRIEND  Goodreads  | Facebook

Review: Waylaid by Ruth J. Hartman

Print Length: 223 pages

Publisher: EsKape Press (February 24, 2015)

From Goodreads.com: How does a girl choose between her dream and true love?

Addy Lafollette has a plan. College. Veterinary school. Then way down the road, 
marriage and kids. Her plan doesn’t include getting involved with someone before 
she even leaves for college. But gorgeous Graham throws a glitch in her well 
thought out life.

Graham Stewart is content to float through life working on his uncle’s farm,
hanging with friends, and pitching for the local softball team. He’s never had a 
reason to get serious about much. Until Addy. Life becomes a quest to convince 
her to stay in town, with him, when all Addy wants is to leave for college to 
implement her plan.

Can Addy find a way to be with Graham without giving up her dreams?

                              

                                                  *******************

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

My Review:  To be honest, after finishing this novel, I wanted to be a hypocrite and HATE it. I feel like I am in the minority in that I not only became engaged while still in college, but I was married at the age of 19 (and I am still married 11 years later for those that care). My entire life I have heard the story about how I was "too young", or how I "didn't know" what I was "getting into", and I almost wanted to base my review on that. That these two were too young, and potentially making a mistake.

HOWEVER. This was such a sweet romance that you couldn't help but not only fall in love with the characters, but root for them. While there were some characters that seemed completely one dimensional (Kendra being an "airhead" for lack of a better word, Ali for being a stalker, and Amber for not being able to distance who she was from her boyfriend and family for instance), the two main characters were both completely well developed and "fleshed out", and that made me not care so much about the other "non essential" characters. I wasn't focused on them - I didn't care about them. All I found myself caring about was Graham and Addy and what THEY would do. I found myself laughing at some of the exchanges between them, while also having my heart ripped out when Addy did leave for college and left her future with Graham uncertain.

My ONLY complaint is that the epilogue should have taken place AFTER the epilogue in this book. Did they have children? Where they able to balance college life with married life? Did they find jobs in their desired professions? 

Hopefully my "complaints" (such as they were) give the author an idea for a SECOND book in this series as I was definitely NOT ready to say good-bye to these characters just yet.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

********************

Review: Return to Me by Melissa MacKinnon

Print Length: 333 pages

Publisher: EsKape Press (August 19, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Archaean bounty hunter Marek Coinnich isn't particularly fond of Engels. In fact, he prefers them dead. But to save his injured brother, he must enter the manor of an Engel enemy. Marek finds himself enthralled by the slave girl nursing his brother back to health. When his enchantment with her lands them in a compromising position, he refuses to let the young beauty pay for the misunderstanding with her life.

Brynn of Galhaven prefers to keep to the shadows. When she is ruined by an outsider, she barely escapes with her life and finds herself left alone in an unforgiving land. Through her struggles to survive, Brynn discovers a world she never imagined and never forgets the enemy Archaean who stole her heart.

Marek can’t deny his desire for Brynn, but these are wartimes, and she is the enemy. And though love knows no prejudice, the world in which he lives isn’t nearly as forgiving. 

                              

                                                  *******************

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

My Review:  Let me begin by saying that this book is NOTHING like I was expecting. I was expecting a regular romance with some historical and paranormal twists. What I got was something so much more. To begin with - I was immediately pulled into this story. You couldn't help but feel sorry for Brynn as she is accused of things she did not do, and sentenced to a punishment (by her own father nonetheless) that would surely kill her. Marek establishes himself pretty early on as someone who protects others (especially those weaker than he). The chemistry between the two is apparent immediately - but there is that pesky problem of the fact that he is already married and cannot act on his feelings for Brynn. Instead, Marek does the next best thing - he brings her to a town and pays for her safety.

Then things happen. Things that I wish I could talk about, but that would mean revealing spoilers that would make it pointless for you to read yourself. And despite Marek's best efforts to protect Brynn - things do not go well for her. Nor do they go well for Marek when he finally makes it home. 

The remainder of this story moves fairly quickly. You spend time with both Marek as well as Brynn (and their few friends) as they try to live their lives apart - and eventually as they cross paths time and again. There is wonderful character growth, as well as story development which thankfully includes enough detail that you don't find yourself confused as the story moves on (especially since it includes the points of view of both Marek as well as Brynn so you know what each is experiencing as the story progresses). 

I will admit that the ending of this story kept me the most intrigued. Just when I thought one thing had happened, it was revealed to be something else entirely. It was a phenomenal ending to an engaging story and I cannot wait to read more by this author. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

********************

Return to Me is available from Amazon.com

Review: Hard Limit (Hacker #4) by Meredith Wild

Print Length: 296 pages

Publisher: Meredith Wild (December 9, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Blake Landon is a man who has everything—wealth, good looks, and the love of Erica Hathaway. The power couple has been through hell and back, and when life has torn them apart, somehow they have always found their way back to each other, more in love and stronger than ever. 

Erica has never been more ready to say I do. On the verge of making the ultimate commitment, she uncovers an unsettling chapter of Blake’s history. As she makes peace with her own past and the family who left her behind, she presses Blake to tear down the last walls between them. Determined to know the man he once was, she opens a door to a world beyond her wildest imagination—a world that has her questioning the limits of her own desires. 

As danger lurks and dark secrets come to light, will the past destroy their promise of forever?

                              

                                                  *******************

My Rating: 1 star out of 5

My Review: I have finally decided that this author needs to win an award. The author most likely to keep beating a dead horse. Because at this point, that is what this series has become. 

In case you haven't read my other reviews of this series, they obviously were not a favorite with me (although I must say that I HATED book 3 more than the other two). I firmly believe that she had a strong and engaging concept - AT FIRST - but as these stories go on, the sex is boring and repetitive, Blake switches between trying to be a good guy and being an abusive jerk, and Erica goes from knowing her own mind to a sniveling shell of herself. What little plot twists, or otherwise engaging story-lines get lost in all of the meaningless blather.

Honestly, I think if she hadn't been so eager to jump on the Fifty Shades bandwagon and had actually spent more time on her work - she may have had something that would turn into the worldwide phenomenon that Fifty Shades has become (and even that I still can't figure out). 

There were several instances where this saga could have turned into something epic - Sophia's character had potential even if only as a psychotic ex, even Daniel and his surrounding drama had promise, but what it comes down to was that there were just too many one dimensional characters that move in and out of the story so much that you begin to give up keeping track - or even caring. 

And just when it seemed that everything was being wrapped up nicely - a conclusion to the story that would have left most readers satisfied - the author throws in a completely new twist to things and guess what? Announces that BOOK FIVE is coming Spring of 2015! That's right, there will be more to this saga that is quickly becoming a world-wide bore.

********************

Hard Limit (Hacker #4)  is available from Amazon.com

Sneak Peek! Too Hot to Handle The Boys of Summer # 2 By: Katie Rose

Title: Too Hot to Handle The Boys of Summer # 2 

Author: Katie Rose 

Event organized by: Tasty Tours

Book Description: Katie Rose’s Boys of Summer series returns for a delicious double-header—with the story of total opposites who are drawn to each other like moths to a flame.

Nikki Case is no fan of baseball. Her ex gambled away a fortune on the sport, and now her PR firm has tasked her with cleaning up the league’s most notorious bad boys. The New Jersey Sonics are known for wild womanizing and booze-fueled brawls, so Nikki expects the worst. Her first stop in the battle to win hearts and minds is star hitter Jake Baldwin—a legendary ladies man so smokin’ he threatens to melt her tough-girl armor.

Although his teammates prank her without mercy, Jake admires the way Nikki gives as good as she gets. She may be the queen of frost, but there’s kindling beneath those sultry curves—and he’s just the man to ignite it. But when a PR nightmare lands the Sonics in headlines across the country, Nikki is ready to walk. Only then does Jake realize how important she is to the Sonics’ success—and that winning the love of a good woman is no game.

PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, or Kobo

About the Author:

Award-winning historical author Katie Rose makes her contemporary debut with the Boys of Summer novels, Bring on the Heat and Too Hot to Handle, which combine Katie’s true loves: baseball and romance! When not watching baseball, Katie is at her lake house in New Jersey, hard at work on her next book.

If you would like to learn more about the author, please visit her website. Or you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter or GoodReads.

GIVEAWAY!!!! 

 $25.00 eGift Card to Choice Book Seller, Loveswept Mug and Romance at Random Nail Polish

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Hardline (Hacker #3) by Meredith Wild

Print Length: 262 pages

Publisher: Meredith Wild (June 16, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Software mogul Blake Landon has met his match in headstrong Erica Hathaway. While his controlling nature and her independent spirit continue to battle, Blake has no intention of letting her out of his life again.

Erica has given Blake her trust and her love, determined that they will conquer any challenges together. But when he demands more and tests the boundaries of her commitment, she is forced to face the dark desires he’s kept hidden.

As their bonds grow tighter, their enemies close in. With Erica’s start-up in danger, Blake’s frustration grows as he tries to protect her from those who would ruin her only to get to him. Can their relationship survive when Blake’s enemies cross the line and threaten more than her livelihood?

                              

                                                  *******************

My Rating: 1 star out of 5

My Review: I was going to call this one the worst in the series, but then I found out there is a 4th one, which to be honest - I've come this far I might read it simply because I'm sadistic like that.

To begin with - fans of the BDSM lifestyle - find another series to read. Seriously. Blake is not a Dom, he is an abusive asshole who not only uses NO aftercare, but leaves his woman (as I cannot call her a sub) feeling abandoned and used afterwards. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to call one specific scene in this story RAPE because of the way he treats her.

Perhaps I should give you some history here (or as much as I can without giving away too many spoilers). Erica leaves Blake in a move that she thinks will spare his life. A guy in her employ kisses her and she kisses him back. And once Blake finds out - he completely loses his mind. He uses her, he uses his belt on her without mercy - and then he showers and leaves her to go to bed and wake up alone. In fact, he ignored her for several days and makes her come crawling back to him.

The fact that by the time she did go back to him, he had her convinced by his actions that everything was her fault to begin with was also a major annoyance with me. She had to change because she messed up, she kissed someone else (WHEN THEY WERE SEPARATED), she was the reason he was acting this way - seriously? Erica was NOT a strong character - she was overly pathetic and needed to grow a backbone and say "You overreacted. This is NOT my fault and I will NOT do this" instead of giving in to his every demand. 

Perhaps I'm just not "submissive" enough, but when a man starts telling me what I can and cannot do outside of the bedroom and the decisions I can and cannot make outside of the bedroom (read in the business that I started before I met him), then he needs to go. I don't care how many orgasms he can provide, or how deeply I care for him. The man needs some SERIOUS psychiatric help. 

This is not sexy, this is not love, this is not even true BDSM. This is an abusive man who needs to control every single aspect someone else's life as though the other person is incapable of doing so themselves. This is a man who proposes to someone KNOWING FULL WELL HOW (AND WHO) THEY ARE and then giving them the ultimatum of either completely conforming to how they want them to be or leaving them. Because that's totally the lifestyle right? 

Another thing that really got to me was the fact that (during what I have termed the rape scene) he stuck two fingers into her arse without giving her much of a warning. When she protested, he stopped (thankfully) but then he tells her "Maybe not tonight, but I will have your ass. You can count on it. Do you know why? Because I own you."

Oh screw that. The whole purpose of the BDSM lifestyle is yes, to push the limits you have, but when someone makes it VERY clear that this particular thing is NOT ok - any good Dom accepts that. They may broach the subject again later on, but they do not basically threaten you in the way Blake CONSTANTLY threatens Erica. 

If, after reading this, you still think this book is your cup of tea - you can find using the buy link below.

********************

Hardline (Hacker #3)  is available from Amazon.com