Review: Four Letter Word by J. Daniels

Title: Four Letter Word

Series: Dirty Deeds #1

Author: J. Daniels

Release date: September 28, 2016

Cliffhanger: No

Synopsis:

Fate. Hate. Love. Lies.

Which four letter word will change their lives forever?

Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words "wrong number" in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend's heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.

Brian Savage is living a life he's quickly come to hate-until Sydney's wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .

J. Daniels knows how to write steamy. Sexy. Tantalizing. I'm talking explosively hot. But the best part about her books? Where a lot of erotic books will just end there, hers stand solid with actual substance to the characters and storylines. They are the full package: Humor, heat, with a side of sweet. From the very first time I read one of her books, I immediately clicked, so reading this one was never a question in my mind.

What I wasn't prepared for was for her to up her game once again. I'm not sure how she manages to accomplish this feat every time, but I can honestly say that this book surprised me. There was something about these characters that were just the little bit edgier, and she managed to have a fresh feeling to writing that I really enjoyed. Trust me when I say, you will devour this book and immediately go add Hit the Spot to your TBR. Get ready, because you're about to get hooked on an exciting new series.

Sydney's life is in shambles. Suddenly single and broken hearted, she picks herself off the ground and starts over in a whole new town with her best friend Tori. I loved the relationship that these two women had. They were true sisters in every sense that matters, and had each other's backs through everything in their lives. It was Sydney's loyalty to her best friend that led to "the phone call." The one that started it all. When she dialed the wrong number by mistake, she met someone on the other end that found her fire, her wild to be everything he didn't know he was looking for.

We didn’t know each other. Our encounter was a mistake. A one-time mishap, never to be repeated. Right?

They begin a friendship, getting to know one another at a deeper level before they even met. That was such a unique and fantastic part of the story. To see their attraction grow not from lust, but from something so much stronger. Not only that, but that build up to when they finally did meet was incredible. Once they moved to flirting, and started dancing around the possibility of actually meeting, you are right there with them and desperate for more. Only, there's something holding Brian back from meeting her. His life isn't everything it seems, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to let her go.

My world was one miserable mistake shaping second after another, except for the breaks in my misery that belonged to her. And no way was I ready to give that up.

I absolutely loved these two together. They both had a lot of healing to do, each in significant ways. Brian needed to move past the guilt chaining him to a horrible tragedy, and she was just finding her wild spirit again after having lost it for so many years. Together, they grew and found a partner at a time when they least expected it. Brian has one hell of a secret, however, and the consequences of holding his silence may be the loss of the woman who has come to mean everything to him.

I can't stress enough how much I loved this introduction to the new series. As usual, she has me fascinated to read everyone's story, but Jamie and Tori's book is the one that has me very impatiently waiting to read. If you haven't read anything by this author before, now is the perfect time because these are going to be her best yet.

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Blog Tour with Giveaway and Review: Sweet Dreams by Nina Lane

 

ABOUT SWEET DREAMS

He may own a candy company, but this wealthy bachelor is no Willy Wonka.

Sugar Rush Candy Company CEO Luke Stone is a devoted businessman who doesn't do relationships. He does short-term affairs with clearly defined rules. But when a sexy bohemian angel propositions him in a bar, Luke is tempted to want more.

Polly Lockhart is horrified when she wakes the morning after her twenty-third birthday to realize she made a fool of herself with a sinfully delicious man. She tells herself she doesn't have time for romance anyway, as she's fighting to keep her mother's beloved bakery afloat and finish her culinary studies. That all changes when her class tours the famed Sugar Rush headquarters, and Polly collides with her dream man again. As she succumbs to their hot attraction, Polly soon realizes her bakery isn't the only thing that needs saving. Luke, driven and unyielding, will burn out unless someone convinces him to taste the sweetness of life. But can Polly remember this sugar rush is only temporary?

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About Nina Lane

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Nina Lane writes hot, sexy romances and spicy erotica. Originally from California, she holds a PhD in Art History and an MA in Library and Information Studies, which means she loves both research and organization. She also enjoys traveling and thinks St. Petersburg, Russia is a city everyone should visit at least once. Although Nina would go back to college for another degree because she's that much of a bookworm and a perpetual student, she now lives the happy life of a full-time writer. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsletter

Nina Lane is an incredibly talented storyteller. Admittedly, it's been a while since I've opened up one of her books, but hers are the kind that stand apart from a million others and stay with you for a long time to come. So when I saw that she had a new series coming out, I just had to introduce myself to her fresh set of characters. While Sweet Dreams was quite a bit different in tone to her Arouse series that I read, the lightness of it was a welcome escape for a few hours with a considerable amount of heat thrown in to the mix. While this wasn't an enthusiastic five star read for me, there was plenty here for me to enjoy and I already have book two, Sweet Escape locked onto my TBR.

What are some words that come to mind when I think about Polly? Hmm. Embarrassing? Artless? She's one of those characters that humiliates herself so badly that you're embarrassed right along with her. I think my face may have gotten a little hot at her drunken antics during her disastrous first meeting with the sophisticated CEO Luke Stone.

"Hi," she managed.
Amusement flashed in his dark eyes.
"Hi," he replied.
"How...um, how are you?" Polly stammered.
"I'm fine, thanks," he said. "How are you?"
"Peachy."
Oh, God. Peachy?"

At the same time, it was probably her humble and genuine personality that helped me connect with her the most. She's a very relatable type of character, and one that will inevitably end up charming you. She's a woman that struggles with confidence, but is far from a pushover. The way she got into Luke's intimidating Aunt's face when she insulted her was pretty amazing.

Luke was a bit of an odd character for me. At first impression, he seems to be mature, worldly, maybe a bit jaded. It was most certainly an opposites attract type situation with these two. While she was free-spirited and open, he was a workaholic and very reserved.

Despite the fact that he owned a candy company, he didn’t do sweet. His women were cool, sophisticated, and carefully vetted. Polly was not. Unfortunately, that was exactly what made her so intriguing.

As he grew more invested in spending time with Polly, he was clearly in uncharted waters. You could see how unprepared he was for his emotions getting mixed in with the sexual attraction, and there were times that he didn't handle things very well. One particular occasion towards the end, he acted like a giant ASS and it really took me aback. It was extremely childish and I didn't quite get where it came from, not only that, but I wanted to pull him out of the book and body slam him for how he treated poor Polly.

It seemed like there was relatively low drama throughout the book, and then two different conflicts popped up close together toward the end that had a rushed resolution. But if you're looking for something with very low angst, this will be a sure bet for you.

All in all, this was a sweet and sexy read. It wasn't my favorite by this author, but I'm very interested to see what she delivers in Hannah's book. She wasn't the most likable person for me, but I'm definitely intrigued with the person she's being matched up with. I look forward to more from these Sugar Rush characters in the future.

“Sometimes you don’t know that’s where you’re headed. But you sure do know when you get there.”

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Blog Tour with Giveaway and Review: Wilder by Rebecca Yarros

WILDER

by Rebecca Yarros

The Renegades #1

Publication Date: September 19, 2016

Genres: Adult, Entangled: Embrace, New Adult, Romance

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Synopsis: He’s Paxton Wilder.Twenty-two-year-old, tattooed, smoking-hot leader of the Renegades.

Five time X Games medalist.

The world is his playground—especially this year—and for the next nine months I’m stuck as his tutor on the Study at Sea program.

He’s too busy staging worldwide stunts for his documentary to get to class.

But if I can’t get him to take academics seriously, I’ll lose my scholarship…if I don’t lose my heart first.

Six unlikely friends on a nine-month cruise with the Study at Sea program will learn that chemistry is more than a subject and the best lessons aren’t taught in the classroom…but in the heart.

WILDER BOOK TRAILER

ABOUT REBECCA YARROS

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, chocolate, and Paleo. She is the author of the Flight & Glory series, including Full Measures, the award-winning Eyes Turned Skyward, Beyond What is Given, and Hallowed Ground. She loves military heroes, and has been blissfully married to hers for fourteen years.


When she’s not writing, she’s tying hockey skates for her four sons, sneaking in some guitar time, or watching brat-pack movies with her two daughters. She lives in Colorado with the hottest Apache pilot ever, their rambunctious gaggle of kids, an English bulldog who is more stubborn than sweet, and a bunny named General Fluffy Pants who torments the aforementioned bulldog. They recently adopted their youngest daughter from the foster system, and Rebecca is passionate about helping others do the same.

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Leah is offered the chance of a lifetime: cruise to exotic locations for a year while attending University on board. Who wouldn't jump at the chance? She's given a full scholarship and a luxurious cabin, and there's only one small, insignificant catch. Tutor a fellow student and make sure he passes or she's out of the program. She has a 4.0 average and at the top of her class at Dartmouth, so she's got this handled. But the last thing she was expecting was a reckless wild boy who would tempt her to throw her caution to the wind and push all of her boundaries.

He made me feel anything was possible, like there was a whole shiny world waiting for me to step inside and explore. He was everything I wasn’t, but he made me feel like I could be.

Leah is still suffering from a very traumatic event in her life and though she's functioning and getting by, her nightmares are still haunting her. She's developed a fear of heights as well that makes her feel trapped in the past and unable to break free. An attraction to a daredevil that lives for an adrenaline rush is not something that she finds very appealing. But from the moment they see each other there's an undeniable connection that keeps pulling them closer.

I really loved Leah, she was strong and bold when pushed to the limits by Pax and I really admired her ability to stand up to him and put him in his place. He wasn't used to getting denied anything he wanted and it was something that made her even more appealing.

She was so much fun to piss off. That’s when her shell peeled back to reveal a fire I desperately wanted to feel, to witness her burning.

Although she survived something that would break most people, she get up every day, puts one foot in front of the other and challenges herself to succeed and conquer her fears. Even when her best friend can't join her on the trip for the first three months, she has the courage to continue on and force herself out of the safe world she's been living in. She's not about risks and danger, and Pax may be her biggest risk yet.

Paxton Wilder is bold, sexy as sin, and the definition of determination when he sets his mind on something. Seeing Leah's courage in conquering her phobia, her intelligence and her drive, it makes him zero in on her and there's no stopping him once that happens. I Loved him so much, he was so set on making her his and you could tell in every thought and action he made. There was no second guessing with him and wondering where she stood.

As of this moment, I was committed, and I’d never failed at something I worked for. Eleanor Baxter wouldn’t know what hit her.

It's pretty clear throughout the book that there's more underneath the surface of Pax than a carefree extreme athlete. He's covering something up and his silence is only causing the anticipation of the fallout to grow with increasing speed. It's not a question of if the reveal will be disastrous, it's when. The added mystery of the stunt accidents brought another layer to the story that kept me guessing. I honestly had no idea who the source was, as much as I kept turning things over in my mind. I really enjoyed that there was that surprise at the end when everything came together and knocks you sideways.

Ah, the writing was just exquisite at times too, there were so many great quotes I needed to highlight. It really solidified my love of Rebecca Yarros' books that developed from my very first introduction in Full Measures.

I kissed her like I’d left a piece of my soul with her and I needed to explore every line of her mouth to find it.

What did I love most about this book? There was so much to enjoy, but the beautiful and unique backdrop of the cruise to such beautiful destinations was such a fun thing to read. The secondary characters, all of the Renegade friends were developed excellently and have me looking forward to the following books in the series. The main characters both passed with flying colors for me, and their chemistry and connection were both incredibly good. It was a fast paced, light read with plenty of steam, I recommend it to anyone who wants a book that stands far apart from any other book in the NA genre you've read. I'll be watching for Nova's book with excited anticipation.

Under the sun of Mykonos, with the sand of Kalafatis Beach under us, I gave in to the adventure of my life. What a way to fall.

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Review: Unsuitable by Samantha Towle

Title: Unsuitable

Series: Standalone

Author: Samantha Towle

Release date: October 1, 2016

Cliffhanger: No

Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

Daisy Smith has spent eighteen months of her life paying for a crime she didn’t commit. Now out of prison, she has only one focus—to get back custody of her younger brother, Jesse, who is deep in the foster care system. Desperate to rebuild her life and show the system that she is responsible enough to care for Jesse, she takes on the only job available to her—working as a maid at the Matis Estate.

On day one of her new job, Daisy meets Kastor Matis, the only son of the owners and her new boss. An enigmatic, handsome Greek god of a man, Kas is closed off, cold, and…well, kind of a bastard.

The more time Daisy spends around Kas, she starts to see there might be more to him than just his cold, bastard ways. He may actually have a heart beating in that frozen chest of his.

But Kas has secrets, too. Secrets that he’s determined to keep.

Secrets make Daisy curious.

And you know what curiosity can do…

My whole body is awake. Like I’ve been in a deep sleep, and he’s just touched me to life.

Unsuitable was a story that really caught me by surprise. After reading the synopsis, I was hooked and knew that I needed to get my hands on this story. A romance set in London with an ex-con heroine who works for a brooding, bastard of a boss? Definitely different. Considering the fact that Samantha Towle has written a few of my favorite reads, you didn't have to twist my arm too hard to add it to my TBR.

I'm going to be completely honest and tell you that the asshole hero is not typically what attracts me. I know a lot of people gravitate towards them, but for me, they are extremely hit or miss. For some odd reason, however, my gut was telling me to take a chance on this guy and I'm so glad I did. The opening scene will immediately draw you in and give you a little insight into what makes Kastor Mastis the formidable man he is. But it's nowhere near enough to understand him as a whole. That comes much later.

Daisy Smith is a young woman just released from eighteen long months in prison. Even up until that point, her life had been anything but easy. One of her most defining characteristics was that she was a survivor. She raised her little brother Jesse singlehandedly when her mom abandoned them. Daily life was a struggle, but keeping them together was the most important thing to her.

Betrayal by the man that claimed to love her had everything she worked to hard to hold together slipping through her fingers. Her brother is now part of the foster system, and she's starting an uphill battle to reclaim what she lost. But some things can never be regained. To know that people don't believe her innocence, have never believed it is what cuts the deepest. All she can do is try to move forward.

I can’t explain how hard it is to know that you didn’t do what everyone believes you did and watch them judge your character based on that. Watch them control your life, take away your family. It’s painful and frustrating and heartbreaking.

Daisy gets set up with her best friend in a new apartment and a new job from her parole officer. Everything seems to be going positively for her from the start. Until she arrives at Kas' mansion to start cleaning his home and gets a rude awakening. He's not only impatient and abrupt with her, but noticeably hostile. Let me tell you, he is a grade-A asshole. Make no mistake about that. There were times he deserved a good nut punch for what flew out of his mouth at her. But as much as she wanted to tell him to shove his job, she sucked it up and did what she had to do. Building a stable life and getting her brother back was her only concern.

When their attraction started flaring up, neither one of them was receptive to it. In fact, they did everything they could to resist each other. But slowly, you see signs of Kas' affections (slight and brief as they may be) and Daisy's notice of him. These two had a delicious build up of angst, several back and forth moments of struggling with temptation.

His hands on me, the feel of him against my back, just feels too good. He feels like nothing I’ve ever had before and everything I didn’t even know I wanted.

One thing I really loved about Kas was that he was into parkour. It seemed like something so at odds with his uptight attitude, yet strangely fit him so well. He was a man with very little pleasure in his life, but this seemed to be an outlet for the horrible memories that plagued him. Bringing Daisy to practice parkour with him was his way of opening up to her and finally allowing her to see a part of him. But it wasn't long before she discovers a whole lot more than either one of them anticipated.

Let me tell you, I was held captive by this story. On the edge of my seat, and wondering where I would be led next. Even as these two find a small semblance of happiness, you can feel that they're still headed down a dark path. The secrets he's concealing are explosive ones with an indelible impact. What I really loved though, was the fact that the heroine held strong through everything and never lost sight of what was important to her.

Unsuitable had a unique quality that I always look for with my books. The characters were thoroughly intriguing, and the storyline never had a dull moment. Fans of contemporary romance with plenty of passion and an edge of mystery will really enjoy this one.

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