“But I’d rather look back and regret something I did when I was young and crazy, than look back and regret something I never had the courage to do, an“But I’d rather look back and regret something I did when I was young and crazy, than look back and regret something I never had the courage to do, and realize it’s too late.”
Brian - The ultimate sexy bad boy...sleeves tattooed all the way down his arms, piercings in all the right places, and an I Don't Give a F*ck attitude. In fact, he owns his own tattoo parlor, so he's now a sexy, tattooed, pierced entrepreneur. With a heart. Sigh! Nuff said...
Candace - The ultimate good girls next door who tries to spread her wings. She's secretly lusted after Brian, all the while knowing that even if he could somehow be interested in her, her stodgy, uptight family would never approve.
This is a classic story of good girl meets bad boy, but a hell of a lot sexier. I think my eyes were in danger of popping out of my head. Cherrie Lynn pushed all the right buttons in her sex scenes...they were quite literally some of the sexiest foreplay/mutual masturbation scenes EVAH!!!! This ride was steamy and dreamy, because Candace and Brian have known each other for years, and their history makes this new relationship totally believable. The little bit of awkwardness by itself was just part of their foreplay. And there is a scene at Korn concert (in which I can place myself, because quite frankly, their concerts are the shit!) in the rain that had me sweating. God I love fiction! In no other way would I be able to do THAT at a concert and get away with it!! Without being arrested, anyways.
Toward the end, Candace developed a typical high school-ish wishy washy attitude about her relationship with Brian, causing him unnecessary angst. Poor baby! This was the only part that bothered me about the book, and it didn't last long. She finally wised up and realized what a good thing she had. So all is good.
SEXXXXY, SEXXXXXY, SEXXXXXY......Sorry, just had to put that in there one more time. If you're looking for a good contemporary high on the steam factor, this one is purrrfect!
Merged review:
“But I’d rather look back and regret something I did when I was young and crazy, than look back and regret something I never had the courage to do, and realize it’s too late.”
Brian - The ultimate sexy bad boy...sleeves tattooed all the way down his arms, piercings in all the right places, and an I Don't Give a F*ck attitude. In fact, he owns his own tattoo parlor, so he's now a sexy, tattooed, pierced entrepreneur. With a heart. Sigh! Nuff said...
Candace - The ultimate good girls next door who tries to spread her wings. She's secretly lusted after Brian, all the while knowing that even if he could somehow be interested in her, her stodgy, uptight family would never approve.
This is a classic story of good girl meets bad boy, but a hell of a lot sexier. I think my eyes were in danger of popping out of my head. Cherrie Lynn pushed all the right buttons in her sex scenes...they were quite literally some of the sexiest foreplay/mutual masturbation scenes EVAH!!!! This ride was steamy and dreamy, because Candace and Brian have known each other for years, and their history makes this new relationship totally believable. The little bit of awkwardness by itself was just part of their foreplay. And there is a scene at Korn concert (in which I can place myself, because quite frankly, their concerts are the shit!) in the rain that had me sweating. God I love fiction! In no other way would I be able to do THAT at a concert and get away with it!! Without being arrested, anyways.
Toward the end, Candace developed a typical high school-ish wishy washy attitude about her relationship with Brian, causing him unnecessary angst. Poor baby! This was the only part that bothered me about the book, and it didn't last long. She finally wised up and realized what a good thing she had. So all is good.
SEXXXXY, SEXXXXXY, SEXXXXXY......Sorry, just had to put that in there one more time. If you're looking for a good contemporary high on the steam factor, this one is purrrfect!...more
Seriously intense, a story from cover to cover that never loses momentum. It's a book that will make you angry, frustrate you, and then turn around anSeriously intense, a story from cover to cover that never loses momentum. It's a book that will make you angry, frustrate you, and then turn around and give you tender, sweet, loving feelings. Kind of tore me up a bit. Very different from what I expected, but in a good way. This is not light reading, folks. It's a quiet night without the kids, glass of tea, bag of chocolates, stay up late and sink into it kind of book. ...more
I really enjoyed the first half but I felt like it was very rushed timeline-wise. Too much happens in the year that this couple is split up. The heroiI really enjoyed the first half but I felt like it was very rushed timeline-wise. Too much happens in the year that this couple is split up. The heroine becomes a case worker for orphans, becomes exhausted with her job, moves on from her failed marriage attempt, starts dating. The hero makes some major upward moves in his company, becomes a skilled woodworker, enters a committed relationship, gains a best friend. So many major life changes, and it made for a pretty unbelievable plot. The coincidences were also wholly unbelievable. (view spoiler)[The hero just happens to be the closest living relative to the heroine's favorite little orphan. The guy on the plane just happens to be the new best friend of the hero, whom the heroine never even met. (hide spoiler)] It was a great story, but the flow and continuity could have used some work. Possibly just some brutally honest beta readers. I loved the idea behind the story as a whole. Without spoiling any major points, I can say that I fell in love with this heroine's intent and her heart. ...more
The first in a favorite new series! 5 gigantic, shiny stars.
Mack is a tough girl, raised on the streets since her Dad died when she was 13. But she gThe first in a favorite new series! 5 gigantic, shiny stars.
Mack is a tough girl, raised on the streets since her Dad died when she was 13. But she gets in over her head when she goes looking for her missing best friend among the Boston mafia. There she meets Lachlan, head of the Irish bad guys.
I'm partial to Irish heroes. Not sure why, but if the word "Irish" is somewhere in the blurb, it's almost a guarantee I'm gonna read it. And I luuuurved these guys.
This is a somewhat dark series. Not dark-dark. No explicit rape, which is a huge no-no for me. There are rape scenes, but you don't get details. No glorifying that type of thing. The good guy bad guys (lol) are very protective of their women. Just not so much the other dudes. There are pretty explicit torture sequences, especially in book two.
However, it was so easy to sink into this dark, gritty, bold, and uncompromising world. No punches pulled. This was INTENSE, from start to finish. You want alpha? You fucking got one with Lachlan! ...more
Holy crap...the hotness of Tessa Bailey's Beck is indescribable. I've never been one for the virginal hero thing, but Beck is not at all what I expectHoly crap...the hotness of Tessa Bailey's Beck is indescribable. I've never been one for the virginal hero thing, but Beck is not at all what I expected. He's inexperienced but not at all afraid to go out and get what he wants. Dirty talking, lip smacking deeeeeeelicious!!!! Rough, fast, HARD.
This was my first Sophie Jordan read but not my last! I thought she was historical romance only, but she proved me wrong. Her hero/heroine couple have been friends for years and have always been comfortable with one another. Until one day, the spark ignites and all they can think about is humping each other till they can't walk any more.
One of the better collaborations I've read. These two wrote well together. Their characters came from two minds but the same base, and I'm hoping there's a repeat. Verra nice!!!...more
"It's terrifying because I think I'm a pretty tough person, but I had no idea how...unprotected you would make me feel."
I read this immediately after "It's terrifying because I think I'm a pretty tough person, but I had no idea how...unprotected you would make me feel."
I read this immediately after book one, Speak Easy. You kind of have to, as it finished off the story that begins this low angst, plot driven love triangle. I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. I did find Tiny to be a bit wishy washy in this one...too much at times, but I'm happy to say that this ended on an awesome note, with a fantastic epilogue. So glad I gave this series a go, after having it sitting on my tbr for months.
"I've never wanted to do to another person the things I want to do to you. Oh, my God, the things I'm going to do to you..."
A little incentive...I found this one to be even hotter than book one, and you just can't beat a love triangle book with hot sex and a solid story line too. ...more
Not what I expected, but wonderful just the same. I've kept Amy Harmon's books on the tbr for years now. I had a feeling I'd love her voice, and for sNot what I expected, but wonderful just the same. I've kept Amy Harmon's books on the tbr for years now. I had a feeling I'd love her voice, and for some reason I wanted to save her stories for a future need for a good read. I think I'd have to be in the right mood for this type of read. Contemplative and with plenty of time to sink into it. I was slightly listless during the somewhat long intro into the meat of the story, but once the true direction of the plot took off, there was no putting this one down. I read and read and read until I was done. Moses was a very complex character, but Georgia was equally so. Maybe not as outwardly dynamic, but she was so unique in her own right. Moses' art was haunting and sexy, in a way. The suspense was an underlying constant, so I kept waiting for the big reveal.
Wonderful, magical story with a bit of a paranormal twist. ...more
If you loved this book, I 'm sorry! In no way, shape, or form am I laying down judgment on people who liked the story. I gave this a shot, hoping to gIf you loved this book, I 'm sorry! In no way, shape, or form am I laying down judgment on people who liked the story. I gave this a shot, hoping to glean some insight into what these dark romances are all about and why they are so popular lately.
I was prepared to have to fight with myself, battling inner demons about not falling for the bad guy, the slave trader, the kidnapper, the beater of women and raper of souls. Turns out, I didn't have to fight hard at all. This guy was just a douche. Sure, sure, he was sex on a stick. And also a douche.
I just never found anything redeemable in him. For nearly the entire book, he abuses, assaults, and forces himself and all manner of degradation up on the heroine. So yeah, I need a good effing reason to forgive him. He likes to pinch her arms, rip at her hair, and throw her to the floor...he likes to lock her up, he likes to see her fear. Okay. But that's not romantic. At all. So I don't see how this can be a dark romance. There is no romance.
♦ “Twisting my skin, breaking tiny blood vessels, he drove me to my knees” ♦ “He drove another heel into my hip...” ♦ “His foot shot out, toppling me and the seat to the tile”
What seals the deal for me is that he actually starts to tell her that he's doing it for her own good. He starts to act altruistic, as if he's doing favors. It's just ridiculous. She's nothing but an American slut, and it's not even that she deserves his shaming and torture of her, it's that she will be better off for it. It was truly unbelievable. He never shows remorse for his actions, not once. Why would I root for this couple?
”Poor, fragile women appreciate what comes to them. They're easy to tame.”
The heroine, Celeste...she's so weak willed, her will basically doesn't exist. She was pathetic to start off, when her boyfriend and boss dumps her and fires her in the same breath. But I assumed her coming ordeal would make her tougher, open her eyes to a better way of living life. When she's captured, however, she becomes this horny nympho, writhing and wetting her panties, moaning uncontrollably. It truly is unbelievable. On the very first day, when she begins waking up from a drug induced sleep to find herself unable to move due to drugs, having her legs spread wide for pictures to be taken of her, touched in her most intimate places by strangers...but when Leonide walks in, she's a wanton hussy. I just don't think that would happen. Who would react like that? And it doesn't stop there...she is this way throughout the entire book. I was shocked that this was actually the way this was handled. People believe this? They roll with it? I guess suspend your belief, roll with the extremely horny twenty something. I've heard of hormones but good grief!
♦”The way he said 'whore' in that liquid accent of his, it woke my body; left me dizzy.” ♦Why did such an evil man own lips that were made for kissing? ♦ “Leonide was vulgar. When he called my body parts such obscene wrods in that heavy accent of his, I always felt a rush of excitement. I was worried for my mental health.”
Me too...
I assumed this would be a mindfuck sort of book, but it wasn't. There weren't any twists or real mind games going on that made me empathize with either Celest or Leonide. She was captured, he was her captor who proceeded to try to break her. And she let him. Pretty easily. I've really only read one other “dark” romance, and while I hated myself for caving, I quite enjoyed it in the end. I rooted for that couple, I felt that their ordeal made them good together. But there was never a point in this book that Leonide became likeable, nor was there ever a time in which Celeste was strong. I suppose if she's weak enough to allow her entire life to be ruled by a man who abuses, degrades, and humiliates her and gets off on it, then they deserve each other.
I felt like the writing needed some polishing. Other than the obvious, there were phrases and reactions that just felt off. ♦ “I'd always wanted smaller breasts, been ashamed of how high mine sat.” Riiiight. Small, saggy boobies are often wished for. ♦ Also, she died her hair blonde, which was a big selling point for him. And she's worried about her roots growing in. All I kept thinking was...'not a natural blonde?' That would be obvious, considering she's constantly stripping for him. ♦ Another thing that was completely unbelievable was (view spoiler)[ how the entire town was in on his game. Not one person would stop to help a woman screaming, crying in the street...begging to get away. He's going to force her to suck his dick in front of them all, and this is what they say about him... “I heard you call him a demon.” Lifting her chin, she looked up at me imploringly. “In truth, he's an angel.” (hide spoiler)] Whatever.
To be fair, I am not a dark romance reader. I do like heroes that ride the edge of unforgivable. However, I want them to have some small sense of remorse. I want to put the book down feeling like there is a reason for a happy ending, instead of hoping that they don't procreate. I want it to make me feel something spectacular. All I felt here was how hard my eyes rolled. I assume that authors who write this type of story expect reviews like mine. I think books like this take it all a big step further than BDSM novels. This is the opposite of safe, sane, consensual. This is dangerous, crazy, and unwilling sexual slavery. This is real, and it's not romantic. Maybe it will serve as a warning for any girls out there who go to strange hotel rooms in Vegas and take unsolicited drinks from guys they just met. I hoped for something more from this but I felt like it was too kitschy to feel genuine. ...more
"I have you where I want you," Ben said, approaching me. "I can do with you what I will. You trust me not to harm you. I take that trust to heart....I"I have you where I want you," Ben said, approaching me. "I can do with you what I will. You trust me not to harm you. I take that trust to heart....I'll take what I want. You'll give me what I need. In return, I'll take on your burdens, set you free." [image]
Gavin DeGraw is a detective and comes from a family of cops. It's in his blood, it's in his bones, and he takes his job seriously. Possibly a bit too seriously, and it's put quite the strain on his marriage. When a brutal case involving the BDSM community is given to him and his partner, even more of his time is needed. Ben is a man who is brought in to consult on the case due to his experience with certain kinks and the fact that he is a psychologist. There is an immediate draw for Gavin to this new world that he is investigating. Not only is he fascinated by the intensity of some of the scenes, but a closely held secret is also beginning to be brought to the surface. Gavin begins to understand the roles of those in a D/s relationship, and is more than a little interested in learning more.
Amid this eye opening intro into the BDSM scene, Gavin is opening himself up to a world he never thought he'd come to accept. But there are consequences for his honesty with himself. Above all, Gavin is a good cop, a good man, and he works diligently to solve this case. [image] What I loved: Gavin! Ben! Cole! Myah! These characters are so well rounded, and each person has a distinct personality all their own. I'm most definitely not a connoisseur of gay romance, but I often find that women are portrayed as such evil bitches, and boy, do I get tired of that. I like how some women in this book are made out to be wonderfully loyal and magnificently beautiful all on their own. This facet mows down that demarcating line between a person's worth due to gender. Being a girl myself, I appreciate that.
I liked how the BDSM elements were there but didn't completely take over the story. Gavin and Ben have lives outside of the club, outside of the playroom. And they have a normal life with each other, as well.
"It takes more courage to kneel before another than to stand beside them. Subs are not weak. They simply choose to let someone else fulfill their desires, and trust that person to do so. They put their Dom's wishes ahead of their own, and their payoff is a happy Dom, who also rewards them with praise and love the the safety net of guiding them around life's obstacles.
[image] I was worried because Gavin is married. Won't say much because it will be a spoiler but don't let it hold you back, mnkay?
What I didn't love: OMG, the detective work was pretty frigging lame. It wasn't obvious at first whodunnit but yeah...when you know, you'll know, and yet it still took the detectives quite some time after I knew to figure it out. Made for an exciting ending, but still.
Another thing that slightly bothered me is how the D/s relationship is explained. Granted, I literally have NO firsthand knowledge of the subject, and I'm certain everyone's experiences and feelings differ. But when the submissive's role is laid out, it just seemed to me that it was all made for the Master's pleasure. You submit to please your master. You do what he wants ONLY to make him happy, because pleasing him is all you want to do. There was more to it than that, but I wanted more focus on how the feeling of powerlessness is freeing for a sub. That aspect is alluded to, and for me, that is the entire draw of a submissive role in a D/s relationship. To be completely uninhibited, unable to freely stop without safewording...no embarrassment or feelings of inadequacy because your Master is in control of all things. One quote spoke to me in this regard, and I wanted to point it out: "In fact, he gave me order in a new way, a way in which I didn't have to think, where my only responsibility was to follow the rules, do what he expected to make him happy. He found room to take me away from the burden of heroism, from the heaviness I chose to shoulder, allowing me a sanctioned moment to set aside my responsibilities and just feel.
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Thanks to Marco for the recommendation. Mwah! ...more
I've been looking for unique and new, and Harlow wrote something that hit me at just the perfect time! Set in the 1920's, during the time of the prohiI've been looking for unique and new, and Harlow wrote something that hit me at just the perfect time! Set in the 1920's, during the time of the prohibition, Tiny's gangster love triangle is sexy, intense, and just angsty enough to fit into the New Adult mold.
Enzo is the mob boss's son and the clear cut bad boy of the two men vying for Tiny's attention. He doesn't even pretend to be a nice guy, which is honestly the most sexy thing about him. He lusts after Tiny, and has no qualms about letting her know...both physically and verbally. His words are sexy, his actions sexier. Even if his Dad IS the guy who kidnaps Tiny's father, I can't help but swoon along with her every time Enzo walks into a room.
Joey is the annoying lifelong friend of Tiny's who has recently come back into her life. He's changed from the annoying boy who pestered her to death when they were children. Now he's annoying mainly because he calls her "Little Tomato" and because her pulse tends to go haywire when he touches her. Joey is the good guy, and Tiny's a good girl. But they both can't stay good in this world of bootlegged liquor, powerful Italian mobsters, and underground speakeasies where sex and alcohol flow freely.
I'm already halfway through book two and am anxious to see who the victor is between the two men. Thanks to Jeanne for the recommendation!...more