Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Review ~ Leveling the Field by Megan Erickson


Title: Leveling the Field
Series: Gamers #4
Author: Megan Erickson
Release Date: May 2, 2016


Reclusive magazine exec Ethan Talley is furious when his business partner hires a photographer—a gorgeous photographer who insists on speaking her mind, damn it—to take pictures for an upcoming article. No matter how badly he wants the woman…under him, over him, against the nearest wall…he has reasons for not wanting to be on camera anymore, and his scars are only one of them.

It takes approximately two seconds for Lissa Kingsman to recognize Ethan as the popular YouTube gamer who fell off the planet years ago. But this Ethan is different than the charming man she used to watch, and the crush she had on him then is nothing compared to the way she’s lusting after the brooding man he is today. If sex is all he can give her, fine. Why not use that bearskin rug in her studio for something other than a prop? But she’s determined to put a chink in his armor, no matter how much he resists.





I wanted this book. 

I wanted this book SO BADLY. 

I loved this book. 

I loved this book SO MUCH.

I was fairly tempted to just leave that ^^ as my review (with maybe a few subliminal ‘buy it’ messages thrown in for good measure), but then I realized that doesn’t tell you why I loved it so… 

It fails to mention the grumpy, broody, scarred and oh, so tempting Ethan Talley. The fiery, sassy, upfront and so damn likeable Lissa Kingsman. The return of this series’ other couples in all their geeky grandeur. 

Nowhere does it talk about the beauty of this relationship. About the power of friendship and faith and lust to help begin a long-awaited (and much needed) healing process. 

There’s no mention of the humor. The feels that had me alternating a laugh and a smile with a pang in my chest and a tear in my ear. Nor does it do justice to this wonderful, dare I say PERFECT, ending to one of my favorite nerdtastic series. 

Which is a shame. Because really, when I closed Leveling the Field, my first thought was how much I had wanted to read this book—since the first moment we met broken Ethan, and learned about his tragic past, as a matter of fact—and how completely and utterly satisfied and in love with it (and him and Lissa) I was…

So, I won’t bother with subliminal messages. I’ll flat out tell you. BUY THIS BOOK. And the others in the series, if you’ve not already read them. You won’t be disappointed. 
~ Review by Beth

In Leveling the Field, at last we learn the story behind Ethan Talley—what makes the man tick. He’s quite the recluse—really only communicating with his sister, Chloe and the rest of the Gamers staff including, of course, Grant, Marley and Austin, and Chad and Owen. He’s a miserable bastard and he likes it that way. Until the day he meets the gorgeous Lissa Kingsman, a photographer hired to take pictures to support an upcoming gaming article.

Lissa takes one look and immediately recognizes Ethan as the wildly popular E-Rad, a You Tube sensation that fell off the planet ten years ago. He’s matured and just as gorgeous as she remembers, but he’s now closed off and broody. Lissa had a massive crush on the boy, but she’s seriously lusting after the man now. She’s willing to take all that he offers—even if it’s just absolutely amazing sex. But what if it could be more? 

Gah, who doesn’t love a brilliant, heartwarming, funny, sexy nerd-a-licious book? I sure as hell do! Lissa and Ethan are magical together—glitter bombs and all. They’re fun, sexy, and smart. Add in the catch-up snippets of the rest of the Gamers crew, and it’s fucking brilliant. 

While I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for the last of the Gamers series to be released, I’m so very sad the series has ended. But oh, what an ending! 
~ Review by Missy


You want to know what was wrong with this book? It's the end of the series. That's what. 

And that's basically a travesty.

Oh, also? I didn't want it (this book or this series) to end. That's two things wrong with this book. 

So, what did Megan Erickson get right?

All the things.

The enigmatic, reclusive, scarred hero with the tragic past and the completely emotionally unavailable personality. I mean, that doesn't sound right, but the way Ms. Erickson peeled back his layers and showed us how he came alive again? That was just right. 

I have a thing for scarred heroes, and for crabby heroes, and for nerdy heroes, so I mean, basically? Stick a fork in me. I never stood a chance. Ethan was such a beautiful soul, such a wonderfully complicated, broken person. Getting to experience how he responded to Lissa, how he bloomed for her…was some kind of treat.

And Lissa? She's unlike any heroine I've ever read. She's fantastic. She pulls no punches and her mouth is filthy and it's fucking hottttt, y'all. She's fierce and confrontational—but her heart is ginormous, and so is her spirit. I loved her so much and cannot think of a more perfect match for Ethan.

Full of Ms. Erickson's trademark humor, heat, and completely lovable characters, Leveling the Field did not disappoint. It's fan-freaking-tastic—the perfect ending to a nearly perfect nerdgasmic series. 
~ Review by Shelly




Megan Erickson worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction. 

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.


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Review ~ Dirty Little Rendezvous by Emma Hart


Title: Dirty Little Rendezvous
Series: Burke Brothers #5
Author: Emma Hart
Release Date: May 9, 2016


Sometimes the past becomes the present... And he's hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn't one of them.
Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn't it.
It's been eighteen months.
He remembers that night a little too well.
She insists she has no idea who he is.
He's rugged and determined.
She's wild and free.
Together, they're a tornado.
Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

(Dirty Little Rendezvous is a spin-off of The Burke Brothers series, but can be read as a standalone.)






To say I’ve been anxiously waiting for Leila Burke’s story is an understatement. She’s just been biding her time, sitting back, allowing her four hot, sexy, rock star brothers and their girlfriends bask in the attention. Well, let me tell you, Leila and Jase’s story was worth EVERY FUCKING MINUTE of the wait!

I adore a strong female lead character. A character who takes no shit—who gives back as good as she gets. This is Leila Burke. She’s the youngest and has been dealing with (and outsmarting) four alpha male siblings for years! And things don’t change just because she’s traveling with them out of the country—if anything, she’s even more snarky on the road than at home.

Especially around Jase Masters. The “hot Brit” Leila hooked up with eighteen months ago. The “hot Brit” who’s now the Dirty B’s opening act? The “hot Brit” Leila can’t resist? And lucky for Leila, Jase can’t resist her either.

Gah, I could go on and on about the awesomeness that is their relationship—Leila and Jase just “get” each other. They are magical together. Magical even when Leila’s brothers act like idiots. Magical even when Leila and Jase worry about their future. Magical. Period.

I loved catching up with all the Burke brothers and their women, too. Connor, Sophie and Mila, the little cuss con artist. Tate and Ella. Aiden and Jessie. Kye and Chelsey. And the epilogue. Sweet Jesus. Amazing. 
~ Review by Missy

I will admit, I have not read the other books in this series, and when I found out it was book five, I was a tad worried I would be lost. But then… I LOVED THIS BOOK SO HARD!!! So basically, even if you have not read the others, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!

I am not going to go into a synopsis of the book—you can read that almost anywhere—but I will tell you to put on your seat belt and enjoy the ride that is Leila and Jase. 

The dynamics of this family flies off the page and literally smacks you upside the head. You can tell the brothers love Leila with everything they have, but still treat her as the baby, even if she is a 23-year-old woman. When they set the “ground rules” out, you can almost feel the tension rolling through the room. Mix that with Leila’s sass and charm, and you know she is going to put them through their paces. 

Jase is my new book husband. He is almost painfully perfect but in the best way possible. The fact that, right off the bat, he is willing to do just about anything for her, shows what a stand-up man he truly is. There were a few times when they were out when I wanted to reach in and smack him upside the head for forgetting there are cameras everywhere these days, but the way he swooped in to save the day made it all better. 

With this being my first book by this author, I was really not sure what I was expecting—but what I got was a million times better. You can tell this author really connects with her characters and loves them as if they were her family (and they very well may be). I will be running to purchase the rest of this series right now! 
~ Review by Devlynn

I have to say, Leila has been one of my favorite characters in the Burke Brothers series, and when I reached the end of Dirty Tricks, I was super disappointed that we weren’t going to see her get a well-deserved HEA. 

And that’s where Dirty Little Rendezvous comes in… 

When Leila heads off on tour with her brothers’ band, Dirty B, she doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with a man she had one dirty night with eighteen months prior, and when she does? SPARKS, Y’ALL. Serious sparkling little jolts of chemistry between feisty, sassy Leila and hot, tattooed and British, Jase. *fans self* They were dirty, sexy and panty-melting—and left me feeling a little overheated, if you catch my drift. 

I really did love these two together, but I have to admit that, as someone who has read the entire Burke Brothers series, I was expecting something different for Leila. Possibly I should have hunted down a proper blurb before I dove in, but I was disappointed at first that this story of Leila’s wasn’t the one I had envisioned from the first book. 

No matter. I still enjoyed the back and forth, the push and pull, the sneaking and spanking between this couple, and I have to say that Leila Burke is one of my favorite—if not my favorite—Emma Hart females. She was the right blend of cocky and snarky and sarcastic, without it ever spilling over into the dreaded bitch territory, and yet, she still felt soft and vulnerable at all the right moments. Moreover, she was well matched with Jase, who was sweet and a gentleman (who’ll hold the door for you and stare at your arse while he’s at it… *wiggles eyebrows*). 

While I DO think that Dirty Little Rendezvous is Ms. Hart’s best book in this series since Dirty Past, I feel compelled to note that the ending (NOT the epilogue, let’s be clear on that because that epilogue was per-fec-tion) was something that could have be truly beautiful with a little more communication and honesty, and little less trickery. Simply put, I liked the ending, but I didn’t love it. It didn’t give me the swoons and feels I had hoped for, and felt like I was on the road towards as this couple went from rendezvous to relationship to real love. 

Although…that epilogue more than gave me those feels so, kudos to Ms. Hart for that…and for giving Leila Burke the HEA she deserved. 
~ Review by Beth




By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.



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Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Review ~ Love Emerged by Michelle Lynn


Title: Love Emerged
Series: Love Surfaced #3
Author: Michelle Lynn
Release Date: May 9, 2016


Dylan
Bea Zanders’s interest penetrated me.
I tried to ignore her unwavering eyes and lasting touches.
But my willpower failed me.

Our one-night affair was mutual.
No expectations, no exchanging of phone numbers, nothing.
The next morning, she sauntered out of my life as fast as she had entered it.

Bea
I claimed Dylan McCain as soon as I saw him.
His disheveled dark hair and tattooed arms screamed bad boy.
Finally, I won, and he claimed me in return.

But in the light of day, he changed.
His smile further dented those dreamy dimples.
His panicked green eyes held layers of kindness.
Making sure the rules were clear, I walked away, showing him how little relationships meant to me.

Now, two months later, we come face-to-face again—as coworkers. 






First, let me start by saying, I've been SO ready for this book for months. A year, basically, since Love Surfaced came out, and we met Dylan and Bea for the first time. And it was definitely worth the wait. Because Love Emerged, like the two books before it, wasn't predictable or boring or over the top. It was fun, sexy and heartfelt. It made me smile, swoon, and ache. My heart stopped, dropped, and soared. And when I closed it, that same heart did a little happy dance, because Love Emerged was THAT good. 

Second, I should let you all know that Dylan is MINE. I'll fight you for him, because WHOA... I'm here, basically a puddle of melty, swoony goo, because Dylan was divine. Delicious. Devastating. Demanding. (I'm just saying, if he told me to come home, I'd step to, you know?) And he's so freaking adorably sweet and kind and nice, I just...I don't know. Want to steal him away. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for an alpha man—gruff and unapologetic—but there's something about a guy who is soft but not soft, if that makes ANY sense. He wasn't a pushover, but he was good guy, a nice guy and gah, I ADORED him. A. D. O. R. E. D. 

Third, let's talk about Bea. Honest (mostly), heart-breaking Bea, who uses her past as an excuse to avoid her future, who was so closed off, I wanted to shake her then hug her. She wasn't perfect—but she was an excellent counterpoint to gentle (but so, so hot) Dylan. I loved the way she pushed back at him, challenged him, wanted him. And when she gave in to his persistence, when she fought her demons, it was all the more rewarding because it was hard earned. 

Finally, I want to say a big, huge thank you to Michelle Lynn. This series is a favorite of mine and for good reason. It's chock full of feels; a roller coaster ride on the journey toward three loves that surface, rekindle, emerge, and completely steal my heart. Every. Single. Time. Is it any wonder my heart is dancing? 
~ Review by Beth

“I’m unfixable. I’m unable to truly love and trust someone. I tried, Dylan, and it didn’t work.” 

—Anyone else ever felt like this? Well, I have and it’s an awful but real-life feeling! Michelle Lynn summed up my life perfectly in this. This right here. 

If you’ve read any of the other Love Surfaced books that she’s written, you’ll know that they include elements of real life. I’m a firm believer that life isn’t easy but that if you believe in love, you’ll find it. And Love Emerged helps us to believe it, yet again! 

Bea Zander is a hard-core woman. She’s had a past that has shaped her but she’s learned to depend on and take care of herself. She doesn’t do relationships—mostly because she doesn’t know how. 

Dylan McCain is smart and funny and good looking. But he’s a relationship guy. He’s kind and thoughtful. He’s not all about one night stands or friends with benefits. He’s the exact opposite of Bea, but he’s so drawn to her he can’t let go. Together, they overcome what they don’t know they need to change. 

Love Emerged is a complex story of love and light and what happens when you just let go. Accepting that you can’t change your past but that you can have a better future is so much a part of letting go. Both Bea and Dylan have growing and changing to do, and we see them evolve in the best ways possible. 

I’m totally in love with Dylan. He’s the kind of real life guy that I would love to have! No question! <3 
~ Review by Heather




Michelle Lynn is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. 

With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn't reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing around two preschools all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.



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Review and Excerpt ~ Hustler by Meghan Quinn and Jessica Prince


Title: Hustler
Author: Meghan Quinn and Jessica Prince
Release Date: May 9, 2016



I make my living as a hustler, and I’m great at it.
I don’t have a single tell and I use that to my advantage to manipulate any situation.
I’ve always known what a person is about to do before they’ve even decided.

That is, until I met Penelope.
I can’t get a read on her, and what’s worse, she doesn’t want anything to do with me.
Which only makes me want her more.

Now I’m in for the hardest hustle of my life.
Somehow I have to convince her she belongs with me.
Good thing I’m always up for a challenge. 






In this crazy book world, sometimes we forget just how awesome the theme of “boy meets girl—boy does something stupid to lose girl—boy fights like hell to win girl back” is to read and enjoy!

From the very first page I was sucked into Gavin and Nell’s world, and I didn't want to leave. Gavin is a professional poker player—an amazing people reader. Nell is a small town girl trying to survive in the big city and make her dreams come true. 

Boy meets girl and holy crap, do the sparks fly. There's snark, sass, fun, laughter, and “fan yourself” sexy times.

Boy does something stupid to lose girl. Gavin is a dumb boy in a man’s body—desperate to not make the same mistakes from the past. A past that haunts him. So desperate he can't see what he has in his life now is so much better than he could possibly imagine.

Boy fights like hell to win girl back. Nell doesn't make it easy, nor does the tough love and reality check Gavin gets from his friends. But, yowza, does he grovel well.

I'm greatly looking forward to more from this writing duo. Ms. Quinn and Ms. Prince are amazing together—bring on Page and Graham’s story! 
~ Review by Missy

Gavin Saint is an unlikely hero.

I sort of hated him and his cucumber cool, ice-king ways. I hated his approach and his infuriating arrogance. I hated his unwillingness to show a tell—one itty bitty peek of emotion that would have made him softer, more human, more vulnerable and...lovable.

Then…he did.

And oh, Gavin Saint. I want wrap him up in a lifetime of bear hugs. Keep him safe and protected from the stupid world and all its stupid judgery (new word—in honor of Gavin Saint, y’all!). I want…well, I want more shirtless encounters and the whole nine inches of insane pleasure (I’m only human, I mean, come on…*wipes drool*). But mostly I want those walls to stay down because when Gavin Saint stops hiding his tells, there is no possible way to avoid falling in love with him.

Nell Prescott gets it.

She’s the only one not afraid to get in his face. She’s not cowed by him and she’s not even remotely impressed with that whole slick hustler image he has going for him. She’s feisty and fierce—and maybe sometimes her temper gets the best of her, but her ability to knock Gavin down a notch or two makes Nell the only kind of heroine who would ever work for him. And though she may be hiding behind some walls of her own, I adored her. Completely.

I admit I had a bit of trouble in the beginning of this book. The power struggle didn’t sit right with me sometimes. I doubted the sincerity of the feelings they were supposed to be developing when they repeatedly went toe-to-toe trying to prove who was stronger, who was least affected, who was running the show. I appreciated that Nell was feisty and stood up for herself, but I sometimes felt like the real feelings got lost in the battle of wills.

Then…things took a turn.

While I sat on the fence with this book for nearly the entire first half, I spent nearly the entire second half melting into a puddle of goo. Once Gavin and Nell started letting their walls down, letting each other in, and behaving like real human beings who like each other, it was hard to keep my feels from exploding all over the place. I loved them together, fumbling their way through their feelings. Once they let each other in, things got real. Their relationship was heartwarming, scorching hot (for real—I swear I heard my Kindle sizzle), adorable, and very, very sincere.

Hustler also funny. Laugh-out-loud funny. Sometimes maybe even “snort embarrassingly and then anxiously look around to make sure nobody heard that” funny. The friendships woven within the framework of this book were one of the best parts of it for me. The banter and teasing amongst friends was hysterical. Be prepared to laugh—a lot. 

My feelings about this book are as complicated as the characters it’s written about. I took the ride with them, my emotions running the gamut from frustrated and disgusted to unabashedly turned on to—finally—full-hearted and ooey gooey with all kinds of love feelings. The love feelings win…and the ending set my pulse aflutter. 
~ Review by Shelly

I’m trying with all my might to think of a suitable adjective to describe Hustler, and not a single one comes to mind. Probably because it’s just too freaking good to be encompassed by ONE word. 

So, instead, I shall give you a few off the top of my head…

Sexy. Funny. Charming. Heartfelt. Feel-good. Funny. Frustrating. Sizzling. And, oh, did I mention funny?! 

I may have had one or two moments that made me cross—I am categorically NOT a fan of seeing character described as looking exactly like a particular person, because if you don’t like said person (or even if you do), it kind of breaks the magic—but my overwhelming feeling about this book is that is one that people simply MUST READ. 

Because if you don’t read this book, you’ll be missing out. Missing out on the funnies and the feels. Missing out on Nell Prescott—she of the sassy mouth, strong will, big heart and even bigger dreams. Missing out on Gavin Saint—asshole extraordinaire, hot, cocky, arrogant and oh yeah, IRRESISTIBLE. Missing out on those moments when I thought maybe these two authors might have taken the back-and-forth between these two too far… 

But then again, I should have had a little more faith than that. Meghan Quinn is, after all, a proven author for me; I’ve laughed-out-loud at her crazy humor many times, fallen in love with her fiery females and swooned for her handsome heroes. Her name on the cover was the reason I wanted to pick up this book. The words, seamlessly written by Ms. Quinn alongside new-to-me author Jessica Prince, are what kept my attention. Just when I thought it was too much, they managed to pull it all back together. They presented a simple and simply lovely story of boy meeting a girl, wanting a girl, getting a girl, losing a girl and so on…then added a salty little spin. It was fun. Interesting. A little bit different. And absolutely enough to keep me coming back for more. 

And damn, I cannot wait for more. The captivating (and banter-licious) secondary characters have stories to tell—all of them. Scott and Davies, YESSSSSS. Lord, and don’t even get me started on Page and Graham. After that ending, I know they are going to be explosive. Crazy. Love-and-hate filled. Fierce. Possibly even over-the-top. And I cannot WAIT to see it happen—and see if I can come up with one…or more adjectives to describe them. 
~ Review by Beth



“Hello Miss Prescott. What brings you here this fine morning?”

Her eyes are glued to my chest, not a single word comes out of her mouth.

“Um, we’re having a picnic,” Page answers for her, poking Penelope in the back with a stick.

“Oh yeah, food,” Penelope answers, shaking her head quickly and turning back around.

Not waiting for an invitation, I take a seat next to her and say, “Well, don’t mind if I do. I’m famished.” Grabbing a few grapes, I pop them in my mouth and then hold my hand out to Page. “Gavin Saint.”

“Page,” she answers, awe in her voice. “Nell has told me so much about you.”

Grinning from ear to ear, I turn to Penelope whose face is bright red. “Is that so?”

“No!” she answers quickly, shooting daggers at her friend. “I have not said anything about you, at all.”

“Not even about the storage closet?” I ask, not ashamed at all.

Davies throws her head back and laughs while Penelope coughs into her drink. I pat her back in a calming gesture, occasionally rubbing my hand over the thin material of her top, wishing it were her skin.

“From your reactions, it seems like our little friend here did tell you. What did she say? Give me all the dirt.” I rub my hands together, loving the way Penelope is seething next to me.

Before any of the girls could cut in, Penelope says, “Just that you told me you had to use your fingers because you have a micro-penis and felt bad that you wouldn’t be able to please me any other way. We all agreed, you can’t have it all Gavin Saint,” she finishes with a sympathetic wince.

Should have seen that one coming. Fucking woman keeps me on my toes.

I lean over to Penelope, placing my hand on her lower back, and speak directly into her ear, keeping our conversation private. “You and I both know that’s a lie, but I’ll let it slide because I look forward to the moment when I fuck that thought right out of your head with my long…thick…cock.” I take my time speaking into her ear, eliciting goose bumps across the surface of her skin. With a quick glance, I also take in how her nipples have hardened.

Bluff all you want baby, I can read you like a fucking book.




Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan Quinn has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if "It's Raining Men" starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing... enter her first novel, Caught Looking. 

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh, and she loves a good boob squeeze!





Jessica Prince was born and raised in Texas--where she'll stay because she claims the cost of living in Texas excuses the god-awful weather. She is first and foremost a wife and mother. Because of those two things, she's also a self-proclaimed wino and coffee addict. 

She's always been an avid lover of all types of books, but romances are her main favorites. 

Jessica's husband likes to say reading is her obsession, but she likes to call it her passion...there's a difference.



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