Category / Contemporary

by mvbookreviewer

ARC Review: Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck

Format: E-bookloverundercover
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Hero: Trevor McCade
Heroine: Kylie Roberts
Sensuality: 4
Date of Publication: April 22, 2013
Started On: April 17, 2013
Finished On: April 20, 2013

Hero: Trevor McCade, 30 years old, and a cop for nine years out of which the last three had been spent in homicide.

Heroine: Kylie Roberts, yoga instructor who dreams of owning her own yoga studio in the fine city of LA one day.

Storyline: Kylie’s identical twin sister Stacy breaks her leg from a nasty fall at the exotic dance club where she works. When Kylie agrees amidst all misgivings & reluctance to step in for her, Kylie accidentally stumbles across the body of a murdered man who turns out to be one of Stacy’s regular clients. Going undercover with the sexy Trevor turns out to be a deal and rule breaker for Kylie, someone who has always being on the straight and narrow where life is concerned. For Trevor whose mantra has always been to focus on the job at hand, Kylie proves to be just the right and very tempting sort of distraction he needs. And as sparks fly in every direction & every opportunity available, both Trevor & Kylie brace themselves for the sort of emotional roller coaster ride that would change them both forever.

Time period: Lover Undercover has a contemporary setting and is told from both the point of views of the hero and heroine.

Likes: This was my very first Samantha Beck and boy, am I glad that the blurb convinced me to kick all caution aside and request for this title on Netgalley. From the first chapter itself which introduces us to a nervous Kylie berating herself for agreeing to step in for sister and to the moment she lays eyes on Trevor, I knew I had made the right choice and I let all my reservations go and just buckled up for what turned out to be one hell of a ride.

I loved Samantha’s style of writing, the way she brought out pertinent details about the characters that lent the story a well rounded edge. And the one thing that struck me was how Lover Undercover continually surprised me with how non-cliche it turned out to be. I expected certain scenes to turn out in the most usual and likely way possible and Samantha continued to surprise me by taking the lesser traveled road where romance authors are concerned. For that Samantha Beck earns my whole hearted approval.

And Trevor, oh sweet Lord Trevor. I can’t even say his name without a small tremor invading my body. Trevor is the sweetest sin any heterosexual woman could indulge in. And boy, does he prove time and yet again that he is more than capable of indulging in sinful behavior every chance he got that certainly left me begging for more. Tasteful and yet so very erotic, each and every scene had my blood pumping in all the right directions and thats all I’m going to divulge here for my readers. And let me tell you, those private dance scenes were over the charts hot!

I loved Kylie too. Kylie’s character is very well rounded and her vulnerability together with that determination to succeed truly had me where it matters. I rooted for her and loved the way she couldn’t turn away from the need that echoes in Trevor’s eyes and the way that they both are so in tune with each other’s emotional as well as physical needs just made me one happy reader all around.

On a side note, I enjoyed this so much that I went right ahead and purchased Private Practice by the author right after I finished reading Lover Undercover because I think with just one book Samantha has managed to shoot right up to my list of auto-buy authors.

Dislikes: None

Final Verdict: Hot and sinfully brazen with just the right amount of suspense. I want my very own Trevor right now!

Recommended for: Fans of the Brazen line from Entangled Publishing, fans of Samantha Beck and of course for readers like myself who love a good hot scorching read with a hero that will leave you with heat flashes long afterwards. Definitely recommended!

Favorite Quotes

Head back and teeth clenched, her entire body tightened against his. Her free hand clenched his shirtfront while the busy hand between her legs stilled. She sucked in a quick breath—as if she’d just walked into the biggest surprise of her life—and then came with a long, shattering cry.
In that moment, Trevor knew that he was completely and utterly fucked.

Such a simple thing, really—just lips against lips—but oh, she felt the magical electricity of it all the way to her toes. Rather than sate her hunger, the gentle kiss was like a taste of chocolate to a starving woman. She wanted, needed, couldn’t deny herself more.
She parted her thighs, so her soft, yielding parts aligned intimately with the hard ridge straining the fly of his gray trousers.
A subtle tightening of his hand on her butt lifted her higher. The blunt head of his erection found and pressed a pleasure button she barely knew she possessed.
She practically crawled up his body, curling her arm around his neck, wrapping her leg around his hip, arching and opening so the place he’d discovered was his for the taking.

“Christ, don’t move,” he growled. Leaning in, he pressed his chest against her back, pushing her forward. Grappling for balance, she gripped his knees, twined her legs around his firmly planted calves, and scooted her hips back hard and fast until the only thing she could feel—the only thing she could think about—was the blunt, unforgiving thrust of his erection against her quivering sex. Just when she feared she’d cry out from a combination of agony and need, Trevor choked out a strangled curse, shuddered, and exhaled a long, rough groan.
She gripped him hard, and drew her clenched fist slowly up his shaft, wringing an agonized curse from him.
“Let me,” she whispered, more a demand than a request. “Tell me what you want.”
He wanted to tell her to stop; needed to tell her to stop. Instead, he grabbed her waist, buried his face in the warm, fragrant curve of her neck, and begged. “Christ, do that again. A little faster.”

She leaned in, closed her lips around his earlobe, and bit down. Bright light flashed behind his clenched eyelids, the few brain cells he had left imploded, and he came with a strangled groan.

Hands tangled as he helped her unhook his belt and open his fly. Reaching in, she found him straining toward her invading fingers with an enthusiasm that matched her own. Shoving his clothing away, she closed her hand around him. Dear heaven…all of him.

For one suspended moment, their eyes met. His lips moved and she heard his rough, shocked, “Jesus, Stacy.” Then sensations blasted through her like a shock wave. Eyes closed, head thrown back, she spasmed helplessly, endlessly. With a low, tortured sound, he plunged again, and she shattered in his arms.

 

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

fantasticread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall

Format: E-bookjacksonrule
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harper Collins
Hero: Andrew Jackson Rule
Heroine: Rebecca Ruth Hill
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: October 13, 2009
Started On: April 1, 2013
Finished On: April 6, 2013

I’ve been meaning to read Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall for quite a while now; perhaps its being more than a year or so since it landed in my ever growing pile of books that I want to read and never find the time for. Finally, the urge to read a book that would captivate me, and also the fact that something kept nagging me to pick this up for my next read had me finally brushing away the e-dust and turning one page after the other until I was fully immersed in a book that contains a mix of some of my favorite tropes all in one.

Jackson Rule walks out of prison 15 years since he was convicted and sentenced for a crime deemed unforgivable by society at large. Now 31 years old and looking for a way to find a place for himself in the society, it is by a quirky sequence of events that Jackson finds himself at the doorstep of the shop owned by none other than Rebecca Ruth Hill in his attempt to find a job.

Rebecca hires Jackson against her better judgement and amidst the misgivings of her closest friend as well as her preacher father. But Rebecca who is willing to give Jackson the chance that no one is willing to offer somehow reaches into the tightly ensconced heart of Jackson, a heart that Jackson didn’t even know was up for grabs.

As the days go by, Rebecca finds in Jackson more and more reasons for her to abandon all caution aside and finally surrender to the wild desire that courses through her and is mirrored in Jackson’s eyes. But the past would have to be laid to rest if Jackson ever were to find happiness of the kind that he is more than deserving.

I loved Jackson Rule though there were bits that felt too drawn out at certain intervals. But overall I would say the story that unfolds is one that captivates and touches the heart at its very core. Jackson’s character reaches out to you, not because he is wickedly handsome, rides a Harley and has a body that would make a woman self-combust from all the heat that he generates just by walking into a room. Though that bit certainly helps things along, its got more to do with the fact that Jackson is a man who believes himself unworthy of a woman like Rebecca because of a childhood that had been more nightmarish than anything else.

If I were to talk about the reasons why Jackson is a character that invaded my heart right from the start, I’d most probably end up giving away spoilers which would ruin the story for someone who would love to read the book. All in all let me just say that both Rebecca and Jackson makes for two beautiful characters, who finds each other against all odds and finds in the other a love worth fighting every single obstacle that stands in their way from attaining ultimate happiness.

Recommended.

Favorite Quotes

As she took a step closer, her breasts brushed against his chest in a taunt he could not ignore.
“Be careful, lady.” His voice was harsh as his hands raked through her wet, tangled hair, bringing her face closer to his own.
“Of what?” She slid her arms around his waist, moving her body into perfect alignment with his.
Instinctively he braced himself and pulled her close, rocking gently against her in an age-old rhythm.
“Of this.” He cupped her hips with his hands and lifted her off of her feet. “Of that.” His groin had swelled in one huge ache and was pressing into her flesh. “Of me.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Short & Sweet Review: Risk the Night by Anne Stuart

Format: E-bookriskthenight
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Constantine
Heroine: Madison Mary Banks
Sensuality: 4
Date of Publication: January 13, 2013
Started On: April 16, 2013
Finished On: April 16, 2013

Hero: A man who calls himself Constantine, a termination specialist or otherwise known as an assassin.

Heroine: Madison Mary Banks, a reporter whose looking to do a story on men who lead lives as the one Constantine does.

Storyline: Its Madison’s need to seek the story that she wants to do on assassins that brings these two together. The attraction they have for eachother is immediate, fierce and undeniable.

Time period: Risk the Night has a contemporary setting and is told from both the hero and heroine’s points of view.

Likes: The fact that Risk the Night is a novella by my favorite author Anne Stuart is reason enough for a cause to celebrate. I loved Constantine, whose real identity is revealed close to the very end of the story; not that it makes much of a difference to the man he is. Constantine is lean, sexy and lethal and utterly too gorgeous for a woman like Madison to attract, or so she thinks. But the story that unfolds as a result of that burning need to possess & be possessed is one worth delving into.

And on a side note, all the while I was reading this book, the song Assassin by John Mayer, one of my favorites by him, kept repeating on a loop inside of my head. And it made the read all that much more enjoyable.

Dislikes: The only qualm I had with the story is that it was short. But then again Anne Stuart does a remarkable job in giving just enough tidbits for a book of this length to be enjoyable.

Recommended for: Fans of Anne Stuart who like myself cannot get enough of her books and her ruthless heroes.

Final Verdict: Lethal, hot and potent. Left me begging for more!

Favorite Quotes

And when she opened them he stood there, on the narrow little balcony. He was soaking wet, the rain running down his stark, beautiful face in rivulets, plastering his white shirt to his chest. He was there, as she somehow knew he would be.
He was everything she hungered for, everything that was wrong. She looked into his eyes, and her body convulsed in a tiny, shocking climax.
She was in deep trouble.
He pulled her, and she didn’t fight him. Pulled her out onto that narrow sliver of a balcony, out into the driving rain, and kissed her, his mouth hot and heavy on hers, wet, demanding. It was a lover’s kiss. The kiss of man who was ready to climax, and her hands, the ones that should have pushed him away, clutched his shoulders, holding on, as she surrendered to him.

“Let go,” he said, his voice a mere whisper. “Don’t fight it. Take it. Take me.” He bit her earlobe again, hard, and she cried out, sliding to a darker level of hell, shuddering in the final, building response that made no sense, she had come already, too many times, she didn’t want this, she was afraid …
And then the last barrier fell, and she tried to scream, but no sound came out as she tumbled into the darkness, free falling, her entire body shaking apart. She clawed for something to hold onto, but he fell with her, his silent, choked gasp echoing in her ears as everything went black.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo

fantasticread

by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: A Touch of Confidence by Jess Dee

Format: E-bookatouchofconfidence.jpg
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Samhain
Hero: Jack Wilson
Heroine: Claire Jones
Sensuality: 4.5
Date of Publication: October 2, 2012
Started On: March 16, 2013
Finished On: March 29, 2013

Hero: Jack Wilson, a high school English and history teacher whose one single passion has always been teaching who finds himself in uncharted waters when he has to take over the reins from his grandfather at his property management business.

Heroine: Claire Jones, shares ownership of the Li’L Books and Bits with her two sisters Maddie and Julia.

Storyline: Wanting to expand their business since Li’L Books and Bits is doing so well, Claire has a deal to rent out an ideal space for their second shop through Wilson Property Management when things go all awry and the space that should have been rightfully theirs goes to someone else because the new sexy giant who turns up to takeover the day to day arrangements of the business mucks things up on the first day of his job; who turns out to be none other than Jack Wilson.

Time Period: A Touch of Confidence is set in the present time and is told from both Jack and Claire’s points of view.

Likes: It’s being a while since I’ve read anything by Jess Dee and I found myself falling in love all over again with the way she writes. Jess is an author who always does a superb job out of her storytelling and A Touch of Confidence is no exception.

One of the things I loved about the story is that Claire is a plus-sized heroine with a bunch of her own insecurities to deal with. Picture perfect heroines get tiresome after a while and meeting Claire was a refreshing change from the books that normally make their way to my reading pile. I loved how Jack dealt with Claire’s insecurities when it comes to her image and  the sense of confidence that he instills in her in every way.

I loved the give and take factor entwined in the story. Both Claire and Jack have an equal amount of presence in the story and both their natures fit in together just perfectly. I just love it when that happens and the story that unfolds focuses equally on both characters.

And the heat! Oh my stars the heat! You’ve just gotta read to find out for yourself what I mean.

Dislikes: I felt the ending of the story was a bit abrupt. I was thinking that there would be a couple more pages to smooth out the ending.

Final Verdict: Heat, a hero that quotes Shakespeare and the unwavering strength of love; Jess Dee’s remarkable talent shines through – as always!

Favorite Quotes

Claire yanked at his shirt, pulling the tails from his pants, letting her hands creep beneath the cotton.
Holy shit. Hot male flesh pulled taut over rippling muscle.
He felt so damn good, a moan of appreciation escaped her throat. Jack kissed her harder, more thoroughly, and Claire couldn’t get enough of the wet heat of his mouth.

He tore his mouth from hers, panting hard, but didn’t stop their erotic dance. His eyes brimmed over with lust, with a hunger so raw it sent a hot chill up her spine.
“I swear, Claire, I may only have known you a day, but it feels as though I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.”

She meant to be polite. Honestly. But the second she caught a whiff of his aftershave, of that gorgeous, woodsy scent, her manners scattered, her words vanished and instinct took over. She grabbed his tie, yanked him forward, and stole his lips in a blistering kiss.

He buried a second finger inside her, loving the smooth slide, glorying in the spasm that ripped through her inner walls, trapping his fingers for just a second.
“Oh, dear God. That feels good.”
Fuck, she was wet. So wet. So tempting. He rubbed his thumb over her clit, and his name tore from her throat.

“When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Samhain| BoB | Kobo

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Widow by Anne Stuart

Format: E-bookthewidow
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Connor Maguire
Heroine: Charlotte Thomas
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: September 12, 2012
Started On: March 12, 2013
Finished On: March 15, 2013

Sigh. Count on Anne Stuart to always deliver a story worth sinking one’s teeth into. Though most people on Goodreads who have read and rated this book doesn’t seem to like it much, I found the story hard to put down and enchanting at best and thought provoking as well. Needless to say I enjoyed the heck out of reading this one.

30 year old Charlotte Thomas (Charlie) receives the news of the death of her ex-husband Aristide Pompasse 5 years after she leaves him and has started a successful life of her own. Knowing that as the widow and beneficiary of his will she would have to face her past and the demons that she keeps at bay at any cost, Charlie makes her way to Tuscany, Italy to once and for all deal with everything she had left behind.

It is in Tuscany and at Pompasse’s residence that Charlie runs into the 35 year old Connor Maguire who poses as an insurance consultant to get what he wants out of the supposed tragedy behind the death of a man who had surrounded himself with a harem of young women, a man who had been considered as one of the greatest artists of his time.

Charlie would rather cut off an arm than admit to herself or anyone else for that matter that Connor ruffles her feathers and gets under her skin in a way that no man before him ever has. His confronting nature coupled with his rough around the edges appeal makes Charlie want the unthinkable and crave for something she has never had before.

Connor is willing to do whatever it takes to profit from the story behind the death of the legendary artist, whose uptight and closed up widow makes him think of things better left unsaid. Connor is not going to leave any stone unturned in his attempt to get what he wants, be it even if seducing Charlie is what it’s going to take. However, things hardly go according to his plan as his fascination with Charlie and what she represents continues to grow together with his hunger to have her in every manner possible for a man to have a woman.

The Widow by Anne Stuart makes for an awesome read, the details of Charlie’s past makes for a shocking and titillating read. The past that Charlie tries so hard to escape from inevitably catches up with her and in the end lands her life in danger as it becomes clear that someone is out for her blood and that death is the only inevitable conclusion behind the craziness that ensues.

I will never know how Anne Stuart does it; and she does it every single time; she manages to come up with heroes of the calibre that most writers are afraid of creating and gives them an appeal that is hard to escape from. True to that fact, Connor makes for a very appealing hero, whose ruthless nature makes it hard for a fan of such heroes not to fall head over heels in love and lust with him.

Charlie is the character that makes you think, a woman who had married an old man whom she had looked up to as a father figure and protector who had ended up killing her on the inside and stealing her very soul in the process. Her escape from him hadn’t come without a price though people who know of her would hardly understand that by looking at her. Needless to say, Charlie’s character was one that called to me and made me empathise as well as fall in love with her as the story continued on its path.

Highly enjoyable, The Widow is recommended for fans of contemporary romantic suspense novels by Anne Stuart and for those who like myself love a little bit of ruthlessness in their heroes which means seeing them fall in love is just that much more fun!

Favorite Quotes

Charlie wouldn’t have thought a kiss would be earth-shattering. But then, she would never have let anyone like Maguire kiss her if she had had half a chance to avoid it.
But she didn’t. He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her up against his dusty, sweaty body, put a hand behind her head to hold her still and simply kissed her, openmouthed, using his tongue.
And she closed her eyes and kissed him, and he opened his mouth for her, and this time it wasn’t firm and dry, it was hot and wet, and she felt a jolt all the way down her body. For half a moment she tried to pull away, and then simply sank against him, pulling her hands from beneath his T-shirt and sliding them around his neck, pulling him closer. She felt his hands skim her face, as if he was afraid to touch her, and then he did, cupping her face lightly, as he met her unpracticed kiss with such profound gentleness that she wanted to weep with longing.

She didn’t even know how it happened. She turned and leaned her back against the door, looking up at him through the thick shadows. And then the shadows were blotted out, as he placed his body up against hers, hip to hip, chest to breast, mouth to mouth.
She was hungry for it. Hungry for him, when she had thought it was something she’d never feel. He tasted like rain and repentance, of sweet sin and the night air, and she closed her eyes and kissed him back, shivering in response.

He was moving a little faster now, and he heard that breathless catch in her voice. She was climbing again, and this time she knew where it would lead. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready to go there again.
But he was. He wanted her with him. He wanted her convulsing around him as he spilled inside her, and he wasn’t going to come without her.
“No,” she said. The first time she had said no all night.
“Hell, yes.” He reached between their bodies and touched her, hard.
She was absolutely silent this time as the climax hit her, clenching around him, as wave after wave of release drained her body.
And he followed her, letting go, holding nothing back.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | BoB | Kobo

awesomeread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: What Not to Expect When You’re Expecting by M.J. Fredrick

Format: E-bookwhatnottoexpectwhenyouareexpecting.jpg
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Rick Cassidy
Heroine: Bailey Summers
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: February 1, 2013
Started On: February 25, 2013
Finished On: March 12, 2013

Hero: Rick Cassidy, middle school history teacher who hires on as the new bartender at Summers to help along his brother and his family to make ends meet.

Heroine: Bailey Summers, owner of the bar and going through a surrogate pregnancy for her brother Mitch and his partner Dean.

Storyline: When Bailey hires Rick as the new bartender for the duration of the summer, she has no idea the complication that her life would become in more ways than one. The timing could not have been worse for her to meet someone that she finds alluring enough to turn her back on all those steadfast rules that she clings on to because she is so very good at being alone and taking care of herself rather than leaning on someone else from time to time. For Rick, Bailey is a complication he would not do without and when these two get up close and personal with each other even with all the odds stacked against them, well, that’s the part of the story that packs an emotional punch that is hard to forget.

Time period: What Not to Expect when You’re Expecting is set in the present time and is told from both Summer and Rick’s points of views.

Awareness between Rick and Bailey: From the moment Bailey and Rick meet, even with all the complications that exists in each of their individual lives, there is this tangible connection and awareness of the sexual and emotional variety that springs forth between the two which paves the way to lend the story some very delicious moments.

Likes: I loved Rick. There is no escaping the fact that Rick is one of the most giving heroes I have ever come across. Its hard not to fall in love with a man who is hot, has a tribal tattoo on one of his biceps and is there for the woman he wants even when his life dictates otherwise. The patience that he exhibits is one I wish I had sometimes and needless to say you need to read the story to get the full effect of Rick into your system and I tell you once you’ve done that there is no turning back.

As always I loved the emotional impact that MJ always leaves behind with her stories. There is always so much heart in all of her stories, and she takes on some very interesting tropes to base her stories on. Acting as a surrogate mother for Bailey’s brother and his partner might be one of the most selfless and giving acts one can perform but that doesn’t mean that Bailey doesn’t have her fair share of doubts and agonizing moments throughout the pregnancy about whether she is doing the right thing for herself. And MJ explores these aspects in depth that lends this story that unputdownable quality.

Dislikes: I wouldn’t say that I disliked how Bailey turned out because there were moments when I could actually glimpse the wonderful and caring person that she is on the inside. But there were times I wished she would open up, just a little bit so that Rick would get a woman who is deserving of all that patience and love he has in abundance.

Recommended for: Those who love contemporary romances that feature slightly unusual tropes. This one’s really good! And for fans of MJ, I know you would know what you are getting yourself into when you indulge in one of her books.

Final Verdict: What Not to Expect When You’re Expecting is a novel that throws a lot of messy emotions into the mix and delivers a read that would keep you engrossed till the very end.

Favorite Quotes

She’d barely turned around when Rick pulled her close, peeling one strap down and kissing his way to her nipple. She gasped and held his head close as desire pinged off every nerve before centering between her legs. She trailed her fingertips down his chest and inside the waist of his trunks, finding him hard and hot, at odds with the rest of his water-cooled body. He groaned against her breast and stretched the leg of her suit to reach her. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as he stroked her, then pushed his fingers into her, filling her, thrusting deep, again and again.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Requested ARC Review: All the Way by Jennifer Probst

Format: E-bookalltheway
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Hero: Gavin Luciano
Heroine: Miranda Storme
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: March 4, 2013
Started On: February 26, 2013
Finished On: February 28, 2013

Hero: Gavin Luciano is sexy with a take-charge dominant attitude that can make any heterosexual woman go weak at the knees and then some. Coming from an Italian family, Gavin is a man who has always been determined that nothing would ever prevent him from living his life and following his dreams as he sees fit – even at the cost of losing the only woman he has ever loved.

Heroine: Miranda Storme, as the name suggests is a feisty heroine if ever there was one. She is a food critic, a famous one at that, a name she had earned for herself fair and square when the one man who had invaded her heart had left her reeling when he had walked away from her without a backward glance. Bold and beautiful, Miranda is a heroine that is hard not to fall in love with.

Storyline: Gavin returns home to help his family’s ailing restaurant Mia Casa and runs into Miranda, the woman who still has the ability to take his breathe away. Gavin knows that it had been a mistake to walk away from the best thing to ever happen to him. But then winning Miranda back is not as easy as he thinks it would be as he navigates the minefield of seething emotions on both ends to conquer the woman he loves, once & for all.

Time Period: All the Way takes place in present time in New York and is told from both Gavin and Miranda’s points of view.

Awareness between Gavin and Miranda: If there is anything that Jennifer Probst excels at, and believe me she always tells a darn good story; it is the sense of awareness & heat that she creates so well between her characters which always leaves the reader begging for more. There is always a thread of sensuality spun into every scene that Gavin and Miranda appear in that sometime spins out of control and for most Jennifer leaves it up to the reader to imagine their inevitable conclusion.

Likes: There are so many things to love about All The Way. I started out reading thinking this would be just another one of those second chance romances where the heroine would play hard to get at every turn and get on my nerves. But no, there is none of that as Jennifer always creates such lovable characters in each of her stories. Miranda has good enough reason to be leery of Gavin and the second chance he offers at being a couple. At the same time I could understand Gavin’s reasons for leaving before though he could have done a better job out of it. But the fact we are all humans means we all make mistakes, sometimes of gigantic proportions that seems irreparable.

One aspect of the story I loved was the ruthless determination which Gavin puts into winning Miranda and her affections back. And by ruthless I don’t mean that he strides into the room and kisses Miranda senseless and all’s right in their world again. Hardly that. There is so much underlying emotions within the story that if Gavin had been any different, the way he won Miranda over would not have been believable at all.

I liked the fact that both Gavin and Miranda had matured enough during their time apart to understand the nuances of a relationship that makes it work and long lasting and that is exactly what Gavin tries to prove to Miranda though hiccups are encountered along the way.

And dear me, I loved Miranda’s friend Andy and of course Gavin’s well rounded family that gave me a couple of good pauses and much needed hilarity from the otherwise at times intense read.

Dislikes: For some reason though I can’t put my finger on it, I felt that in the end Gavin was the one who ended up making all the ‘sacrifices’. Perhaps sacrifice might not be the right term to use because he had changed along the course of the 3 years he had been away and his priorities had changed. But I’d have loved to see Miranda meet him half way in making their relationship work for the second time around.

Recommended for: Fans of Jennifer Probst & fans of contemporary romances, Italian heroes and second chance romances.

Final Verdict: A well rounded, sizzling story of two people whose karma lies in their entwined lives. Jennifer Probst hits all the spots with this one.

Favorite Quotes

She bit down on his lip. Her nails curled and dug into his biceps. He groaned and caressed her breasts, flicking her nipples with his thumbs, urging them to tighten and swell and obey his command. She arched.
With a growl, suddenly he lifted her up from the stool and placed her on top of the bar. Never breaking the kiss, he devoured her mouth and pushed her thighs apart. Swollen and ready, she sank into a pit of greed and lust, her body craving release and dominating her usual control.

Fear choked her and she moved to push him away, her mouth open to tell him no.
But it was too late.
Gavin surged inside of her with one strong thrust.
Fire.
Fullness.
Completion.
He interlaced his fingers through hers. Stared deeply into her eyes.
And moved. Again. And again.

Purchase Links: Amazon

fantasticread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: How to Get Over Your Ex by Nikki Logan

Format: E-bookhowtogetoveryourex
Read with: Kindle for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Valentines Day Survival Guide
Publisher: Harlequin KISS
Hero: Alekzander Rush (Zander)
Heroine: Georgia Stone
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: February 2013
Started On: February 05, 2013
Finished On: February  18, 2013

Never have I written a review while conflicted so much about the rating I would give to the story. On the one hand I enjoyed this story immensely. Nikki Logan has definitely earned her place in the list of authors whose books I would always continue to buy. Even then, I find myself a little bit more than disappointed in one aspect of the story I will highlight as I get on with the review.

28 year old Georgia Stone gets rejected on Valentine’s day by the man she has been dating for the past year. Public scrutiny is hardly what she needs or wants but then the contract that she signed with the radio station won’t let her get away that easily. The station manager Alekzander Rush (Zander) offers her a way out, a monthly segment on the radio which features bits and pieces of the one year journey that Georgia takes on an year of self discovery and realization i.e. “The Year of Georgia”.

With Zander “monitoring” her during all the activities that Georgia takes part in, the attraction and the sense of awareness that Georgia has had for Zander since their very first encounter starts to grow. Georgia might not be a woman who might be considered a ravishing beauty but her personality is one worth delving into. I fell in love with her for her easygoing nature, the way she tries her hardest not to let self-doubt and a sense of inadequacy get in her way of exploring new horizons. It takes courage for a woman who has been rejected in a very public way to find within herself to move past all that and take a chance at love and happiness once again and I applaud Georgia for that if not everything else about her.

Zander is one of those broody intense heroes that you are just going to love. I fell in love with him from the moment his intense eyes blazed with need for Georgia, a need he ruthlessly tamps down and brings under control every single time it tries to get the best of him. Zander is reserved, not surprising given his past and surprisingly empathetic when it comes to Georgia’s very public blunder on the Valentine’s day. But when you get to know what Zander himself goes through, the surprise factor turns into understanding of why Zander is the way he is. The more Zander tries to push Georgia and her thoughts away from his mind, the more tenacious they become until all he can think of is Georgia and the one inevitable conclusion of all the combustive passion that he is keeping a tight rein on.

And oh my dear lord, how I loved the subtle and yet intense layer of awareness and attraction that is such a huge part of Georgia and Zander’s relationship. And it made me want to weep and throw the e-reader at the wall when all that came to a realization and there was nothing for the reader to enjoy. Yes, the sense of awareness and desire between Zander and Georgia is mind-numbingly hot & intense and I wanted at least just one scene of passion between them to come to life in the  book. I don’t need explicit content. Just something other than a memory on the heroine’s part of the culmination of all that passion would have done it for me. And yes, true story, I whimpered in sheer agony because I never got to “witness” what an endurance runner might be like in bed.

What made the connection between Zander and Georgia that much more precious was the fact that both characters remain true to their self, and its a slow journey of discovery of a love that is that much more real because in the end its not the normal Harlequin variety of romance where the ultra rich workaholic hero takes one look at the damsel in distress and falls head over heels in lust and love with the heroine. The fact Zander resists the temptation Georgia offers and yet yearns for her with every cell in his being was what made the story work for me. And it would have made for a 5-star outstanding read if not for the fact the I felt so cheated out of seeing the passion between Zander and Georgia explode onto the pages.

Recommended for those who love reticent heroes and the heroines who make them fall in love.

Favorite Quotes

Her breath came heavy and fast and mingled with his. Then she turned inwards, drawn by the plaintive breath that was her name on his lips. Their mouths touched. Sensation sparked between them and birthed a flame, hot and raw. Zander pressed their lips more firmly together, leaned into her. Curled his fingers into the hair at her nape. Georgia pressed a hand to the damp, cool earth and used it to lever herself closer to him, to hold the connection fast. To explore and taste and experience. His breath became hers. Her breath sustained them both. She kissed him harder. Greedy for his taste.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | BoB | Harlequin | Kobo

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Hard Irish by Jennifer Saints

Format: E-bookhardirish
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Weldons, #3
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Jared Weldon
Heroine: Roxanne “Rocky” McKenna
Sensuality: 3.5
Date of Publication: September 17, 2012
Started On: February 07, 2013
Finished On: February 10, 2013

Hard Irish by Jennifer Saints is the much anticipated and awaited 3rd book in the Weldon brothers series. I love Jennifer’s books, whichever pseudonym she chooses to write them under because she provides an unbeatable combination of romance and sensuous delights together with just enough suspense to keep the ball rolling in her stories.

Jared Weldon and Roxanne “Rocky” McKenna’s encounter happens quite by chance. Though Jared goes seeking her out and unknowingly stumbles into her life, blindsided by the desire and need that she invokes in him makes Jared hesitant to spell out his real reason for wanting seek her out. And when Jared is certain that someone is out to get Rocky, there is no stopping Jared from doing all that he can to safeguard the woman he begins to fall helplessly in love with, one scorching kiss and searing touch at a time.

Hard Irish brings to the forefront the lovable Weldon family together with the ultra-appealing four brothers 2 of whom I am already hopelessly in love with. Jared finds himself in a bit of a fix when he can’t come out with the truth about who he actually is, but he has no choice but to play along for the duration it takes to keep Rocky safe.

Rocky is a woman who has had a bit of a tough time of things of late. With her father out of commission after a stroke strikes him down, Rocky takes the lead role in their business and gets things going. As a divorcee who had a tough time with her ex-husband, Rocky has her own issues to deal with, emotional scars that are left behind from a relationship that had done more damage than good.

Added to the mix is the thick plot of a deranged killer intent on finding out the secrets that Rocky’s mother had taken to her grave, secrets for which Rocky just might have to pay with her life and the lives of the ones that are near and dear to her.

A good read, I recommend the 3rd book of the series to those who have enjoyed the Weldon brothers so far and those who love books by Jenni.

Favorite Quotes

“May God give you…For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”
—Irish Blessing

The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we can never give enough of is love.
—Henry Miller

I know the depths of sin.
The wretchedness of the depraved.
I know the darkness within
I’ll never escape it, even in the grave.
Though I know it is wrong
And I’ll pay with my soul
I could not turn away from
The love that made me whole.
So I stole every moment of time
And lived in the shadows
To love this child of mine
Before facing heaven’s gallows
I was part of the unforgivable
Blood stains my hands
Still I pray for the impossible
That in the end mercy will stand.

She didn’t have a chance to breathe before he caught her in his arms and planted his mouth on hers, instantly hot and demanding.
She opened to him, meeting the thrust of his tongue with hers, groaning deep from within as her starving senses found succor for her every want. His tongue tangled with hers, leading her in a seductive dance unlike any other.

Her body tightened like bow. She was going to explode. “Take me,” she whispered. “Hard. Give me everything.”
“Hell,” he cried out. His control snapped. The bed shook with his frenzied thrusts, banging the headboard against the wall. She arched and rocked, slamming herself against him. “Come,” he demanded. “Come with me.”
She clenched hard, squeezing his penis with the muscles of her sex and screamed as a mind-stealing orgasm captured her body and her soul. Her vision dimmed, her heart thundered, and her body shook. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her, leaving her quivering, replete.

Purchase Links: Amazon

goodread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Trading Favors by Tatiana March

Format: E-booktradingfavors
Read with: Kindle for iPad
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Men at Work
Publisher: TM Romance
Hero: Robert Connell
Heroine: Madeline Livingstone
Sensuality: 3.5
Date of Publication: September 25, 2012
Started On: February 05, 2013
Finished On: February 05, 2013

Being a fan of Tatiana March and my restlessness to read something that would captivate me found myself visiting her website to find out whether any new books by Tatiana had come out. To my delightful surprise I found that she indeed has a couple of new books out which I am dying to read one by one. Trading Favors which is a novella caught my eye the most and from page one, I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting as soon as I went to bed that night.

Madeline Livingstone (Maddie) finds herself divorced by her husband Frank at the age of 32. On the night her divorce is finalized, upon the advice of her friend, Maddie gets drunk enough to get the courage to walk up to Robert (Rocco) and demand to know why he had cheated her out on the work she had hired him to do at her house. To her embarrassment, Maddie comes to the realization and hard truth that not only had her ex-husband dumped her and opted to go for a newer model, he had also duped her in so many other ways which brings to home just how naive her trust in him had being.

When Rocco turns up on her doorstep the next morning and makes a deal with her to finish the repairs on the house, the one glaring fact that comes to light is the red-hot attraction that simmers and flares to life between them. Maddie who has been told time and yet again that she is undesirable and that she would always remain so has a lot of self-esteem issues to recover from. Not to mention her childhood that had instilled in her the proper manners befitting a lady of her upbringing makes Maddie afraid to reach out and take what she wants when Rocco is more than willing to offer himself to her.

When Maddie does find the courage inside of herself to say yes to Rocco, he shows her a world of sensuous desire that Maddie never ever thought possible. A slave to the way he makes her feel, neither of them talks about the future and opts to live in the moment. With a little bit of tangible angst added to the mix and a hotter than sin hero who just made me melt in all the right ways, Trading Favors is an awesome read that lifted up my spirits and made me smile and hum in all the right places. One of the things I loved the most was the unique beginning to the story that certainly makes it worthwhile a mention. Highly recommended.

Beautiful and sensuous. I loved it.

Favorite Quotes

The water started coming down harder and a little colder. The stream cascaded over her head, rivulets running down her face. Rocco brought his mouth back to hers. Deep, consuming kisses. The heat from his mouth mixed with the cool drops that ran down her skin, creating the most erotic sensation she’d ever experienced.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea…” Her words trailed away.
“Maddie.” Rocco dropped his towel to the floor and walked up to her. He took the damp bundle from her and patted excess water from her hair, his movements clumsy. “I don’t know how to do this right.” He leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. “But trust me, when we get into bed, right is my middle name.”

Rocco lowered his head for a quick, rough kiss, and then he rose above her, his shoulders wide, his biceps rippling with force, his arms locked straight at the elbows. He pulled back and thrust back into her, hard and deep. She felt her body clenching around him. He withdrew again, only to surge back in. Once. Twice. Thrice. Her body spun out of control. Pleasure rolled over her, in crashing waves that swept her along.

“You won’t need any clothes tonight.”
He mounted her without any finesse, thrusting hard and deep, filling her. The first orgasm hit her almost at once, but he didn’t pause, didn’t even slow down. He seemed to go on forever, steady, insistent strokes that started the tension coiling inside her again almost as soon as rolling waves of the previous release had stopped buffeting her.
She couldn’t see in the darkness, couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel the frustration and ill temper that drove him, could feel the sweat that made their bodies slick. She could hear the harsh grunts that he made no effort to silence. Could almost taste the flavor of his anger, because she’d asked a question that implied she had no faith in him.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Smashwords | Diesel

awesomeread