by mvbookreviewer

Review: Darkness by Karen Robards

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Gallery Books
Hero: James MacArthur Callahan
Heroine: Dr. Gina Sullivan
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 29, 2016
Started On: November 21, 2023
Finished On: November 28, 2023

First published in March of 2016, Darkness by Karen Robards delivers an intense romantic suspense, weaving together elements of cyber-terrorism mixed with survivalist themes under which the main protagonists encounter each other and find their entire lives upended, in the midst of which comes love calling. When 28 year old Dr. Gina Sullivan’s research expedition on the remote Attu Island collides with private military contractor Cal Callahan’s mission gone wrong, they find themselves thrust into a deadly game of survival against both nature’s fury and human adversaries.

James “Cal” Callahan embodies the archetypal alpha hero with compelling depth. At 34, the former Air Force Special Operations Command member carries the weight of a troubled past that makes him wary of making long-lasting connections with emotional depth. Despite his dangerous profession and the walls that he puts up, Cal’s protective instincts and underlying vulnerability emerges as he is forced to depend on and protect Gina with every fiber of his being.

Dr. Gina Sullivan, a Stanford ornithologist, bears the emotional scars of devastating loss. Her journey from trauma-induced caution to rediscovering her strength is one that readers can empathize with, and her strength something that is truly admirable under the circumstances. Ms. Robards excels at portraying Gina’s internal struggle between her desire for safety and her growing feelings for a man who represents everything she fears.

The relationship development between Cal and Gina is one that starts off on the wrong footing, with a wary and distrustful Cal trying to ignore the elephant in the room; his skyrocketing desire for Gina. While Gina tries to grapple with the situation she finds herself in, her issues when it comes to trusting a man such as Cal who thrives on danger makes her want to withdraw into the cocoon that has protected her since the devastating loss she faced five years prior. However, the connection that forges to life between the two is stronger than either of them can deny for long, and makes for excellent indulgence for the reader amidst all the danger that surrounds them.

The story’s foundation rests on a brilliantly conceived technological threat that feels terrifyingly plausible in today’s interconnected world where we shuttle from one continent to the other, wholly trusting the airplanes, pilots, and companies such as Airbus and Boeing that designs these modern marvels. Ms. Robards masterfully builds tension gradually, revealing the layers to the conspiracy which keeps the reader on tenterhooks, while Gina and Cal battle the harsh elements and their dangerous pursuers.

While Darkness delivers a compelling romantic suspense, the conclusion did feel somewhat rushed for me. The story could have benefited from a deeper exploration of how Cal (who is intensely commitment phobic) and Gina bridge their drastically different lifestyles and approach their future together. A period of separation or more extensive relationship development before the resolution would have added emotional depth to their happy ending.

I found the technological aspects explored in the story to be quite intriguing and terrifyingly plausible, adding a layer of real-world anxiety to the story which made this highly entertaining, even as I worry to death every time I have to get myself on an airplane.

The survival elements showcase the skillful Ms. Robards at her best at creating visceral, immediate danger while developing the romance at pace between Cal and Gina. I especially loved Cal as the hero; the kind of hero that authors no longer know how to write. Truly loved this for the adventure, the technology explored, the wilderness of nature, and the sexiness that was all Cal.

Recommended for readers who enjoy romantic suspense, the classic alpha heroes as they are truly meant to be, strong heroines, and survivalist themed romances.

Final Verdict: Darkness by Karen Robards makes for a compelling romantic suspense that delivers on both the romance and suspense fronts, with that classic alpha hero readers like myself crave.

Favorite Quotes

Their eyes met. Something crackled in the air between them that hadn’t been there before—a kind of current. An electric vibration. An elemental male-female thing.
The sudden spark of sexual heat that flared inside her as he looked at her was so urgent it actually hurt. Her chest contracted. Her throat closed.
And her body started up with a hot, sweet pulse.
She instantly, figuratively, turned her back on it. It was nothing she felt the slightest urge to acknowledge, much less pursue.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“You look mad.”
“Mad? Me?” As she shook her now straggling-all-over-the-place hair back from her face, her voice was silky sweet. She was, however, all but shooting poison darts at him from her eyes. She could still feel the imprint of his hands everywhere—and she didn’t like it. “You ever think that I might be a ninja assassin planning to kill you with my bare hands while you sleep?”
Infuriatingly, that made him smile. A full-on crooked and charming smile that smacked her in the face with how really good-looking he was. That smile hit her the wrong way. It made her want to—
Before she could finish the thought, he slid a hand along her jaw, bent his head, and kissed her.

She started to turn away.
He caught her arm, pulled her around, and kissed her. Just like that, his hands gripping her shoulders, his mouth coming down on hers hard.
And she kissed him back. Instantly, instinctively, without any thought at all.
Her mouth opened to his. His tongue filled her mouth, scalding hot, demanding her response. And she gave it, answering his lips and tongue with a hungry intensity that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. Her body burned for his. She went all soft and shivery inside.
As quick as he’d kissed her he was lifting his head and pushing her away.
“Good-bye,” he said. He didn’t smile.
Gina didn’t smile, either. Her heart was thumping, her body was throbbing, and good-bye was both the last thing on earth she wanted to say—and the smartest thing she could say.

From the sound of it there were four men, all heading down toward the river.
Toward Arvid. Oh, God, he’d been murdered right before her eyes.
She couldn’t help it: she started to shake.
Cal must have felt it, because his hold on her changed. His broad shoulders curved more closely around her. The hand pressing her face into his coat gentled. She thought she felt his cheek rest against the top of her head.
She held on to him like he was the only safe harbor left in the world.

He held her fast, his big body pressing her back against the wall, and she felt a shaft of desire so intense that she shivered.
Everywhere his body touched hers she burned.
She only realized that she’d quit struggling and was standing perfectly still, staring up at him with God knew what expression, when his face, which had been taut with anger, changed. His eyes narrowed and the tension that had thinned his mouth into a straight line eased and—
He bent his head and kissed her.

What started out as a testing, a tasting, a question on his part, changed the moment she answered, the moment he felt her response. That was when his mouth turned hard and hungry and demanding, and he started kissing her like he could never get enough of her mouth. The blast of heat he ignited inside her blew her away. Her heart pounded. Her pulse raced.

She closed her eyes and kissed him back as if she’d been dying to have him kiss her like that. Her lips molded themselves to his and her tongue answered his as he learned everything there was to know about her mouth. He kissed her with a carnality that was like nothing she had ever experienced, and fireworks went off against the screen of her closed lids. Bones melting, senses reeling, she kissed him back the same way. When he let go of her wrists to wrap his arms around her and pull her even closer against him, she slid her hands up over his broad shoulders and curled them around his neck, and clung to him like her life depended on it.

He took her mouth again and again, in a series of long, slow, drugging kisses that stripped away every last ounce of her reserve, that made her head spin, that made her body pulse and burn, that had her kissing him back just as fervently. He kissed her like he was starving for the taste of her, like he never meant to stop.
She didn’t want him to stop. Arching up against him, she told him so in every way she possibly could that didn’t involve words.
Words were beyond her. Thoughts were beyond her. All she could do was feel.

The chemistry between them was off the charts. She could feel it sizzling in the air. It was there in the heat of their linked hands, in the intensity of their locked gazes. The blistering kisses they’d shared were permanently branded in her memory. Her body was aware of his like a flower is aware of the sun.

Here, she realized with a blinding flash of insight, was the key to the prison she’d been locked in. She might die tomorrow. Was she really going to let the poor maimed thing her life had become be the last chapter of her existence? He wanted her. Well, she wanted him, too—badly. There was no logical reason why she shouldn’t take what she wanted. She didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant: she had long-term protection from that. And if they weren’t together permanently, so what? There was nothing wrong with being together for right now. She could have a relationship with a man with forever potential later. Forget getting involved with him: that didn’t have to happen. To put it in his terms, they could simply get it on. This thing with Cal would be her very own red-hot love affair, an icebreaker to catapult her back into the sexual arena. When this nightmare was over, if they survived and parted, maybe she’d be on her way to being free to live her life again.
The prospect intrigued her.
The thought of sleeping with Cal dazzled her. It made her heart start to pound.

She was still shaking, still shuddering, still gasping for breath, when he levered his big body on top of her and pushed himself inside her so fiercely that she cried out. He was hard and hot and filled her to capacity and then some. He took her with a single-minded ferocity that had her quaking and burning and wanting again, and she did the only thing she could do: wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and held on. It was the most erotic experience of her life, and the end, when it came, was so hot and intense that she thought she would die right there and then from the sheer explosive pleasure of it.
She bucked, and clung, and cried out his name. “Cal! Cal, Cal, Cal!”
He drove into her one final time, groaning as he found his own release. Then he held himself shuddering inside her.

She closed her eyes with one of her sexy little moans that made every muscle in his body tighten, every time she did it. Then, with his fingers moving purposefully in and out, with her body undulating on top of his like she was deliberately trying to drive him out of his mind, with her panting and flushed on top of him and her nipples practically branding his chest and enough heat rising off the pair of them to steam up the air, she opened her eyes, gave him a dead-sexy look, and said in a throaty growl, “I knew there was a reason I pulled you out of the sea.”
That surprised a laugh out of him. First time he could remember laughing while he was in the middle of some serious foreplay, with his cock begging for action and his balls aching like they were getting ready to explode.
“Lucky me,” he said, meaning it, and rolled so that she was beneath him again.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Escorted by Claire Kent

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Single
Series: Escorted
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Ander Lourdes | Alexander Milton
Heroine: Lori Addison
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Published On: December 01, 2020
Started On: November 18, 2023
Finished On: November 21, 2023

Escorted by Claire Kent, first published in December 2020, introduces readers to the complex and unusual romance that buds to life between 32-year-old Ander Lourdes, a professional escort, and 26-year-old Lori Addison, a romance novelist in search of her first intimate experience. From the very start, Ms. Kent does an excellent job out of drawing readers in. Being told entirely in the first person from Lori’s point of view, gives Escorted an enigmatic edge, adding more nuance to the story than would have been otherwise.

The story begins with Lori, being the practical person she is on the sidelines of her career as a romance author, finds the only logical solution to getting rid of her virginity is to hire someone who is experienced in the matter. Little does she know when hires 32 year old Ander Lourdes to be her escort, that her entire life would be turned upside down, and that her innate curiosity itself when it comes to the exotic man that Ander turns out to be, would be her undoing.

Ander is a man who is accustomed to separating his emotions from his work. Always putting the needs of his clients first, Ander is a perfectionist in what he does, and he knows how to deliver, with ten years of experience to his name. He initially approaches his sessions with Lori with the same cool detachment he does for all his clients, intent on giving Lori the unforgettable experience that she craves. It is through Lori’s eyes that readers have to gauge every flicker of emotion that Ander feels and exhibits, and that keeps the reader on the edge, craving more of Ander, just like Lori does with each and every encounter between them.

The chemistry between Ander and Lori is electrifying, even from the first. Ms. Kent masterfully builds the sexual tension that evolves gradually, drawing readers into each layered interaction between the two, which makes for an emotionally satisfying experience along with the high from the sizzle. What starts as a transaction begins to feel less business-like as Ander and Lori spend more time together. Lori’s inquisitive nature, coupled with the sexual intimacy that builds between them starts to bring their emotional guards down, and thus starts to crumble each of their carefully erected walls. It is Ms. Kent’s writing here that shines—she presents the journey between Anders and Lori as it evolves from being strangers to lovers with a sincerity that feels both raw and genuine.

The story’s strength lies in its character development. Ander, with his stoic exterior and painful secrets, begins to grapple with emotions he has spent years repressing. Ander’s brokenness, his guarded heart, and his strained relationship with his father all play into his character’s complexity which leaves the reader hurting and wanting to hurt a certain someone badly. Lori’s journey is also one of self-discovery, her experiences with Ander teaching her not only about intimacy, but about the courage to pursue genuine connection and exhibit confidence in other aspects of her life.

The way Ms. Kent entwines the raw intensity of their physical encounters with emotional growth is nothing short of masterful, and that is what kept me glued to the pages, never tiring of what takes place between the two. The way that she manages to make each sexual encounter meaningful (and there is a LOT of them littered across the pages), not to mention impactful and erotic, was just amazing to me as someone who has read a lot of great and also her fair share of not so great erotic novels.

It is Lori’s deeply empathetic nature and perhaps her career as a romance author that allows her to see beyond what Ander presents to the rest of the world. The path that Lori and Ander takes towards their happily ever after is as unique as is this story – from lovers to friends to lovers back again. How Ms. Kent brought together elements of raw passion, heartache, pain, and angst to deliver an explosive and mind-bending read will continue to amaze me in the years to come.

Escorted is a true masterpiece, a romance that goes beyond the expected norm, and that is my key takeaway from this experience. Ms. Kent does not shy away from the complexities of a relationship like Ander and Lori’s, and in doing so, she gives us readers a story that is as honest as it is captivating. If Ms. Kent had chosen to write about Ander and Lori’s entire lives, I would have kept on reading, with zero qualms.

For fans of contemporary erotic romance, Escorted is a compelling read that handles unconventional themes with a deft touch. With beautifully written prose, intense character chemistry, and a satisfying conclusion, Escorted is a memorable journey from start to finish.

Definitely and absolutely recommend this gem to readers of romance who love a good erotica with emotional depth!

Final Verdict: Escorted is a tour de force by Claire Kent, making a trope that is extremely challenging feel realistic and heartfelt; managed to occupy my every thought when I had to force myself to turn away from the story to attend to life.

Favorite Quotes

She walked him to the door, where they looked at each other for a minute. Then Lori asked one final question. “How many virgins have you had sex with?”
Ander glanced away, and she could tell he was trying to compose the best answer.
“The truth,” she said. “No pretending. How many.”
He let out a breath and met her eyes. “Just one. You’re my first.”
“Oh.” She swallowed. “You’re my first too.”

“Oh, God, Ander,” she gasped, her head jerking to the side as she felt a climax tightening inside her already. “I need to come so bad.”
He made a strange sound. A grunt, or something. And then he pulled his fingers out of her wet, clinging channel. Before she could whine about the loss of penetration, he’d replaced it with his cock.
He slid into her with a smooth, hard stroke, and she bit back a cry of pleasure at the tight, tantalizing feel of him inside her.
She managed to look back over her shoulder at Ander. He was straddling her thighs and holding her bottom high enough to allow his access. But Lori’s upper body was flattened on the bed, and she felt helpless and deeply sexy at the same time.
She clawed at the bedding and moved a pillow lower so she could bury her face into it if she felt the need to scream.

She thought she would just enjoy watching him come, but the shaking of their bodies and the way his cock drove inside her pushed her into climax once more.
“Oh God,” she gasped, clawing at his neck and shoulders. She couldn’t stop, even though she knew she was leaving angry scratches on his skin.
He grunted, and she read it as a question
“Coming again.” Her body tightened up and she tried to breathe as he’d taught her to. She couldn’t even begin to take a full breath.
She managed to wrap her legs around him, squeezing him with her arms and her legs. Her orgasm was on the edge of cresting, and Ander’s hot, shuddering, urgent body felt delicious against hers.
She cried out breathlessly as the tension broke inside her, and Ander let go at the same time. As she rode out the waves of pleasure, she was conscious of Ander releasing a loud, guttural sound, just at her ear. His hips jerked and his body seemed to pulse as his own climax ripped through him.

Finally, he met her eyes again. “Lori, you don’t have to be nice. You pay me for my services.”
She almost sputtered in outrage. “What the hell does that mean? Of course, I have to be nice. You’re a human being, aren’t you? What the fuck did your father do to you to make you think you don’t deserve to be treated with dignity and humanity?”
She hadn’t really meant to voice that last question. Her volatile feelings and confusion got the best of her. But she had voiced it. Almost spit it out in his face.
It finally broke the iron control Ander had been using to rein in his feelings.
He turned on her abruptly, stepping forward, pressing her back against the wall with his intense presence rather than force. “Lori,” he began, his voice thick and low. He planted one hand on the wall next to her head. “I fuck you. You pay me. That’s our arrangement. That doesn’t entitle you to invade my privacy, demand to see the ‘real me,’ or pry into whatever motivations I might have for doing what I do.”

“I’m not mad,” he said again, although his entire body belied his words. He was coiled so tightly he was practically shuddering. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes had ignited.
Absurdly, Lori felt her body respond. She knew it was entirely inappropriate. They were in the middle of a very bizarre argument, and sex should be the last thing on her mind. But he looked so intense, almost passionate. For once, he seemed to be expressing something real—with his body language if not with his words.

“For the fourth time,” Ander rasped, still speaking into her ear. “I’m not mad.”
She shifted restlessly against the wall, dying for some sort of friction against her skin. Her squirming caused her to brush up against Ander.
She felt something. Something that shocked her so much her mouth fell open. Her lower belly had brushed against the front of Ander’s trousers.
He was hard.
He must have seen her reaction. He must know that she knew he was aroused. He didn’t acknowledge it in any way, though. He’d pulled back enough to look her in the eye and ask hoarsely, “Tell me why you’ve continued to schedule engagements with me.”
She was too confused and overwhelmed and turned-on and shaky to even begin to make up a lie. So she gasped out the truth. “Because I like having sex with you.”
He nodded, as if he’d known she would say that. “So why do you keep making this more complicated than it is?”

“Lori,” he rasped.
She didn’t know if it was a question or an expression of pleasure. She answered instinctively. “It feels so good. You come,” she panted. “I want you to come.”
His breathing accelerated even more as his whole body started to shake. She’d never experienced anything like it. All the shuddering angst that he’d been trying to stifle earlier seemed on the verge of imploding in her arms.
Her eyes blurred over and her nerve endings buzzed with pleasure. She wasn’t working up toward any climax, but the whole thing felt like one long high.
Ander arched his neck forward again, lowering his mouth once more to the crook of her neck. She cried out loudly when she felt his teeth bite down into her flesh. Then his whole body pulsed and jerked as he came with an extended guttural sound.

Sucking in air as she came down, she started to claw at Ander’s ass, trying to move him into position, still hungry for more. He adjusted his body to align his cock at her entrance.
Then, with a pitch of his hips, he pushed his cock inside her.
She arched up again as he entered her. She was tight from nearly a month without sex.
“Fuck,” he muttered. He was bracing himself with his hands on the bed, and his face had jerked the side.
She wanted him to look at her again. Wanted to see the expression in his eyes. “All right?” she managed to ask.
He straightened his neck and opened his eyes. Made a sound that might have been a choked laugh. “Yeah. You ready?”

Lori closed her eyes. She had no intention of opening up about this, but she heard herself saying the words anyway. “I’ve always felt second-best. You know, always in the shadow of someone else. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I was in love with a guy all through high school and college who didn’t love me back. And this thing with Phil kind of made me feel that way again. Like I was being stupid for expecting the hot guy to fall in love with me.” Her voice cracked a little as she concluded, “I guess I keep waiting for someone to choose me, to want me, over all the other women he could have.”

“I’m glad you changed your mind. About scheduling engagements with me.”
Something softened in her chest at his slightly stilted words. Maybe it was relief she felt. She was so glad that he seemed to enjoy his engagements with her. Obviously, this wasn’t some sort of fated romance, but at least she was a little more to him than just a job.
He seemed to like her well enough, and he didn’t mind having sex with her. She felt like that was quite an accomplishment, given her complete lack of experience.
“Me too.”
She watched him walk down the hall to the elevator. Lean, upright, sleek, and urban. Infinitely experienced. And somehow wounded.

Lori was panting hoarsely as her body slumped forward. Ander fell with her, and for a moment his hot, sated weight rested on top of her again. He panted too. On each exhale, he made a sound like a moan.
And Lori would be perfectly happy for them never to move from this position, from this visceral satisfaction.

He walked silently to the bathroom. She heard the water run in the sink. And she didn’t hear it go off.
After a minute, a jolt of sharp curiosity propelled Lori out of her sated stupor. She climbed off the bed and hurried over toward the bathroom, determined to find out what Ander did in there when he took extra time.
The door was halfway opened, so she could peer in. Ander stood in front of the sink full of running water. Ander was leaning over, bracing himself with both hands on the counter. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes closed, and his head bent. His face and head were streaming wet, from where he’d evidently splashed water on his face.
And he appeared to be taking deep breaths.
Lori gaped for a minute. He looked exhausted. Overwhelmed. And strangely aching.

After a long time, he finally started to shift beneath her. His face had been pressed against her neck and her hair, but he lifted it and loosened his arms.
Reluctantly, Lori pulled back, peering up at him with trembling lips and stinging eyes.
Something about the haunted emptiness of his gaze changed as he saw her face. He lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips along one of her cheeks. Then stared down at the moisture from her tears on his skin.
“Are these for me?” he breathed, sounding either astonished or awed.
She choked back another little sob at his inability to believe that she would care enough for him to cry. “Ander,” she pleaded, taking his face in both of her shaky hands. “Please let me help.”
With a guttural sound, he tightened his arms around her again, but this time he found her lips in a desperate, hungry kiss.

She arched her spine as her pleasure started to crest. Instead of closing all the way, her eyes flew open on a taken breath.
And, in that rawest moment, she saw everything in Ander’s eyes. Heat and need and helplessness and rage and desire and loss and primitive power. All of it, there, in his eyes.
And she knew—she knew—he needed this even more than she did. She knew that this was his only channel, his only outlet, his only lifeline against the desperate turmoil of his pain. He wasn’t just finding pleasure or escape in her body. He was finding something lost in himself.

“Ander!” she gasped, as one of his hands slipped between her thighs to press against the place she was most hot and wet. Her back arched as she tried to ride his hand with embarrassing abandon.
Ander raised his face to stare at her for a moment, his eyes hot, hungry and almost primitive. Then he groaned and leaned forward to mouth her throat.
Without warning, he bit down hard.
Lori came against his hand with a choked cry.

As they moved together, they held gazes, and she saw everything she needed to know in his eyes. She had no idea how she’d gone so long without seeing, without knowing, without realizing the kind of man Ander really was.
He wasn’t a cool man, despite the pretense he put on. He was a passionate man who’d learned not to be.
But now she saw real passion in his eyes, in his expression. And it matched the depth of passion in her own heart.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Bought for the Greek’s Revenge by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Hero: Nikolai Drakos
Heroine: Prunella Palmer
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: May 19, 2016
Started On: November 14, 2023
Finished On: November 18, 2023

Bought for the Greek’s Revenge by Lynne Graham plunges readers into the chaotic world of the main protagonists— a passionate whirlwind of revenge, redemption, and sizzling high-octane chemistry. The story centers around Greek tycoon Nikolai Drakos and his ruthless pursuit of Ella Palmer (Prunella Palmer) for his revenge. Published in May 2016, this is everything fans of Ms. Graham expects from a romance penned by her—fierce, dramatic, and simmering with emotional and sexual tension.

Nikolai is a man on a mission, bent on avenging himself against his archenemy, whom he despises with every fiber of his being. It is the unassuming Ella who inadvertently becomes the pawn in his game of retribution and gets caught in the crosshairs as Nikolai attempts to get to his enemy through her. Nikolai, relentless in his pursuit, buys out Ella’s family debts, coercing her compliance with an offer she can hardly refuse—her family’s financial freedom in exchange for becoming his mistress.

Ella’s predicament is impossible, but she bravely steps into Nikolai’s world, initially agreeing to his terms with little choice. Her character, an alluring mix if innocence and tenderness, has a powerful impact on Nikolai, who soon finds his motivations shifting in unexpected ways. As the story progresses, Nikolai’s hardened exterior cracks, revealing a man who, despite his ruthless ambition, feels a growing protectiveness and attraction toward her. What starts as a vengeful transaction morphs into something altogether different, as Nikolai realizes that the ultimate victory might not be revenge, but claiming Ella as his bride.

Nikolai is the type of hero that Ms. Graham crafts so perfectly. His dark past—marked by neglect and a childhood burdened with emotional scars—makes him both aloof, powerful, and yet deeply wounded, with the untimely loss of his sister having left its mark on him. Ella on the other hand has her own insecurities to contend with, having being engaged once to a man whose rejection of her has left deeply ingrained scars on her psyche.

It is amidst all this that Ms. Graham masterfully crafts a romance that is as complex as it is intense. The relationship between Nikolai and Ella grows with each encounter brimming with heat and emotions, with neither character losing the very qualities that draws readers to them in the first place. Nikolai’s transformation—from a man bent on vengeance to one who learns to love—gives the story depth, as his icy demeanor softens, and the vulnerability he allows Ella to see speaks for itself.

I loved the modern twists and how Ms. Graham balanced intense passion with deep-seated emotional growth. I loved Nikolai and Ella individually and together, and that is in essence half the job done when crafting a romance novel.

For fans of Lynne Graham, Bought for the Greek’s Revenge delivers all the elements of a classic Mills & Boon novel with an extra dose of fire and emotional punch. Nikolai’s relentless passion and Ella’s quiet strength creates a dynamic that keeps the pages turning.

Recommended for fans of Harlequin romances and especially fans of Ms. Graham.

Final Verdict: Bought for the Greek’s Revenge is a must-read for lovers of high-stakes, emotionally charged romance with a fiercely possessive hero and a heroine who finds her own strength amidst the storm.

Favorite Quotes

‘It would take an avalanche to crush your ego, wouldn’t it?’
‘If I was modest you would walk all over me with pleasure.’ Nikolai was entranced by the glorious green of her eyes against the smooth, fine grain of her porcelain skin. ‘But that’s not what you want from me, is it? You’d much prefer me to take your choices away and give you the excuse to be with me.’

‘I really hate being shouted at,’ Nikolai confided a split second before his hard, sensual mouth claimed hers.
And for that same split second it was as though Ella’s world stopped turning and she was jolted off course, sent breathless and spinning into the unknown. Heat surged up through her like an invasive weapon. He eased her out from under him but kept her trapped in his arms. Irritation flamed through her because inexplicably she had liked his crushing weight on hers. Her fists struck at shirt-clad shoulders as unyielding as rock. The tip of his tongue flicked inside her mouth and she shivered violently, the clenching at her secret core almost painful in its intensity. He nipped at her lower lip, sucked and soothed it with his tongue. She wanted more, she wanted more so badly it hurt to be denied and the rushing tide of that hunger shocked her back into her mind again.

Nikolai bent his head and kissed her. It was a slow claiming as the tip of his tongue traced the lush fullness of her lower lip and then delved gently between. A breathy little gasp erupted from her parted lips and she stepped closer. His arms snapped round her and it was the work of a moment for him to swing round and press her back against the car, his sensual mouth driving down hard on hers, his lean, powerful body crushing her against the unyielding metal.
Her every skin cell seemed to erupt into life as heat raced through her bloodstream and a bolt of naked yearning surged from low in her pelvis. His mouth was all she cared about. She couldn’t get enough of him, was convinced she would never get enough of him. She gloried in the thrust of his arousal against her, the knowledge that Nikolai Drakos wanted her and couldn’t hide the fact.

A kind of frenzy gripped her muscles and she shook, feeling ecstasy within her grasp and snatching at it. And it ran over and through her, a rolling white-hot wave of convulsive delight and fulfilment that left her drained and limp.
Ella was convinced that she would never move again, and then Nikolai moved when she didn’t want him to and she rolled over and rested her head on his chest instead, her arm wrapping round his narrow waist.
He dropped a kiss on her damp brow. ‘Thank you,’ he rasped breathlessly. ‘That was amazing.’

‘Stop talking,’ Ella told him. ‘Being thrown on the bed works for me. Seeing you a little out of control is more real than some plan of slow seduction.’
‘Blame yourself. You’ve been wrecking my plans all day,’ Nikolai asserted, swiping the package off the dressing table and returning to the bed. ‘First you blew my mind on the flight and then you flaunted your gorgeous self in boots and stockings and a garter and I was lost…’
‘Is that a complaint?’
‘No.’ A wicked charismatic grin slashed his lean, darkly handsome features. ‘That was an “any time you want me, I’m yours” speech,’ he teased.
‘You can be yourself with me, you know,’ she whispered feelingly. ‘Just do what you feel like.’

He eased over her, rearranged her to his satisfaction, slowly surged in and she shut her eyes tight, every nerve screaming for the satisfaction only he could give. Inch by agonising inch he entered her and when he was finally fully seated she loosed a sound of pleasure she couldn’t hold back. She could feel how damp, how ready she was and his sheer strength as he lifted her up to him, muscles bulging in his forearms, left her weak with longing. He slid back and then plunged, his speed picking up. Excitement detonated inside her and she wrapped her legs round him. As she bucked he pinned her to the mattress and thrust into her fiercely with a primal grunt of pleasure. It went on and on and on until she was sobbing with excitement and the band of tension at the centre of her body was tightening and tightening. Release came in a rush of feral fire, lighting up every nerve and skin cell, and she cried out, her nails raking down his back in an ecstasy of pleasure.

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | HQ | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Same Time Next Year, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Sumner Wade Mayfield
Heroine: Britta Lark Mayfield
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: December 01, 2023
Started On: November 13, 2023
Finished On: November 14, 2023

Britta Lark Mayfield is an ambitious 26-year-old waitress at Sluggers—a favorite hangout for the local hockey team, the Bridgeport Bandits. Sumner Wade Mayfield is a 27-year-old defenseman who is on the edge of NHL success, but faces deportation unless he finds a way to stay in the U.S. Britta, who has got a no-dating rule when it comes to hockey players, is still irresistibly drawn to Sumner, even though her commitment fears keep her from acting on it.

While Sumner has always crushed on Britta big time, Britta has never given into it, no matter how ever much she might be tempted. However, when push comes to shove and Sumner’s teammates urge Britta to be the person who saves Sumner’s career as a hockey player, she finds herself moved enough to take the plunge. Thus begins a “marriage of convenience” in a very modern set-up, while Britta fights the losing battle of staying away from her delectable husband.

While there were elements to the story that worked, Same Time Next Year turned out to be too sweet and saccharine for my tastes. While Sumner’s patience with Britta was endearing, his devotion felt a bit too much at times—if there could be anything as such. This is a slow burn in comparison to some of Ms. Bailey’s novels I have enjoyed—she is the queen of dirty talk for a valid reason; but I found myself not feeling all that moved through the scenes of passion in this little number.

Recommended for readers who love a hero willing to wait as long as it takes and enjoys a romance that is overly sweet.

Final Verdict: Same Time Next Year is a romance that is easy to enjoy if you are in the mood for an overly sweet, slow-burn love story.

Favorite Quotes

“You’re gorgeous,” she blurts, sitting up slightly, curling a fist in my waistband and tugging me down on top of her, which takes very little encouragement. “You’re so, so gorgeous, Sumner,” she murmurs, those words ending on a moan when I settle my weight fully on top of her, and we start to kiss, my hips rolling forward between her thighs, her fingers tracing the slopes of my shoulders, the hockey-sore muscles of my back.

“Sumner, you’re going to do these things with me . . .” She wets her lips, her words releasing in a harsh exhale. “Because if you do them to someone else, I will have to murder them with my bare hands.”
At first, I’m not sure I heard her correctly. But . . . did I?
I did.
My wife is possessive.
Part of me wants to laugh out loud because the very idea that I could even consider another woman is so far outside the realm of possibility, she has no idea. What women? Where? I’m blind to every last one of them. There’s only Britta.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Forbidden Wife by Sharon Kendrick

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Hero: Jack Marchant
Heroine: Ashley Jones
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: June 01, 2011
Started On: November 11, 2023
Finished On: November 12, 2023

First published in 2011 by Harlequin Presents, Sharon Kendrick’s The Forbidden Wife draws readers into a hauntingly beautiful romance set on a remote northern moor, evocative of classic Brontëan stories with a modern twist. Ms, Kendrick outlines that she drew inspiration for this novel from the same, and I loved the romance that blossomed between two equally scarred protagonists for the most part.

The story follows 18-year old Ashley Jones, who has spent her life in care and foster homes, struggling alone in the world. Her loneliness and the need for a sense of belonging is palpable and it reaches out to you as you delve deeper into her psyche and character. When Ashley arrives at the isolated Blackwood Manor for her new live-in job as an author’s assistant, she is undoubtedly wary and overwhelmed. Her mysterious employer, Jack Marchant, is not only handsome and wealthy but also carries a deeply tortured soul, guarded by an air of dark sophistication that makes Ashley feel like she is from another world.

From the beginning, Ashley’s vulnerability is what makes the reader as well as Jack drawn to her. She is not only haunted by her past but also by the need to be loved, from the trauma of a childhood having gone without. As she begins to fall for Jack, her heart reaches out to the imposing and emotionally scarred man that is Jack, and you can sense the impending disaster that looms in the future. Her compassion shines, even as she views herself as a “drab nobody” in comparison to Jack’s formidable presence, which constantly makes her question why Jack is drawn to her in the first place. Her innocence and sense of isolation and loneliness makes her need for a fresh start at Blackwood Manor all the more desperate—a role that is not without its drawbacks, as the bleak, desolate landscape mirrors the stark loneliness she feels inside.

Jack, for his part, is a compelling character, though he does often hold all the power in their relationship. He is a brooding, wealthy figure with echoes of Edward Rochester, which Kendrick cleverly modernizes and brings to life. |There is an undeniable sense of Jack’s hidden torment that drives his aloofness, a secret Ashley can’t quite reach, which makes the reader quite desperate to know what makes Jack tick and what secrets he hides. This mystery adds tension to the story, making it a compelling page-turner. Yet, for all the chemistry they share, Jack’s reluctance to truly open up leaves Ashley in the dark, a dynamic that often feels one-sided, which made me want more from Jack as a character.

One of the story’s strong points is Kendrick’s ability to convey Ashley’s complex emotions, particularly her internal struggle with self-worth and desire. However, as outlined earlier, their relationship feels imbalanced, with Jack holding all the cards and rarely giving Ashley the confidence boost or love she truly deserves. Ashley’s transformation is subtle, but the fact that Jack does not ’t actively contribute to her growth made me bring down the rating of this story to what it was. This lack of reciprocity might leave some readers feeling that Ashley’s needs are not quite met, considering her difficult past and longing for connection.

Ms. Kendrick’s inspiration from Brontë’s Jane Eyre adds richness to the story, drawing insight from a classic tale of forbidden love while modernizing elements to fit contemporary romance. It’s a delicate balance of passion and secrets, with a moody setting that only heightens the intensity of Jack and Ashley’s interactions. However, the story ultimately lacks an essential spark, with a lingering sense that something crucial—something elemental—is missing. While it does deliver a good read for the most part, I definitely wanted more from Jack than he was able to deliver – but therein perhaps lies the true draw of this story when all is said and done.

Recommended for fans of Sharon Kendrick and those who love a good spin on a Brontë’ classic!

Final Verdict: Darkly atmospheric with a Brontëan influence, The Forbidden Wife is a deeply moody romance that lingers on the edge of mystery and passion.

Favorite Quotes

‘We’d… we’d better get back,’ she stammered, and yet her legs felt as if they were rooted to the spot and she’d never be able to move again.
‘Why?’
She raised her eyes up to his. ‘Because—’
‘Because of this?’ Without warning, he pulled her into his arms, expelling a shuddering breath as he felt that first collision with her soft body. ‘This damned thing between us which won’t seem to go away?’

He pulled her even nearer, so that the physique she had secretly admired from afar was now moulded firmly against her. And despite the clothing he wore she was acutely aware of his rampant masculinity—of the growing need at the very cradle of his body. It should have been daunting, and on one level it was—and yet on another it felt as if her entire life had been spent waiting for this moment.

‘Did you have a good time in London?’ she questioned politely.
He made an impatient little sound beneath his breath as all his pent-up desire for her began to spiral up, astonished to find that his hunger for her hadn’t abated—despite his determination that it should. Despite the fact that she had pushed him away and that deep down he kept telling himself that it had been the best possible outcome for everyone. But knowing that did nothing to quieten the insistent thudding of his heart—or the sudden jerk of lust at his groin. 

She was so used to seeing the autocratic set of his proud features that sometimes it was difficult to imagine that he’d led others into battle. He had seen what most people would never see in a lifetime, nor wish to. But she caught a glimpse of that man now. War was elemental but so was sex—and she saw a flash of raw emotion tighten his features. It was difficult to say what that emotion was: a curious hybrid of anger, desire and something else—something which kept Ashley frozen to the spot until, without any kind of warning, he pulled her up from the chair and into his arms. His breath was warm against her face and she could feel his powerful hands imprisoning her waist.
‘Why are you such a meek little mouse, Ashley?’ he bit out, his eyes blazing black fire over her skin. ‘Who cares what is “appropriate”? For once in your life—don’t you long to reach out and take what you really want instead of standing on the sidelines and letting it pass you by?’

With one hand, he unclipped her bra and then slid her briefs down over her trembling thighs. ‘You know that your skin,’ he said unevenly as his lips brushed over the hollow at the base of her throat, ‘is like purest silk.’
‘Is it?’
‘Mmm. If I could make a shirt from it, I’d never take it off.’

‘Jack,’ she cried out as he pulled her down towards a dark, sweet vortex before tossing her out again, helpless on the tide. At first he was gentle with her, his movements slow and seeking as she relaxed into him. And then his movements became harder and faster, his kiss more hungry and intense. She felt like a piece of elastic which was being stretched and stretched—until at last it snapped and she cried out his name. And only when her back began its helpless arch did he begin to shudder within her, his arms tightening as he cradled her, his quickened breath fanning her bare shoulder until gradually he stilled. I love him, she thought fiercely as she clung to him, feeling the moist-satin of his sweat-sheened back.

‘Damn you, Ashley Jones,’ he said softly as he pulled her back into his arms. ‘Damn you for your soft understanding and your perception. Don’t you know that by offering me freedom, you have guaranteed my willing capture?’
‘That wasn’t my intention.’
‘You think I don’t realise that? That you are totally without guile?’ He gave a short laugh. ‘I could put it down to your youth and inexperience—but it goes much deeper than that.’ He stared deep into her eyes and lowered his voice to a murmur. ‘You just have these instincts which make you remarkable and which make me hunger for you. I want you, Ashley, and I want you now.’

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | HQ | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Single
Series: On Dublin Street, #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Braden Carmichael
Heroine: Jocelyn Butler
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Published On: August 31, 2012
Started On: November 09, 2023
Finished On: November 10, 2023

“No human relation gives possession in another – every two souls are absolutely different. In friendship or in love, the two side by side raise hands together to find what one cannot reach alone.” ~ Khalil Gibran

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young is a scorching, emotional rollercoaster that pulls no punches. This book is the very definition of a “hot emotional mess,” brimming with heartache, hope, and sizzling tension. The romance here is intense and heart-wrenching, but it does not feel rushed or superficial. Ms. Young manages to capture the complexity of love and healing in a way that is raw, real, and undeniably moving which made this the five-star read it was.

On Dublin Street is evocative and character-driven in a way that perfectly captures the push and pull factor when it comes to personal demons, passion, and vulnerability between the main protagonists. Set in the heart of Edinburgh, the story centers on Jocelyn Butler, a guarded 22-year-old American woman who moves to Scotland to bury her past and escape the loss and pain that haunts her. But the past, as always, has a way of catching up, especially when Jocelyn meets the irresistible Braden Carmichael, a 30-year-old alpha hero whose magnetic presence draws her in despite her best efforts.

Braden is the kind of male protagonist that epitomizes the confident, sexy, bold, and determined hero. His deep attraction to Jocelyn from the start is undeniable and he refuses to accept her “no-strings” policy, igniting a power struggle between his relentless pursuit and the walls of iron that she has painstakingly built around her. Braden’s patient determination and unwavering pursuit set the pages ablaze, making him the kind of hero who is impossible not to fall for. He’s hot, hot, and hot; that classic mix of charm, intensity, and unexpected vulnerability, making me fall for him, hook, line, and sinker.

Jocelyn, or Joss, is a mess in her own right, struggling with PTSD after a traumatic event shattered her world years prior, leaving her walls sky-high and nearly impenetrable. The layers to Joss’s pain and her self-imposed isolation feel intensely real, making her a character who is easy to empathize with, even when she is frustratingly stubborn. Her journey towards healing is not glossed over or magically “fixed” by love; instead, Ms. Young’s sensitive approach sees Joss beginning therapy, a much-needed lifeline that helps her face the pain she has carried alone for so long. The story line does not treat her PTSD lightly, making her growth both believable and meaningful, especially as her connection with Braden deepens.

As their relationship develops, so too does the tension between them. The chemistry between Jocelyn and Braden is nothing short of electric, with each encounter intensifying their connection and blurring the lines of the boundaries Jocelyn tries so hard to keep intact. The Carmichaels—Braden and his family—break through Joss’s defenses in a way nothing else has in the past eight years. Braden’s relentless support and fierce love become the balm she didn’t know she needed, while the warmth of his family helps her feel something akin to the home she lost years back.

On Dubling Street does a marvelous job of drawing readers in, as the debut book in the series. Ms. Young’s prose is smooth, witty, and deeply emotional, pulling readers into the heart of Edinburgh with vibrant scene-setting and a keen eye for the subtleties of human connection. The supporting characters add richness to the narrative, providing moments of humor, insight, and warmth that enhances the main story line without detracting from Jocelyn and Braden’s journey​

Ms. Young’s writing has an addictive quality that makes you feel as if you are hurtling towards an emotional wreckage from which you will never emerge the same. The romance is steeped in passion, pain, and powerful moments that left me breathless and definitely wanting more. This isn’t just a romance; it is a story about healing, letting go, and the bravery it takes to trust someone with your heart, especially as you continue to struggle with the demons of your past.

On Dublin Street is for those who love an emotional journey with complex characters, scorching hot chemistry, and a romance that is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. This book is an unforgettable experience that will make you laugh, cry, and feel as if you have lived every moment with Joss and Braden.

Definitely recommended. Ms. Young’s remarkable talent shines through with the turn of every page!

Final Verdict: A scorching, beautifully messy journey of love and healing, On Dublin Street pulls you in with its raw emotion, unforgettable characters, and searing chemistry giving readers a most satisfying read.

Favorite Quotes

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Jocelyn. It was just a compliment.”
No it wasn’t. You’re playing games with me. And if we’re going to be around each other all the time, I want it to stop. “Was it? Do you talk to everyone the way you talk to me?”
“And what way is that?”
“Like you’ve seen me naked.”
Grinning, Braden’s eyes glittered with heat. “No. But then I haven’t seen everyone naked.”
Frustrated, I shook my head. “You know what I mean.”
I almost jumped at the warm whisper of his breath on my ear as he leaned down to murmur quietly into it, “I like the reaction I get out of you.”

His eyes narrowed. “I said, I don’t like to share.”
I thought of Vicky. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“Let me rephrase.” He took a seething step toward me. “When it comes to you… I don’t like to share.”
There was no time to process that. One minute I was staring incredulously up at him, the next the soda can was hitting the floor and my ass was on the desk as Braden collided with me. The heat and strength of him overwhelmed me as his large hand gripped the back of my neck and his other tugged my left thigh up, allowing him to push in between my legs and position me over the desk. His mouth crashed down on mine and the desire my body had been harboring for him for weeks took control of me. I clung to him, my hands digging into his back, my legs climbing his hips as my lips parted on an exhalation of relief that allowed his tongue inside my mouth to tease mine. The smell of him, the taste of whisky on his tongue, the feel of his warm hands gripping me tight it… it all overpowered me and I made this throaty sound I couldn’t control.

“I’m having a problem with a few suppliers on this development and it put us back a few weeks. I don’t know when I’ll be free this week, but I guarantee the moment I get some time, I’m coming to see you.”
“Braden, don’t do that.”
“After last night, there’s no denying the promise of what’s between us. I’m not backing off, so rather than coming up with a new defense – which I’m sure I’d find highly entertaining – just give in, babe. You know you’re going to eventually.”
“Have I mentioned how annoying and arrogant you are?”
“I can still smell and taste you, Jocelyn. And I’m still fucking hard.”
My stomach flipped and I squeezed my legs together. “God, Braden…” I breathed without thinking.
“I can’t wait to hear you say that while I’m inside you. See you, babe.”
And after that parting line, he hung up.
I groaned, my head falling back against the tub.
I was so screwed.

He shook his head, enjoying himself. “You’ve got great legs, Jocelyn. An amazing smile when you use it on occasion. And fantastic tits. And yeah, I usually date blondes. But you’re a blonde. I think.” He laughed when my glower turned full on glare. “Doesn’t matter about the color. You never wear it down, and I can’t get the thought of you beneath me, and that hair spread out across my pillow while I move inside you, out of my head.”
Oh. God.
“But I think mostly it’s your eyes. I want something from them no one else gets from them.”
“And what’s that?” I asked, my voice low, almost hoarse. His words had affected me as deeply as any aphrodisiac.
“Soft.” His own voice had deepened with the highly sexual atmosphere. “Soft the way only a woman’s can be after she’s come for me.”

“Then I guess we’re good to go.”
The words were barely out of my mouth before Braden was standing above me, his large hand reaching out for mine, his face determined, serious. His eyes blazing.
“What? Now?” I squeaked, totally unprepared.
He cocked an eyebrow. “You want to wait?”
“I just… I thought I’d have time to get ready.”
“Get ready?”
“You know… perfume, nice lingerie…”
With a grunt of amusement, Braden took hold of my wrist and hauled me out of my chair. My small body slammed into his and his arms came instantly around me, holding me to him. A hand slid down my hip and around to my butt. He squeezed it lightly and pressed me against him, his erection hard against my belly. I stifled a moan, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. They glittered down at me. “Babe, nice lingerie is for seducing a man. I’m already fucking seduced.”

His eyes drifted from my chest to my face and suddenly he looked a little angry. I stiffened in surprise. “Do you know what it’s been like for me since that day in the flat? Sitting across from you in bars, at dinner, knowing that underneath all the attitude is every man’s fucking fantasy.”
Oh, he was good.
His eyes narrowed as he reached for the buttons and zip on his suit pants. The zip slid down loudly. “I’m going to make you pay for making me wait to have you.”

“Braden,” I growled impatiently.
This only made him laugh. “What, babe?”
“If you don’t hurry up, I’m backing out.”
“Well we can’t have that.” He thrust hard inside me and I whimpered, stiffening at the flinch of discomfort I felt as my body struggled to accept his size.
Braden’s whole body tensed, his eyes dark on me. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, exhaling as my body relaxed around him.
His grip on my wrists loosened, but he didn’t let me go. Instead he nudged forward tentatively, his jaw locking, his eyes closing as if he was in pain. “Jesus, Jocelyn,” he breathed hoarsely. “You’re so fucking tight.”

He lifted his head, his hand gliding between my legs. Pleasure shot through me as two fingers slipped inside me. “So wet,” he murmured, eyes bright. “Tomorrow after family dinner you’re coming back to my place and I’m going to fuck you in every room, in every way I can.”
My eyes flew to his, my chest rising and falling rapidly at his words.
“I’m going to make you scream there since you can’t here,” he promised softly, realizing this was also a reminder to be quiet since Ellie was down the hall. “But right now, I’m going to enjoy watching you bite your lip.”
And I did. He pushed inside of me and I swallowed a cry by biting my lip, holding on for dear life as his earlier, slow gentleness disappeared, his groans and grunts against my neck sexy as hell as he pounded me into orgasm.

I shivered as Braden continued to caress me, his fingers sliding down the crease of my backside and then entering me from behind. I moaned, arching back into him as he pulled his fingers out and then slid them back in. “Braden.”
He withdrew only to clasp me by the hips and press me back against him, his erection digging into my backside since I still had on the heels. “That’s all it takes to make me hard,” he told me softly, his lips brushing my ear. “You: saying my name.”

That’s when his slow, torturous control really snapped. I was tugged towards him as he moved back towards the door where a high side cabinet was positioned against the wall, and then I was spun around, pushed none-too-gently into it, his front at my back. My breath was coming out in frantic puffs now as I gripped hold of the unit. Braden’s hands came around to squeeze my breasts, forcing my body back into his as his tongue flicked my ear. “I’m going to take you like this. It’s going to be hard, Jocelyn, hard and rough. You ready?”
I nodded, my heart spluttering a little.
My panties were gone, whipped down my legs and I stepped out of them, kicking them to the side. The heat of him at my back, the sound of the zipper on his pants sliding down, sent a bolt of pure lust through my sex and my nails dug into the cabinet with anticipation.

With an animalistic growl I didn’t even know I was capable of, I threw my body towards his, my hands out as I shoved at him with enough might to make him stumble. Suddenly it was all there in my gut, the last six months of emotional upheaval, the dramatic changes he’d brought into my life—the uncertainty, the jealousy, the heartache. “I hate you!” I yelled, the words tumbling out of my mouth with a mind of their own. I spun away from him. “I was fine until you!” My eyes started to sting as I stared back at his stony face. “Why?” My voice broke, as the tears spilled down my cheeks. “I was fine. I was safe and I was fine. I’m broken, Braden. Stop trying to fix me and just let me be broken!”
He shook his head slowly, his own eyes bright, and I stood frozen as he came to me. I closed my eyes at his touch, his hands wrapping around my arms to tug me close to him.
“You are not broken.”
My eyelashes fluttered open and I stared up into his beautiful face, his anguished beautiful face. “Yes I am.”
He gave me an angry shake now. “No, you’re not.” He leaned his face into mine and I found myself caught in his pale blue eyes, mesmerized by the glitter of silver striations in them. “Jocelyn, you’re not broken, baby,” he whispered hoarsely, his eyes pleading with me. “You’ve got a few cracks in you, but we all have some.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: First Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Elijah Alexander Hawkins
Heroine: Dorothy Mayhem
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: September 25, 2019
Started On: November 05, 2023
Finished On: November 08, 2023

In Perfectly Adequate, true to the sensation that Jewel E. Ann is as an author, has crafted a novel that is as unconventional as it is heartwarming. The story delves into the complexities surrounding a female protagonist who is neurodivergent and the flood of emotions that only an author like Ms. Ann can subject her readers to.

Elijah Alexander Hawkins (Eli), a 38-year-old pediatric oncologist, finds his life upended with the sudden departure of his high school sweetheart, wife, and mother to his son. Eli’s unresolved feelings towards Julie even months after their divorce continues to haunt him. It does not help being witness to Julie’s drastic transformation and constantly being subjected to her presence as they both work at the same hospital.

30 year old nursing student, Dorothy Mayhem would be the most unlikely of prospects when it comes to catching the attention of someone like Dr. Eli, a legend who is well respected amongst his peers. Dorothy knows that she is different from the rest, though she tries hard to be “normal”, as much as it takes a toll on her. Her sense of curiosity, her unique perspective on matters, and straightforward nature brings Eli out of the funk he has been riding since the divorce.

It is Dorothy’s life that is the most fascinating aspect of the novel, and writing this must have been as challenging as it was reading this novel in my opinion. For Dorothy, the way her mind works is what is normal for her. Organized and passionate about her work, with aspirations to join the plastics field, her admiration for Dr. Julie adds an intriguing layer to the story as she navigates her newfound relationship with Eli. Her methodical approach to life and using journals to manage her emotions and daily challenges speak volumes.

The relationship that buds to life between Eli and Dorothy is at times awkward, humorous, and passionate. While Dorothy knows not to be cautious and reserved as is Eli, her forthrightness and unfiltered honesty continues to astound and rouse Eli from the stupor he was in until Dorothy filled his life with much needed color. Their bond as it deepens, is difficult to discern from Dorothy’s perspective, even though the story is told from dual points of view in first person.

When ultimately push comes to shove and Eli is forced to choose between his ex-wife whose departure from his life had nearly destroyed him, and Dorothy, the woman who confuses, exasperates, and makes him want in a way that is foreign to him, it is perhaps the most difficult call in his life that he has to make, adding the angst factor to this story.

There is much to reflect upon when it comes to this novel. Most of Ms. Ann’s novels that I have read to-date have a way of forcing me to think and go to places where I might not even have thought of going. While I myself is familiar with depression and its impact on one’s life, Ms. Ann explores what it is like to lose own self in this destructive spiral, giving voice to millions who battle through this condition. While some fight to claw their way back out of it just to feel human, rest tend to give in. Mark my words, none of the two paths is easy by any means – humans were not created for isolation, nor were we created to get lost in the labyrinth of our minds, but that is often what depression feels like, and the more chronic the condition, the harder it becomes to feel a sense of normalcy and emotions on the spectrum that most of us take for granted.

When Eli finds out the reality behind Julie’s departure and how she struggled to find her own self-worth in this destructive cycle, it all made sense. Post-partum depression is something that the world is coming to increasingly come to accept, but it is still an excruciating journey for the person who suffers through it, and perhaps that is Julie’s story as well.

While Julie and Eli’s history goes way back, from being high school sweethearts to marriage and parents to an adorable son, does not mean that they are set for life. Marriage is a relationship that continually evolves and shifts as we navigate through life, growing both individually and together. It is our ability to adapt to those changes and grow together that often is the key to a long-lived marriage, and ofttimes that may not mean that two people are happy together.

Julie’s departure from Eli’s life perhaps was a signal to that effect; while her depression had to do with a lot more, perhaps it was the jolt that was needed to shake things up, to show to both of them that while their past would remain a significant part of who they are, that there was no going back. Or perhaps, it is also indicative of how in the throes of depression, we tend to draw in on ourselves and lose sight of those who hold us most dear, who can actually help us pull through – which perhaps is the most destructive effect of the disease because when you finally come out of the haze, you realize that you have effectively destroyed life as you knew it, and that there is no going back.

It was also quite something to see things from Dorothy’s perspective. To see her take on the role of being Eli’s lover while neither of them are able to give voice to the ties that were deepening between them, to Dorothy’s sensory experiences and sexual assertiveness, the narrative set forth does show to readers the continued struggles that someone like Dorothy undergoes in navigating what we call life. It is perhaps only someone like Eli who has a heart that can take more than most, empathetic, and has the ability love without reservations that can accept all that is Dorothy – maddening, fierce, independent, and fully his in every sense, minus the lines of grey that made Eli question his own self worth when it came to Julie.

Recommended for those who appreciate a story that challenges conventional romance tropes and dives deep into the complexities of human connections; Perfectly Adequate is THE novel that you need to read.

Final Verdict: Perfectly Adequate is a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, throwing readers into frustration & heartwarming moments, ultimately leaving us with a sense of acceptance and hope that is unwavering.

Favorite Quotes

“Is that code for I’m talking too much?” He chuckles.
“No. It’s not code for anything. Talk all you want, just don’t tell me everything I was going to ask you before I get a chance to ask it.”
“Dorothy …” He scratches his chin. “You are … unexpected. Like balloons, flowers, and winning lottery tickets.”

Dr. Hawkins presses his hand to my neck and slides it up to cup my jaw, taking the kiss to the next level with a little tongue. French kissing isn’t usually my thing. Too much saliva. But he’s not salivating like a dog, or suffering from a painful case of dry mouth, so the kiss is acceptable. Such a Goldilocks moment. Dr. Elijah Hawkins is my just right.

“Eventually,” she whispers, brushing the pad of her thumb along my eyebrow.
I squint.
Her lips form a faint smile. “Eventually I’ll be okay. And so will you.”
A goodbye.
This is goodbye. A redo because the one in my office was horrible. But nonetheless, it’s goodbye. I don’t know if saying goodbye to Dorothy Mayhem can ever be anything but horrible.
I nod because all words remain congested in my throat.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Hugo and the Maiden by S.M. LaViolette

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: The Seducers, #3
Publisher: Crooked Sixpence Press
Hero: Brian Dinwiddy (Hugo Buckingham)
Heroine: Martha Jane Pringle
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: May 29, 2021
Started On: November 02, 2023
Finished On: November 04, 2023

“Good afternoon, Mistress Pringle.” His lids lowered and the smile that curved his thin lips made something low in her belly—something beneath her belly, truth be told—tighten, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body.
His nostrils flared as he watched her, almost as if he were scenting something.
Martha suddenly knew—she just knew—that he was aware of what his suggestive, naughty looks did to a woman. Did to her.

Hugo and the Maiden by S.M. LaViolette, the third installment in The Seducers series, is a story I pinned a lot of high hopes on given the nature of the male protagonist in the story. Irrespective of whether those expectations were met, it was still a compelling and provocative romance, as is the norm by almost any novel that Minerva Spencer aka Ms. LaViolette brings to her readers. Featuring Hugo Buckingham as the hero and Martha Jane Pringle as the heroine, this novel delves into the gritty realities of 19th-century London and the isolated life far removed in the island of Stroma, the harsh lived realities of life for most, and to some extent, class difference.

Hugo, a bisexual courtesan, is a hero with a colorful past and a wealth of scars that he hides behind the facade that he presents to the rest of the world. He is an ambitious man, made so by the abject poverty that he had been subjected to when he had been sold by his father at the age of fourteen. His current status as the co-owner of London’s most expensive brothel marks a hard-won success that is abruptly shattered when he is betrayed by his business partner. Hugo finds himself aboard a ship as a convict, bound to the desolate island of Stroma, where his life takes a 180-degree turn.

On the island, Hugo meets the virginal daughter of the island’s vicar, Martha Jane Pringle bringing him face to face with the woman who would be his undoing. The island’s harsh climate and its isolation from the rest of the world provides a stark contrast to Hugo’ previous life, where material wealth had put Hugo in the midst of opulence, his heart never full for his need of material wants and desires, even as his heart and soul had become encrusted in reinforced steel over time.

Martha, with her no-nonsense attitude, compassionate nature, and plain looks is the direct opposite of Hugo in every sense and not the kind of woman who would make Hugo sit up and take notice. However, none of that stops Martha’s dormant senses from awakening in Hugo’s presence, and Hugo from sensing his own vulnerabilities in the face of Martha, to his annoyance. Martha, who is on the verge of being betrothed to a man who brings her no joy, finds herself enamored by Hugo, even as she fights the attraction with every weapon in her arsenal, until she realizes that there is no stopping the tide when it comes to what fate has in store for her.

Their relationship as it develops therefore, is not an easy one. Hugo who at first, tries to use his skills as a seducer to his advantage to get off the godforsaken island, finds himself in the position of feeling ashamed for the very first time in his adult life, as a result of which, his innate kindness and the reluctant hero that resides in him starts to emerge. Martha who understand Hugo perhaps better than he does himself, finds in Hugo a man worthy of her unending love, and the weight of that love is what Hugo shies away from, a man who has never understood what it is like to be accepted for who he is.

As the story moves deeper into exploring the complexities of Hugo, who is a fascinating character of contrasts, his struggles to open up emotionally to Martha was indicative of his deep vulnerabilities that he hides so well. Martha, who is the beacon of strength, love, acceptance, and kindness is the balm to every ache in Hugo’s soul, and when Hugo and Martha finally accept that there is no stopping the tide of desire and want between them, it opens up Martha to a world of sensuality and desire that allows her to finally break free from the shackles that has bound her.

While I expected this to be a five-star read because of Hugo, him being the kind of hero that would give a romance its weight in gold, I found that the story failed to fully explore the potential of Hugo. I understood why for a character like Hugo, who switches his roles so effectively when it comes to sex that is meaningless, it had to be different with Martha. But at the same time, I wanted Hugo to embrace the full extent of his reserves of sensuality with Martha and for their union to reach new heights in passion which would have given greater meaning to their bond.

I also found that while the story excels in character development and themes explored, some plot resolutions were a bit too convenient. The story’s pacing occasionally stumbled, particularly when it comes to the resolution of Hugo’s past and his abrupt realization of love for Martha which I wanted more out of.

One of the best aspects of the novel was its rich tapestry of secondary characters, from the adorable Celubion to the antagonistic Robert Clark, each adding depth to the narrative. Martha’s father, the vicar, embodies kindness and moral steadfastness, and becomes pivotal in shaping Hugo’s journey towards redemption and finding in Martha the salvation he had been searching for, even without realizing it himself.

Recommended for fans of Ms. LaViolette, fans of historical romances, and fans of richly textured romances that navigates the complexities of love and redemption in all its glory.

Final Verdict: Fans of historical romance will find much to admire in LaViolette’s nuanced characterization and the evocative setting explored in Hugo and the Maiden, making this a page-turner.

Favorite Quotes

His stern expression shifted into a sweet, gentle smile that Martha wouldn’t have believed his wicked lips capable of forming. “A kiss for luck.”
And then he lowered his mouth over hers and physical sensation swamped her. His lips were warm and firm; his scent was an earthy mix of male sweat and fresh air; and his body felt huge and hard against hers.
The tip of his tongue, soft and slick, flicked over her tightly pursed lips and she relaxed under the gentle caress. He made a low rumbling sound in his chest and then pulled away. Martha swayed toward him, her body following his.

“Martha,” he whispered, giving a slight, wondering shake of his head. “You need to understand what you will be getting. What you saw me doing that night? Fisting myself? That’s me, Martha. I’m crass and earthy and I like being that way. I’m not a gentleman—I’m not … couth. I don’t like furtive trysting in the dark—I like fucking in all its forms.”
She gasped.
Hugo nodded, as though she’d said something. “And I like saying the word fuck—and cruder words besides. I won’t be the kind of husband to visit you weekly and mount you in darkness. I want to know every part of your body, intimately, and I want you to learn all about mine.”

Martha had been dreaming of touching him for weeks—never had she expected the astounding silky softness of his skin. Or the heat of him.
He closed his hand around hers and gave a low growl of approval. “Just like that, darling—tight.” He released her hand and palmed her mound, gently squeezing her sex. “Mine.” He pushed two fingers inside her, working her with languid pumps. “All mine.”

“Tell me you want it,” he asked as he withdrew slowly, inch by inch. “Beg for it.”
“Please, Hugo, I want—”
Her words were the proverbial match to a fuse. “Take it,” he grated, slamming into her hard enough to move her up the bed.
Martha groaned. “More, please.”
“Take it all,” he growled, giving her his full length with each savage stroke.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Heiress and the Orc by Finley Fenn

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Orc Sworn, #2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Nattfarr, of Clan Grisk
Heroine: Ella Riddell
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Published On: March 04, 2020
Started On: October 27, 2023
Finished On: November 01, 2023

“You did not give your maidenhead to this piddling foul man,” he said, his voice harder, as if stating an incontrovertible truth. “Or to any other. You kept it for me.”
Gods. There was a clenching shudder up Ella’s spine, and low in her belly, but she still hadn’t moved — and that single orc finger was sliding deeper, deeper into her mouth. Tasting inexplicably sweet, reminiscent of the scent that was swarming the air still further, settling in her lungs.
“And thus,” Natt said, his voice full of danger, of heat, of promise. “It shall be mine.”

The Heiress and the Orc by Finley Fenn, the second book in the Orc Sworn series, features Nattfarr of Clan Grisk as the hero and Ella Riddell as the heroine, and is a book that can be read as a standalone.

The story begins with Ella becoming engaged to Alfred, Lord Tovey, the heir to Lord Culthen of Tlaxca. While the engagement party is lavish in its opulence, Ella’s discomfort is palpable, the grand celebration which turns nightmarish for Ella when she witnesses her betrothed in a compromising position with another. This betrayal acts as the catalyst for Ella’s flight from the party and her life as she knows it.

Ella flees into the arms of Nattfarr, an orc and her childhood friend from nine years back, sparking a reunion that is the farthest thing from easy. Nattfarr, now a formidable warrior, carries the weight of a violent and tragic past. Life on the run has left its scars and mark on Nattfarr, and despite his strength, when it comes to Ella, Nattfarr’s vulnerability and protectiveness shines through.

While Ella is conflicted in having to choose between her duty to her father and her familial lands with the intense physical and emotional connection that she finds in Nattfarr, against all her misgivings, Nattfarr proves to be far too much temptation for Ella. While Nattfarr exerts his dominance on Ella with brief interplays that shows the power dynamics between the two, Nattfarr is intensely emotionally vulnerable when it comes to Ella, and seeing her so uncertain about him and being with him, makes his heart ache.

As Ella makes surprising discoveries about the enigmatic figure that Nattfarr has turned into since their separation almost a decade ago, it forces her to reevaluate her life as she knows, the choices that she has to make, and her loyalty to what does not serve her, ultimately being driven to accept the truth of her emotions when it comes to her orc.

While I enjoyed some of the aspects to the story, I found myself piqued by the tediousness of the story from a certain point forward. The repetitive nature of the sexual encounters and the graphic descriptions of bodily fluids was quite unappetizing. While I am fully cognizant of the fact that this is an erotic romance at its core, I certainly did not find myself overwhelmed or rather moved by the sex scenes.

Instead, I found some of the scenes to be grotesque and unnecessary, which did not really add any value to the overall story, and detracted from the overall emotional depth of the story. The narrative also follows a similar trend to the first book, where the hero’s betrayal and subsequent rescue of the heroine feels somewhat predictable.

I also found myself quite annoyed with Ella from time to time. Her character was such that, she was always running away from one thing or the other. I wanted her to fight for what she wanted and stand up for the orc that deserves her unflinching loyalty. I wanted her to stop being so naive and spoiled, when all the richness in the world had not served to make her happy.

I do not think I will be continuing the series from this point forward – I find that the kind of sexual exploration in these books are not my cup of tea. I just cannot imagine going without a shower, wearing your mate’s ejaculated matter coating your skin, not to mention dripping down your womb like a waterfall.

Recommended for fans of Finley Fenn and romantic fantasy novels featuring monster heroes.

Final Verdict: While The Heiress and the Orc offers a compelling read to a point, the overly explicit scenes of passion left me unmoved, & the world building & Nattfarr’s backstory while intriguing, failed to make up for the rest!

Favorite Quotes

“Good gods, Natt,” she breathed, trailing her thumb against his warm, wet mouth. “Where have you been these past nine years.”
His face leaned into her touch, black eyelashes fluttering, but at the last she could see a trace of wariness, flicking across his eyes. “I have been missing you, lass,” he said, soft. “I have been dreaming of how you tasted.”

“You shall come,” that mouth hissed, soft, cruel, vicious, against her throat. “And you shall either walk hale and upright beside me, or I shall carry your limp body, once I have drunk my fill from you. Which shall it be, woman.”

“It is yours,” he whispered, in an oddly apt summary of his silent words from before. “Kiss it. Taste it. Drink.”
The relief felt like a palpable thing, like a long-awaited deliverance — and Ella desperately, gratefully obeyed. Moving down over him, closer and closer, until her lips had met that smooth head, and lightly, carefully kissed it.
The pleasure surged in a torrent, in a flood. In the impossible, inexplicable feeling of his deep, filthy cleft actually kissing back, clenching slightly on her delving tongue — and then swarming her with that delectable rich sweetness. While Natt’s entire body kicked and flailed beneath her, the moan a rising howl in his throat.

Natt’s eyes were still watching her, flat, unreadable. “If you wish,” he said, “I shall go and bring you more food, and mayhap a lamp. Or a warm fur, if you wish to climb a tree, and sleep until sunrise.”
And here, vivid and almost entirely forgotten, were Ella’s memories of doing that, with him. Sneaking out of her bedroom, under cover of darkness, and flitting through the trees with Natt in the moonlight. And then the joy of finding a good tree to climb, the struggle of finding a comfortable spot, while Natt would watch, amused, from the branches above. And then the peace of falling asleep, easy and pure and safe, hung between the moon and the earth.
“I should have a few more days,” her voice said, too quickly. “Before I really need to go back. And we’ve come all this way, and I’m here now, and I’d really rather make sure you’re fully healed before I return. And I’m tired, and cold, and I don’t want to sleep in a tree, without you.” There was a bitter twist on Natt’s mouth, and those glinting eyes stared, demanded, spoke. “Truth, lass,” he hissed. “You shall speak truth, to me.” Ella was gulping, nodding, fighting for breath, trapped. “I want to stay,” she heard her voice whisper. “And — and visit. For a while. With you.”

“Speak truth, lass,” Natt hissed, as that huge heft at his groin pressed hard and demanding against her bare, exposed crease. “You long for me, as you shall never long for him. You shall think of my prick inside you, each time he fucks you. Even now, you long for me to take you, and fill you, and thrust even the thought of him away from you. Ach?”
Ella’s head was violently nodding, yes, please, do that, please — and behind her Natt laughed again, and shoved her forward. So that she was bent over something — something soft, at least — but then Natt’s fingers yanked out of her, and suddenly it was — him. That huge, tapered cock. Strong, commanding, unyielding.

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Secrets She Carried by Lynne Graham

Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Oasis
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
POV: Third Person, Dual
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Cristophe Donakis
Heroine: Erin Turner
Sensuality: 🔥🔥🔥
Published On: January 01, 2012
Started On: October 27, 2023
Finished On: October 27, 2023

‘You know that you want me just as much,’ he argued with unashamed assurance. ‘When we burn, we burn together.’

Craving for a story from Lynne Graham, the Queen of Harlequin Romance, I found myself with the novel In The Secrets She Carried, a story that delivers a tale brimming with intense emotions, misunderstandings, and the inevitable pull of an unfinished love story. The story brings to readers 30-year-old Greek billionaire Cristophe Donakis, whose life is marked with the scars left behind from significant events in his past. Orphaned at five and scarred by a bitter divorce, Cristo’s view of women remains jaded, and his expectations low.

25-year old Erin Turner is the heroine who changes all that, who is strikingly beautiful and ends up being the proverbial thorn on Christo’s side. Erin is an impressionable 21 when she initially meets Cristo and ends up having the most intense and passionate affair of her life. She had been no match for the relentless pursuit that Cristo had mounted to make her his, and when their affair ended abruptly leaving Erin bewildered and pregnant and Cristo bitter and more distrustful than before, this sets the stage for their reunion nearly three years down the line.

When Cristo encounters Erin at Stanwick Hall Hotel, her place of employment for the past couple of years, it stirs to life the ugly memories from before. Erin who is now 25 years old and a single mother to twins, struggling to secure a stable future for herself and her kids, has neither the time nor the energy to face the tumultuous truth of her past with Cristo, something she would rather forget altogether, if it were not for the truth of the paternity of her beloved twins.

With the fate of the hotel hanging in a balance, Erin is anxiety personified and having Cristo in this volatile mix, does not put her at ease. Cristo finds himself being led by his unresolved feelings for Erin in his bid to close the deal in acquiring the hotel, marking the reunion between Erin and Cristo one that is charged with mutual distrust. Cristo stands firm in his belief that he is the aggrieved party while Erin knows that she never had a chance when it came to Cristo given the vast differences in their social standing.

As their past unravels and entwines with the present, Cristo finds himself having to face some uncomfortable and jarring truths about their shared past, the one that had marked him to an extent he refuses to acknowledge. However, the truth emerging does not really change Cristo’s perception of Erin as it should, but rather it is as if he fights a battle with himself to gain supremacy over his emotions when it comes to Erin.

Erin’s strength as a character shines through as she navigates the treacherous waters that surrounds her and Cristo, infested with sharks willing to destroy her once again. Cristo’s reaction to every truth regarding their relationship from before is striking and contrasts vividly with that of how Erin harbors love of the kind that is willing to forgive. The knowledge that he is now father to two rambunctious twins itself comes as a form of “betrayal” to the man who chose to cut off all ties with Erin rather ruthlessly, without examining too closely what was happening around them.

Needless to say, their road to reconciliation is one fraught with tension and angst – something I love in my novels, and one main reason why I adore novels by Ms. Graham. She does an excellent job in the portrayal of the intricate dance of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption that takes place between Cristo and Erin which is central to the story. It is Erin’s emotional maturity which I believe made this story while Cristo’s inability to properly accept his wrongdoings and apologize nearly proved to be the undoing.

Cristo was definitely an unusual hero under most circumstances, having chosen to marry someone else right on the rebound from his relationship with Erin. Most readers would perhaps see that as a “betrayal” in itself, but what truly made it difficult for me was how Cristo came off as a hero who seems to have perfected the art in the non-apology department.

Recommended for fans of category romances that delivers on tension wrought journeys towards happily ever after.

Final Verdict: It is only an author like Ms. Graham who can make a story such as The Secrets She Carried work! Compelling in its narrative, this is a tale that tests the reader’s ability to forgive alongside with that of the heroine!

Favorite Quotes

‘Miss Turner?’ a sleek cultured drawl with the suggestion of an accent purred. ‘I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Your boss speaks very highly of you.’
Erin flinched as though a thunderclap had sounded within the room without warning, that dark-timbred voice unleashing an instant ‘fight or flight instinct she had to struggle to keep under control. She would have known that distinctive intonation laced with command had she heard it even at a crowded party. It was as unforgettable as the male himself.

The pulse in Erin’s neck was beating like crazy as she hovered by the bedroom window, refusing to look outside while her tummy twisted into knots. She had heard the helicopter landing, knew Cristo liked to fly himself, and knew it would be him and that within minutes he would walk through the bedroom door. She clasped her hands tightly together, willing back her nerves, striving for calm and cool.
And then the door flew open, rocking back on its hinges to frame Cristo, brilliant black diamond eyes snaking across the room to rest on her, his tall well-built body casting a long shadow in the lamp light. And there she was, silvery pale hair tumbling round her shoulders, something pretty and blue swirling round her petite little body, waiting for him just as he remembered from times gone by. Erin. He savoured her, noting the glow of self-consciousness that coloured the beautiful delicacy of her features. He experienced such a charge of hunger at the first glance that a predatory smile crossed his mobile male mouth.
‘Cristo…’ Erin contrived to enunciate with admirable clarity, only the breathy quietness of her voice letting her down.
‘Erin,’ he breathed thickly, closing the distance between them and hauling her straight into his arms.

And it took no thought to do any of those things and she was shaken by the instinct driving her at a level she didn’t understand. Her fingers curved to one high cheekbone as she struggled to stay upright with her heart slamming against her breastbone as hard as though she were in race. Her legs felt weak, insufficient to support her and she was fiercely aware of the empty ache in her pelvis and the swelling tightness of her breasts as he spread his big hands over her buttocks and crushed her into his hard erection.
‘I’m burning alive for you,’ Cristo growled almost accusingly, spinning her round to find the zip on her dress and taking care of it with efficiency.

‘I didn’t intend to fall on you like a wild animal the minute I came through the door,’ he volunteered impatiently. ‘I was planning on having dinner first.’
Erin averted her gaze, the victim of unwelcome memories of a passion that had never gone off the boil. ‘You were never very good at waiting. It was always like this for us—’
‘There is no “us” any more.’

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