Review: Not Until You Beg by Roni Loren

Title: Not Until You Part V: Not Until You Beg
Series: Loving on the Edge, #3.55
Author: Roni Loren
Published: July 9, 2013
Pages: 73
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Penguin Intermix
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "I want to try this--with you."

summary from Goodreads
Foster has been pushed past the point of temptation. So even though he fears Cela’s interest in his world is a passing whim, he agrees to teach her the art of submission. But he’s not going to hold anything back—if she wants to see this side of him, he’s going to show her how deep his dominance runs.

Cela’s initial intrigue begins to give way to doubt as she struggles with the submissive role and the desires it stirs within her. Having spent her whole life being controlled by her domineering father, she’s unsure if she’s ready to put herself under the command of another man. But when she breaks Foster’s most important rule, she puts herself in a situation more intense than she bargained for…

Review: Not Until You Crave by Roni Loren

Title: Not Until You Part III: Not Until You Crave
Series: Loving on the Edge, #3.53
Author: Roni Loren
Published: June 15, 2013
Pages: 58
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Penguin Intermix
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
As the threesome returns home from their wild night, Foster is still reeling from the truth about Cela and angry at himself for feeling more than he should for a one night stand. So when he’s confronted by Cela’s angry and protective older brother, he agrees to stay away from his alluring neighbor. He knows he’s got no business messing with a vanilla girl—especially one who tests his self-control at every turn.

Cela’s still not ready to give up on Foster or the intense connection they shared. So when a harmless midnight texting session turns into an irresistible invitation, she can’t say no. But later when she runs into Foster dressed in leather pants and heading out for a late night at The Ranch, she begins to grasp that there’s a whole other side to him she never imagined—a darkness that both intrigues and terrifies her...

Review: Not Until You Risk by Roni Loren

Title: Not Until You Part II: Not Until You Risk
Series: Not Until You, #2
Author: Roni Loren
Published: June 18, 2013
Pages: 55
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Penguin Intermix)
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Cela’s sexy game of Never Have I Ever with her neighbors has turned into a night of Truth or Dare, with her revealing her deepest desires and letting go like she’s never done before. After some seductive dancing, the trio decides to move to a more private location: a swanky hotel where Foster is determined to explore Cela’s wildest fantasies.

As the heat between the three begins to sizzle, Cela finds herself drawn to Foster, whose dominance over her is almost too much to handle. But Cela’s got a secret she hasn’t yet shared, something that could bring their passionate encounter to a screeching halt…

---

Marq's thoughts:
I am anxiously waiting for each installment. I love Cela and Foster. For me, Pike is a non-factor because clearly this story is all about Foster, Cela and their eventual HEA. My one complaint after reading the first installment was Cela's age. After doing some research, I discovered that this serial is a hybrid of NA and Adult romance. So I'm going to go with it and not focus on Cela's age too much anymore.

Foster, Pike and Cela leaves the club and goes to a swanky hotel. Foster spares no expense. Cela is looking forward to her menage with Foster and Pike but she has a secret. But she doesn't want to reveal the secret because she doesn't want Foster or Pike to hold themselves back, sexually.

Although the sex scenes between Foster, Pike and Cela were well-written, I felt like something was missing. Like there was no connection between Cela and Foster and Pike. Foster is a Dom and he is more dark and intense than Pike but I wasn't feeling it. Some parts lacked heat for me and Loren can write some smoking hot sex scenes.

Despite my issues, I am still enjoying this serial and can't wait for the next installment.

Review: Entwined With You by Sylvia Day

Title: Entwined with You (A CROSSFIRE NOVEL)
Series: Crossfire, #3
Author: Sylvia Day
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 369
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Purchased
Publisher: Berkley
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "We are totally dysfunctional."
"I prefer 'selectively deviant.' But we'll that to ourselves."

summary from Goodreads
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

Review: Not Until You Dare by Roni Loren

Title: Not Until You Part I: Not Until You Dare
Series: Loving on the Edge, #3.51
Author: Roni Loren
Published: June 11, 2013
Pages: ebook
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley Heat)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of Never Have I Ever with the two hot neighbors she’s been quietly crushing on for the last year. Always the prim and proper student, Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn...

Ian Foster is tired of playing games. With his membership to The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM resort, and a musician roommate named Pike who brings home groupies with a taste for ménage, Foster has a life most guys would kill for. But lately, his need for dominance is no longer satisfied via one-night stands. He craves the full surrender of one woman—a submissive of his own.

But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling…

Review: Games People Play by Shelby Reed

Title: Games People Play
Author: Shelby Reed
Published: June 4, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley Heat)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “It’s just a game.”

summary from Goodreads
What she’s wanted…

Sydney Warren is a successful painter of erotic landscapes—just the artful fantasies of a woman whose own life has been stripped of passion. Though she has stayed loyal to her boyfriend, Max, he’s unable to ignite the sparks they once shared, leaving Sydney wanting. Then comes the stranger, a work of art himself, and everything changes.

is what she’s getting…

With chestnut hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and the perfect body, Colm Hennessy is every woman’s fantasy. He too is aroused, and more intrigued by the beautiful artist than he expected to be—because it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. For there’s something about Colm that Sydney doesn’t know...

in the ultimate game of control.

Colm is only pretending to be a model. He’s been hired by Max to seduce her—a twisted scheme to test her fidelity. But Max never imagined that Colm would feel something real. As Sydney and Colm’s intimacy grows, as passions neither expected are unleashed, the stakes in a cruel game are raised—and desire isn’t the only thing set to spiral out of control.

Review: Thunderstruck by Kendall Grace

Title: Thunderstruck
Author: Kendall Grace
Published: May 29, 2013
Pages: ebook
Genre: Erotic Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Smith Publicity (Ellora's Cave)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Desperate to distance herself from her previous life, and her high-powered ex, Jo Montgomery moves to a tiny slice of Georgia, an impetuous decision if there ever was one. Though not nearly as impetuous as throwing herself into an intimate relationship with her new neighbor. Hawk Stephens, a horse breeder and local celebrity, is sex personified, a man built for dark deeds in dark places. But he wants far more from Jo.

Every instinct tells Silent Hawk that Jo is The One, and despite her obvious uncertainty, his Apache beliefs give him faith. The signs are unmistakable. His skittish little filly requires a strong hand, patience…and blazing, mind-bending sex that leaves no doubt to his feelings and intentions.

But before their love affair has barely begun, the reemergence of Jo’s ex, coupled with a potentially tragic event, forces Jo to make decisions that not only damage Hawk’s beliefs, but could also shatter their tender romance beyond repair.

Review: Taken By Him by Red Garnier

Title: Taken by Him: A Billionaire's Club Story (The Billionaire's Club)

Series: The Billionaire's Club, #2

Author: Red Garnier

Published: May 27, 2013

Pages: 112

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Source: NetGalley

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Rating: C

Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "Don't pretend I mean something, Luke."

"Not something. Everything."

summary from Goodreads

Luke Preston is the ultimate playboy among his billionaire friends. Every bad girl in Chicago has surrendered in his bed. Some good girls, too. But when he ends up in the hospital after an assassination attempt, his friends suggest he take a long vacation to recoup, regroup and lay off the women until the man is caught. However, when Luke lays eyes on the stunning brunette across the beach, she inspires every dark, erotic thought his mind can conjure.

Peyton Lane has always been serious and responsible and she’s determined to have some fun for once in her life. And that means a deliciously, sexy affair with a stranger while she’s on vacation. So when a blond Adonis named Luke crosses her path at the Cancun resort, she’s determined that he will be the one. But Peyton gets more than she bargained for when Luke introduces her to a passion unlike any she has ever experienced and she discovers that behind that charming smile are secrets and a beautiful, damaged soul.

Review: Blush by Lauren Jameson

Title: Blush
Series: In Vino Veritas, #1
Author: Lauren Jameson
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (NAL Trade)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Who the hell carries nipple clamps in their jeans?”

summary from Goodreads
Madeline Stone is determined to heal from her tragic past, one difficult step at a time…and she doesn’t need any distractions. Then she meets a mysterious and captivating stranger—and over a glass of outrageously expensive wine, her world turns upside down. Try as she might to banish the wealthy business mogul from her thoughts, Madeline can’t fight Alex’s staggering appeal or his enticing offer of intimate discovery.

Alex doesn’t date—at least, not in the traditional sense. Still, he wants Madeline …and his sexual intensity provides her with a much-needed escape. They embark on a tumultuous erotic affair, one that takes them to the pinnacle of obsession and desire. But underneath each explosive encounter lie dangerous secrets waiting to consume them both.…

Review: Fever by Maya Banks

Title: Fever (THE BREATHLESS TRILOGY)
Series: Breathless, #2
Author: Maya Banks
Published: April 2, 2013
Pages: 416
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Source: Publisher (Berkley)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Most of all, I want you to know without a doubt that I’ve got your back. And your front. And your sides. I’ve got all of you and I’m not letting you go.”


summary from Goodreads
Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.

When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.

Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.

Early Review: Binding Agreement by Kyra Davis

Title: Binding Agreement
Series: Just One Night, #3
Author: Kyra Davis
Release Date: May 20, 2013
Pages: 128
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Pocket Star)
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
As her affair threatens her job and the sexy billionaire Robert Dade becomes more controlling, Kasie has to figure out if her passion is leading her down a path she really wants. She’s seduced by his gifts of power, success, and adventure, she’s overwhelmed by what he can make her feel with a single touch, the way he can make her ache for him with just a look. But is the cost of absolute power and pleasure a price Kasie can afford? And does she truly know this man who says he can give her everything…or is he still a stranger after all?

Review: Mafia Captive by Kitty Thomas

Title: Mafia Captive
Author: Kitty Thomas
Published: April 17, 2013
Pages: ebook
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance
Source: Author
Publisher: Burlesque Press
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "You're mine whether I use you or not. You get that, right?"

summary from Goodreads
Faith Jacobson was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After witnessing a mob hit, she’s only moments from death when Angelo Raspallo decides to give his brother an unlikely gift.

Leo has avoided involvement with the family business, but it doesn't make him a saint. He’s troubled and ashamed by his darker sexual desires, one of which is to own a slave. But when his brother throws Faith at his feet, repainting the scenario to make Leo the hero rescuing her from certain death, his moral fortitude will be tested. If Faith were kinky, it would be easy to live out his fantasy, but she’s not—not even a little bit. Even the mildest spanking sparks terror in her that Leo can’t bear.

The gift soon becomes a burden as he fights with himself over how to handle the addition to his home. He could release her, but his brother doesn't do loose ends. The only thing keeping her out of the bottom of the harbor is Leo’s mercy. She’s like a beautiful piece of art he keeps in a glass case but can never touch. Is possessing her enough?

Review: Wild Child by Shelley Munro

Title: Wild Child
Author: Shelley Munro
Published: March 14, 2013
Pages: 67
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Zoe Underwood is one sexy disruption.

From the moment her father married Matt’s mother, Zoe has tempted Matt Cantrell with her seductive curves and driven him crazy with her flirting and provocative manner. The thing is they have no future because Zoe is his stepsister. Determined to dodge trouble, Matt leaves Auckland to live and work in the Gold Coast of Australia. A sea between them should do the trick and let him move forward without the “Zoe” distraction in his life.

Matt Cantrell is one stubborn dude.

No one presses Zoe’s buttons like the tall, dark and gorgeous Matt. In fact, every other man pales in comparison. One last play. Zoe decides to invade Matt’s territory and make her move before some other clever woman snaps him up. She’ll bust through emotional walls and push boundaries. By the time she’s finished, Matt won’t know what hit him. Yes. Good or bad, she’ll stir things up and take a chance on love.

Review: Forbidden Fires by Jodie Griffin

Title: Forbidden Fires
Series: Bondage and Breakfast, #3
Author: Jodie Griffin
Published: April 1, 2013
Pages: 139
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Carina Press
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
A year ago, Detective Delia Robinson and Fire Marshal Colin Butler got up close and personal while working a case. But their sizzling relationship didn’t last. Now there’s a serial arsonist on the loose, and it’s up to Delia and Colin to bring him down—if they can resist their attraction long enough to concentrate on the investigation.

Delia quickly sees the connection between the crime scenes: elements of BDSM. Though she denies it, Colin is stunned by the realization that his former lover is aroused by the idea of bondage play. And suddenly he can’t stop fantasizing about being the one to bind her…

Unsure how Colin would react, Delia never revealed her desire to be dominated in the bedroom. But she’ll finally have the chance to find out when they go deep undercover—as a married couple at a B&B offering classes in domination and submission…

Review: Give In To Me by Lacey Alexander

Title: Give In To Me: A H.O.T. Cops Novel
Series: H.O.T. Cops, #3
Author: Lacey Alexander
Published: December 31, 2012
Pages: 337
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Penguin)
Rating: D+
Reviewed by: Dawn


Favorite Quote: “When he turned to go, she started to relax--but then, just as quickly, he spun back to face her. And he lifted both hands to smoothly draw loose fabric together over her chest. She glanced down, gasped softly. To see that a button had come loose. To see his hands there. Despite herself, her breasts ached to be touched--she felt the fabric tightening over them far more keenly than made sense. They both watched in silence as he slowly took his time threading the button through the hole.
Then he turned and walked away.”

summary from Goodreads
The H.O.T. Cops: Trained to impose the law, but naturally skilled at enforcing pleasure

Rogan Wolfe is a bad-boy cop - the lone wolf on the force and in need of something new to excite him. Now he's transferred to sexy South Beach in Miami, working undercover and looking for a fresh start.

April Pediston is the epitome of responsible - over worked and under pressure as a high-powered attorney. Then, one night, called by a former client to a run-down oceanside club she's never been to before, she's rescued from a bar brawl by a stranger.

Rogan and April don't seem a natural match. She's a total professional. He's rough around the edges and ready for anything - which makes April feel totally out of control. And, to her surprise, exhilarated. But stripped of her starched suit, can she really succumb to his every demand? They're headed to a place of desire and reawakening that's about to change both their lives.

Review: Beyond Control by Kit Rocha

Title: Beyond Control
Series: Beyond, #2
Author: Kit Rocha
Published: March 19, 2013
Pages: 400
Genre: Erotic Romance (Dystopian)
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Self-published
Rating: A
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I can’t do this without you. I can’t be Dallas without Lex.”
“What can I say. We like our women only mostly tamed. What’s the fun in a woman who’d never stab you just a little, if you pissed her off bad enough?”

summary from Goodreads
She refuses to be owned.

Alexa Parrino escaped a life of servitude and survived danger on the streets to become one of the most trusted, influential people in Sector Four, where the O’Kanes rule with a hedonistic but iron fist. Lex has been at the top for years, and there’s almost nothing she wouldn’t do for the gang…and for its leader. Lie, steal, kill—but she bows to no one, not even Dallas O’Kane.

He’ll settle for nothing less.

Dallas fought long and hard to carve a slice of order out of the chaos of the sectors. Dangers both large and small threaten his people, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. His liquor business is flourishing, and new opportunities fuel his ambition. Lex could help him expand his empire, something he wants almost as much as he wants her. And no one says no to the king of Sector Four.

Falling into bed is easy, but their sexual games are anything but casual. Attraction quickly turns to obsession, and their careful dance of heady dominance and sweet submission uncovers a need so deep, so strong, it could crush them both.

Review: A Terrible Love by Marata Eros

Title: A Terrible Love
Author: Marata Eros
Published: February 13, 2013
Pages: 269
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Rating: D
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Jess Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She's left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. Jess soon discovers that passion can't be left behind; her own and that of the one man that sees who she really is. Whose presence caresses her soul in a way that may breach the peaceful life Jess has made for herself.

Devin Castile sees a young woman that is the missing puzzle piece to his existence and who is also the victim to a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. When the lies that Jess has made crumble before their attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life... or their very being.

---

Marq's thoughts:
I let the 4+ star reviews on Amazon convince me to buy this book and the price was right. 99 cents to try a new-to-me author is not bad. So I decided to give A Terrible Love a chance. With the hot cover and interesting blurb and rave reviews, I figured I was in for an enjoyable read. Wrong.

A Terrible Love starts off in the past. Jewell MacLeod is witness to her friend being murdered. But because Jewell is locked in a closet and is not an eyewitness to the events, her step-brother is not charged. To escape her step-brother and her family, Jewell runs away from her privileged life and changes her name to Jess Mackey. Fast forward and Jess is a sophomore at the University of Washington. She has altered her appearance and tries to stay under the radar. That all changes when her friend, Carlie, signs Jess up for a ballet audition without Jess's knowledge. Also, around the same time, Jess has all of a sudden become attractive to several guys on campus. There are also murders of young women that are happening on campus as well but that all takes a backseat to Jess's love live and inane conversations with her friends.

I thought  the premise of A Terrible Love sounded interesting which is why I had so much hope for this book. This could have been a really good story but there were so many plot holes. As a reader, I shouldn't have to piece together or draw my own conclusions as to what happens. The dialogue was choppy and at times hard to follow. There where moments where I couldn't even understand what the characters were talking about.

Not enough background information was given regarding Jess's past with her step-brother, her family life and the death of her friend. This is important information that would help understand Jess much better. As it were, I didn't learn a lot about her so I didn't understand a lot of her actions. A lot of events that occurred in the book should have been a red flag for someone who is running for her life. Everyone has a 6th sense when something is not right, but Jess never had it. Or maybe she chose to ignore which is stupid since she went to such an extent to hide from her family. Jess was too busy mooning over Devlin and thinking he's too dangerous with his tats and motorcycle but oh he's so hot and he makes her panties wet.

There are sex scenes in this book but they are few and far between and not interesting. At. All. It was hinted that Dev is into rougher sex. He kept calling Jess 'vanilla'. That fact alone should have made the sex scenes hot. But they weren't and having Jess pull on Dev's hair and him stating that she's playing with fire is not what a hot sex scene makes.

A Terrible Love would have benefited from another 100 pages. The conclusion of the campus murders and the big reveal of Dev's secret felt anti-climatic and kinda lame. Adding in Dev's POV and the POV of other characters at the end was a cop-out. I felt that having the story told from Jess's 1st person POV hurt the story a lot because Jess is not interesting and because we only saw her POV, nothing about the plot flowed.

The story as a whole didn't feel complete and when it ended, I was not satisfied. I had so many questions and felt that very few were answered.

Review: Unbreakable by Alison Kent

Title: Unbreakable
Series: The Dalton Boys Gang, #2
Author: Alison Kent
Published: February 5, 2013
Pages: 385
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher (Penguin)
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I’m thanking you for making sure I’ll smile every time I walk into this room from now on.”

summary from Goodreads
THE DALTON BOYS ARE RIDING HARD…

The notorious Dalton Gang once ran wild through their home town of Crow Hill, Texas. Now they own the run-down Dalton Ranch—and they work hard to keep it up. But when the right women come along, they still know how to play hard too…

Casper Jayne turned his back on Crow Hill nearly 20 years ago for a career in the professional bull riding circuit. Now he’s back—and Faith Mitchell is having a tough time thinking about anything else. She’s had a crush on him since high school, when he was part of her brother’s gang—and off limits. Since then, Faith has learned not to take risks. And Casper’s reckless, hard-living ways are causing her to think twice about trying to make the fantasies she has for this powerfully physical man come true.

Casper said he’d wait for a sign—but Faith is determined not to give him the satisfaction. Then an unexpected encounter finally penetrates her reserve, and the two of them ignite an intense passion. Faith finds herself holding on for a wild ride that breaks all the rules. But when the hot affair burns out of control, Faith will have to learn to take the reins…

---

Ellie's thoughts:
Casper Jayne has returned to the small Texas town of Crow Hill with his two best friends after they inherited Dalton Ranch from a couple they used to work for. Casper is uneasy about being back in the town that doesn’t hold a lot of good memories from his childhood and still remember him as a wild part of the Dalton Gang. Casper wants to save the ranch and fix up his childhood home but for both to happen he needs the help of Faith Mitchell, the younger sister of his best friend who is very off limits. Faith and Casper have always had chemistry but because of the ‘no sisters’ rule have never acted on it until now.

Unbreakable was a weird book for me. I liked it a lot better than I did Undeniable and Casper is an angel compared to Dax but there was still something missing. I love cowboys and romance but the Dalton Gang men are too crass for me and while they are great in bed, they are jerks out of it. Casper and Faith have smoking hot chemistry but they are missing romance from their relationship and it bothered me. Like I felt with the first book the men demand what they want and the women give it to them and get mad about it later.

I liked Faith but I felt that she let Casper walk all over her and he just did whatever he pleased. Casper was allowed to push Faith to be honest and share his past but he never had to and if she pushed her threw a fit. Casper turns into an even bigger jerk towards the end of the book and he doesn’t even have to grovel to get faith back. I like my heros to respect women and sweep them off their feet not treat them like garbage and make them put all the work into the relationship.

Sadly I think I’m done with the Dalton Gang and these disrespectful cowboys. I had hopes that it was just Dax in the first book but I think they all have the same attitude and it’s not one that appeals to me.

Review: Rush by Maya Banks

Title: Rush

Series: Breathless, #1

Author: Maya Banks

Published: February 5, 2013

Pages: 396

Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance

Source: Publisher (Berkley)

Rating: D+

Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I’m not saying you won’t have time for your other interests. Just that my interests will come first.”

summary from Goodreads
Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

---

Ellie's thoughts:

Gabe Hamilton is a wealthy and powerful man who has been burned in the past by his ex-wife leaking the details of their sexual tastes to the media. To protect himself from further embarrassment Gabe makes every woman he gets involved with sign a very lengthy and legal contract. The contract gives Gabe all of the power in the relationship and the woman must abide by the rules or the relationship is over. Gabe has set his sights on his best friend’s little sister Mia, who he has admired from afar for years. Mia is now twenty four and a woman and that makes her fair game in Gabe’s eyes.

Mia Crestwell has dreamt about Gabe Hamilton since she was sixteen years old and is shocked when he approaches her about starting a sexual relationship. Mia has never had the type of sex Gabe wants nor has she ever signed a contract giving all control of her body and time to a man but she can’t resist Gabe. As Mia enters Gabe’s world she is shocked by the things they do but even more shocked by how much she enjoys it. Mia knows this is just about sex but she still dreams that she can keep Gabe forever.

Oh my where to start? I guess since Gabe is the biggest reason I had such a problem with Rush we should start there. Gabe is an alpha male who has to be in control and will not settle for anything less but the problem is that he’s also a big time jerk and cares only about himself. Gabe takes what he wants and doesn’t care about the future. Gabe is 38 and Mia is 24 and at times he acts more like her father. He lectures her about going out dancing and drinking with his girl friends and scolds her when she comes home. The age difference really bothered me because Mia seems like a very immature 24 year old and she starts to give up who she is and her friends for Gabe. Everything is always about Gabe.

There is no romance in this book which really bothers me. Mia and Gabe have a lot of great sex but they don’t connect on any other level that I saw. I like strong alpha males but Gabe didn’t seem to have a heart until it was too late. Mia lets Gabe get away with a lot and doesn’t hold him accountable for his actions until the very end of the book. I was glad she grew a pair but by that time I was over the whole situation. Gabe messes up so much in this book and all he does is say sorry and everything is forgiven even though what happens is very upsetting and a very big deal.

I am a big fan of Maya Banks but this series missed the mark for me and I’m torn on reading the next book. I feel like this book was more about sex than Gabe and Mia falling in love. I like dirty books A LOT but I also want to like the characters and have some romance thrown in with the naughty bits. Rush and Gabe were not for me but I’m hoping Jace and Fever turn things around.

Early Review: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Title: Beautiful Bastard

Series: Beautiful, #1

Author: Christina Lauren

Release Date: February 12, 2012

Pages: 320

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Source: Edelweiss

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: B

Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "I'm going to make you come so hard you forget that you're supposed to be the world's biggest asshole."

summary from Goodreads
An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

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Marq's thoughts:
I'm going to start off by saying that I when I started reading Beautiful Bastard, I had low expectations. I was pretty certain that I was going to DNF it. First, the formatting is awful and I think it was done on purpose. The story is told from Chloe and Ben's 1st person POV. I think the author, in order to differentiate between the character's POV, decided to use formatting as the indicator. Wrong. Move. Chloe's chapters lack punctuation and had weird capitalization. It's distracting and annoying. The author could have just as easily added the character's name at the beginning of each chapter and that would have been fine. The formatting issue was one of the reasons I thought I was going to DNF the book.

I'm tired of 1st person POV in erotic romance, especially the heroine's 1st person POV. I need to know what the hero is thinking. Sorry but being inside a woman's head the entire book is boring and we miss out on a lot because of this. When I realized that Beautiful Bastard was told from the hero and heroine's POV, I decided to ignore the wonky formatting and dive into the story.

Beautiful Bastard was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed reading it and could not put it down. I think BB is a book you either love or hate. Many folks have strong opinions regarding fanfic and P2P. I've never read fanfic. I have no thoughts or opinions or feelings about it whatsoever. So I started reading this book with the hopes that it would be a good story.

I really liked Chloe's character. She's smart, she's tough and she has goals. I was so happy that the heroine wasn't some weak and whiney female that needed to be controlled or rescued by a man. Yay! I enjoyed Ben and Chloe's back and forth verbal jabs. A couple of times, I giggled. Ben and Chloe have a lot of sex. They actually have sex several times at the beginning of the book. This didn't bother me. I loved the hate sex. The one thing that did bother me was the lack of condom use. The issue was addressed further into the story. But after all that unprotected sex, especially in the stairwell, where did Ben's spunk go? Did it magically disappear? Just wondering.

Ben and Chloe's "I hate you but I want you" relationship reminded me of Sam and Diane from Cheers, except hotter. It kept the story entertaining and I loved it. The characters had great sexual tension and the sex scenes were plentiful. I would have been happy without an HEA. I think a HFN or nothing for Ben and Chloe would have been more realistic. These are two strong people who butt heads at every turn. It would make more sense that the book would end with them exploring having a relationship instead of declaring love.

I really liked Beautiful Bastard. I thought the story was engaging and the characters were entertaining. Again, Beautiful Bastard was a pleasant surprise despite the formatting issues. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Beautiful series.