Review & Giveaway: Adrian Lessons by L.A. Rose

Genre: New Adult, contemporary romance
Release: August 25^th, 2014
Blurb:
If there's one thing Cleo Reynolds knows, it's that she's not into Adrian King. 

The son of a model with the looks to prove it, the experienced author of her school newspaper's sex advice column, the cocky playboy with a hint of darkness. That Adrian King. 

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. 
The problem is, he's very into her. 

After accidentally flashing him, and slightly-less-accidentally-but-still-totally-unintentionally making out with him in front of the whole class, she expects to be called crazy. Instead, he asks her out. 

Cleo's determined not to end up as another notch on his bedpost. Except she hasn't done…you know…it in a while. (Read: ever.) And as a girl who pays her tuition by writing all the sex scenes in her roommate's bestselling romance series, the lack of inspiration has served up a fat slice of writer's block. 

Until her roommate proposes that Cleo and Adrian act out all the steamy scenes in her book. 

It's just research. No feelings involved. 
Nope. Nuh-uh. 
No way.

Review:
If I had to pick one word to describe/represent Adrian Lessons it would be foreplay. Yes, foreplay. Holy crap… That was some of the hottest build up that I've read in a while. Most books get right down to business, which, of course, I'm more than okay with, but this foreplay was crazy good. Just when I thought Cleo was about to combust, with me right along with her, the sexy time commences and boy was that intense… and chocolate-y.

Besides loads of sexual tension, frustration, and orgasms, Adrian Lessons had me cracking up. Cleo is funny, quirky, and weird… in a good way. She says the most random things that have you scratching your head, but then agreeing with every word. She says whatever comes to mind and, for me, that quality made her a loveable character. And Adrian, well Adrian can be full of himself at times, but can you blame the guy? He's drop dead gorgeous, can have a girl screaming with pleasure in seconds, and has a heart the size of Texas. So for that, I can forgive his cockiness. As far as secondary characters go, Cleo's best friend and roommate Marie is super cute and a bit of a voyeur, or something close to it. You see… Maris writes romance novels and Cleo writes the sex scenes for her because Marie is a shy Catholic girl who blushes at the word "sex." But for being a shy Catholic girl she sure doesn't mind watching Adrian and Cleo enact some of the scenes from her book… for inspiration of course. I hope we get to hear more about Marie in the future! *hint hint* *nudge nudge*

So with all the awesome humor and sexual activities going on there was only one thing missing for me- when Cleo's crush/lust turned into more. The whole double date with her sister clued us in to how she felt about Adrian on a level other than sex, and with Adrian we knew his feelings for her from the beginning and why, but I just wanted a bit more from Cleo. I think a lot of Cleo's humor shadowed her true feelings throughout a lot of the book, but hey, it's fiction, it was funny, and I still enjoyed the story!

As far as first books go, I think L.A. Rose did a fantastic job of reeling her readers in with flaming hot foreplay and laugh out loud moments.

Written Revelry gives Adrian Lessons 4 out of 5 and a little Cleo and Adrian pool action for funsies!

*Giveaway!*

Enter to win an ebook copy of Adrian Lessons by clicking the link below!

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Happy Reading,
A
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Facebook: L.A. Rose Books

Twitter: @larosebooks
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Review: Control by Laura Marie Altom

Genre: Romance
Release: September 16^th, 2014

Blurb:
Never again. Fleeing her hometown to escape an abusive marriage, Ella Patton swears she has surrendered to a man for the last time. But while living under a new name, she meets a kind, handsome stranger who seems different—and will be moving on soon, making Ella reckless enough to break her rules. With a kiss, the stranger opens the door to desires Ella believed she would never know. Then he makes an unexpected proposal.

A dot-com billionaire from humble beginnings, Liam Stone is a man whose past has made him compassionate yet guarded—much like the beautiful, secretive woman he stumbles upon in a remote Southern town. Though he intends only a dalliance, when the time comes to return home to San Francisco, Liam cannot bear the thought of leaving her behind. But when he tries to entice her to join him, he finds the tables turning dizzingly fast. Suddenly a little seduction becomes a huge battle for one thing: control.


Review:
Control, when it first started out, felt like a mash-up for Safe Haven and Pretty Woman. Then it got weird. I really wanted to like Control, but everything was a bit dramatic and over-the-top for me. There was so much back and forth between Liam and Ella that I practically had whiplash... okay, now I'm being dramatic, but seriously they were hot and cold so often it was hard to connect and believe in their relationship.

Also, I didn't realize how dark and sad it was going to be. Is this really a romance story? From physical and verbal abuse, to suicides... It's a lot of take in. Willow, Ella's best friend, was a hot mess and to say she was an unlikable character is an understatement. I hate to say it, but her personality and party girl antics were such a turn off that I didn't really care what ended up happening to her. Harsh, I know. Then there's Garrett and I've only got one word for him-- asshole. And poor Nathan... he's like a little puppy that keeps getting kicked, but he sure can turn into a jerk at times that it makes me wonder what he's capable of.

When I read the description for Control I thought it had a lot of potential. I wanted to read about a woman breaking free of her old life, opening herself up to love and slowly rebuilding herself from past hurts. Which is kind of what I got, but it wasn't executed well, and the drama, in my opinion, took away from Ella and Liam's budding relationship. It's hard to connect to a story and its characters if you don't feel for them or believe in them.

Written Revelry gives Control a 2 out of 5.

Happy Reading,
A
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Laura Marie Altom

@LauraMarieAltom


 

Review: Slow Satisfaction by Cecilia Tan

Genre: Erotic Romance
Release: August 26^th, 2014

Blurb:
James has finally pushed Karina beyond her limit–not her limit for kinky sex play, but for his extreme secrecy. She has had enough and breaks things off. But James won't give up on Karina and he will do whatever it takes to get her back. He's ready to share his deepest, darkest secrets, but is Karina ready to hear them? When James is blackmailed by an unscrupulous music industry executive, he must give in to unreasonable demands or risk exposure of his and Karina's secret sex life… a sex life that keeps getting hotter! Will Karina and James's love be strong enough to withstand the many obstacles being thrown their way?

Review:

Sooooo… This is yet another review I've been sitting on for awhile.

When I read Slow Surrender, the first book in the Struck by Lightning series, I was hooked. The characters were mysterious, flawed, mostly honest (*nudge James*), and the sexual tension between James and Karina was off the charts. Like, seriously off the charts! Slow Seduction was a little darker, a little sexier and introduced a hunk of a man Damon. I was convinced he was going to be important, as in Karina giving up on James important. So, of course, I was hooked again into the world of Struck by Lightning. Then came Slow Satisfaction…

I feel like I waited a lifetime for Slow Satisfaction to be released. Cliffhangers never really bothered me, but by the end of Slow Seduction I was itching to find out what the eff was going on! Who the hell is Ferrara? What's with James' games and secrets? And, wow Karina is a whole lot kinkier than I thought she was. Also, who know the girl could dance? Though all those questions are answered in Slow Satisfaction, I, well, wasn't completely satisfied with the book. Everything tied up nicely in the end; maybe a little too nicely. James opens up about everything to Karina, Karina's mother completely changes her tune and is now tolerable, and Ferrara is exposed, but nothing really happens to her.

For me, the Ferrara thing at the end is what really confused me. Everything happened so fast that it felt rushed and I didn't understand what the consequences were for Ferrara. She is one evil bitch and I wanted to see her get nailed for all she had done to them. And Pascual? Where did you come from, bro?

Anyway, as a whole, I enjoyed this series. Struck by Lightning opened my eyes to the whole BDSM community a lot more than other books I've read. Who knew a marble could be used for more than just a child's toy? Or that a lot of people are into the 24/7 slave, pet, and "rape" scene? And that harness at the end?... That was different.

Now that James and Karina's story is over, I'd really like to go back to London to hear more about Damon. He and that club are something else… and it's pretty fascinating what they get into there.

Written Revelry gives Slow Satisfaction a 3 out of 5!


Happy Reading,
A
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Cecilia Tan
@ceciliatan

Teaser: Priceless by Raine Miller

You guys! It's Friday and we're just one week away from the release of Raine Miller's Priceless! Thanks to the lovely Ms. Miller and InkSlinger PR we have a little teaser to hold you off until next Friday! But first, a little bit about Priceless:

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: September 12^th
Blurb:
*THIS IS A CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE SPIN-OFF SET IN THE WORLD OF BLACKSTONE AFFAIR* <--(Which, BT-DUB, you should definitely read!)

Ivan Everley, 13th Baron Rothvale, would admit he's the last person on earth who should have custody over a priceless collection of art. British law affords him the title of 'Lord,' but underneath all the trappings he's just a regular guy, despite being a world champion in archery, and certain...proclivities of a private nature. But Ivan's public celebrity is merely a sham--a carefully guarded secret borne out of the pain of betrayal. Even his cousin Ethan Blackstone doesn't know the truth behind the man he considers a brother.

Lord Rothvale has a plethora of problems piled up to his aristocratic eyeballs, but that doesn't stop him from complicating his world further when a beautiful art conservationist shows up to appraise his inherited collection of paintings. Once Ivan gets a taste of Gabrielle Hargreave, mistaken identity or not, he can't think of anything but how good the green-eyed beauty felt in his arms.

The chase is on, and Ivan's dominant side isn't taking 'no' for an answer--but yet, Gabrielle might just teach our discontented lord a thing or two about life, and about himself, and help them both discover the undeniable truth in what it means to find something genuinely... priceless.

                                                                                     "I found you."   -Ivan to Gabrielle

Teaser:

You didn't think that was all, did you? Oh no, get a little more of the scorching hot Ivan Everley from a scene from Priceless HERE on Raine Miller's website!


Happy Reading,
A
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Website: Raine Miller

Twitter: @Raine_Miller
 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1oEj3yr
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1t6oTc7
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1v1FSvx
nook: http://bit.ly/1nYr3UZ
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1Anawm4
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1rew5o6

Review: Ignited by J. Kenner

Genre: Erotica, Romance
Release: September 9^th, 2014

Blurb:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Bared to You, and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.

 

He promised to take me as far as I could go—and I wanted to go to the edge. 

 

My whole life has been a cover, a con, a lie. I was born into the grift, raised on the thrill of playing someone I'm not. As a rule, I never let anyone get too close—until Cole August makes it impossible for me to stay away.

 

Cole is tough, sexy, and intensely loyal, yet his secrets are dark and his scars run deep. Not many women can handle his past, or the truth behind his fierce demands. But something about him beckons me—and our desire is a game I must play. 

 

I know he's dangerous, that even his touch is trouble, but what is passion without a little risk?

 Ignited is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Review:

So, I've been sitting on this review for a week or two now because I have mixed feelings about the book. So here's what I like to call a compliment sandwich (Thank you, Hart of Dixie):

Every book I've picked up by J. Kenner has been devoured in one sitting. She never fails to create ultra-sexy and mysterious, dominate men and feisty female counterparts. The drama gets your heart pumping and the steamy sex leaves you tingling, and Ignited had and did all those things, but I still couldn't help feeling like something was missing after I turned the last page.

The first two books of the series, Wanted and Heated, were great. There was drama, there was a problem, and it was solved, but still linked into the next book. Ignited had the drama, maybe a little more than the first two, poor Cole, but I was left a little lost at the end. Everything happened so fast I was scrambling to keep up and had to go back to re-read to make sure I had everything straight. It made me feel that there might be another book. I don't know, J. Kenner, is this actually the end of the Most Wanted boys? Anyway, I want to go into more detail, but I don't want to ruin it for fellow fans of the Most Wanted series.

Now, even with all that being said I was excited to finally get to know Kat and Cole. These two have a lot more in common than I ever could have guessed. The similarities from their pasts, the cons, the lies, the secrets, have them connecting on all levels. Kat is clearly done sitting around waiting to pounce on Cole, and even though Cole fights it (for about 2 seconds) in the beginning, we all know it's just a matter of time before he's got her pressed up against a brick wall going at it like the world is ending tomorrow. Who knew he was lusting, and lusting hard, for her this whole time? Kat has done a lot of sketchy things growing up, but she still has this innocence about her, something pure, and Cole see's that and loves and embraces it all. It's fun to read their interactions together whether it's inside or outside the bedroom.

I think these two finally getting together was like taking a huge breath after holding your breath for too long. Kat and Cole carry the heavy load of their pasts on their backs and needed someone to trust completely to let go, and they found that in each other.

3 ½ out of 5 for the HOT phone sex and the beyond erotic playroom they created together!


Happy Reading,
A

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Website: Julie Kenner
Twitter: @juliekenner

NetGalley Month

You guys! It's September! Time to gear up for bulky sweaters, boots, and those pumpkin spice lattes everyone's been tweeting about.

But, September 1^st doesn't just mark Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer/beginning of fall, it's also NetGalley Month! What, you ask, is NetGalley Month? Well, first off, NetGalley is an online source for professional readers. Bloggers, teachers, librarians, etc. are able to connect with authors and publishers, request their latest titles, and share their reviews with the world. Many publishers on NetGalley base their requests off a NetGalley member's approval rating. Basically, the more reviews and feedback you give, the higher your approval rating and the more likely you are to get the book you requested.

Now sometimes life gets in the way. Or you just see so many new books you can't keep your finger from clicking that request button, so it's hard to keep up with your feedback. So many books, so little time, ya know? This is where NetGalley Month comes into play. The lovely Tay from Chicks That Read came up with this idea to bump up our approval rating. Everyone needs a little motivation and support, and NetGalley Month provides that. Numerous bloggers are getting together with Chicks That Read to focus on our backlogs and get back on track, and a giveaway at the end of the month doesn't hurt!



Here are some of the awesome NetGalley titles and authors I'll be reviewing this month:

• No In Between by Lisa Renee Jones
• My Control by Lisa Renee Jones
• Once Haunted, Twice Shy by H.P. Mallory
• Falling For Max by Shannon Stacey
• In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins
• Ignited by J. Kenner
• Slow Satisfaction by Cecilia Tan
• And more!
  

So, bust out your e-readers and join us this month!

Click HERE to see fellow bloggers/reviews participating in NetGalley Month. Discover new books and don't forget to enter the NetGalley Month giveaway!

Good Luck and Happy Reading,
A
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Review: Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett

Genre: Erotic Romance
Release: September 8th, 2014

Blurb:

**Warning: This book is a wild, sexy beast of a read. 18+**

Putting a woman on her knees before me is what really makes my cock hard. I fuck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender from my conquests.

Savage man, loner, warrior… I am dangerous at my core. I have lived amidst the untamed wild of the rainforest, in a society that reveres me and where every woman falls before me in subjugation.

Now I’ve been discovered. Forced to return to a world that I have forgotten about and to a culture that is only vaguely familiar to my senses.

Dr. Moira Reed is an anthropologist who has been hired to help me transition back into modern society. It’s her job to smooth away my rough edges… to teach me how to navigate properly through this new life of mine. She wants to tame me.

She’ll never win.

I am wild, free and raw, and the only thing I want from the beautiful Moira Reed is to fuck her into submission.

She wants it, I am certain.

I will give it to her soon.

Yes, very soon, I will become the teacher and she will become my student. And when I am finished showing her body pleasure like no other, she’ll know what it feels like to be claimed by an uncivilized man.

Review:
WHOA!

Let me just start by saying that I started this book around 12pm and finished it by bedtime-- 9 hours well spent.

I first discovered Sawyer Bennett through her Off Sides series when I got the bundle from the Kindle Lending Library. Though I liked the Off Sides series, I LOVED Uncivilized!

I'd describe Uncivilized as a more believable and incredibly hot version of Tarzan. Though Zach was not raised by animals, he was taken in by an Amazonian tribe after his American missionary parents died when he was only 7 years old. For years, his godfather Randall searched for them, but as the years went by the search waned and Zach slowly lost touch with his old life. This is until, 18 years later, connections are made and anthropologist Moira Reed is hired to bring Zach back "home" and help him transition into life in the modern world. Moira was a goner as soon as she stepped into the rainforest, and from there a bunch of sexy, sexy time ensues!

I've heard comments about this story being "far-fetched" or "over sexed"... Who are these people? It's a story, not real life, of course they are gettin' it on like Donkey Kong every 5 seconds! A kickass alpha male raised in the wild with a tender heart? Sign me up!

I really enjoyed reading something that was different. This story could have turned out to be silly, but for me, it was  page turner. What started out as a show of defiance and dominance, over being reluctantly taken from the only home he knows, shifted into something more-- something real. Zach's transition seemed a little too easy, but he still has his memories as a kid, he's very smart, and Moira is an extremely patient and kind mentor, so it all tied together nicely. And you wont want to miss Zach's experience with the internet-- it is good for some giggles!

Their vulnerabilities are real and heartfelt... and their numerous sex scenes will leave you tingling. After all, you may be able to take the man out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the man! I can't think of one thing I would change. All I know is that I want more!

Written Revelry gives Uncivilized 5 out of 5!


Happy Reading,

A

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Website: Sawyer Bennett
Twitter: @BennettBooks
Amazon: Sawyer Bennett

Review: Reckless by Priscilla West

Genre: New Adult, Romance
Page Length: 267
Release: August 2014 (Out now!)

Blurb:

Everything about him warned me to stay away.

I'd seen bad boys before, but he had it all and more. The rippling muscles covered in tatts, the piercing eyes hiding dark secrets, the silky voice that could make a girl come with just a whisper . . .

He was exactly the type of guy that would get me in trouble, but when he jumped off the stage, inked skin glistening with sweat and breathed his seductive words into my ear, I couldn't resist the temptation.

It was supposed to be the best one-night stand of my life, but fate didn't let it play out that way. Things happened. I got upset. I got hasty. And worst of all, I got reckless.

After that disaster, I thought it was the last I'd see of him. But what I didn't know was that I'd started something.

Something that could shatter the very thing I had worked so hard to protect.

I should have known back then that the most seductive things in life are also the most dangerous.

*ARC from NetGalley for honest review*

Review:
I'm a fan of Priscilla West's Surrender Series, so I knew I was in for a good read and I wasn't disappointed with Reckless! (P.S… Check out the steamy Surrender Series!)

Main hotties—er, characters, Jax and Riley have a crazy instant connection as soon as they lock eyes in the dingy bar his band, The Hitchcocks, are playing at. Maybe it's the twinning troubled pasts or the fact she's the only audience member full dressed, but his voice oozes sexuality and her eyes spark with a mischievousness he can't deny. Their first face to face meeting doesn't go well, and just when Riley thinks she has seen the last of lead singer/sex god Jax Trenton, his label hires her accounting company for a little help.

Because Riley's purpose on the tour is to help with finances, things start off tense with Jax. She's there to crack the whip on the bands spending, but she doesn't want to come off as the bad guy or the mother hen. Finding a balance results in getting close to the long haired, dark eyed crooning siren she vowed to keep her distance from. Early morning hot tub negotiations and late night bed sharing and movie watching has Riley seeing a softer side to Jax, and what girl isn't going to fall for a vulnerable sexy rock star, am I right?

Riley has always been drawn to the bad boys, and Jax is no exception, but it's understandable why Riley doesn't want to mix business with pleasure. Is it worth losing your job over the most amazing sex with an on the rise rock star—wait, what am I saying, of course it is! ; ) Regardless of how Riley wants to keep things professional, Jax, of course, has other plans and that man is up for a challenge. The interactions between Riley and Jax, and Riley and the other band members of The Hitchcocks, added just the right amount of comedic presence when things got heavy.

Though I enjoyed their banter, I wished for a little more heat from Jax and Riley. Don't get me wrong, these two have chemistry, and we really get to see that in Vegas, but I wanted more. Anyway…

Reckless ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, a potentially dangerous cliffhanger, so I'm curious to see what happens between the redheaded beauty and her troubled rock star. Is Jax's past demons too much for Riley to handle? Will Riley's insecurities hinder their budding relationship? Will there be more cowbell? Maybe some more water gun fights or hot tub fun? These are the tough questions, and I look forward to reading more of their story when the second book comes out this fall!


Written Revelry gives Reckless 4 guitars (out of 5) in honor of Jax's sexy self!

Happy Reading!
A

 
…and just for fun, in honor of Riley's musical skills…



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Website: Priscilla West

Twitter: @PriscillaWest15