Showing posts with label adult contemporary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adult contemporary. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Review + Excerpt: Something Reckless by Lexi Ryan


Adult Contemporary Romance

Release: December 22, 2014

Blurb:

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.

She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.


Review:
I. Am. Completely. Obsessed. 

I started Something Reckless around bedtime. I thought I'd read a chapter or two and then go to bed, but who am I kidding? I've never been able to do that and the next thing I know it's 1am, the book has ended, and I'm left with a book hangover that hurts so good. My only complaint has to do with my own stupidity-- how am I just now reading a Lexi Ryan book? After reading Something Reckless I looked her up and saw all that I have been missing... and a lot of it has to do with characters in Something Reckless. I should point out that you don't have to read those books to understand Liz and Sam's story, but since I'm in so deep with New Hope's people, I really need to read about the other bumpy journeys to happy-ever-after. 

Okay, so enough gushing... Something Reckless gave me all the feels. I can identify with Liz. She's a single, mid-twenties woman, who isn't quite sure what she wants out of life career wise, but she knows that she wants what everyone else around her seems to finds so "easily"-- love, marriage and children. She, in a way, becomes desperate for those things that she makes a couple if-y choices that get her fired and down a friend or two. Then the online dating starts and let's just saw that New Hope isn't swimming with many eligible bachelors. 

Sam, though bit of a ladies man, is a good guy. He, like Liz, has made some not so great choices, but hey, they're only human. He has known Liz, his little sister's friend, has had her eyes on him for years, but he never acted on it till just a few years ago. Without giving up any spoilers, all I will say is that some drunken things happen, people get hurt, a couple years go by, and there are revelations and lies that are about to build them up and possibly tear them all down again. 

What is great about the way Lexi wrote Liz and Sam, is that even when they are doing certain things, or going about them in a certain way that you know wont be good, you can't help but feel for them and want to hold their hands and support them. It's important to give a character redeemable qualities when they are going about things in not so great ways.  Liz is just trying to navigate life. She's trying to find herself, what she's good at, what she wants, and just when it looks like that has happened, stupid things come to light that could take it all away. Sam, to me, just seems to be wanting to please everyone-- from his own heart, a crazy ex-stripper, and especially his family since his dad is big in politics. 

Needless to say, I loved every second of the beginning of Liz and Sam's story. Now that the whole Tink/River situation is out in the open I'm dying to know why happens next in Something Real. March cant come soon enough!

Happy Reading,
A

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Adult Contemporary Romance
Get the FREE introductory novella to the Something Reckless-- Something Wild!
“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. This promises to be SOMETHING WILD.
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

Website | Facebook | Twitter
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Excerpt from Something Reckless

“You look amazing in this dress. I’ve been pretending all night that there’s something I want to do more than get you out of it.”

“What would you do with me if you got so lucky?”

“I’d keep you up all night, for starters.” He slides a hand into my hair and traces the side of my neck with his thumb. His groan rumbles through me. “Tell me what you came here for.”

I thought that was pretty clear. “I’m wearing extremely slutty underwear. What do you think?”

His nostrils flare and his breathing goes thready. “I think I’m going to have to up my game, because now I want to see it.”

I have to bite back a smile. “Good,” I say. My heart thumps out a beat, probably Morse code for please and thank you.

“How slutty is this underwear of yours?”

I lick my lips. “Oh, it’s damn near whorish.”

“Let me see it, Liz.”

I lift my chin and prop my hands on my hips. “Seriously? That’s all the seduction I get? Let me see it?”

He steps closer until I have to crane my neck to look at him, and holy hell he smells good. “What game are we playing here, Rowdy?” he murmurs against my ear. “Is this the one where we pretend we don’t want each other and sleep alone . . .” His fingers skim down my shoulder and my eyes float closed. “Or is it the one where I make you come so hard you scream my name and tomorrow you act like you want nothing to do with me?”

“Are those my only choices?” I ask, but I keep my eyes closed, focusing on the feel of his rough fingers dancing across my skin. The truth is, I don’t want to play either game. I’m done playing games when it comes to Sam. I’m done pretending I don’t want him when I do, and I’m done pretending our annual one-night stand is enough for me.

“Tell me you aren’t going to run away in the morning. Promise me you won’t shut me out again.”

I don’t know what that means, and I’m too scared to analyze it. My eyes are still closed when he takes my chin in his fingers and tilts my face up to his, still closed when he brushes his lips over mine and when I open under him because I’m helpless to this man’s kiss.

“Promise me,” he repeats.

“I won’t run away.” Then I unzip my dress and let it fall to the floor in a puddle, and my boldness is rewarded. Sam’s lips part and his breath escapes him in a rush.

He steps back and takes me in. The bra is strapless, black lace demi-cups that lift my breasts until they threaten to spill out. The panties—what there is of them—are a thong in matching black lace. Their fine lace straps sit in a sharp V high on my hipbones.

A ringlet of hair escaped my up-do, and he takes it between his fingers and twirls it around. I deserve a medal for not melting right here at his feet.

He hooks his index finger under the black bow between my bra cups. “Did you wear this for me?” His voice is a husky whisper that I can’t deny.

“Yes.”

His fingers skim my belly, trace over my hip, following the lace of my thong behind me to where the straps meet at the small of my back. My breath catches as he takes the fabric path over the curve of my tailbone and down, his fingers bringing every nerve ending to life as they pass. Electric pleasure whips through me.

“Fourteen months since I’ve touched you,” he says. “Fourteen months since I’ve gotten to hear the way you breathe when you’re turned on, since I’ve gotten to listen to you scream as I make you come. Tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

“I’d be lying.”

“Don’t lie,” he says, eyes hot and intense. “Just tell me you want me.”

Copyright Lexi Ryan, 2014
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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Review & Giveaway: Alex: A Cold Fury Hockey Novel by Sawyer Bennett


Genre: New Adult Contemporary, Romance
Release: October 14th, 2014

Blurb:
Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn't afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn't so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.


As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who's been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team's effort to clean up his image. What she doesn't expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn't one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn't do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex's bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.


Review:
Sawyer Bennett is an author that I randomly discovered while browsing Amazon, and I'm so glad I found her. She has a way of balancing the scorchingly sexy and romantically sweet elements of story to make one great read—and Alex definitely lives up to that.

I've recently been pulled into books with the sporty element, and why not? These athletes are paid to take care of their bodies and I can for sure get behind that. They're also a little bit, or a lot, cocky, demanding and successful. Now that is hot… and where Alex Crossman comes in.

Alex is all of the above—nice body, successful, a whole lot cocky… and an asshole. He's also the typical commitment-phobe who doesn't form emotional attachments, especially to women. No rings, no strings, seems to be his motto. But can you blame a guy who grew up with an asshole father? He takes the whole "stage mom/dad" to a new level, and unfortunately some of that assholery (yes, today that's a word) was passed down to Alex. Sutton also grew up, and was abandoned, by an asshole, but she was able to overcome that, and I think that's what ultimately draws Alex to Sutton—aside from her looks. Their similar pasts allow Sutton to empathize while giving sympathy without pity… because, man, that guy does not do well with pity.


Some of the things I loved about Alex were the appearances made by Sutton's family and their (Alex and Sutton) flirty texting. Sutton is a very patient, understanding, completely loyal and supportive person—her family is the same way. Her brother Glenn is the sweetest freakin' kid (who brought sweet tears to my eyes on multiple occasions), and Sutton's love and devotion to her family is such an attractive quality to Alex. He may be a little bitter and envious, but you can see how much he admires her because of it.

I think a lot of women fantasize about being that one woman to change/tame the bad boy. To turn the ladies man into a one woman man, and Alex is very much that, but I love the journey. You get both points of view in Alex, which helps you understand the characters demons and motivations. There's another bad boy and fellow Cold Fury teammate, Garrett, who makes a couple appearances and I can't wait to read about how he gets the girl in the next Cold Fury Hockey Novel.

Written Revelry gives Alex 5 out of 5.
This book will have you experiencing an array of emotions. Irritation at asshole Alex. Admiration for everything Sutton does. A few tears (good and sad) from Alex's boneheaded-ness to Alex's sweet and tender side. And throw in quite a few laughs whenever Garrett is involved!

 

Happy Reading,
A
Buy links:
Amazon B&N      Kobo       iBooks
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Giveaway!
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About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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Friday, October 10, 2014

Review: Just One Spark by Jenna Bayley-Burke


Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: October 7th, 2014

Blurb:
Once the flame is ignited, there's no escaping the heat.

Just One, Book 1

Hannah Daniels reads steamy romance novels so she can forget her lack of a personal life—and the fact that the one time in her life she took a risk on love, her heart was left in pieces. Her busy schedule means she reads whenever she can make time. Like at the laundromat while sitting on top of a washing machine.

Mason McNally has waited his whole life for a woman who stirs his soul. When he finds her, she's nose-deep in a racy paperback, perched atop a vibrating washing machine. Her beauty, boldness and raw sensuality definitely stir something in Mason. But there's a problem. He's forgotten he's wearing a wedding ring.

No amount of hasty explanations that it's for his brother's psychology experiment keeps her from disappearing. Now he's consumed with finding her again and convincing her that her first impression was wrong, and their spark of attraction is oh so right.

Review:
I'm a Jenna Bayley-Burke fan. I luuuuurved Compromising Positions and Par for the Course was good too, but Just One Spark didn't do much for me. I liked Just One Spark, but I didn't love it.

Our main lady Hannah is a little skittish when it comes to men and relationships—she has been done dirty by the craptastic Marty. The lovely (sarcasm) Marty was married and kept that little secret from Hanna for over a year, so you can understand her hesitation. With Hannah approaching her 30th birthday, and everyone around her getting married and having babies, she is feeling the pressure.

Our main man Mason is a sweet, enthusiastic, impulsive firefighter of a man. These qualities have been passed down from his parents who got married after only 3 days of knowing each other. In fact, it's kind of a family thing, so it's no surprise that with just one like into Hannah's unique eyes (two different colors), he falls and is determined to get to know her. Now, being sweet, enthusiatstic and impulsive don't seem like bad qualities, and they're not really, but there are times where it doesn't translate well in the book. His protectiveness comes off as being oddly weird instead, but I'm willing to overlook that because 1) it's fiction and 2) he sounds really hot in his tight firefighters t-shirt.

Hannah and Mason are a cute couple and seem to have a hot sex life, but their connection doesn't come off as being very deep at times. The whole Christmas card thing turned out different than how I thought. Jeremy just seemed to go away, which I thought was odd since he seemed to be a big deal at times. Marty is an ass, but that's nothing new. And I love the McNally family! Overall, it was a light, easy read and it's a great filler book if you're between reads.

Written Revelry gives Just One Spark a 2.5 out of 5.

p.s… Do yourself a favor and read Compromising Positions!


Happy Reading,
A
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Jenna Bayley-Burke

@jennabb