Book Review: Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn

Unbreak My Heart (Unbreak My Heart #1)
Author: Nicole Jacquelyn
Published by: Forever
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Page Count: 368 (paperback)
Buy it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Source: eARC Kindly Provided by Publisher
Audience: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Adult


My Thoughts:
Unbreak My Heart is probably the most REAL and HONEST book that I've read in a long time. I've been stuck in a paranormal and edgy contemporary rut lately, and while I still love those books, I needed a break. Unbreak My Heart was like going home for me. I'm going to admit right now that I did not read the synopsis before jumping in. I accepted the book based on the cover alone, which was risky... but in the end, I'm so glad that I didn't read the synopsis because the surprises I was in store for only added to the heat-breaking highs and lows of the story.

Book Review: Desire After Dark by Marie Force

Desire After Dark (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #15)
Author: Marie Force
Published by: HTJB, Inc.
Publication Date: May 21, 2016
Page Count: 304 (paper back)
Buy it at: Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Kindly Provided by Author
Audience: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Adult

Desire After Dark is the 15th book in Marie Force's Gansett Island series. I am new to this series, and I will admit I was a little apprehensive at first about jumping in to a book that is part of such a long series. However, Desire After Dark is a beautiful love story that reads well as a stand-alone. That being said, I think it is definitely enjoyed best by those who have read the entire series and already know all of the characters. I am a lover of series. I hate letting characters go at the end of a book. Just from reading this one book alone, I can tell that Marie Force does a fabulous job of continuing a series by allowing new characters to tell their stories without letting go of the characters that readers have grown to love throughout the series.

Book Review: Dare to Take by Carly Phillips

Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6)
Author: Carly Phillips
Published by: CP Publishing
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Page Count: 292 (paperback)
Buy it at: Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Kindly Provided by Publisher
Audience: Adult (18+)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Dare to Take is the 6^th (and what appears to be the last) book in Carly Phillips’s Dare to Love series. I was a little nervous that I would be missing important pieces to the story since I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it reads well as a stand-alone. Ella and Tyler’s story is one of second chances.  He is the cliché older brother of her best friend, and Ella has always had a crush on him until the one and only night they spent together years ago after which he broke her heart. Now Tyler is there to rescue her, at his sister’s request, and he and Ella have a second chance at love. It’s a cute story, short and sweet, but there were elements that just felt shallow to me.

Book Review: Ride Hard

RideHard (Raven Riders #1)

Author:Laura Kaye

PublishedBy: Avon/Harper Collins

PublicationDate: April 26, 2016

PageCount: 384 pages (paperback)

Buyit at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Source:Kindly Provided by Publisher

Audience:Adult (18+)

Genre:Contemporary Romance

If I were to write this review in only three words, it would be this: Read. It. Now! In Ride Hard, Laura Kaye brings to life the sexy world of the inked up, leather-wearing, motor-cycle riding bad boys. They are hard,and built, sexy, and sinful. Men who have lived hard lives and wear the proof on their bodies, in their walks and talks, and in the set of their eyes. The men of the Raven Riders series do not disappoint, and the main character of Ride Hard, Dare Kenyon, is as sexy as they come in all of his bad-assed glory.  He’s the president of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club, and for good reason.

Haven Randall is escaping an abusive father with the help of her best friend. She’s as cliché-ly sweet and innocent as they come, but some how manages to be likable. Violence brings her to The Raven Riders for protection,and these bad boys make it their mission to keep her safe. It’s not a new mission for them, but it becomes personal when Haven and her best friend Cora work their ways into the heart and soul of the club… and Dare finds himself unable to resist letting Haven into his own heart.

Book Blogger Hop: April 29 - May 5

This week's Question: "Do you read and review books mainly for publishers or authors?"

My Answer: When I first started blogging, most of my reviews were at the request of indie authors. However, now the majority of my reviews are for publishers. 

Book Review: Hour of the Lion

Hour of the Lion (Wild Hunt Legacy #1)

Author: Cherise Sinclair

Published By: VanScoy Publishing Group

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Page Count: 426 pages (paperback)

Buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult (18+)

Genre: Paranormal Erotica (ménage)

I have been a big fan of Cherise Sinclair’s "Masters of the Shadowlands" series, so when I saw a new series by her that I hadn’t ready yet, I scooped it up immediately, purchasing all 3 available books at once. This new series is far different from what I am use to reading of hers; instead of Masters and Sirs in a world of BDSM, "The Wild Hunt Legacy" books are a whole new world of shifters. I love paranormal books, and shifters are some of my favorites. So the thought of Cherise Sinclair’s dominant, alpha males in a shifter role truly intrigued me. As I began reading, I quickly learned that this was a whole new take on the shifter theory, from how they are born/created to their language, and even their culture. 

There are two main changes from the traditional shifter world to this new shifter experience that I absolutely loved. First of all, in the world of "The Wild Hunt Legacy", there are more male shifters born than female shifters. So it is not uncommon for male littermates to share their female love interest. You can imagine how I pitied those poor females, having to suffer the affection of not one, but two strong, dominant males. (Is the sarcasm dripping from my chin?) I’m a self-proclaimed kinkster and unashamed of it, so I willingly admit that I very much enjoyed the ménage theme throughout the book(s) in this series. Secondly, in this non-traditional shifter culture, littermates can be different species. Because of the mating practices in effect due to the shortage of females, all single males are obligated to mate with all single females during the full moon in an effort to keep the shifters from dying-out. This once a month event is known as "the gathering". Species are not only able, but even expected, to inter-mate with each other, so a female bear could very well give birth to a litter containing both bears and the species of the sire, should he not be a bear. Because of this, the shifter culture is one big family in itself, and that was interesting and fun to experience… not to mention sexy as hell during the gathering.

Blog Tour & Book Review: The Barter System

The Barter System
By: Shayne McClendon
Published By: Always the Good Girl LLC
Release Date: May 20, 2012
Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Provided by Author (digital copy) & Purchased by Reviewer (print copy)
Audience: Mature (18+) Audiences Only
NOTE: This story contains explicit sexual scenes and language and is intended for mature audiences only. Do not read this novel if intense sexual situations offend you.

First things first - Happy Birthday to Author Shayne McClendon! Now, Shayne has graciously offered to supply some delicious little gifts for YOU in honor of her birthday. I didn't get as many responses to the two giveaways as I would have liked. So instead of announcing winners today, I'm keeping the giveaways open through the week and will select winners using random.or this weekend. So click on the link that applies to you and enter to win!

1. U.S. Only Giveaway: A Swag Pack including signed print copies of The Barter System, Damaged, and Not a Bride is being provided by Shayne. It's her birthday - but you get the gifts!! Enter HERE!

2. Non-U.S. Giveaway: Your choice from the same three books (The Barter System, Damaged, and Not a Bride) provided in the eBook format of your choice. Enter HERE!

AND....Here is the Rafflecopter Link for the Blog Tour Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Thoughts:
I have followed Shayne McClendon's facebook page, Always the Good Girl, for a few years now and become addicted to not only the amazing pictures she finds and edits but especially to her writing. When she started talking about The Barter System, I hit her up immediately and begged for a copy to read and review. Shayne didn't hesitate, she sent it to me immediately. That was two summers ago. *hangs head* Yes, it has take me that long to get my review done and the blog tour promoting the book is what pushed me to do it because I wanted desperately to be part of the blog tour. So THANK YOU Shayne, for the book and to Mackable Book Babes for letting me be part of the blog tour. 

Aside from having a bit of a fan-girly crush on Shayne, what drew me to The Barter System was the concept of the book. Riya plans to conduct research on male sexuality...by traveling across the nation and indulging in mini-relationships of sorts with eight different men. I was fascinated and curious to say the least. And for a girl like Riya, who is the farthest thing from a promiscuous and much closer to a "good girl", would she be able to keep up with her self-imposed guidelines? How would it change her? And most importantly, how could she NOT fall in love with each and every one of her subjects? I was a little apprehensive and beyond anxious to begin this book.

Novella Review: Sweet Temptations

Sweet Temptations

Demons of Virtue, Book 1

by: Eve Tesoro

Published by: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: February 9, 2012

Format: eBook, 42 pages

Buy it from Red Rose Publishing

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

The Good:
I was really excited to read this book as the author is a friend of mine. However, it's also a huge amount of pressure to find oneself critiquing a friend's labor of love, sweat, and tears. So what did I think? I really liked it! The characters are well developed for a short story. Avan was a sweet heart in many ways, and I had a hard time imagining him as a demon from hell. I could totally see what Rita fell for in him. Rita is a character that women around the world will be able to identify with. She doesn't see the beauty in herself and is rather quite self depreciating. While there were times that this trait of hers made me want to slap her, I also appreciated how this rings true for so many women who don't see themselves the way the world sees them. I loved Rita's trusting nature, and I adored Avan's love of lounge pants.

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: The Mask

The Mask 

Masquerade Series - Book Two

By: Anya Winter

Published by: Liquid Silver Books

Release Date: December 4, 2011

Buy it at Amazon or from the Publisher 
Source: Author

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Audience: Mature (18+)  

*There is a sneak preview of this book and a giveaway following this review!*

Synopsis: 
Eve Manor is a pastry chef with a passion for chocolate and romance. During the annual masked Black & Lace ball, Eve has a plan. She created a signature chocolate dish that was sure to knock the socks off every famous chef and food critic attending the ball. Everything hinges on the night’s success. 

Blog Tour: Review, Giveaway, & Interview for Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Trilogy #3

By: E. L. James

Published by: The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House

Release Date: January 19, 2012

Format: ePub (Nook)

Source: ARC provided by publisher

Buy it on Amazon or TWCS

Genre: Erotic Fiction

Audience: Mature Audiences (18+)

Explicit Sex & themes of BDSM

**Don't miss the Author Interview and eBook Giveaway at the end of this review!**

My Thoughts:

Oh. My. Fifty Shades. Just when you thought you couldn’t love Christian Grey anymore, a whole new shade of Grey wraps itself around your heart. When we last saw Christian and Ana, they were set to spend the rest of their lives discovering the depths of their love. Ana was sure that they would face his past, and their future, together. What neither of them are ready for is the way his past and their future become mingled together in one messy event after another.



It is so hard to review this book without spoilers. I'm typically very long-winded when it comes to Christian Grey and the Fifty Shades trilogy. This review is going to be unusually short for me because I don't want to spoil anyone. This is definitely a book that you want to experience first hand. What I will tell you is this - everything you've come to love from E. L. James' writing is here. It's a page turner from the very beginning. The writing is simple and direct, and falling into the story is effortless. There is a perfect combination of romance, passion, humor, and drama. Christian will in turns melt your heart and frustrate you to no ends, as will Ana. Their love is volatile. No emotion is felt half-way. There are surprises at every turn. Christian is still learning to deal with his past as well as Ana's inner strength and independence (which she asserts in some really frustrating ways), and Ana is still finding a balance between being true to her inner goddess, accepting Christian's past and helping him move forward, and becoming the woman she was destined to be. While I didn't find Fifty Shades Freed to be quiet as emotional as Fifty Shades Darker was, it still packed a punch. I loved every second not only of this book, but of the entire trilogy. My only question now...Is there life after Fifty?

Book Review: Cowboy Casanova

Cowboy Casanova

(Rough Riders #12)

By: Lorelei James

Published by: 
Samhain Publishing

Release date: 
December 6, 2011

Format: eBook

Buy it at Amazon

Source: 
Purchased by Reviewer

Genre:
Erotic Contemporary Romance

Audience: 
Mature Audiences (18+)

My Thoughts:

Oh My Ben, where do I begin? First of all, I will say that Cowboy Casanova is my favorite of the Rough Riders Series. Have I said that about each one as I finish? Probably so. But right now, just a day out of finishing Ben's story, I'm claiming his as my favorite. Bennett McKay is one of the cousins, brother to Chase and Quinn. He's the quiet one of the family. The middle child who often feels invisible, especially when the whole McKay/West clan gets together. He doesn't date girls from Sundance, his home town, and he doesn't hang out at the local bar with his cousins. He is considered the peace maker in his family, known for being level headed and soft spoken. But sexy Ben McKay has a secret. Not only does Ben have that rugged sexy cowboy thing going on, but he's also a Dom. He spends his free time at The Rawhide Club, content to chose from a selection of subs as he wishes. No burning desire for a family, and positive he'll never find a woman who accepts both Ben the quiet rancher and Bennett the demanding Dom, he has settled into a routine that makes him happy. Until he meets Ainsley. Ainsley is new to town, a curvy, professional woman starting a new chapter in her life. Her weekend pass to The Rawhide Club ends up changing her life in ways that she had never imagined when Bennett calls her out on her lies and challenges her in a game that will end up putting both of their hearts on the line.

Book Review: Birthright

Birthright

By: Nora Roberts

March 30, 2004

Published by: Jove

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Source: Owned by Reviewer

Buy it on Amazon or IndieBound

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Audience: Adult

My Thoughts:
Imagine taking your young son and infant daughter to see Santa Clause in a crowded mall. You turn your back on your daughter for two seconds, and when you turn back...she's gone. Now imagine watching TV 28 years later and seeing a young woman who you know without a doubt in your heart is your daughter. What do you do? And suppose you are this young woman, having grown up with a privileged childhood and made a name for yourself in your field, to be confronted by a woman who claims to know secrets about your past. A woman who claims to be your mother. Only you weren't adopted. Now you're on a job where your ex-husband is crowding your space, and your mind, and weird things are starting to happen. Someone is willing to kill in order to keep secrets. 

Book Review: The Vampire Queen's Servant

The Vampire Queen's Servant

(Vampire Queen #1)

By: Joey W. Hill

Published by: Berkley Trade

Publication Date: July 3, 2007

Buy it at Amazon or IndieBound

Source: Owned by Reviewer

Genre: Paranormal Erotica

Audience: Mature (18+ only) 

Erotic fiction with heavy themes of BDSM

My Thoughts:
I picked up The Vampire Queen's Servant at the recommendation of friends. I was warned that if I can't handle hard core BDSM and multiple partners, then to steer clear of this one. Well, if you know me at all, you know that telling me that only intrigued me and urged me to drop everything else I had to read and start this one immediately. I figured if there was a scene I couldn't handle, I could skip that scene. I paid a little more for this eBook than I normally do, and in the end I didn't regret that decision at all. I have not been this sucked into the Vampire world since my traipse through the realm of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Not since my first read-through of Dark Lover have I been completely enthralled with the adult vampire scene and the politics of a brand new Vampire world. I found myself thinking about this story and the characters 24/7, reading in the car at red lights and drive through windows, and looking for any excuse to pick up my Nook. I was absolutely consumed by the world Joey Hill created.

Book Review: Strong Silent Type

Strong, Silent Type (Rough Riders 6.5)
By: Lorelei James
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: May, 2009
Buy it on Amazon
Source: Owned by Reviewer
Audience: Mature Audiences (18+ only)

My thoughts:

Just when I thought I had read all of the current books in the Rough Riders series, I stumbled upon this gem. Strong, Silent Type is Quinn's story. While he is a McKay, he is cousin to the brothers we have been reading about. Because he is already married, he didn't get a book of his own. This novella tells the story of Quinn and his wife, Libby, during a rocky patch in their marriage.

Book Review and Giveaway: Slow Burn

Slow Burn
By: E. B. Walters
Published by: Firetrail Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2011
Buy it at Amazon
Source: ARC provided by author
>Audience: Mature audiences only, 18+ years and older 



*Special Note: Giveaway rules and entry form are posted at the end of this review.

My thoughts: 
Slow Burn is an adult romance/mystery about Ashley Fitzgerald, a young woman who survived a horrific event as a child. She witnessed the death of her parents by fire, and survived the fire after being rescued by one of the firefighters. As an adult, she has blocked out the events of the fire and has moved on with her life through her art and the support of her family. When Ron Nobel shows up on Ashley’s doorstep, she has no clue as to how her life is about to change. Ron is the son of the firefighter who saved Ashley – and lost his life in the fire. After getting letters regarding the fire and raising suspicions as to the cause of the fire, Ron decides to do some investigating on his own and seeks out Ashley in hopes of convincing her to help him by sharing what she remembers from the events of that night. The attraction between Ron and Ashley is immediate. However, their relationship is doomed almost from the start. Ron is hiding the purpose of the investigation from Ashley, his mother hates Ashley and blames her for the death of Ron’s father, and someone is determined to keep Ron and Ashley from uncovering the truth. As key players in that fateful night begin to die and the danger gets closer and closer to Ashley and Ron, we have to wonder - Will their relationship survive the obstacles in its path? Will Ron and Ashley be successful in their quest for justice?

Book Review: Shadow of the Moon

Shadow of the Moon

Dark-Hunter 16.5

Book 1 in Dead after Dark Anthology

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publication: 2008

Source: eBook purchased by reviewer

Buy it on Amazon or Indie Bound

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Audience: Adult

My Thoughts:
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Sherrilyn Kenyon fan, and I love the Dark-Hunter series. I have read all but the most recent book, and I realized that I had missed Fury. I love the Kattalakis pack, and it was driving me crazy that I had somehow skipped over Fury. I searched like crazy to find Fury's book. Low and behold, Fury doesn't have his own book. Shadow of the Moon is actually a very short novella in an anthology. It tells the story of Fury and Angelia, two wolves who were raised together but driven apart through a devastating act of betrayal. While there were aspects of the story that I loved, I was very disappointed in much of it.

Book Review: Rough Riders Series

Rough Riders Series 
by: Lorelei James
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Buy it at Amazon

Source: Nook editions owned by reviewer

Audience: Mature (erotica with mild BDSM)

A friend of mine approached me a few months ago and asked if I like cowboys. Well, I grew up in southern Louisiana, 35 miles from the Texas border, in a rodeo city. While I was never a cowgirl myself, I’ve always been able to appreciate a pair of tight blue jeans and a low-drawn cowboy hat on a rough and rugged male body. I was ready for a break from YA books, so I jumped in. I had no intention of reviewing any of the books in the series, and I had no idea it was a 10 book series. It was a guilty pleasure read and nothing more. I thought I’d finish it quickly and go back to reading the books I committed to reviews for. Now almost 2 months and 10 books later, I look back and realize that I have to share this series. Trust me, the McKay boys are worth sharing, and many of them are more than willing to be shared. ;)

Please note - this series is not for everyone. It is erotica – there are very graphic sex scenes, light BDSM (light bondage and mild sexual dominance and submission), and a few male/male/female threesomes. So if this is not your type of reading, this is where you’ll want to stop. No hurt feelings – I promise!

Book Review: Raziel

Raziel (The Fallen #1)by Kristina Douglas

Published by Pocket Books, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Release Date: January 25, 2011
But it on Amazon

Rated M for Mature Readers

Source: Owned by Reviewer, Nook ebook edition

My thoughts:

Raziel is a book that I had seen on several of my fellow bloggers’ Waiting on Wednesday posts. It looked interesting enough that I added it to my TBR list, but I didn’t jump to read it. Then Raziel was chosen as the February read for a group that I belong to, and I was excited to finally have the push I needed to sit down and start reading it, but still wasn’t motivated enough to actually jump in. As several of my friends finished it and started talking about it, and I realized that February was pretty close to running out on me, I finally started reading it last night. Here I am, just 24 hours later, and not only have I finished the book, but I can’t get it out of my head. I’m a passionate reader, and I fall for the characters quickly and hate to let them go, but it’s rare for me to find a book that I can’t move on from. To be completely honest, I am shocked – shocked! – to find Raziel falling in this category. Why am I so surprised to love this book so much? Well, here we go…

Book Review: Night Play

Night Play

Dark-Hunters Series #5

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication Date: August 3, 2004

Buy it at Amazon or IndieBound

Source: Owned by Reviewer

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Audience: Adult

My Thoughts:
Night Play is the story of Vane and Bride. Vane is a lethal wolf, a were-hunter use to fighting for everything he had; never finding comfort or safety. Bride is a curvy woman who is use to being hurt by men unable to accept her the way she is. When they cross paths unexpectedly, Vane is drawn to Bride in ways that he doesn't understand. It is not natural for a wolf to want a human the way he wants Bride. For Bride who has just been dumped by a boyfriend who was never satisfied with her and always had her on a diet or in an exercise program, Vane is too good to be true. He doesn't only accept her the way he is, but he loves her the way she is. Will she be able to accept him when his truth comes out? Will she be the safety and comfort he has never had? Vane will have only three short weeks to convince Bride that they are meant to be together and that only he can love her the way she has always dreamed of  being loved.

Book Review: Night Embrace

Night Embrace

(Dark-Hunter #2, Were-Hunter #1)

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: July 13, 2006

Source: Owned by Reviewer

Buy it on Amazon or IndieBound

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Audience: Adult

Synopsis from Amazon:
As an ancient Celtic warrior, Talon made one giant mistake-- he killed the son of the war god Camulus. In anger and outrage, Camulus cursed him--Everyone Talon loved would die a horrible death in front of his eyes. But when Talon's clan slaughters his young sister while he watches, powerless to stop them, he sells his soul for vengeance against them. Two thousand years later in modern-day New Orleans, as part of the bargain he made, he's now an immortal protector who keeps mankind safe from the creatures who would prey on them. A life he's happy with until he meets Sunshine--an offbeat artist who reminds him what it's like to really live. Unfortunately for both of them, it's Mardi Gras, and New Orleans is teeming with a complex plot of ancient gods, including Camulus, who are now out to re-conquer the world. The gloves are off and it's time for a rematch with Talon out to save everyone, including the artist who makes him insane.