Quinn and Quinn II by J.C. Cliff - Review

Well, I have a new obsession and his name is Quinn!  A strong and sexy alpha male that will protect you and cherish you??  Sign me up!  He also has an adorable furry four-legged sidekick, Kimber.

Quinn I: Undaunted Men Series and Quinn II (Undaunted Men Series Book 2) by J.C. Clifff are the first books I have read from this author and I was majorly impressed!  If you have read my blog before, you may know my hatred for cliffhangers, But she warned me in the introduction that she had to live up to her name.  So, with the last name Cliff, I was forewarned!  Thankfully, I was able to read the first two back to back and the story wrapped up in the second one.  There should be more to come following some of the other characters and I can't wait to dive into those!

Despite the first book being a cliffhanger it still felt like each book was a separate story.  The first you get to know Quinn and all his sexy badassness (I know not a real word, you get what I mean).   And Lexi, the mafia princess.  Don't let that description fool you, she's pretty down to earth while being a bad ass of her own.

Ok, a very brief synopsis of Quinn:

Quinn has a mission, bring Lexi (Alexis) back home safe.  Lexi, threatened by her former boyfriend and childhood friend, was convinced running away was the answer to avoid trouble.  Lexi's Dad was frantic and sought the help of his ex-military contact and his dog to track her down.  Once Quinn set eyes on Lexi he knew she was more than a mission.  He was in deep trouble....

This book had it all, suspense, romance, and sexiness all wrapped up in the perfect cliffhanger :P ! Like I said, I didn't mind the cliffhanger because I had the other one waiting for me.  And quess what?  So do you!  I highly suggest, hunkering down for a weekend and diving into these babies.  You will be sucked in just like I was.

There's not much I can tell you about Quinn II without spoiling the first book, but trust me, you will want to continue on with Lexi, Quinn and Kimber!  What I can say for two stories being related and following one after another, they were so different!  But in a good way. The story line took turns I was not expecting and kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning.   Hence, my hunkering down recommendation.

Seriously,  J.C. Cliff has a new reader and a new fan!  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

 My Rating:

4.5 Book Boyfriends

 

Mastered By Maya Banks - Review

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I really have no other words or letters than that!  I just finished Mastered (The Enforcers) by Maya Banks.  And I am speechless....Well, almost.  ;)

Mastered reminded me a lot of the first series I ever read by Maya Banks, The breathless trilogy.  It was hot, steamy, shocking and romantic.  But this one has one difference and something I have never seen in any of her books.  Normally, I would have been mad, but this time I understand.  Curious? Well, I guess you will just have to read and find out. :) .

Synopsis:
Evangeline was a small town girl from Mississippi who moved to New York City in hopes to better provide for her parents.  Her parents depended on her to help them after her dad was injured on the job.  She shares a tiny apartment with three of her friends from home who work just as hard to make ends meet. After a disastrous relationship with a playboy named Eddie, her friends convinced her to make an appearance at very exclusive and "hard to get into" night club.  Her friends wanted her to get noticed and have Eddie realize what he threw away by dumping Evangeline after he slept with her. Shocking to Evangeline, Eddie was not the only one who noticed her that night.

Drake Donovon was the very successful, rich, gorgeous and dominating owner of Impluse.  He noticed Evangeline the second she reached the doors to his club.  Knowing she didn't belong in a place where she would be harassed and possibly taken advantage of, he made sure she was protected the moment she step foot in the club.  And her protection was something he would see to everyday after.

Reluctantly, Evangeline follows Drake's men to meet him. Drake doesn't waste any time showing her how she should be treated and worshipped unlike her Ex.  From that moment on Drake would worship, cherish and own Evangeline.  The naive, inexperienced and innocent Evangeline has to deal with the overwhelming new life set before her.


There is so much packed into this story and yet you feel like you need to know more.  I was very leery of Drake through most of the story.  Wondering if I could trust him and if and when he will make me angry. This is a romance book after all, of course he would.  But could I forgive him?  That has yet to be answered....  I did, however, fall in love with some of his men!  And I am happy to report there will be more novels focusing on two of them!  So I will be anxiously awaiting the release of each book in the series. Especially, Dominated: The Enforcers (The Enforcers series) that comes out next......

My Rating 4.5 

Darkest Before Dawn by Maya Banks - Review

Another great book by Maya Banks!!!!  Darkest Before Dawn (KGI series) is the latest release of her KGI series.  I think this one by far is my favorite Maya Banks book ever!  And I have read a lot of her books!  However, this is the first book for me in the series (not for long! ;) ) Like all of her series, each book is connected to the others, but can also be read as a stand alone.

As for the main male character or the story's "Book Boyfriend".  I HATED HIM!!  Well, at first.  Or maybe for the first half of the book.  But I kept an open mind and figured he would change my opinion once he redeemed himself.  He did and then I was rooting for him all the way!! :)

I'm not going in depth with a synopsis because I want you to get the whole experience like I did. Since I hadn't read any books in this series I had no idea what to expect.  And I was pleasantly surprised with how much I got into the action and adventure of the story.  It was like watching a movie.  A movie a guy would be interested in but with the sexy and romantic material that keeps us ladies wanting more!! Hmm.  Now that's an idea, someone needs to make this book into a movie!!

Very brief synopsis...

Honor Cambridge found her calling as a relief worker in the Middle East.  A terrorist group, A New Era, bombed the hospital where she worked and she was the sole survivor.  To avoid embarrassing themselves by allowing the only survivor, a woman, to escape, they would stop at nothing to capture her in order to uphold their reputation as ruthless killers.  Honor, strong and determined would not stop until she was safe and reunited with her family.  Little did she know the terrorist group was not the only one interested in her capture.....

Sounds good right??  And I didn't even mention the BBF Hancock :X  You'll just have to read the book to get acquainted with that hottie ;) I am warning you!!  You will think I'm nuts at first for loving him, but trust me, he won't disappoint!

Sustained by Emma Chase - Review

"A knight in tarnished armor is still a night" - Sustained by Emma Chase

Jake Becker is that tarnished knight.  After a childhood of rebellion and trouble Jake finally sets his life straight and becomes a successful defense attorney in Washington D.C..  He has the life, a successful career, great friends and does very well in the lady in department.  As easy it is for Jake to get any women he wants, he has no interest in more than one night.  That is until a chance meeting with Chelsea McQuaid and her six nieces and nephews come into in life and take hold.

Chelsea is a 26 year old graduate student who became a parent overnight when her brother and
sister-in-law were killed.  Now she is responsible for raising 6 six kids ranging from an infant to a14 year old.  Cue the knight in tarnished armor.....

When I received an ARC of an Emma Chase novel, I couldn't contain my excitement!  I absolutely loved the Tangled series and wouldn't expect nothing but romance novel gold from her.  And she didn't disappoint.

I have been in a book funk for awhile.  I have read some good ones but not great one and nothing that completely had my attention.  Finally, this one kept my attention and held on until I finished at 3am with tears streaming down my face.  Don't worry they were happy tears. :)  Not only were there tears but laugh out loud moments and times that made me weak in the knees!   :x

Sustained may be the second book in the Legal brief series but can be read as a stand alone.  But I know the next books I'm downloading and pre-ordering.  ;)  Overruled and Appealed!!

My Rating:

5 Book Boyfriends

Just One Lie By Kyra Davis - Review

Just One Lie (Just One Night series Book 2) is the follow up story to Just One Night (Just One Night series Book 1) by Kyra Davis.

Melody Fitzgerald was not was the ideal child.  She was wild, spent her pre-teen and teen years  experimenting with sex, drugs, and alcohol.  When her parents had enough and didn't want her influencing her younger sister, they made her disappear from their lives. Changing her name to Mercy  and cutting back on some of her bad habits, she is ready to move on and hopefully find love as well as her true self.

Now this story is quite different then what I am used to.  In all the romance novels I've read there is clear winner of the heroine's heart.  It may not be the guy she starts out with.  It could even be her boyfriends best friend  (Kellan :x ). But, you know who she really wants and who she's meant to be with once he is introduced to the story.   Nope! Not in this one....  At first you meet Ash, a gorgeous struggling actor who is just as wild as she is.   The first night they met they had a crazy and wild night when she was still Melody.  Even thirteen months later after that passionate night, the chemistry hasn't diminished and their undeniable connection is still there!  And then there is Brad.  The intelligent, clean cut all american boy who is the drummer in her band.  So I was torn!!  I had no idea which direction I wanted the story to go!  Did I want her to end up with Ash, the sexy rebellious bad boy that says the most romantic things, or Brad, who is sensitive, talented smart with a little secret of his own, and who made my heart melt!!  I had a crush on both!  Once the story progressed, it is clear who she is meant to be with and I couldn't agree more!


And the lie?  The one mentioned in the title??  Wow! But you'll figure that one out quick and even quicker if you read Just One night first.  Technically, Just One Lie is the second in the series although most of the story happens before the first one begins.  They also can be read as a stand alone and probably out of order but I am stickler for following the rules so I read them in order.   ;)



And what's next on my TBR? The free novella of Just Once More (Just One Night series)!!!! Side note.. you'll need to read book one first before the novella.

My Rating: 

4 Book Boyfriends

(but you will have to read to see who it is ;) )

Toxic by Kim Karr - Review

Kim Karr just introduced me to my latest book boyfriend.

It's him
Him.
Jeremy McQueen.....

Since the moment he was introduced in Toxic, Jeremy McQueen had my attention.  One character refers to him as the James Dean type and the vision of a gorgeous brooding bad boy runs through my head!  And all I can say about that is, WOW! ;)

I wasn't the only one enamored with Jeremy McQueen.  Phoebe St. Claire was drawn to him since she laid eyes on him while escaping from her 21st birthday party.   She was a socialite with very powerful parents, which was the one thing that Jeremy despised, the privileged and the extremely rich   Especially her father.  Instead of telling him who she was, she decided to lie about her last name.  Even though they came from different backgrounds Jeremy and Phoebe's connection was instantaneous and they didn't waste any time exploring it.  Their chemistry was intense and they were inseparable that summer in the Hamptons. That is until one day he disappeared with no explanation.

Five years later, she was engaged to the perfect man, Dawson Vanderbilt, but he was only on perfect on paper.  She was missing something. Something she only had with Jeremy.  She never forgot their connection and could still feel his presence around her. After she breaks off her engagement she has a chance encounter with him at the club he owns.  Now he is the successful entrepreneur and he is ready to accept her real identity and start again.  Of course that's easier said then done.

The relationship throughout the story has definite highs and lows.  Lots of misunderstandings and mistrust but with fiery passion.  They need to work through real life problems and insecurities for the two to have a chance.

There was definitely drama, some I could sense and some that completely shocked me!  What I loved about this author's writing, the story was smooth with the right amount of tension, drama, excitement and heat, without dragging it out too long.

My heart broke at different times for each Jeremy and Phoebe and there were times I wanted leap into the book and shake them out of their stubbornness and insecurities.  Even though it looked like it could be a cliffhanger up until the very end, it wrapped up perfectly and gave a little extra I was not expecting.  :x

My Rating: 4 Book Boyfriends

 

Safe At Last By Maya Banks -Review

   

Zack Covington was a college athlete with a future in professional football when he met  Anna-Grace or his "Gracie".   He was completely devoted to her and dreamed of the perfect future together, that is until she disappeared.   He never stopped looking for her and never gave up hope that they would be reunited.  12 years later, a chance meeting while on the job at Devereaux Security brought them back together.  Zack was shocked and devastated that Gracie not only didn't want to see him but feared him as well.  Although heartbroken, Zack is determined to get answers on why and earn back her love and trust all while protecting her from the real enemies.  

Safe at Last: A Slow Burn Novel (Slow Burn Novels) was definitely an action packed story.  I normally don't gravitate to suspense stories but if you sprinkle in romance you got my attention.  And Maya Banks definitely got my attention!  The story unfolds with little bits of information here and there, like dangling the right puzzle piece just at the right time to keep you going.  Not only did I fall for Zack and his utter devotion for Gracie but I got sucked in, having to know what happens next and the need for so many questions to be answered.  Once I started this book nothing was going to distract me until I was finished.

Out of all the books in the slow burn series this was by far my favorite!  It not only had an intense story of its own, but it connected the first too and weaved all three stories together at the end.  And my favorite part.....(sorry slight spolier) was when the women in the story prove to be the true heroes. They may need and love their alpha males, but they were no damsels in distress and showed the men a thing or too about kicking some serious ass!!

My Rating:

4 Book Boyfriends