Slave to the Rhythm written by Jane Harvey-Berrick (291 pgs) – finished reading 3/9/16 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance

I was waiting for this book to come out because I’m a huge Jane Harvey-Berrick fan, and it did not disappoint! This author has another winner on her hands! The writing was exquisite and the characters were amazing. And, that ending – totally EPIC!!! Holy crap! This was one amazing story! I loved it! I was definitely swept away by the passion of the dance. Two characters that are intensely portrayed while helping each other without any ulterior motive. I wouldn’t say that this is a dark read, but it was pretty graphic with some of the abuse portrayed. As much as the two main characters are compassionate and kind, the villains were depicted equally as realistic. They were vicious and showed no mercy. I cringed numerous times as they destroyed the hero’s spirit. Aljaz (Ash) Novak is a very sensual man. He’s a Slovenian born ballroom dancer that’s just newly arrived in America. Las Vegas to be exact. When arriving in a van at the hotel in which the theater is housed where he’ll be working amongst other dancers, he realizes that something just is not right here. He eventually finds out that it is run and owned by the Russian Bratva, which do not want their motives questioned. Poor Ash! He just wanted to live and dance in America, and what he stumbles into is horrifyingly tragic. The man is damaged beyond belief, and the one person who is a witness to it all is Laney Hennessey. She decides to help him to her disbelief, and together they leave Las Vegas behind. Laney was such a sweet and caring young woman who, unfortunately, suffered from a debilitating medical condition that was not always the easiest to deal with. She lives a pretty simple life, and when Ash barrels into it, she can’t help but standby him as he tries to help his friends when he knows their lives are in danger. The couple’s relationship starts out as just friends, but as they spend more time together it becomes more romantic and sexual.

I can’t say enough of how much I loved both main characters. Ash being so exciting and erotic with that sexy dancer’s body. And, Laney being so beautiful and confident as she commits to helping Ash wholeheartedly. She believes in him, and he genuinely protects her as none other could. And, when they come together it’s beautiful and sensuous. HOT and STEAMY!! Totally arousing! Their love story is moving and tender. And, like I said, I loved that ending! It was perfect! It just showcased the “slave to the rhythm” concept completely. This was one entertaining read which I would highly recommend!

And, that gorgeous cover just lures you in to read this book!! AMAZING!!

Review Written, 3/15/16

Fight For You (Broken Souls, #1) written by Charisse Spiers (340 pgs) – finished reading 3/8/16 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance (Dark)

I’m so impressed with this author’s ability to suck me into her stories from page one. This one is a little bit more darker and grittier than the previous book that I had read of hers. It starts off actually pretty sad and a bit graphic. It’s always hard for me to read about child abuse. There’s nothing more upsetting and horrific than a young victim’s cry for help. They’re supposed to trust adults. But, that’s not always the case. Haddox Hayes’ story is one of darkness. One of pain. Unfortunately, Haddox feels that his soul is dark and hideous, and that he could only bring disappointment and sadness to the ones he loves. So he pretty much keeps everyone on a short leash. And, women? He just can’t let them in. That is until he meets Piper Morgan. When they first meet she gives it back to him as good as it gets. She’s no stranger to viciousness and deceit. So, when Haddox makes a crude comment, she doesn’t hold back her verbal retailiation. Piper just happens to be one of Haddox’s best friend’s roommate, and she’s going to be seeing more of the cocky bastard. Poor Piper, though! She’s been through some emotional trauma herself. With a narcissistic mother from hell and a douchebag-of-an-ex-boyfriend who comes and goes for just a romp in the sack whenever he wants, she’s emotionally challenged when it comes to those she can trust. Her life is not all sunshine and rainbows neither. And, Alyvia, Piper’s roommate, begs Haddox not to f**k her. Haddox, though, can’t get the woman out of his mind and he just has to have her. As their relationship grows, both main characters know that there is something more than just the sex. But, neither one of them wants to get hurt, and Haddox just can’t let Piper see how black his soul really is.

Wow!! This one is a real roller coaster of a ride! The feelings are there from both main characters, but so is the fear that neither person will like what they see and leave. To put their hearts out there is taking a major major chance of getting hurt. But, they have to trust. The author drags the reader through some hard to read trauma. I was so saddened by the amount of abuse, and it was really hard to read. But, I did love both characters. They were kind and loyal to their friends and each other. And, the intimacy between the two, was so steamy and passionate. You WILL be fanning yourself!!

Some of the things that were expressed in writing were beautiful...

“The difference in first love and true love is that true love isn’t one sided, and you can always recognize the difference. He may not say it, but he shows it, and that speaks louder than the words from his mouth.” ~ Piper (Chap. 20)

“Babe, that’s the beauty of love. It’s an imperfectly perfect act. You accept the bad with the good. You don’t leave someone in the dark to try and protect them. You share it to stay in the light. It’s like a balancing beam. You even out the weight so the other doesn’t sink. When you love someone, nothing they could say or do would change that, but a relationship can’t work if you don’t fight to keep it afloat.” ~ Alyvia (Chap. 21)

“Anyone that believes there is no hope for true love is wrong. They just need an example to spark that hope to continue on. It takes faith that it will come. True love is not something that we can find. It’s something that is in the background all along, waiting for the right moment to fall into your lap, but when it does it will alter your universe one heartbeat at a time.” ~ Piper (Chap. 29)

Ms. Spiers shows her passion for writing when she somewhat transforms Haddox to be more of a tender and romantic man. He’s still quiet and watchful, but he’s not so raw and intense. And, Piper, she’s just so much more confident and independent. Both characters grew as a result of their trust in each other. What a great book! This is one that will keep you turning the pages well into the early morning hours...

Review Written, 3/11/16

Corrupt written by Penelope Douglas (460 pgs) – finished reading 3/1/16 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance (New Adult)

So, I guess I’m getting to the party a little late for this one, and I’m sorry for it. This was one amazing read! Loved all the characters, the drama, and the intimacy. WOW! Off-the-charts intense! Two people, Erika and Michael, have known each other since they were kids. They are drawn to each other every time they’re in the same room. The intense stares and cool presence that radiates off both of them is stifling. But, it’s the younger brother, Trevor, that the parents have plans for uniting Rika in marriage with. Rika, however, has put the kabash on that when she breaks off hers and Trevor’s romantic relationship. She elects to just remain as friends with him, which no one is taking seriously. She’s always had a thing for Michael, and Michael is starting to reciprocate those feelings as well. But, with one heinous night of pranks on Mischief Night, Michael and his friends’ lives are forever changed. Now all they can think about is revenge! And, Rika unsuspectantly, seems to be at the brunt of their focus.

Damn! This was one consuming read! I couldn’t put it down, and stayed up late into the night to finish it. There’s always something so engrossing about a Penelope Douglas book. I’ve read a few of them, and they’re always intense with so many twists and turns and unexpectant secrets revealed. And, this one definitely did not disappoint in that regard.  The intimacy factor was HOT and STEAMY with a bit of KINK. It was really panty scorching material! The author also brings her A-game with drama and power between the wealthy and ones who think that they are untouchable. It finally catches up to them, and they’re not let off lightly. The book goes back and forth between the past and present with dual POV’s expressing their feelings and how everything is being played out. Michael really isn’t the nicest guy, in fact he’s down right mean to Rika. But, it seemed like she saw that they were two of the same, and he really understood her.

“I trembled, just holding his eyes. What did I see in him? The answer was so easy, I didn’t even have to think about it. It was the same thing he saw in me all those years ago down in the catacombs. The hunger. The need to break away, the desire to find the one person on the planet that would understand me, the temptation to go after all things they tell us we can’t have...” ~ Rika (Chap. 6)

I so loved this book! My only reason for not giving this book a full 5-star rating, however, is because I though that Rika was a little too forgiving in the end when the truth is revealed. Michael had to do a little redeeming first before everything was hunky-dory between the two, especially since given the fact that he was practically the ring-leader of the group. Ms. Douglas’ books, though, are ones that I go to when need an intensive powerful read that keeps me enthralled until the bitter end. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from that brilliant pen of hers...

“He was always game. And thanks to his tutelage, now so was I. He’d corrupted me.” ~ Rika (Chap 29)

“She corrupted me.” ~ Michael (Epilogue)

Review Written, 3/3/16

Lev (Shot Callers, #1) written by Belle Aurora (370 pgs) – finished reading 2/29/16- 3 stars - Contemporary Romance

This was my first Belle Aurora read, and I loved the hero – Lev. He was just so sweet and caring. A man that “wasn’t good with words” but was so protective and loyal to the ones he loved. His family is close, and when he sees a woman taking something that doesn’t belong to her, he calls her out on it. He tells her that he is going to put her to work and also gives her a place to stay. What he doesn’t know, and either does she, is that he has connections to her past with a distant relative. Mina, oh Mina, dear Mina! Not my favorite heroine, but she’s had a tough life. One that for the past seven years has had her living on the streets. Her relationship with Lev, however, seems to grow as time goes by. Not just a friendship, but something more intimate. She cares for him immensely, but sometimes I thought that she treated him like a child. And, believe when I say that the author’s description of him is NOT one of a child!!  He’s ALL MALE!!! I wasn’t too keen on her relationship with her brother as it takes off too fast. They never even knew the other existed. So, how can they be chummy chummy all of a sudden? There was a great cast of friends and family, however. Like I say they supported and protected each other unconditionally. But, Lev’s past indiscretion has left him in the mercy of another that has a tragic outcome, which could have been a huge problem if the circumstances were different. This book had me mesmerized by the hero, and I was surprised with what the author had in store for him. He just was so innocent and sweet. Yes, he had those moments that included that he stand-up for his family. But, it was all in love, honor, and loyalty that he did it for. Looking forward to reading more from this author...

Review Written, 3/1/16

Slip of the Tongue written by Jessica Hawkins (334 pgs) – finished reading 2/25/16 – 4.5 stars - Contemporary Romance

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN REVIEW***

So, the reason why I’m giving this book such a high rating is because of one man – Nathan. He carried the book with his caring and kindness towards his wife. He’s perfection on a stick with his dark hair and dark eyes.. Trusting and honest.  His wife, on the other hand, I really didn’t have any respect for. She plays the wounded wife pretty well. She’s whiny and spoiled. Almost to the point of being selfish and always thinking about herself. She gives every excuse in the world to justify for her actions, which are just bogus. Yes, there is cheating in this book, which in a book doesn’t bother me the slightest. And, it’s not pretty. It’s just plain and simple – an excuse! An excuse to not dig down into your husband’s thinking and find out what is really going on. She does repeatedly ask him for a reason why he’s so distant to her, though. So cold. I will give her that. But, she’s weak and needy, almost where it becomes desperate for her not to be alone. He never gives her an answer and tells her over and over he’ll talk about it when he’s ready. But, to just think you can find comfort in someone else’s arms, just doesn’t cut it. The neighbor across the hall is HOT! And, tall and muscular. But, he comes with some baggage also. And, when Sadie finds out what it is, she’s not happy at all. Talk about being kicked in the ass. But, did I feel sorry for her? Not really, I can’t say that I did. In the end, I really wasn’t surprised by the final decision made after all is said and done. I did feel that this book needed an epilogue, however, just to show where everyone was at about a year later. It would have been a great follow-up just to see if everyone was happy with their decisions.

The author doesn’t hold back any feelings being expressed, especially Finn’s. It’s all right out there for everyone to see. The chances that are taken are reckless. How and when would they get caught? And, it’s so unexpected the way it happens. The realism sinks into Nathan just what Sadie has done. He’s shocked and saddened.He realizes that if he doesn’t fight for his wife, he may lose her. And, then everything is let loose. All the emotions. The truths. Everything is revealed. And, it’s heartbreaking to read. The author does a great job of not holding back when it comes down to the honesty finally being expressed. It’s with a heavy heart that Sadie realizes her mistake and that her husband wasn’t going to initially leave her, he just needed time to reflect on the major decision that she had made without him. It hurt him, and he was angry. Disappointed. I was so rooting for them to get their crap together and fight for their marriage in the end after seeing just how devastated Sadie was. This is one emotional rollercoaster of a book. Not one to be missed – unless cheating is not your thing. Then this one might not be the book for you...

Review Written, 3/1/16

One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1) written by A. Meredith Walters (379 pgs) – finished reading 2/26/16 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance

This is one book that I highlighted and highlighted - words, paragraphs, thoughts, everything. The writing was superb. And, I was totally emotionally drained by the time the last page was turned. This was a real toughy to read about. Abuse and homelessness just gut me. And, the level to which the author went to show such emotional trauma was horrifying and painful to read about. The characters are real and damaged. Through some tragic past events we find a woman given a second chance on her life. And, when she comes in contact with a man from her past, she’s thrown right back into the desperate life she left behind her seven years ago. The story is told back and forth from the past into the present by our heroine. She now has a more meaningful life while helping patients at a hospital as a social worker. She’s proud of work and as she recognizes an old face from the past, she knows that she has to do everything to help him.

“Because right at that moment, the love of my young adult life was lying in a hospital bed, clearly still held prisoner by the choices he had made long before I had ever met him.” ~ Imogene (Chap. 3)

“He had fed me his dreams and I had given him mine. There wasn’t a piece of his soul that I didn’t recognize and claim as my own. At one time we had been two pieces of the same messed up puzzle. He learned my secrets and I discovered the ones he had guarded so fiercely.” ~ Imogene (Chap. 5) 

“We’ll walk on the beach, Imi, and we’ll dance on the sand. Because one day soon, I promise you that all this ugly will become something beautiful.” ~ Yoss (Chap 8)

After all these years, though, their relationship is strained. They’re both not the same people as they were so many years ago. And, when Yoss’s life hangs in the balance, not knowing if he will survive a possible terminal medical scare, Imi comes to the rescue just like Yoss has done for her so many times years ago. Oh, boy! This one will affect you with tears and big-time feelings of heartache. Not knowing if they will get their HEA is the big question. And, I’m not going to share if it’s good or bad. But, I will say that I was immensely impressed with Ms. Walter’s high level of drama this book entailed. The friends that tried to stick together as a “family” as one of them is taken in tragedy. It had an impact on all and it seemed to destroy their decision to remain together. Especially when Yoss had promised Imi that he would leave and go away with her, and she catches him in a most devastating act.

“No matter how horrified she had been, her love held her prisoner. It was up to me to set her free.” ~ Yoss (Chap. 31)

I’m telling you that so far this year, this is the best book that I have read. You will not be disappointed whatsoever. And, that ending??? WoW!! I was blown away!!!

Review Written, 3/1/16

Still Surviving (Forever Still, #3) written by A.M. Johnson (253 pgs) – finished reading 2/15/16 – 5 stars - Contempoary Romance

So, I started with the third book in the series not knowing if that would make a huge difference to me with prior characters and their stories. But, it really didn’t matter at all. Sure I had to get to know some of the characters, but everything was pretty much explained as to who they were and what they meant to each other. Seth Montgomery and Tiffany Webster are best friends. They hangout together and do friend things. But, Tiffany’s feelings go deeper than that. She will settle for any kind of relationship that Seth offers because she knows that Seth is only a one-night stand sort of guy. Seth deals with woman issues because of his mom’s abandonment years ago. He’s got it bad that all woman are the same and after only two things – MONEY and PRESTIGE (the family name means a huge bonus). He constantly abuses woman. Not physically, but emotionally by using sex as a tool. Only now that he spends more time with Tiffany, he feels that maybe he was wrong. She changes his way of thinking. She doesn’t care about the money or the family name. She accepts Seth for who he is, and slowly the hard wall that he has put up around his heart begins to crack. Maybe he can have a real relationship with her. But, what Seth doesn’t know is that Tiff has a secret of her own. One that she has been keeping from her friends. And, it’s a really sad one. One that brought tears to my eyes. When it’s revealed, it brings Seth just a little closer to letting down his guard and giving Tiff more of a piece of him. What will happen, though, when Tiffany experiences a horrifying act that no woman should ever have to go through? I think that it just brought them even closer together. But, what will it do to Seth?

This was definitely an emotional ride. So many ups and downs to their relationship. I was so rooting for Seth to let down his guard and finally let Tiffany in. He had such potential to be a really excellent hero. He was a great friend and talented musician, but it was his past and his father’s influence that kept getting in the way of his thinking. He was smart with that brooding intense stare. Not one to smile much, but when he did it was infectious. And, the whole kissing thing was an added swoon towards Seth. Tiffany was such a likable young woman. She, too, was a great friend and one hard-working chick. But, what was in her past was tragic and so not totally her fault. She paid the price for it each and every day. It was not fair for such a beautiful and talented person to live with such pain.

I loved their story and was impressed with the author’s talent to write such a moving and passionate novel! I guess I should go back and read the previous two books in the series to see how each one really came to be a couple. Looking forward to reading more from this author!!

“My heart is your heart.” ~ Tiffany (Chap. 37)

Review Written, 2/18/16