SEXY SATURDAYS WITH ANDREA AND AUTUMN: STRIP SEARCH by SHAYLA BLACK

Sexy Saturdays with Andrea and Autumn is a weekly meme created to spread the word about spicy reads. 

Participating blogs:

The Autumn Review

The Bookish Babe

Way Too Hot Books

**If you would like to participate, let us know and we will happily add you on.**

Series: Sexy Capers #2
Genre: Erotic Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Source: Received from publisher
Rating: 3.5 stars

If the Feds want to nail a Mafia kingpin, they need a trap. Enter Mark Sullivan, totally built for the job-to go undercover as a male stripper in the mobster's Vegas club. The club's owner, Nicki, is an unexpected perk. But Mark and Nicki have more in common than sizzling sexual chemistry. They each have their share of secrets, and with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.

Shayla Black is an author's who's been recommended to me time and again as I've ventured more into erotic romance. I own several of her books, including the first in this series. It was time to see if I would fall in love like many other readers.

I liked Strip Search, quite a bit. The writing was good. The characters were challenging and fully-developed. The sex was crazy hot. Strip Search read as romantic suspense, as well as erotic romance, which is a good thing because I am currently enjoying the heck out of romantic suspense. Here's the story: Mark is investigating a money laundering scheme, and it centers around Nicki, the owner of an exotic dance club. Mark apparently is gorgeous and sexy, so to get inside, he signs on as a dancer. Fun, right? Readers are quickly clued in to whether Nicki is involved, but poor Mark is not. He's all tied up in conflicting feelings due to the betrayal by his ex-wife, the similarity of that situation to what might be going on with Nicki. He wants to believe Nicki is innocent, but a lot of signs point to her guilt. It doesn't help that the two want to get it on basically from the moment they meet. What happens when you fall for the woman you're investigating? Or even better, what happens when she finds out that while the man she's fallen for might not be lying about his feelings, but he has lied about so, so much?

Once Mark is established in the club, Strip Search sort of moves into a holding pattern. It basically goes like this: intense and suggestive flirting; the tension builds until Mark and Nicki are left clawing each other's  clothes off; wicked hot sex that leaves the vulnerable and reeling; self-loathing on Mark's part for sleeping with the possible enemy; Nicki is left confused, hurt, and vowing to never sleep wit Mark again, but the next time he makes his move, they're at it again. Repeat cycle (again and again). And honestly, though I got where he was coming from, Mark was a gigantic ass to Nicki. This rotation of events went on for a large portion of the story, and I admit, it began to get old. I think Black was being true to her (very stubborn) characters, so I don't know that things should have gone altogether differently, but it did eventually bog the story down, for me.

Where Strip Search hit the mark, besides that fun premise, is the intimate, sexy scenes between Mark and Nicki. The scenes were good 'n plenty. Mark is a really dirty talker, and that's always a big  ol' tick in the Win column for me. Mark and Nicki were passionate individuals who started off using sex as a way to get off, and because their chemistry was crazy hot. But as the story continues and their relationship and the complications developed, it became a way to express their emotions and passion. It spoke volumes.

I did like Strip Search, despite having an issue with the repetitive plot. I will definitely be reading more of Black in the future.


Favorite Quotes:

  She closed her eyes. "Nothing good can come from this."
  No doubt, she was right. After all, Nicki was a suspect.
  But with every word, every scrap of resistance, she tested the unraveling thread of his patience. He'd never found himself so hungry, so demanding of a woman, felt such a deep need to have her full cooperation in her own surrender. Something about Nicki...She had to submit utterly; he wouldn't accept anything less.  ~pg. 165


  "Open them," he demanded.
  She frowned. "What?"
  Mark smiled at the raspy tone in her voice. "Your eyes. Your legs. I want all your secrets bare for me."   pg. 238

Purchase Strip Search

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Sexy Capers Series

 

(click on cover to visit GoodReads page)

About the author
Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the national bestselling author of 25+ sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print and electronic publishers. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla has won or placed in over a dozen writing contests, including Passionate Ink’s Passionate Plume, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. Romantic Times has awarded her Top Picks, a KISS Hero Award and a nomination for Best Erotic Romance of 2007.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every book.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

SEXY SATURDAYS WITH ANDREA AND AUTUMN: THE FIFTH FAVOR by SHELBY REED

Sexy Saturdays with Andrea and Autumn is a weekly meme created to spread the word about spicy reads. 

Participating blogs:

The Autumn Review

The Bookish Babe

**If you would like to participate, let us know and we will happily add you on.**

Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 336
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating:  5 stars

Imagine a world where a woman’s every pleasure, every wish and wildest fantasy is granted by the man of her dreams…

Such a world exists inside the walls of Avalon, an elite private club that caters to women’s deepest desires. Billie Cort, a reporter from the raunchy magazine Illicit, has come to Avalon to interview the club’s most popular escort, the breathtakingly sexy Adrian.

Expecting nothing less from a place like Avalon, Billie is still stunned at how effortlessly Adrian brings out her sexual side. Adrian, too, is surprised to find himself thinking about Billie long after their interview is over. Adrian, of course, is irresistible, but Billie isn’t accustomed to being pursued by outrageously attractive male escorts. Adrian wants her, but soon realizes that she can fill a role in his life that’s more than just physical.

 

…

What an interesting, mysterious and sexy story! The Fifth Favor is a book that I was curious to read, because after reading Price of a Kiss (by Linda Kage), I've realized that apparently, I love (fictional) gigolos and escorts. So in that respect, I was more than interested. But, I got more than I anticipated with The Fifth Favor, and that made me a beyond happy reader.

The Fifth Favor is more than the blurb indicates. This is more than the story of an escort and the writer who wants to expose his lifestyle. This is the story of a lost man, so withdrawn from the world that he only feels "safe" behind the mask of Adrian, protected by the world of Avalon. Billie enters  to see and expose the world of Avalon, and its most famous escort. She finds a man who's centered around the control he creates. Billie finds a man who can see her for a passionate and closed-off woman behind the cool exterior. This is a love story, begun with hesitation, but over the time spent together, becomes one built on faith and trust. It will lead the two on an unimaginable path, full of passion, intrigue, broken barriers, and angst.

The Fifth Favor is an erotic romance, so it might seem weird that I haven't gotten into the steam. This is definitely a sexy book. The sex does not drive the story or characters, but is a by-product of the intense chemistry that surrounds them. It is full of passion ,and the promise of more passion to come. It was exceedingly sensual and gorgeous.

I'm a low-drama person, in my life and in my reading preferences. I tend to avoid situations and people who will cause me angst, and I choose a lot of my books in the same manner. The Fifth Favor made me rethink this. And by that I mean, I actually do like angst, when it is so brilliantly done as it was here. Nothing is contrived or overdone, the angst is spot-on and precise. Everything Billie and Adrian experience and feel felt organic, completely true to their situation. This is a story that not only appealed to the physical side of passion, but also the emotional. A good friend of mine is also asking our book group to recommend a book that will "grab her by the balls". The Fifth Favor is a book that will most definitely grab you by the bits, and will not release you until the last page.



Favorite Quotes


  It wasn't until she looked into his eyes at such close proximity that she understood. Promises of ecstasy glittered there, diamonds in an obsidian sea. In that instant, all his youthful exuberance slid away and exposed the wild, worldly creature she'd expected. He was Avalon's favorite son for a reason, and the reason was written in that black, black gaze.   ~pg. 4


  He was a stranger, an alien creature, impossible to reach or understand. And she still wanted to try. "Tell me what you need."
  "This," he whispered, watching her lips move against his palm. "Just this."  ~pg. 91


  "Billie," he whispered.
  Nothing more. But a million emotions crossed between them, riding on the back of that one breathless word, and then he pushed his fingers through her hair, sought her gaze in the darkness and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her in desperate gratitude until she felt bruised. Until she held no thoughts except one: she would never be the same.  ~ pg. 126

Purchase The Fifth Favor

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

About the author
At the age of ten, Shelby Reed wrote her first romance with Prince Charming — literally! — as the hero, and it's been non-stop story spinning ever since.

Despite the idealistic place from which she embarked, she's partial to writing realistic, flawed, multi-faceted characters, lush emotion, and the ever-possible happy ending.

While currently published in the sub-genre of "Romantica" with Ellora's Cave, she hopes to explore other literary horizons such as suspense, fantasy, and young adult romance in the future.

When not pecking away at the computer keyboard, Shelby enjoys creative projects such as portraiture and decorating, dabbles in Tarot, and lives a bucolic life with her own Prince Charming in North Florida.

Website  |  GoodReads

SEXY SATURDAYS WITH ANDREA AND AUTUMN: CAUGHT UP IN YOU by RONI LOREN

Sexy Saturdays with Andrea and Autumn is a weekly meme created to spread the word about spicy reads. 

Participating blogs:

The Autumn Review

The Bookish Babe

**If you would like to participate, let us know and we will happily add you on.**

Series: Loving on the Edge #4
Category/Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Publication Date: 8/6/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 3.5 Stars

The girl who has spent her life running is about to be caught . . . by love.

After a shaky past, Kelsey LeBreck’s future is looking good. She’s been saving money for culinary school with her earnings from The Ranch, a private BDSM resort. Even better, she’s landed a day job where she can practice baking and flirt with her favorite customer. However, having secret fantasies about Wyatt Austin is where it has to end. If there’s one thing Kelsey knows can derail her, it’s a relationship. But when a danger from her past threatens to steal her fresh start, the intense executive may be the only one who can help her.

Wyatt doesn’t have room on his agenda for dating, but something about the pretty young waitress stirs desires he thought were long buried. So when he needs someone to pose as his girlfriend at an important business retreat and finds out Kelsey needs to go off the grid for a while, he can’t resist making her an offer. Soon, Kelsey learns that Wyatt’s power in the boardroom is no match for his power in the bedroom, and she wonders if her heart will survive. Because Wyatt Austin is a man who gets what he wants, and now he wants her.

Caught Up in You is the fifth book in the Loving On the Edge series. I'm not sure I realized that when I accepted it for review, but luckily it worked for me. I love series that consist of companion stories, and Loren did a great job of filling new readers in on the whos/whats/hows of the series, without boring those who have read the previous books. Or so I would imagine. And once again, I find myself wanting to go back to read the first three books of the series, so for that I would call this installment a success.

Caught Up in You is the story of Kelsey, a waitress/Domme with big dreams that require her learning the art of submission, and Wyatt, an extremely disciplined businessman who's buried his own Dom tendencies. Circumstance and mutual attraction brings the two together, and they strike a deal to give them both what they need. Of course the deal becomes an afterthought when Kelsey and Wyatt realize they have more than attraction...they have love growing between them. Their relationship has a bit of a Pretty Woman feel to it, even acknowledges that movie at one point. I really did like the two, their characterization was thorough, so I felt like I knew exactly where they were coming from and want they want.

I tend to enjoy books with BDSM themes. And yes, the activities can sometimes be really hot, but what I really find myself drawn to is the psychological aspect to the lifestyle. I am one of those people that genuinely enjoys learning about, well, almost anything I find interesting. Loren did an a really good job with her detailing of why Wyatt needs control, and why Kelsey might want control, but needs to submit. I can also appreciate the thoughtfulness, trust, and respect shared between partners in this type of relationship. I not only appreciate it, I find it very romantic and sexy.


I will say that although I enjoyed Caught Up in You, I was not totally swept away by the story. I liked the story, the characters, and the writing. This is a series that I would recommend to those who like the genre, particularly those who enjoy reading about the BDSM lifestyle.



Favorite Quotes:

  "She got on her knees for me, man," Wyatt said, looking out the side window, almost talking to himself. "I was ready to say no, that there was no way I could do this, go down that road again. But seeing her there, I couldn't fucking stop the urge. The need to claim her welled up and took over. Orders started falling out of my mouth like I was possessed by some former version of myself."
  Jace reached out and gripped Wyatt's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Welcome back to the dark side, brother. We've got cookies. Hope you enjoy your stay."    ~eARC, 23%


  And Kelsey realized, as she stood there watching, that this was what love looked like. Not a picture perfect "normal". Not neat corners and the absence of baggage. But acceptance of it all and a willingness to face it all together.    ~eARC, 90%

Loving on the Edge Series

   
 
(covers lead to GoodReads)

Purchase Caught Up in You

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

About the author
Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has.

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars concerts.

She is the National Bestselling Author of the The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

SEXY SATURDAYS WITH ANDREA AND AUTUMN: UNBOUND by CARA MCKENNA

Sexy Saturdays with Andrea and Autumn is a weekly meme created to spread the word about spicy reads. 

Participating blogs:

The Autumn Review

The Bookish Babe

**If you would like to participate, let us know and we will happily add you on.**

Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Intermix
Publication Date: 10/15/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 294
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 5 stars

An all-new novel from the author of After Hours.

She set out to find herself, and discovered the darker side of desire.

Merry’s lost a lot recently—first her mother, then close to a hundred pounds. Feeling adrift, she strikes out in search of perspective. A three-week hike through the Scottish Highlands was supposed to challenge her new body and refocus her priorities, but when disaster strikes, she’s forced to seek refuge in the remote home of a brooding, handsome stranger…

Rob exiled himself to the Highlands years ago, desperate to escape his own self-destruction. Haunted by regrets, he avoids human contact at all costs…but when Merry turns up injured, he can’t very well run her off. And as he nurses her back to health, Rob can’t resist his guest’s sweet demeanor—or her flirtatious advances. The igniting passion between them rouses a secret appetite Rob has long struggled to keep hidden. But Merry craves nothing more than to help Rob surrender to his desires, and the journey draws the lovers into an entirely different kind of wilderness.

 

First things first...Why the hell is this my first Cara McKenna book? Seriously. Approximately halfway through Unbound, I started pushing it on my friends. As soon as I finished, I emailed my book group, telling them they must read it ASAP. Then, one of them emailed me back, gently reminding me that she's been telling me to read McKenna for months. So then I felt like an idiot. But now all is well, because I have seen the error of my ways.

As you may have inferred from the opening paragraph, I loved Unbound. But not only did I love it on a squealy, fan-girl level, I also loved and appreciated it on a much deeper, profound level. This was a beautifully written and constructed story that appealed to me on all levels.

Besides the author's name recognition, the hint at a hero with a penchant for the taboo is what drew me in. But what exactly are Rob Rush's "issues"? The blurb is ambiguous, and I love that. I wanted to know, no, I was dying to know what it was that had sent Rob into exile. What could have possibly driven a man to become a recluse, shun society. I was hoping the reason would be something really juicy, but also meaningful. There's nothing worse than thinking you're digging into a character with heavy, heavy issues, then learning it was superficial. That is not the case in Unbound. McKenna did a brilliant job of creating a deep and complex hero who is also exceedingly alluring. In the opening chapters, it seems we're being led to a conclusion in regards to Rob's pleasure. But in a move that makes me want to jump up to cheer and praise McKenna to anyone who will listen, we soon learn that all is not what it seems. What gets Rob twisted into knots sexually, is out of the "norm", even in kink. It was definitely unexpected, in the most excellent way, but also...really, really hot.

Going with Rob on the emotional and physical journey is Merry. As much as I felt endeared to him, I also became attached to Merry. She is on an emotional and physical journey of her own, to discover more about and pay tribute to her deceased mother in her homeland of Scotland. Merry has recently shed one hundred pounds, and is coming to terms with her new life, the feelings and issues that come with literally transforming into a new person. As much as I initially liked her, when Merry and Rob's paths cross, she became even more heroic in my eyes. Her strength of character, her unflinching acceptance and appreciation for Rob made her into a heroine that should be admired. She was thoughtful, yet prodding, bringing this man who'd left society, back. Her inquisitive nature gently broke down Rob's walls, and helped create a new man. One who can accept, even embrace, himself.

Unbound, from the beginning to end, is an exceeding thoughtful, intense, and brilliant story. I would even say that it is by far one of my favorite erotic romances, and definitely would make my Favorites of 2013 List (if I made one). Cara McKenna not only pulled me in with a sexually charged and emotionally intense story, but she also won me with her gorgeous prose. The Scottish Highlands, a cabin hidden in the woods, two people forming an intense physical and emotional bond that will transform both....have rarely been so enchanting.



Favorite Quotes:

  Scary as this was...telling her these things was like a bloodletting. The initial cut hurt like hell, but with it done he could feel the toxins escaping, making room for relief. And all at once he wanted to give in. With a blinding bolt of understanding, he realized he'd had it all wrong, blaming his fetish all this time, thinking of it as some twisted, fucked-up force that lived inside him. A thing to be drowned in liquor, glass by glass, night by night, year after year. It wasn't his desire that had poisoned him. It was his shame.   ~eARC, 38%


  “I love your body, for everything it's given to me," he murmured. "For letting me...letting me inside you. After all that time. And your hands, for touching me, and your soft skin, for letting me touch you. For your mouth. And kissing you, and for the things you asked me. For your ears, for being willing to hear my answers.”   ~eARC, 50%


  The intensity echoed through her, the same excitement he felt. He knew what she wanted -- he'd sensed it. He could please her.
  She wants your voice, as well as your body. And he didn't even need to think to find the right words to say. He simply let them fall from his lips to her ears. "I can't believe you're here," he murmured. "That you're real."    ~eARC, 67%

Purchase Unbound

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

About the author
Cara McKenna writes smart erotica—sexy stories with depth. A little dark, a little funny, always emotional. She also writes red-hot romance under the name Meg Maguire. Her wonderful publishers are Ellora's Cave, Harlequin Blaze, Loose-Id, Penguin / Intermix, and Samhain. She loves writing sexy, character-driven stories about strong-willed men and women who keep each other on their toes, and bring one another to their knees.

Cara was a 2010 Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award nominee, and a 2012 Golden Leaf finalist.

Cara is represented by Laura Bradford, of the Bradford Literary Agency.

Before becoming a purveyor of red-hot romance and smart erotica, Cara was a record store bitch, a lousy barista, a decent designer, and an overly enthusiastic penguin handler.

Cara now writes full-time and lives north of Boston with her bearded husband. When she's not trapped in her own head she can usually be found in the kitchen, the coffee shop, or jogging around the nearest duck-filled pond. She is a very proud member of the Romance Writers of America® and her local New England Chapter.

Website  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads

FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS: MOTORCYCLE MAN (DREAM MAN #4) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to steamy books. . Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Globug and Hootie Need a Book
Insightful Minds Reviews


**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **



I fell in love with Kristen Ashley's writing with the Rock Chick series. Since then, I've decide to devote a week/month to each of her series. August was Rock Chick. September was Colorado Mountain. October is Dream Man.

Series: Dream Man #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: SP 5/22/12, now w/Forever 12/11/12
Format: Kindle
Pages: 400
Source: Purchase
Rating: 5 stars

Get ready to ride . . . Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't the tequila and hot sex talking. He's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss . . .

Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules...

HOT DAMN. Now...NOW I know why all my fellow KA/Alpha Men lovers have been waiting for me to read Motorcycle Man. Tack, Tyra, and the Chaos crew took me on an exciting ride, full of drama, action, mucho sexy times, and it was FUN.

Motorcycle Man is, you guessed it, a biker book. Books -and shows- with this lifestyle are fairly new to me, and now I totally get why they're so popular. This lifestyle is in no way relatable to me, but at the heart of it, the characters have many of the same emotions and experiences as many of us, just in a heightened capacity. I love that Tack Allen and his Chaos Club were wild, sexy men, but also always mindful of their bond, their brotherhood. Chaos is a family.

And speaking of Kane "Tack" Allen...I have been extreeeeeemely interested in him since Mystery Man. He's tough, gruff, and takes zero shit off anybody, but seems to have a soft spot for pretty ladies in trouble. Yeah, he's sometimes a little scary intense, but such is the way of a badass biker. And sure, he and Tyra get off to a rough start (as you do in a KA book), but Tack is a straight-shooter, devoted, sexy, dude who also happens to be a good dad, and guys, you can't do much better than that, no matter how you slice it. I loved Tack. Maybe more than Brock. I'm not sure. (I refuse to choose!)

As for Tyra, she's awesome chick who's a good friend, strong, spirited, brave, and with a huge heart. I really liked Tyra, could empathize with her doubts, but was cheering her as she overcame each obstacle as they came her way. And I shall not forget to mention that Tyra is a badass, just like her man, and will take someone down if need be. She and Tack were perfect together.

As for the sexy...it was brought in Motorcycle Man. Of course it is well-established that KA writes the hottest, sexiest men. Tack was no exception, in fact, he is one of the sexiest guys yet. His goatee and dirty mouth alone puts him in my KA Alpha Man Top Five.

Motorcycle Man is the seventeenth KA book I've read since late-June. And at this point in my Kristen Ashley Epic Read-a-Thon of 2013, I feel like I've said it all. The books are all similar in ways, but also manage to stand on their own merit. Each book, whether it's from Rock Chick series, Colorado Mountain, or Dream Man, manages to be special.. Ashley has as bit of a formula to her storytelling, but it works. You will get no complaints from me when the books are led by such engaging, sexy characters, and stories that make me - as Tack would say-  "keep my eyes open, throw my hands in the air, and enjoy the ride".


A Few Favorite Moments:

  "When you give it all to me, if it works with us in a way that lasts, you'll never be scared. You'll feel safe enough to have you eyes open, your arms up and you'll enjoy the fuck outta the ride. I'll see to that, Red, and that's a promise."


  "You know," I started, "it's annoying when you grin all know-it-all."
  "This isn't my know-it-all grin, Red. This is my I'm gonna get some later grin."


  "Love and redemption."
  My head tipped on the pillow. "What?"
  "That movie you made me watch, first time at your house. Love and redemption. You said, 'the most beautiful stories ever told are the most difficult ones to take'. You said that, Red. Right out. And I knew if you got that, when it was later and I shared my shit with you, you'd get me. I never thought my story was beautiful. I thought it was shit. But you said that and when you did, I saw it. The ride is not over but if I can keep my Club together and find a sweet, feisty woman who's got my back and enough to her that she'll stay there, holding me up not dragging me down, I figure I'd find my way to beauty eventually. And I'd find absolution because I'd know, I earned the love of that woman, a woman who's got so much to her it'll take years to dig down and find the heart of her, that would be my reward."  

The Dream Man Series

   

Purchase Motorcycle Man

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

About the author:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook   |  GoodReads

FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS: DRAWN TOGETHER by LAUREN DANE

Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to steamy books. . Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Globug and Hootie Need a Book
Insightful Minds Reviews


**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **


Series: Brown Siblings #6
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 10/1/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 304
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 4 stars

Beauty is more than skin-deep…

Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually—but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all her rules—including her no-monogamy rule.

But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge...

 

Drawn Together is my first Lauren Dane read, and I enjoyed it A LOT. When I accepted the invite to review this book, I didn't realize it was the sixth book in a series, Brown Siblings. I was hoping I could read it as a standalone, and happy when I opened it up and realized I could. That's not to say that I wouldn't recommend reading the other books first, because  a) The entire series looks good and has hot covers, and b) even though I was able to keep up with all the relationships, I did sometimes feel a bit lost as to who everyone was and how they were related. Something I did quickly figure out is there are some interesting relationships in the Brown Siblings series, and I want to explore!

Raven and Jonah were wickedly hot. And just FYI, I'm going to be using that word a ton in this review, because guys, I was not prepared for the level of delicious sexy times I encountered in Drawn Together. Believe me, it's a nice problem to have, just don't make my mistake of trying to read it at soccer practice. Or do. That shit can get boring sometimes, and reading something wicked helps to tune out annoying conversation.

Drawn Together was a fairly straightforward, but really nicely done romance. Raven and Jonah are two sexy, single people who've crossed paths due to family and friends, and finally make a connection. Jonah is determined to have Raven (but he's not a dick about it!) and Raven, despite her protestations, is willing to be had by Jonah. I was surprised by the low amount of angst between these two in regards to their developing relationship. The bulk of the turmoil comes from Raven's troubled past, and meddling family members. Not to mention a witch of an ex-wife.

Like I mentioned earlier, okay several times now, Drawn Together is sexy. Like reaaaalllly seeeexy.  And I loved it. I love that Jonah and Raven were very self-aware and confident, and there is a nice D/s aspect to their relationship that I found to be refreshing and different from a lot of these relationships I find in romance. It seems that Jonah is into being bossy in the bedroom. Not a bad thing, right? But he wants to take it a little further, and Raven is willing to go along for the ride. This wasn't full-blown BDSM, just two people recognizing what they enjoy, and having fun with it. What I really respect about how Dane portrayed this relationship was, Raven wasn't weak in any aspect of her life/personality. Even when she is submitting to Jonah, she is strong. Something to think about...

Drawn Together was an intense and fun story, with a lot of steamy moments that had me giving My Guy the side eye more than once. If this is any indication of just how good the rest of Dane's books are, I am without a doubt going to get acquainted with Brown Siblings ASAP.



Favorite Quote:

  Jonah Warner was beyond hot. He was on-fire sexy. Like panties on fire. Raven looked him over, imagining him naked. Imagining him over her, under her, whatever. Just naked and doing something sexy with her would do just fine.    ~eARC, 2%


   "Jonah?"
  He pulled back and looked up into her face. "Yes, baby?"
  She smiled. "I love it when you use endearments. If you tell anyone, I'll only deny it. I love you too. I don't know that you're getting as good a deal as I am. But there it is. I'm so weary. You make me less so."   ~eARC, 81%

 

The Brown Siblings Series

 

     

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

 

 

Purchase Drawn Together

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

About the author:
Lauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.  

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FRISKY FALL SATURDAY: THROWING HEAT by JENNIFER SEASONS

Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to sexy stories. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Insightful Minds Reviews
Globug and Hootie Need a Book

**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **



Series: Diamonds & Dugouts #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Publication Date: 10/15/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating:

The sexy baseball players of Jennifer Seasons' Diamonds and Dugouts series slide into home with a final fiery romance worthy of a World Series win.

Nightclub manager Leslie Cutter has never been one to back down from a bet. So when Peter Kowalskin, pitcher for the Denver Rush baseball team, bets her that she can't keep her hands off of him, she's not about to let the arrogant, gorgeous playboy win. Especially when the prize could put her business on the map. She's got this in the bag, just so long as she can stay out of his arms … and his bed.

Peter struck out once before with Leslie, but this bet is sure to be the second chance he's been waiting for. Determined to stoke the passion he knows is there, he'll do anything to win—even if it means playing a little dirty.

But as things heat up, this combustible pair will have to decide just how much they're willing to wager on one another … and on a future that just might last forever.

(My best friend Autumn, at Autumn Review, recently visited me. Both being big fans of the Diamonds and Dugouts series, we decided to read and review together.)

We've been pretty excited for Leslie and Peter's book since Stealing Home. Did it live up to your expectations?

 

Andrea: It did! I've always thought Leslie was a ton of fun, Peter too. And the chemistry between them was so hot even in the first two books. I just knew Throwing Heat would be great.

 

Autumn:  I loved it! I love Peter AND Leslie. What did you think of the prologue? I always wondered about how their chemistry originated.

 

Andrea:  I loved the prologue. I assumed their "beginning" was probably good and it was. I was unprepared for how emotionally vulnerable they both were.

 

Autumn:  Me too! Leslie has always been portrayed as a confident, no nonsense chick. Peter, the prankster.

Peter and Leslie had some serious sexual chemistry. How did you feel about the pull and push that seemed to be a theme throughout the book?

 

Andrea:  Well, there was a lot of push and pull, and not always the fun kind. If you know what I mean.... These two were definitely guarding their hearts, and if we hadn't been shown why, it would have been too frustrating. I think when you take in the insecurities, it's understandable.

Autumn:  Agree. There was a lot of build up. But, I got it and it still got me steamed up a bit.

 

Andrea:  Ohmygosh, YES! Kowalskin was hot & knew how to treat a lady well. He was dedicated.

 

Autumn:  He sure was. He was definitely focused on her pleasure.

 

You and I are baseball fans. How much did you love the scenes with the players and their games?

 

Autumn:  You know I have soft spot for baseball players. I love all the guys and I got excited during the game scenes.

Andrea:  Yes! And I'm not ashamed to say I got a tear in my eye and all choked up when the Rush won big.

Autumn:  Me too!!! I had butterflies.

 

Autumn: There was a bit of a surprise for Peter later in the book. It's hard to talk about it without revealing spoilers, but I was a bit surprised and curious to see if Seasons plans to finish out the side plot.

Andrea:  Definitely! I would think that there must be more at play there. It was way too big to not be addressed. I guess we shall see...

 

 

Who would you like to see a book about next?

Autumn:  I'm hoping for Paulson. Maybe the cute, bashful, redhead nurse may capture his attention.

 

Andrea:  Yay! Me too! I'm very curious about him because he's supposedly not attractive, but has a great personality, and gets a ton of tail. I don't think it's just because he's a pro ball player.

Autumn:  He has a magnetic personality I think.



So...now that we know more about Peter, who's your favorite?

Andrea:  Oh boy, I was just waiting for this question! Okay.... Mark Cutter is my #1 because he has a super dirty mouth and dark blond hair. Next would be Peter, then JP. You?

Autumn:  Peter is my top pick. He has a little rough to him, but he's also a deep thinker. Plus...he loves to read and wears glasses! Then, I'd say Mark, JP and I'd add Paulson in lady because he makes me giggle with his afro.  

Andrea:  Agreed! And don't forget the epic chest hair.

 

Autumn: Green afro's and chest hair

 

Andrea:  GREEN GIANT!

 

So, I think it's safe to say we both enjoy the series and look want it to continue?

 

Andrea:  I would love for it to continue. Here's hoping.

 

Autumn: This book was my favorite in the series so far. I'm looking forward to more. Although I think Peter will always be my favorite.

Andrea:  Peter will be hard to top. If the series is over, his and Leslie's story is a great way to end it.

Describe Throwing Heat in five words?

 

Andrea:  Sweet, Funny, Sad, Sexy, and Romantic

Autumn:  Exciting, sexy, frustrating, sweet, promising

 

 

Andrea:  Nailed it! I'm really happy we read this series and that we read Throwing Heat together.

 

Autumn: Me too! Cheers!

*clinks beer*

Favorite Quotes:

  Riding the wave, Peter was laughing and smiling when he looked into the stands and saw Leslie. She had her hands to her mouth. When she spotted him looking at her, she dropped her hands from her mouth and waved, her smile absolutely beaming. And he felt the echo of it inside him wrap warm around his heart.
  It was the greatest moment of his life.   ~eARC, 66%


  He'd found her.
  "Now you're mine," he growled against her ear, and in the dark with her senses heightened his Yankee-tough voice was just about the most erotic thing she'd ever heard.   ~eARC, 71%


  Needing to feel him, needing to know his heart, Leslie captured his lips with hers in a lingering kiss and moaned when she felt his sexual energy change from aggressive to fluid and erotic. She was suddenly swimming in an ocean of sensuality that verged on dark and decadent. If she'd let him, he would pull her under. And it was so, so tempting.  ~eARC, 72%

 

 

The Diamonds and Dugouts Series

 

  

 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads)

 

My Reviews:

Stealing Home  |  Playing the Field

 

 

Purchase Throwing Heat

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About the author:
Jennifer Seasons is a Colorado transplant. She lives with her husband and four children along the Front Range, where she enjoys breathtaking views of the mighty Rocky Mountains every day. A dog and two cats keep them company. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family outdoors, exploring her beautiful adopted home state.


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