1/5 Stars

BW/WM

Pages: 271

 I'm going to start with the cover. That man! He is handsome and sexy as all get out! Unfortunately, that's the beginning and end of any positive feelings that I have regarding this book.

Since first being introduced to this couple, I've been wondering how the author was going to pull off a romance in this particular story arc. Well, as far as I'm concerned she didn't because abuse isn't sexy or romantic.

It is important to know that you'll need to read the previous Ruthless MC storylines to understand what I'm talking about, particularly Waylon. You'll also need to know that I have to give a few very minor spoilers in this review. The spoilers are primarily for previous books featuring Persy/Stephanie and Hades so if you haven't read them you may or may not want to proceed with this review.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Contemporary Romance BW/WM

Pages: 320

Published: Jan. 30, 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5

Girl meets boy when they're stuck in an elevator in a San Francisco hotel with only wine, cheese, and conversation about how they got there. Alexa's meeting her sister who's staying in the hotel and Drew's in town for the dreaded wedding of a former lover and one of his good friends. Before you know it (and definitely too soon!) the power's back on and they're headed their separate ways... BUT, she's somehow agreed to stand in as The Wedding Date that he needs for the upcoming nuptials! If this sounds like a cute start to good book then you're absolutely right! In fact, it isn't just a cute beginning, it's also a very cute story that's enjoyable and easy to read.

Holt (The Ruthless Tycoons Series) by Theodora Taylor

BW/WM

Contemporary

2.5 Stars

I hate to say it, but it's true... I didn't really care for this book.

His to Own by Theodora Taylor

Released: Dec. 2016

BW/WM

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

His to Own is the story of Mason and June. If you've read “Them Fairgood Boys” or the standalone “His Forbidden Bride” you'll recognize Mason as the cousin of “D” and Colin Fairgood. You'll also recall that Mason is a homegrown white nationalist. Yup, this is the love story of a racist white man who falls in love with an African-American woman and the little boy that she cares for. Intrigued? Disgusted? Confused? Believe me, I felt all of these things too. The funny thing is I actually liked the story.

Review Quickie: Them Fairgood Boys by Theodora Taylor

Rating: 4-star 

BW/WM

This is a two-book set featuring His for Keeps and His Forbidden Bride. Them Fairgood Boys is classic Theodora Taylor featuring drama, hot love scenes, surprises, and then a lot more drama! In both books, fans of Taylor will appreciate the ups and downs the characters take during their journey toward true love and HEA.

A Galaxy of Scars by Jorja Tabu

BW/WM

Published: August 2016

Rating: 3 out of 5

The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is the first Jorja Tabu book that I've had the opportunity to read, so as always when it comes to new writers I was excited to give it a try. A Galaxy of Scars was well written, and the storytelling had a visual quality that I appreciated. It is obvious that Jorja Tabu is a writer with talent, yet there was something that held me back from truly enjoying A Galaxy of Scars as much as I wanted to.

City of Simplicity by Rae Lori

BW/WM

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Published 6/2015

Click to purchase from my Amazon Store

City of Simplicity is about a city where people live a life of manufactured simplicity. They are required to take a drug called Emotin, which so happens to suppress their emotions and clear the mind of memories about their past. The "media" keeps a watchful eye on the citizen of Simplicity and even tells them what the daily fashion or style is. The story follows Citizen 52701, a law enforcement officer whose real name is Lyn. Lyn is having dreams about a man. Dreams that feel like memories that she shouldn't be having. By day, her job is to terminate people who try to rebel or escape from Simplicity. Unfortunately, the man of her dreams is also a man her profession requires to kill. The question is, can Lyn recall enough of her past and save him from termination?

The One by Danielle Allen

Published: 3/2016

BW/WM

Pages: 304

Contemporary Romance

Available @ Amazon

The One is a book by author Danielle Allen. The story follows Zoe Jordan, an independent young law student who is struck by a case of cold feet prior to taking the bar exam. Wallowing at a cross roads, Zoe feels like she is suffering a quarter life crisis when a friend's joke turns into a "reality." 

Zoe's been approved as a contestant in the reality dating show The One. 

Although this independent woman generally has a negative view on dating shows and their portrayal of women, The One serves a purpose as it turns out to be a timely solution to a problem. All she needs to do is stick it out for an episode or two. Unfortunately the contestant, songwriter and musician Julian Winters, speaks to her soul and is all she's ever wanted in a man. If only they hadn't met on a TV show where love is meant to go by script and everything is staged for maximum ratings.

His Forbidden Bride by Theodora Taylor

Released: May 2016

Character composition: BW/WM

Pages: 212

Rating 5 out of 5

Purchase @ Amazon
*I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Damn! This was a good book! High five Ms. Theodora you did your thing! I'm going to keep this review pretty brief because to give away any hint of a spoilers will shatter the impact of the story. Yes, the author asked reviewers not to reveal the who is who of the book, but I don't think I would have done so anyway. I'm glad that it hit me the way that it did, and I think anyone who reads it will appreciate the deliciousness of reading it unspoiled the first time.

Right Side of My Pillow by LaShawn Vasser

Released: February 2016

Character composition: BW/WM

Pages: 174

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase at: Amazon
*I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Jade (Cricket) and Cole grew up together in a shady group home, where they were extremely close. Cole, who is several years older than Jade, is about to age out of the system and head off to college. Before leaving he makes her a promise that he has every intention of keeping. The story picks up ten years later, when their paths (which have gone in two very different directions) cross again. The Right Side of My Pillow follows Cole as he tries to win back the friendship that he shared with a woman he's always viewed as his "sister," while Jade tries to move past the feelings of betrayal and hurt that she has towards the man that she's always loved.

Moan by Kenya Wright

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Character composition: BW/WM

Released: February 23, 2016

Pages: 138

Purchase @: Amazon

Typically I am a pretty solid fan of Kenya Wright. She's an author who dares to take chances and has a voice that makes her writing stand out. While I still appreciate these qualities and the writer, I didn't love Moan. It fell short for me on many levels, which was disappointing because at the core of it there was a very interesting and bold story going on.

His Pretend Baby by Theodora Taylor

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Character diversity: Yes (bw/wm)

Published: February 07, 2016

Purchase: @ Amazon
*Copy provided by author in exchange for a fair and honest review*

When I first started reading His Pretend Baby, I wasn't sure what to expect. Plus, the lumberjack in a suit cover wasn't quite doing it for me. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded and this turned out to be a really great read that supports my previous comments about this author. She just keeps getting better! Theodora Taylor stepped out of the box on this one and not only wrote a billionaire book that wasn't cookie cutter, but also wrote characters with a unique spin. Yay!

The Boy Who Came Back a Wolf (Space Wolf Chronicles 1) by Kara Lockharte

Published: Oct. 2015
Pages: 49
Diversity: bw/wm
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*

As a person who loves sci-fi and has a healthy appreciation of paranormal romance, I wish that I could say that I got more enjoyment from reading The Boy Who Came Back a Wolf. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. For me it was a case of lost potential. I'm just going to jump right in and share my thoughts with you.

Cree by LaShawn Vasser

Published: September 2015

Diversity: bw/wm

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Over the past few weeks I've  been fortunate enough to read a couple of pretty amazing books. Cree is one of them. First, can I just say "WOW!" at that cover? I think it's gorgeous and I give the author extreme kudos for not only writing a character with natural hair, but using a model that reflects the character's appearance as well. It's not just the cover that's amazing either. Cree is also a wonderful book. That said, I do want to mention one thing. Without giving anything away I need to add a warning. There is a scene that may be a trigger for some readers, so if you're sensitive to violence proceed with caution. To be clear however, this isn't a book that's steeped in violence at all. Not that kind of book. But, as always, I feel compelled to warn some of you that this scene does exist.
Now that that's out of the way, on to the review...

The Christmas Tree Guy by Railyn Stone

Published: November 2014

Pages: 351

Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing

Diversity: Yes - BW/WM

Rating: 2 out of 5

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*

I wish that I could say that I enjoyed this book. The premise was a good one. The writing acceptable. The main character's twin boys - adorable. Unfortunately, there was a repetition problem that put the brakes on any real enjoyment that I could have found in the story. Let me share my opinion (that's what a review is after all) with you.

Wolf Bite (Wolves of Willow Bend #1) by Heather Long

Published: August 2014

Pages: 184

Diversity: Yes (BW/WM)

Rating: 3 out of 5

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Wolf Bite is a paranormal romance about a woman named Alexis and a wolf shifter named Mason. Alexis grew up as one of the only humans in a shifter "wolf pack" after her mother marries and eventually becomes one. As a result, Alexis never really fit in as she never possessed the traits of other wolves such as the ability to shift to a wolf or enhanced strength and senses. As a young wolf Mason is not only her friend but they also develop feelings of great affection for one another. That is, until Mason disappears suddenly without saying goodbye or telling Alexis where he's gone. The story begins when the two reunite by chance. Old feelings are still there despite the time that has passed and the changes in both of their lives. Mason is now a lone wolf and cannot mate with anyone from the pack, and Alexis is now an independent woman on her own in the city. To be together would be dangerous for them both, but fate takes it out of their hands and Mason must do what's necessary to be with the human woman that he loves.

Dirty Little Secrets by Erin Ashley Tanner

Print Length: 193 pages

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (July 21, 2015)

Publication Date: July 21, 2015

Dirty Little Secrets is the story of a widowed mob wife named Ava. Ava's not your sit-at-home mob wife - she''s a successful business woman who owns her own company as well. In the story Ava discovers that her dead husband has a grown son that she was never aware of named Dominic. Dominic makes his presence known when he demands part of the inheritance left to her daughter. Ava soon discovers that her life has become a lot more dangerous and that Dominic isn't the only dirty little secret that her husband has kept from her...

Behind Blue Eyes (Hell's Vipers #2) by Jordan Abbott

The pairing of IR and motorcycle club or MC romance is still fairly new. There are just a handful of them that come to the top of my head and the ones that I've read haven't been all that great in my honest opinion. That said, if you are an IR fan and MC romances are your thing, then Jordan Abbott is at the top of the game. Before I start this review, I need to throw a few warnings out there. Behind Blue Eyes isn't for everybody. The sex between the main characters isn't sweet or romantic. Some of the ways that Nuke treats Jasmine may be offensive to female readers (although the heroine of the story definitely isn't complaining!). In fact, the way in which women are treated in general might not sit well with some readers. Honestly, I had a few "hell. no." moments in there myself. The one scene that almost made me put the book down got me thinking... I had to keep it in perspective. This is an MC book. It's supposed to be dangerous and gritty and portray a lifestyle that is different than my own. The author herself warns that this isn't The Notebook style romance. This is why I'm reading the darn thing! So my warning is to start reading this with an open mind. You'll get a great story featuring a couple

The Pussycat Death Squad by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb

With a title like the Pussycat Death Squad, you know that one of two things will be true - it will either be terribly cheesy and cliche or it will be a book that's good fun to read. Thankfully it was the latter. This isn't your typical romance - IR or otherwise. It also isn't your standard romance couple. As a result, this is a great book for readers looking for a change of pace.

What it's about: Lelia Assad is the leader of an elite military group called the Amazonian Guard. Their duty is to personally protect and defend Col. al-Fariq, the leader of the North African country known as Laritrea. The Amazonian Guard is made up of all women who are as beautiful as they are lethal. Despite their competency at protecting al-Fariq, the Western world has taken to calling them the Pussycat Death Squad, a label that Lelia finds offensive and demeaning. Lelia and her guard have

Blog Tour: Flawed ( The Butcher #1) by Francette Phal

I want to start this book review with what I believe is a very necessary warning to people who read my blog and who may purchase this book based on my review. Flawed is an exceptional story that is above par in writing and character development; however, reader be warned - this is an extremely disturbing and violent book. It is very dark in a way that some may find offensive or even frightening. If you have any problem with reading scenes of rape, extreme violence towards women, killing, or sex trafficking, I want to caution you in advance. I don't classify this as a love story or a romance at all, but it is a very good book. If you can overlook these things then I have to say that I strongly recommend Flawed
.
In this story you have three main players: Lacey, Knox, and Katia. There are other people that are important to the story, but these three are the primary focus of this dark tale.