Pranked by Love (Love by Pranks #2) by Sunniva Dee

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

Two households, both alike in dignity... hit a serious snag in their ongoing prank war last semester.

The Blossoms of #246 and the Dudes of #247 each lost a member to flippin' Love. (Insert eye-roll here.)

The lovebirds/turncoats now plan to move out of their houses and in with each other. But true prankster talents like Kitty are few and far between, so the remaining Blossoms are going to make damn sure there's no shacking up before Kitty has the perfect replacement for herself.

The Blossoms and the Dudes agree on very little, but everyone agrees on this: there can be no more pranks-turned-lovers between the two arch-fratenemy houses.

Yep, everyone agrees.

Almost everyone.

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 REVIEW 

Pranked by Love, and it's sweetness, lifted me up for a time. I laughed out loud repeatedly when witnessing the Dudes and the Blossoms prank each other. It was an enormous amount of fun. The main couple of the story Saki and Picasso were great together, sexy and delightful. Picasso, an utterly charming artist, and quirky Saki heat up the page, and you really can't help but root for them. When the conflict of the story reaches its pinnacle, I never felt overwhelmed. Their issues were quickly resolved, which fits the atmosphere of the book. If you are looking for a light, enjoyable read, Pranked by Love fits the bill. I was glad to spend time with the Dudes and Blossoms, and anticipate following this series. I have given my honest opinion on the early copy given to me by the author. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new dark romance...

Erika

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. 

His name is Michael Crist. 

My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. 

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away. 

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore. 

Because he’s finally noticed me. 

Michael

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway. 

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college. 

In my city. 

Unprotected. 

The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out. 

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true. 

*Corrupt is a STANDALONE dark romance with no cliffhanger. It is suitable for ages 18+. 

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REVIEW

Exceedingly glad I decided to read this story.  Thank you Kindle Unlimited, this recommendation was an excellent one.  At the heart of Corrupt is a sizzling dark romance. The chemistry between Rika and Michael is off the charts, their relationship develops thoughtfully and never feels forced. A huge conflict exists between the couple (no spoilers, figuring that out is part of the crazy ride), one that began when they were young, which leads to some intense interludes, both physical and emotional. 

Also present is a suspenseful mystery that could rival other stories dealing solely in that genre. The author presents a life-changing event through a series of flashbacks. Slowly we gain insight into what puts the group at odds with one another. I did not see the twists coming, and it was intense at times. I could not put this book down. 

I will most definitely be checking out more titles by Penelope Douglas, starting with Hideaway which picks up some time after Corrupt. If you like a little darkness, suspense, and some intense sensuality with your romance, Corrupt may be a good fit. It certainly hit all my buttons.  All opinions are my own. I encourage readers to reach their own conclusions.

The River Rising by MK Mancuso

ABOUT THE BOOK

River’s life was always held together by secrets, but it wasn’t until she started dating Jace Bolton, the CEO of Lark Station, that living a life of lies would consume her. 

After recently graduating college with a degree in broadcast journalism and landing an assistant job at Lark Station, River felt one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a news reporter. However, after a few dates with Jace, she’s discovered that he’s been stalking her for the past few months. Upon confronting him and praying for things to go her way, River is met with a darker reality. Not only has he been stalking her, but he knows her secret. 

Worried she’ll slip out of his grasp, Jace blackmails River into dating him and a contract is proposed. 

Having spent the last few years trying to keep the balance between quietly working as a cam model and the rest of her life separate, River knows her world is about to get a whole lot more challenging.

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REVIEW

The River Rising draws you in immediately. I did a two-day binge read which in the middle of the week is difficult unless it's an audiobook. I made it work because I did not want to put it down. This book is haunting, bittersweet, and led me to contemplate some thought-provoking ideas. Don't expect a light-hearted novel. 

Secrets are never good, they either come out or destroy from within every time. But we all keep them. And we have justifiable reasons for doing so. With the big ones though they can change the essence of who you are, especially if one is kept hostage by them. River gains first-hand knowledge of this, for that matter so does Jace and the other supporting cast. I can't say I would have done much different in most of their cases, but it is a hard lesson to learn when things go wrong.

When convinced a love is meant to be, what do you do to hold onto it? Forcing things is not the answer, even if there is a temporary stay afterward. Little can be done do to stop the inevitable end of a doomed relationship. Under different circumstances maybe River could have fared better in her situation. Sadly too much happens because of her secret, a few secrets actually, for things to wrap up tidy for her.

Obsession, compulsion, anger, depression. How far is too far before you need to worry about someone's mental well-being? When is it we are partially culpable in making someone's emotional triggers worse? Our first instinct is to protect ourselves and make sure no one is physically harmed. We should be more comfortable accepting, asking for, and giving help so bad feelings do not consume and become dangerous. We go to the doctor with a broken bone. It should feel natural to go for a fractured mind. Maybe Jace and River would not have fallen so deep in despair if that were the case, Jace especially. Jace's behavior did not manifest out of thin air someone knew it loomed below the surface. (I'm looking at you, Carter. Maybe give a guy some help huh?) 

All the characters are exceptionally fleshed out, even those we do not spend a ton of time with during the story. River's relationships and her actions were understandable. I could sympathize with Jace and see his point of view. Unfortunately, when I was unable to choose a consistent side in their affair, the ending hit me pretty hard. It would have been easier if I hated Jace from the beginning, but I really didn't. And those emotions are still with me the day after my read. Excellent job.

The editing was a bit off in a few places, but perhaps this is due to the early copy I received. Maybe one more read through would have cleaned up the remaining errors. I was still able to get the just of what was happening when this occurred. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions, but I do believe this book is well worth a try. 

☾ **NEW RELEASE!!* ☾ Dark Alpha's Awakening by Donna Grant is LIVE!

READ REVIEW HERE

**NEW RELEASE!!*  

Dark Alpha's Awakening is the 7th paranormal romance novel in New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant's Reapers series and it just went live!

Kindle→ https://amzn.to/2Oz5Bvj

Nook→ https://dgrant.co/2OxQIt9

Kobo→ https://dgrant.co/2NQXj4H

Apple→ https://dgrant.co/2OuZdoY

BLURB:

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Serving Death and the Reapers has been my life for centuries. I’ve always put my duty before everything, even my yearning for Death. But now, she’s fading – our foe is bent on destroying her and he will stop at nothing until he does. Death holds the key to our survival. I will do everything in my power to stop her from disappearing. For her, I will ensure we have the best fighting chance. For her…I will cross the divide keeping us apart.

This is a full length Reaper novel.

------

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. Visit Donna at www.DonnaGrant.com

Website - http://www.donnagrant.com/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dgauthor/ 

Bookbub -  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-grant

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant 

The Burglar by Thomas Perry

ABOUT THE BOOK

A cunning thief is on the run for her life in a breakneck thriller from the New York Times–bestselling “master of nail-biting suspense” (Los Angeles Times).

Elle Stowell is a young woman with an unconventional profession: burglary. But Elle is no petty thief—with just the right combination of smarts, looks, and skills, she can easily stroll through ritzy Bel Air neighborhoods and pick out the perfect home for plucking the most valuable items. This is how Elle has always gotten by—she is good at it, and she thrives on the thrill. But after stumbling upon a grisly triple homicide while stealing from the home of a wealthy art dealer, Elle discovers that she is no longer the only one sneaking around. Somebody is searching for her.

As Elle realizes that her knowledge of the high-profile murder has made her a target, she races to solve the case before becoming the next casualty, using her breaking-and-entering skills to uncover the truth about exactly who the victims were and why someone might have wanted them dead. With high-stakes action and shocking revelations, The Burglar will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they barrel towards the heart-racing conclusion.

“The fact is, there are probably only half a dozen suspense writers now alive who can be depended upon to deliver high voltage shocks . . . Thomas Perry is one of them.” —Stephen King

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REVIEW

I would like to disclose that I did not finish this novel, the following is my opinion until chapter 16. Grove Atlantic, through NetGalley, gave me a copy of The Burglar by Thomas Perry for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to draw their own conclusions.

Elle is good at her job as a cat burglar. She does her homework to ensure she does not get caught and no one gets hurt, she gets in and out quickly and is not too greedy. It is interesting to watch her execute plans. A lot of thought is put into the best way to present a successful thief. Elle takes advantage of an empty house and happens upon a crime scene which threatens her anonymity. A trio of naked victims who were in the midst of recording their interlude is dead, and Elle is on film entering the area. She attempts to guarantee she is not implicated in the crime while trying to ensure the police solve the murder.

Elle attempts to investigate the crime herself in case something eventually points to her. As the story moves forward, Elle seems to make little progress. She discovers someone breaks into her apartment, someone is stalking her favorite hang-out spot, she tracks someone following her to what could be a base of operations, but none of them lead to any revelations. 

Instead, she moves to several hotels within the city, changing cars often to throw off any pursuers, this is the majority of what she does, for too long. A Canadian Cowboy, as Elle he calls him, hits on her at one of her hotel stays. Elle fills some inner monologue hinting she shouldn't trust him, then she lets him drive her to the middle of nowhere. When it turns out the cowboy is not what he seems Elle spends several more paragraphs berating herself for trusting him. That is where the book lost me. Maybe it gets better when the loose ends start tying together. Unfortunately, I don't have the patience to find out. Although there were a few interesting occurrences, my particular favorite is when Elle stands up to a threatening jewel fence, her story did not grip me. I wish it did. 

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

"A shocking stunner in every way. The perfect thriller." —Robert Crais

When darkness closes in—he's your last, best hope. Evan Smoak returns in Gregg Hurwitz’s #1 international bestselling Orphan X series.

Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man, a man who helps the truly desperate when no one else can. But now Evan's past is catching up to him.

Someone at the very highest level of government has been trying to eliminate every trace of the Orphan Program by killing all the remaining Orphans and their trainers. After Evan's mentor and the only father he ever knew was killed, he decided to strike back. His target is the man who started the Program and who is now the most heavily guarded person in the world: the President of the United States.

But President Bennett knows that Orphan X is after him and, using weapons of his own, he's decided to counter-attack. Bennett activates the one man who has the skills and experience to track down and take out Orphan X—the first recruit of the Program, Orphan A.

With Evan devoting all his skills, resources, and intelligence to find a way through the layers of security that surround the President, suddenly he also has to protect himself against the deadliest of opponents. It's Orphan vs. Orphan with the future of the country—even the world—on the line.

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Read An Excerpt

 REVIEW 

Out of the Dark is the latest in the Orphan X series, one that I have come to enjoy considerably. The Orphan series is not exactly a fresh idea: a boy is taken from foster care and trained to become a covert assassin for the government. What keeps me coming back is Evan's personal development as the stories continue. Evan craves emotional bonds with those around him he just doesn't know how to accomplish it. I have grown attached while watching Evan struggle to find meaning in his life. 

As the Nowhere Man, a mantle he takes up after going rogue, Evan has become a type of avenging angel. Whether he is protecting a young man from those who murdered his family, saving an abuse victim and her child from their abuser or going after those who threaten the remaining Orphans, Evan thinks well on his feet and excels at planning. He is formidable when adversarial, using both his brain and his physical training to master any situation. Although some circumstances require a suspension of disbelief, Evan's journey is worth the experience.

Random spoilery thoughts: I appreciated when Evan explained to his foes how he would defeat them, and then did exactly what he described. The boldness of the act was fun to witness.

Mia needs to find a way to deal with the sense Evan works outside of the law, or she needs to stay away from him. It does neither of them any good doing their back and forth.

I am most pleased that in the end, Evan prevailed with his smarts rather than his brute force.

I was granted a copy of this book by St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion.  I suggest all readers come to their own conclusions.

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

Before E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day's Bared to You, there was Anne Rice’s New York Times best seller The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty

In the traditional folktale of "Sleeping Beauty," the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. In the first book of the trilogy, Anne Rice (author of Beauty's Kingdom), writing as A.N. Roquelaure, retells the Beauty story and probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him . . . as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience. Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey will indulge in Rice’s deft storytelling and imaginative eroticism, a sure-to-be classic for years to come.

Praise for The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty:

"Articulate, baroque, and fashionably pornographic." —Playboy

"Something very special . . . at once so light and yet so haunting." —The Advocate

 REVIEW 

Being a fan of Anne Rice, I have always been curious about this book. In an effort to read a "fairy tale retelling," I decided to give the story a try, and I am not sure how I feel having just finished the reading. What I am sure of is this, this is a BDSM fetish story. I don't know how it compares to what one gets out of the experience in reality. I only speak as someone with a mild curiosity on the subject. I was as uncomfortable with this story as I was excited by it. I understand the fixation. I can concede how willing participants might gain insight and restraint from the act, but the humiliation and degradation the love slaves suffered in Claiming of Sleeping Beauty was periodically hard to take. But I did read all the way to the end. Only to be handed a big stinking cliff hanger. Now I have to decide how much I want to know where the tale is going and if it is worth more titillating discomfort. So, this story is not for everyone. If you are easily offended by dubious consent or severe treatment, just don't read it. If you are interested, be ready for an in-your-face journey. Would I recommend it? Yeah, maybe, but still not sure.