Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Dade bursts onto the scene in this delightfully fun romantic comedy set in the world of fanfiction, in which a devoted fan goes on an unexpected date with her celebrity crush, who’s secretly posting fanfiction of his own.

 

Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret. The world may know him as Aeneas, star of the biggest show on television, but fanfiction readers call him something else: Book!AeneasWouldNever. Marcus gets out his frustrations with the show through anonymous stories about the internet’s favorite couple, Aeneas and Lavinia. But if anyone discovered his online persona, he’d be finished in Hollywood.

April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she’s long hidden her fanfic and cosplay hobbies from her “real life”—but not anymore. When she dares to post her latest costume creation on Twitter, her plus-size take goes viral. And when Marcus asks her out to spite her internet critics, truth officially becomes stranger than fanfiction.

On their date, Marcus quickly realizes he wants more from April than a one-time publicity stunt. But when he discovers she’s Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, his closest fandom friend, he has one more huge secret to keep from her.

With love and Marcus’s career on the line, can the two of them stop hiding once and for all, or will a match made in fandom end up prematurely canceled?

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

REVIEW

April, in her private life, is engaged in an online community of fans. This group dedicates their time to correct the wrongs done by a television adaption of their favorite series through fanfic. When a new career opportunity presents itself, April sees this as the perfect time to improve herself. April is very passionate about what she loves, the God of the Gates novels especially. With a new job comes a determination to open herself up to her friends and colleagues. April shares her love of God of the Gates by introducing her cosplay tribute to the world, voluptuous body type, and all. 

When April's tribute on social media inspires negative feedback, Marcus Caster-Rupp, a lead in the series God of the Gates inspired, gives April his full support. Pubicly inviting her to dinner for all the fans to see, Marcus quickly recognizes April from the online fanfic community. Marcus then does what he can to convince April he is not just a pretty face.

Spoiler Alert takes April and Marcus down a path to self-worth and love. They learn from each other that they are more than what is on the surface. It is heart-warming, frustrating, and utterly engaging. I adored them both through the good and the bad. Not to mention everything about this story resonates with me. I can easily say this is one of the best modern romances I have read.

Stroke of Luck by Opal Carew

ABOUT THE BOOK

The newest erotic romance from bestselling author Opal Carew, Stroke of Luck.

Good things do come in threes.

April Smith’s luxurious Las Vegas wedding crashed and burned when her wealthy fiancé cheated on her and left her with a hotel bill that costs more than she makes in a year. Even more humiliating, her college ex-boyfriend Quinn Taylor has come to her rescue and bailed her out. They didn’t part on the best of terms and never expected to see one another again.

For Quinn, April was the one who got away and despite the heartache she caused him, he’s never gotten over her. Not wanting to be in his debt, April makes Quinn a tempting offer: she’ll spend the next month with him during his Vegas vacation, fulfilling his fantasies. Being with April has always been Quinn’s number one fantasy, and next on the list is sharing a woman with his best friend and business partner, Austin Wright. Since he can see an undeniable attraction between April and Austin, he makes that a condition of their deal, too.

Enjoying the attention and affection from two hot and handsome men, April gives in to her desires to be with both of them. But with those desires comes a growing love that she fears may force her to choose between Quinn and Austin—or lose them both.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

REVIEW

April has found herself in a precarious situation. Her fiancee has left her with nothing but a debt that she cannot pay. As chance would have it, a man from her past appears when there seems to be no reasonable hope. The couple makes a deal, and Quinn asks April to rekindle their past romance for the month of his Las Vegas vacation. The catch is that Quinn's business partner Austin will share in their relationship.

Stroke of Luck is a steamy romance fantasy I was granted a copy of from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin. April is reticent in the beginning about revealing her attraction to Austin, but soon enjoys the touch of the two attractive men. Quinn embarks on the relationship as a sort of revenge for past slights but realizes what April truly means to him. This story is very passionate and very adult. I suggest only those looking for a highly sensual romance venture here. Stroke of Luck is a quick read. April, Quinn, and Austin fit nicely into their roles and are likable enough. With this story, one gets what one would expect, and that is certainly enough. 

Battle Born For You by Layla Lochran

  

REVIEW

The first section of this book follows Zander. We meet him and his squad at a difficult time and follow Zander back home. Immediately I was drawn to Zander and his emotional journey. It's moving to experience a war vet try and pick up the pieces of his life, one I have personally done many times. When Zander meets Lily, his world is truly complete. 

Battle Born for You is part two of the Tell all Secrets series. It was at the point when Zander and Lily are first together that it was abundantly clear I was missing part of the story. At first, I was a bit jarred with this big fight they were having, without having experienced Lily's side of it. Honestly, I felt like she was overreacting a bit, and it was off-putting. It quickly became clear what the conflict was about, and I slowly began to see Lily's perspective. But I would highly suggest reading part one first so as not to find yourself in my situation. 

Zander and Lily both have deep emotional scars but support and love each other through their pain. As a couple, they are sweet and sexy, finding their happiness in each other. Battle Born for You has some profound moments and a few twists and turns you will not see coming. I suggest Zander and Lily's story for anyone who enjoys a contemporary romantic drama.

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.

Purchase on Amazon

 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.

Consumed by J.R. Ward

Consumed by J.R. Ward was addicting from page one. We meet Anne and Danny with their fire crew when a call takes them to an abandoned warehouse fire. It is clear, in the first few pages, that Anne and Danny have a connection that goes beyond platonic colleagues. A bad choice on Anne's part puts her life in danger. Danny, rushing to her aide when ordered not to, is forced into extreme action to save her life, nearly losing his own. The several chapters between the beginning incident and Anne and Danny reuniting were fast-paced and incredibly addicting. I couldn't get through it fast enough.

Ten months after the accident, Anne begins work as a fire inspector. The loss she suffered due to the fire left her in a very dark place. She can no longer work at the firehouse, and she, to her irritation, continues to think about Danny. Meanwhile, Danny spirals out of control. Too much alcohol, too many one night stands, too many bad choices when battling fires; all this eventually drives a crew mate to contact Anne, with the hope she can help Danny become more stable. I was desperate for Anne and Danny to have their time together. Anne was fighting a losing battle with her feelings for Danny, and Danny needed a break from his anxiety. They needed each other to start emotionally healing from their accident.

Anne and Danny both fear admitting their feelings for each other, but for very different reasons. Anne wants to keep Danny from entering her life again. She has convinced herself the romantic feelings she has will fade but, the attraction is still prominent. A past trauma has left Anne distrusting of their emotional bond. She does not make things easy for Danny, and she is slow to open up to him. Danny knows Anne will run as soon as love is mentioned. He takes what she will give him, which amounts to a quick physical interlude. Nothing is new in this scenario, but I had become quite attached to the characters at this point. I sympathized with Danny and his desire to be with Anne.

Clues to a series of warehouse arson, that include the one she last fought in, lead Anne to a business tycoon who is untouchable. Something sketchy is happening, but Anne finds it difficult to prove. Anne pursues a lead, and after discovering its legitimacy, someone begins to terrorize her. Danny learns she is in danger and offers to watch over her. Anne brings down some defenses and agrees to let him stay. The intimacy Anne and Danny share, during this time, brings them closer to a sustainable relationship.

A woman from Danny's past soon comes between the couple. I found Anne's quick judgment of Danny predictable, not necessarily in a bad way, but her lack of trust in him did cause some frustration. I understand her lack of faith due to her past, and I know she did not have the benefit of hearing Danny's thoughts, but her decision to immediately see the worst did not sit well with me.

Following a hunch, Anne pursues her terrorist and nearly loses her life. Danny happens upon the scene and again, keeps Anne safe. I did not see the ending coming, which was a welcome surprise. The lovers, of course, have their resolutions, but the antagonist came out of nowhere.

It is clear this book is the start of a series.  Short prequel stories are available that I did not read, but it may be worth checking out to get a feel for the characters. I enjoyed Consumed by J.R. Ward and will be checking out the proceeding novels when they are released. I received this book from Gallery Books, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to draw their own conclusions.

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Don't Look Back by Dawn Ryder

Miranda Delacroix has made an enemy of Carl Davis. Miranda surrendered evidence to a Special Ops team implicating an associate of Carl's in a severe crime, injuring Carl's political career. Carl ordered an assassin to take out Miranda to safeguard his political goals. Don't Look Back by Dawn Ryder belongs to the Unbroken Heroes series. From the beginning, it was apparent this book was part of a series.  Even though it was a bit disorienting at first, it quickly becomes clear how the characters fit into each other's pasts. All I needed was a basic understanding of past events, so I would say Don't Look Back could be read as a stand-alone novel. This book would be good for those who enjoy a political crime thriller, or romance novels.

The pacing of Don't Look Back is frenetic. Switches in the narrative produce just enough to advance the plot before diverting the action to other characters. This method kept me invested in the intrigue.  Various players attempt to outwit each other for victory. It immediately drew me into the events of the quest to bring down the enemy.

The threat to Miranda's life brings her reclusive, billionaire son Dunn to the States from Scotland. The Special Ops team safeguarding Miranda have personal ties to her and her adult children. Thais, who is a member of Special Ops, and Dunn have a desire growing between them. Thais' assignment places her in position to guard Dunn and keep him from executing a premature move against Davis. When the two of them acknowledge the chemistry they share, they realize it is something they can no longer deny.

When their physical encounters begin, Thais and Dunn are unsure how a relationship will work for them. The author gives insights into the emotional connection the couple is forming and walls they have both built begin to crumble. Even though Thais and Dunn fear what is growing between them, they determine the passion they feel for each other is worth experiencing.

The injustice perpetrated by a political figure, assassination for power, was an act that one could argue hits a little close to home. Misdeeds in our government I absolutely believe happens. To the scale of covert assassinations, who's to say? Watching a group who could change things in this atmosphere, had me rooting for them. Witnessing Dunn and Thais' affection grow was a satisfying romance. They were sensual and intense. An alpha couple aptly paired. I most definitely recommend Don't Look Back by Dawn Ryder. I received an advance reader copy of this novel from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

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Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole

Amy and Cabe are working on different angles of a criminal case at the Lucky Seven Casino and a dedication to doing the right thing, for all of the parties involved, was a priority. A past crime involving Amy's mother supports her drive to stop the female disappearance at the Lucky Seven. Cabe and his team have a similar investment. Sokolov's crime syndicate has directly threatened the lives of family members of the Eagle Security team. They possess equal justification to make sure the casino becomes crime free. Bringing the villains down became as essential to me as it was to them. The team worked intelligently and well together, and it was clear they were all becoming great friends. I remained invested in the characters during the attempt to end these atrocities.

Amy's father is a professional poker player, and her uncle runs a casino. Due to her resources, she has the skills to go undercover at the Lucky Seven to investigate the missing women. As Amy goes undercover as a card dealer, the stress builds. The owner of the casino, Faulkner, has charm but at the same time, he crosses a line that justifies caution and suspicion. In contrast, Amy's direct supervisor Ortega is respectable with Amy and the rest of the staff. Who is helping Sokolov launder money if anyone? Who is responsible for the missing women, the indecent boss or the moral one? These questions fuel the anxiety. Cabe and Eagle Securities focus their attention on the money laundering. Cabe attempts to befriend Sokolov while covertly searching for the money switches. Cabe and the team do their job well. Cabe's instincts and reactions are appropriate to what I believe an ex-NAVY Seal would be. He is protective and keeps his team, which now includes Amy, safe.

I enjoyed Cabe but, his contribution is primarily guarding Amy's back. I would have liked to see Cabe play a more prominent role in the end battle, rather than just being Amy's knight in shining armor. Along the same lines, I felt an agent with Amy's qualifications could have needed less saving. I also sense Amy being more assertive in the face of danger would have made her more interesting. A  dynamic involving a couple fighting together is a delicate balance. I still found their decisions sound and them both to be capable in their jobs.

When reading romance novels, I am most committed when the plot surrounding the couple can stand on its own. I find that Deep Cover was one of these novels. Having said that, the romance in Deep Cover was also quite captivating. The characters, for justifiable reasons, decided not to pursue their attraction to each other. In high-pressure situations, that only lasts so long. When they give in to the chemistry between them, it is explosive. Well done there. This relationship develops while they are getting to know each other without bringing sex into the equation. I welcome this method as it is more believable. I recommend giving Deep Cover by Scarlett Cole a chance. I received this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

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Broken Promise by Tara Thomas

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Broken Promise is the third book in the Sons of Broad series. The eldest Benedict brother Kipling is the center of this romantic thriller. Alyssa, Kipling’s partner and would be lover, discovers things about her family and her murdered sister while helping Kipling find his kidnapped half-sister. A connection exists in their separate tragedies, and the couple confronts the threat the Gentleman has been tormenting the Benedict’s with.

Kipling and Alyssa were gravitating toward one another in previous novels, and here they develop it. Their attraction matured naturally into love, the compatibility they share obvious. Kipling and Alyssa are entertaining together. I appreciate the dry humor between the two. They are also intelligent enough to defend against the threat from the Gentleman.

The background given on the Gentleman reveals his true identity and his supposed slights with the Benedict family. The Gentleman works as the protagonist for me in Broken Promise. Exposing his background gives him more substance in my eyes. Realizing his true motivations increase the anxiety. It is unsettling for the characters, understanding there’s no reasoning with a madman.

All and all I was glad to read the conclusion to this series. The romance was engaging. I worried about the leads when their lives were in danger. I became wary of and disgusted by the bad guy and his motivation. I could foresee some of the mystery unravel before the reveal, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Decent tension presents itself, and a few things still surprised me. I'd give it a solid three out of five stars. Worth mentioning, the bonus content is kind of sweet. There is a great speech given at a wedding so check it out if you can. This book was given to me by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

The Undercover Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden

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The Undercover Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden is part three of the Tate Brothers series. I have not read the other two books in this set. It was clear some characters had further background detailed in earlier books, but that lack of detail in no way hindered my enjoyment of this installment.

Olivia de Santis has been in love with Wolf Tate since they became friends as teenagers. While keeping her feelings hidden, Olivia continued a correspondence with Wolf during his time away with the Navy Seals. When his father Nate dies, Wolf is instructed to take down his father's enemy Cesare de Santis before Wolf can retrieve the mother he thought he lost from hiding. Having spent most of his teenage years as a spy in de Santis's household, Wolf attempts to use his friendship with de Santis's daughter Olivia to further his goal.
I am a sucker for a good unrequited love story. This story had a way of making the dream of love come true without emotional manipulation. Olivia had feelings for Wolf, but she was not a pushover. Even though she kept protecting Wolf when logic might have dictated she stop, she still made smart choices. She was in a terrible position and dealt with the unfortunate circumstances in the best way possible. The right decisions took a bit longer for Wolf to make. Wolf was blind to his worth due to the mental abuse by his father and de Santis. Olivia had to drag him out of that, eventually leading him to realize he loved her as she did him. It felt organic and moving, and it was wonderful when Wolf was finally able to believe in himself. The dynamic between Wolf and Olivia worked well and also worth noting is their physical chemistry was very sexy.

Undercover Billionaire was a great read for me. It has been awhile since I was so attached to the main characters in a contemporary erotic romance. I was glad they were able to be together after the terrible things they had to go through. All opinions are my own and may not be identical to others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

The Darkest Night by Tara Thomas

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The Darkest Night by Tara Thomas is a modern romantic thriller and part one of the Sons of Broad series. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

This story follows Tilly weeks before her college graduation. She reunites with her childhood love Keaton, one brother of three belonging to the Benedict fortune, and her life begins to unravel. When Tilly's life is in danger, Keaton moves her into the Benedict mansion to keep her safe. Not only do Tilly and Keaton have to deal with a killer, but they have obstacles within their circle that could prevent them from being together.

Lovers reunited is an endearing premise, and Tilly and Keaton are sweet together. When things started to go wrong, especially during the threat from a childhood friend of theirs, I was rooting for them. The other Benedict brothers were engaging as well. I assume the rest of the Sons of Broad series will follow them and I would be interested in their stories based on what I read here.

The focus in this story was off for me. I found myself uninterested in the thriller aspect of it. I did not find the bad guy intimidating, and I think a fear of him was necessary to keep my concern for the main characters. I just wanted it over so we could get on with the rest of the story. With the ruining of Tilly's family's reputation when she was young, to the reuniting of Tilly and Keaton, through to the threat of extortion to Keaton and his family, I think there was too much to include a murder mystery.  I like a good murder mystery, but here I did not want it or need it, which is unfortunate.

There are aspects of this story I enjoyed. As stated, I would be willing to give another book in this series a chance. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Ride by Allison Gatta

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The first story in the Wild Hearts series is the novella Ride by Allison Gatta. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Quinn decides to leave her fiancee without telling her sister Zoe just minutes before the wedding. Zoe blames Ian, Quinn's best friend, for Quinn's fleeing, so Zoe demands Ian help her find and bring Quinn back. Ian drives Zoe to places he tells her Quinn may be and the couple starts to see each other in ways different than before.

Zoe and Ian start off in conflict. I enjoy a story where the main characters begin hostile with each other, and then it develops into something more. Reaching the point when the couple begins to click it was believable. At the height of this, I got a little teary-eyed by the sweetness when Zoe met Ian's parents. Of course, it all comes crashing down, and it was at this point I felt less connected to the characters. You couldn't exactly call it love at first sight since Zoe and Ian know each other through Quinn, but the story jumped right to that shared declaration of love. It is a possibility, especially because of the close quarters Zoe and Ian spent with each other for three days, but I always have a hard time with that cliché. Here their story did not quite convince me of the truth in it.

Despite my reservation, I still enjoyed Zoe and Ian's tale. Perhaps if the story was a novel and they interacted more prior to looking for Quinn, their journey would have felt different for me. Either way, Ride was worth a read. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Indiscretions of A God by Sunniva Dee

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Indiscretions of a God by Sunniva Dee is the third book in the Porn Star Boyfriend series. Each book is a stand-alone novel, no prior knowledge of the series is necessary to enjoy this installment. Isaias is a mogul currently heading Lucid Entertainment, a high ranking company specializing in adult entertainment. Isaias is asked for a favor by family one evening and meets Tatiana, who is training to be a nun. The couple is immediately drawn to each other and keep getting thrown together. The attraction between them grows as danger closes in around them.

The emotional feel in this book is different for me than the other two books in the series. The threat from Isaias's mobster ties is the main drive in Indiscretions of a God, rather than the struggles derived from a partner making adult films. Within the crime thriller plot is the love story and a good one at that. Isaias and Tatiana have this sharp bantering they do which I enjoy. Isaias is quite rough around the edges and very full of himself, but Tatiana is a strong female character that gives as good as she gets. You get the hint early on Tatiana is more than she seems, and she is the perfect match for Isaias.

As always the time spent at Lucid is not just an opportunity to insert sexual encounters. Those present are there to do a job, and it is as respectable as it can be. There is a nice subplot here I later learned has a connection to a prior series, which I now plan on reading. One side note on a specific Lucid character I feel compelled to express, Belen is just horrible. I hated her personality in Twin Savage, and this book did not help my opinion in the least. If she ever gets a full story, she will have to work hard to gain my sympathy. She is very much an antagonist.

There many sides to the character's personalities in the Sunniva Dee stories I have read so far. I enjoy the realness of the emotions she creates. Love does not come easy for all people, trust is not automatic in couples, and not everyone easily obtains their happily ever after. These things are what keeps me coming back to the Porn Star Boyfriend series. I will be moving on to her other stories soon. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers Lover's Triangle #3 - Calista Fox

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The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers is #3 in the Lover's Triangle series by Calista Fox. I did not feel I was missing any pertinent information beginning with book three. This book would appeal to those who enjoy a modern romance with a ménage à trois focus.

Scarlet is investigating a cold case involving a missing art collection of great value. During her investigation, Scarlet must question the stepbrothers, Michael and Sam. Scarlet is immediately enamored with both men when they meet individually, and soon she learns they have an affinity for enjoying their women together. Scarlet must decide how to handle her growing attraction to the stepbrothers while staying impartial during her investigation.

The good: Michael and Sam are both appealing for different reasons. Michael is spontaneous and a little aggressive, Sam is sweet and a bit tender. The characters had intelligence, indicating they did not exist solely for sake of the cliché. The chemistry between the couples did not feel forced and was quite sexy. There was a decent plot with a twist I did not predict right away. I appreciate the attempt to tell a story amidst the romantic fantasy.

The bad: The story fell a bit flat for me. It mimicked what I get out of watching a crime of the week television show. I felt the emotions where appropriate, intrigue with the art heist, desire for the men, sympathy for the loss the characters experienced, tension when new clues come to light, but now that it's over the story will fade and be forgotten. Perhaps I needed more quality time with the characters as a unit to feel more connected to them. Leaving the story as is, that connection just isn't there.

Despite its faults, this story was not bad. It was engaging and entertaining. If one is looking for a quick and easy read with some sensuality, this book will deliver that. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Dubious by Charmaine Pauls

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Dubious by Charmain Pauls is part 1 of the Loan Shark Duet.  This book ends on a cliffhanger. I would suggest part 2 be close at hand when reaching the end of part 1.

Valentina's brother found himself indebted to the infamous loan shark Gabriel the Breaker. Valentina has always felt responsible for her older brother Charlie. During Valentina's teenage years Charlie was in a severe accident that caused his brain damage and took their parents lives. When the money owed to Gabriel is more than Valentina can pay, she agrees to become Gabriel's live-in help.

Valentina and Gabriel eventually form a believable romantic bond. Their attraction to each other goes beyond the physical. It is clear Gabriel cares for Valentina, and despite her situation, she begins to care for him. Gabriel's past is not conducive to a proper relationship, but he does his best to keep Valentina content. Valentina's compassion and patience help her bond with Gabriel. Gabriel's mother, the leader of their illegal activities, is mentally abusive to Gabriel and has been his entire life. When Magda repeatedly threatens Valentina's life, Gabriel does everything he can to keep Valentina safe. Valentina has a horrible set of circumstances that surround her parent's death and her brother's need for care.  Their pasts create the desire to find comfort in each other, further drawing them into a relationship.

At its heart, this book is a very dark romance.  Valentina is essentially Gabriel's indentured servant with little choice in what happens to her in his care.  Valentina is unable to say no to Gabriel, and she is fully aware that his mother is not at all happy with her presence.  I had to suspend these thoughts at times to enjoy the book, but in the end, I accepted their connection.  I will most definitely be continuing their tale.  I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Twin Savage (Porn Star Boyfriend Book 2) by Sunniva Dee

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“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I whisper, “but it feels like I... love you... back.”

My chest is full of relief and misgivings. I just gave away a game I hadn’t planned. I’ve left myself fragile to him. Now he can treat my heart the way his brother did, crush it, make me suffer and fear for the night and for tomorrow. 

“Don’t be scared, baby. Nothing changes, okay? I’ve known for a while now. It’s why you’ve been so angry with me. Woman are odd creatures.”

Twin Savage is book two in the Porn Star Boyfriend series. No background information is necessary to read this installment. I will be honest. I began this series and expected nothing but a quick, salacious read. It was not at all what I expected. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. It deals with grief, guilt, friendship, and love. It is not at all a sexual exposition. Twin Savage surpasses the enjoyment I got from The Truth About Porn Star Boyfriends, the first book in the series. I highly recommend them both.

As Geneva's grief and guilt consume her over her fiance Julian's accidental death, insomnia develops. She attempts to quiet her pain by visiting her family, which does not help. When Geneva returns to the house she shares with seven roommates, the men begin to cater to every need she has, even her inability to sleep. Finding solace in the arms of her male friends helps Geneva get through the painful nights.

Geneva has always been less than pleasant to Luka, who is also Julian's twin, due to his job in the porn industry. Luka adheres to the pattern, one roommate a night making Luka number seven, and the barrier between the two of them begins to fall. During this time spent with Luka, Geneva learns important things about her relationship with each twin, and her emotions start on the long road to healing.

Geneva takes what some would say an unconventional approach to get through her grief. I found her arrangement with the roommates appropriate for the character and the situation. Geneva is clear the rules of their agreement, one man at a time, one man per day, and none of her roommates take advantage of her. I genuinely believe they care about Geneva and want to ease her pain. Geneva and Luka's struggle to be together is a painful, frustrating, sensual, and wonderful one. Luka is patient and perceptive to Geneva's needs as she comes to terms with her desire for him. Geneva's distaste for Luka's lifestyle does not fade so easily. In the end, what occurs broke my heart, but it had to go as it did for Geneva and Luka to become a couple.

It becomes clear early on where the story is going to go, but that does not take away from the journey there. The basic plot's predictability in no way hindered my enjoyment reading it. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Lie to me by Melinda Di Lorenzo

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Audrey Albertson is an investigative reporter for the Between the Sheets magazine. A belittling at her high school reunion causes her to reevaluate her life, starting with her career. She disguises herself to get a job with recently released felon Derek Stone. The untold story of his crime is what she thinks could gain her notoriety. Derek Stone is desperate to escape public scrutiny after his release from jail. He seeks to hire an image consultant to help him change the public's mind in a month. He instructs his assistant to hire the consultant that arrives first and dismiss the rest. The first applicant on site is Audrey. As soon as they meet Audrey and Derek feel drawn to each other.

The chemistry between Audrey and Derek is fantastic. I am endeared by characters who make me laugh out loud and the characters in this book did that repeatedly. It is hilarious as they quip back and forth and their inner monologues are equally amusing. Audrey and Derek are well-developed characters. They have inner strength and hidden turmoil that unites them. For reasons they can't explain they share secrets no one else knows and feel better doing so. Their captivation with each other was credible.

A turning point for the couple took place in Derek's basement studio. Derek wanted to share with Audrey art he was preparing to sell. Derek's sadness showed distinctly in his paintings and these emotions compelled Audrey to confess the lie between them. Derek begged Audrey not to break his heart, sensing her confession would change everything. This section was an emotional contrast to their earlier exchanges. It was one of my favorite parts of the book.

After the lies and half-truths come out they deal with them. I worried with the secrets they kept, a happily ever after would feel forced but here their resolutions matched their personalities. Usually, I prefer paranormal situations be at the center of the stories I read. I find most modern romances just bore me. This story and its characters kept my attention. I would recommend any fan of the romance genre give it a try.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received a free copy of this book through Library Thing for my honest review.

Beyond the Rules by Anna Del Mar

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Beyond the Rules by Anna Del Mar. This book was an enjoyable deviation from my regular preference of urban fantasy or paranormal romance. I would recommend Beyond the Rules to readers who enjoy modern erotic romance. The following is my summary and honest opinion of the book.

Nina is discovered when trying to expose Dimayev is working with a cyber-terrorist. She is desperate to get to the hacker Ulysses who can help her uncover his crimes. Nina's escape is almost thwarted when her small passenger plane is shot down by Dimayev's men.

Ex-SEAL members Tanner, Aiden and Zar rescue Nina from the plane wreckage. The men take her to their secure home in the secluded mountains of Montana to recuperate. Nina soon realizes these men are the key to her survival in more ways than one.

Tanner, Aiden, and Zar have strongly bonded through past experiences. The men have decided that to be romantically successful they need one woman to share. Tanner is educated in personality profiling. He quickly comes to the conclusion Nina is the girl who could fulfill all of their desires.

The good: Where this story succeeds for me is in the execution. Nina is not just an intimidated, naïve virgin. She is intelligent and could feasibly make a go at protecting herself from Dimayev. Nina makes sound decisions and is comfortable and open about her sexuality. She comes to conclusions about her relationships with the men from a place based in reality. Their actions are not driven only by the fantasy of the ménage a quatre scenario.

There is a plot present beyond the romantic couplings. The characters may struggle but they seem stronger together mentally as well as physically. Throughout the story Tanner, Aiden, and Zar hunt to bring Dimayev down. When Nina is cleared to help them gather evidence she effectively contributes to the case. These things were important for me to relate to the characters in the story.

Random tidbits: I appreciated that the first couple that got together did not profess to love each other the day after they met. They recognized the chemistry between them and just let things happen. I appreciated although the men claimed jealousy would not be an issue, it eventually was. Realistically it would come up. They dealt with it as a group in a way I believed would suit them. The sexual encounters lived up to the genre of erotic romance. The explicit scenes were steamy and most of them felt organic.

The bad: The surface plot is pretty basic. There is the girl who needs to be rescued from the bad guy. Said girl happens upon her saviors that take her in and immediately try to make her theirs. She quickly falls for the level-headed alpha male, followed by the sweet but troubled alpha male and then slowly connects with the abrasive alpha male to round out the trio. And of course one of the men is a sexual dominant. I have read this story before. I did not like this story very much.

This author has caught my attention. I will look to Anna Del Mar for my next modern erotic romance.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley.