3 stars for “The Manhattanites – 04 – Unconventional by Avery Aster”

*** ARC kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

When I saw this one on NetGalley I immediately loved the cover… So gorgeous! I also love ménage books and the story sounded good.

After finishing my first thought was … ‘Is this it?’ ! At 54% in the book I made a note for myself that this book rather feels like one big epilogue and then at 56% it says “The End”. What? The End? How is that possible… It feels like I only just started reading! The remaining 44% is filled with an excerpt for “Unique”. On GoodReads it said 250 pages so I guess those include the excerpt…

This is the story of the polyamorous relationship between Jemma, Luigi and Rocco. They have been together for some time already and her men are ready to take it to the next step… Marriage and children. Now they have to convince their woman! This is all I’ll be telling about the story because I don’t want to reveal to much about their sexy journey …

As I said at 54% it felt like one big epilogue to me. This is a stand-alone book but I missed reading about their past. How they met? The struggles they had? You know … the fun part to read!

After rereading the description on NetGalley, maybe I should have recognized that this wasn’t their story from the start… Maybe a prologue would have helped!

Even though this one was too short for me I did enjoy it! I loved the idea, the characters, the chemistry. There were a few hot scenes and the story is well-written. Will I be reading more from this author? Probably!

3 stars for “Second Circle Tattoos – 02 – The Fractured Heart by Scarlett Cole”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

This is the second book in the “Second Circle Tattoos” series and gives us the story of Drea and Brody. They are forced to plan an engagement party for their best friends Harper & Trent. Both have some prejudices to conquer and soon it’s obvious that they feel more for each other. Drea had to give her dreams up when she was only 17 to care for her sick, ungrateful mother. Brody has a loving father and brothers. When he was only 8 years old his mother left them. At the end of a workday at one of Drea’s jobs a woman gets chased by armed men. One of those threatens Drea. They inform the cops but soon she finds out what is happening and start to play detective herself too. This is all I’ll be telling about the story because I don’t want to spoil the rest.

This one had so much potential but unfortunately I was disappointed. There are so many details told about the investigation from the cops and Drea personally but the suspense part lacked in my opinion. It takes till 95% before there is some suspense but it isn’t much. I guess the main goal was a romance but why mention so many details on the environmental investigation then? I also didn’t understand the way Drea handles the threat for herself, her mother, aunt and nephew .. She doesn’t take precautions or inform those around her which could be in danger …

I also know since this is an ARC that it’s normal not all spelling has been checked and this will be fixed before the launch. But there are also some issues with the plot… One example: the internet is down, she decides to use a memory stick to store the files but then she needs information on something and searches for it on the internet. Which internet? Wasn’t it down?

Something else I didn’t like is that there are ‘too many’ coincidental encounters between Drea and people involved in the investigation. Coincidences exist but for me there were too many… But this might be me and maybe you don’t find this strange!

Drea is a very likeable woman but it took me some time to like Brody. He doesn’t always take the right decisions but you feel he means good. I loved the chemistry between them.

What I also loved in this book are some amazing quotes. The one I loved most in my ARC (Maybe it is different in the final version) is:

Be aware it contains a minor spoiler …

“I never wanted a relationship, but before the cancer, I’d made a decision to never ink this arm randomly. It leads from my wedding ring finger to my heart, and the only person who deserved to be on it was … well, you.”

I do think this book has potential, the story is wonderful, the characters and side characters are likeable but it wasn’t for me…

The third book in this series will be available in Spring 2016 and will bring Pixie (employee at the Ink shop) and Dred’s Story. The first book is about Harper & Trent.

3 stars for “Ink & Chrome 03 – Coming Back by Lauren Dane”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing), via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

The concept was good but there were some things missing for me personally. To start with we meet 3 best friends who loved each other 4 years ago and got separated. At a grand opening party they each realize, they still love each other. I would have loved a prologue with a little of their history together and maybe also some details on their 4 years apart. Then they almost directly move in together. This was a little bit too soon for me, even if they loved each other 4 years ago! They were younger and they have all changed. The story is nice romance but I would have love a little bit more drama or suspense. We only get a few short interactions with non-accepting family members.

What I did like were the characters. Jessi, Mick, Adam, their friends and Jessi’s family were loveable, great and understanding. The sex scenes between Jessi, Mick and Adam were hot! The chemistry was good.

So if you love romances with not too much suspense and drama and a nice menage MMF relationship where 1 of the male members is more dominant, this is the book for you.

3 stars for “Full Hearts – 04 -Breaking Hearts by MJ Summers”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher Book Enthusiast Promotions, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

When I read the blurb I was intrigued and really looking forward to the book but I’m a little bit disappointed. I did enjoy it but I didn’t love it.

The first part seemed to drag on. Also both characters, in their early 20’s acted so mature which just felt odd. After they finally give into their feelings and commit they start to act immature?? I did like Alessa. She’s a strong, kind, intelligent young woman who has been raising little Tomas for the last two years and you really feel how much she cares about the little boy. I didn’t really like Trey… well in the beginning I did. In the beginning he was kind and thoughtful but in the second part even though the purpose for his actions might have been good I found him rather selfish, demanding, thoughtless, … and Alessa’s reactions in return are rather immature. I also find that their relationship escalated too quickly…

I think there was a lot of potential and the writing was good without any errors for as far as I could tell (non-English reader). This was a sweet, romance with a little drama but the characters ruined it for me, which I think is personal!! I guess not the right book at the right moment… I want to add that at the end they get their HEA but I would have preferred if Trey had to grovel, a lot, to win Alessa back!

3 stars for “Cinders and Ash: A Cinderella Story by Rosetta Bloom”

*** ARC kindly provided by the author, via the ‘Some Like It Hot!’ Group on Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review. ***

This is the third fairy tale retold by Rosetta Bloom. It brings us the story of Ella who has been living with her evil stepmother and stepsisters for the last 9 years. She wants to escape them and has been saving money but her vicious stepmother takes the money and punishes Ella severely. Her friend Faye suggests to sell her body to a lowly relative of the King in the castle. Ella introduces herself as Cinders to Ash. She doesn’t know Ash is in fact the sheltered Prince. Ella feels ashamed, dirty and unhappy about whoring herself. Ash finds out that Cinders is amazing in drawing and buys her services to make a portrait because he’s starting to get feelings for Cinders and wants to keep seeing her. But will they get their HEA? … That’s all I’ll be telling about the story

This is not a version to read to your children because it’s an erotic retelling 😉 I may be a grownup but I still love fairy tales … My favourite is Beauty and the Beast but Cinderella is in the top too.

I liked this retelling but I didn’t love it. I can’t explain what made me like it instead of love… But I did enjoy it!

Something I really didn’t like is the cover. But I have learned by now that the cover doesn’t say anything about the story.

3 stars for “Master on the Hill by Alex Elliott”

Recently I read the first 2 books in the “Dirty Little Secrets” series by Alex Elliott. I really enjoyed reading the story of Xavia and Bennett. Bennett and 6 of his closest friends/congressmen own an elite kink club. Troy is one of those friends. In the second book we already see some of Troy. The book “Master on the Hill” gives us a small part on the chemistry between Troy Shepard and his administrative hellcat. She’s been working for Troy for 11 months now. The work atmosphere is quite entertaining and now Troy proposes 1 night to Alicia. But will one night be enough? Which secrets will be revealed? We don’t get those answers yet in “Master on the hill”…

I enjoyed this story but unfortunately it’s too short to really get into it. I did love the chemistry between Troy and Alicia.

We’ll get to read more about them in the next book “Affianced To The Veep”.

3 stars for “A is for Alpha Male – 01 – A is for Alpha Male by Laurel Ulen Curtis”

This is a difficult book to rate… until about 75% I have had several times where I just wanted to DNF but something made me keep going.

This is the story of 27 year old Haley and her 49 year old mother Allison. They go on a road trip together to find their own Alpha Males using an alphabetical list of traits based on Kristen Ashley’s Alpha Males. Will she find her own Alpha Male using the list or does she just have to open her eyes?

If you don’t know Kristen Ashley yet… Give her books a chance! She’s an amazing author and I love her books. Therefor I liked the references to her books and Alpha Males.

I initially picked this book as my next read because it was categorized as Funny and I was looking forward to LMAO but, for me personally, there was nothing funny about it!

Also right from the start I was extremely annoyed with Haley calling her mother Allison! To me that is very disrespectful. I really liked the strong bond they have and they really are alike but calling her Allison is just wrong to me!

I’m glad I continued reading because the last quarter was worth it!

At 84% I was doing a little happy dance because one single word made me aware where this book was going and I’m glad I was right. It was a welcome twist in this book.

At the end there was finally a part that made me laugh but it’s a little spoiler so skip if you don’t want to know … Spoiler : You probably already know there will be a HEA but just in case I marked this as spoiler. At the end of this book I really really loved the vows Dan speaks at their wedding. They are so original and at that moment I finally had to laugh!

I would have loved to have read Dan’s POV here and there to get to know more about his thoughts but it seems book 2 will give those. I’m not sure yet if I will read that book. Book 3 will be Allison’s story.

3 stars for “Brando – 01 – Brando by J.D. Hawkins”

Brando was the second book I read from JD Hawkins. Insatiable was the first. I liked both books but don’t love them enough to buy their sequels… I also find them rather expensive for just over 100 pages each.

Now for Brando. Just look at that cover!! This was a book I actually 1-Clicked more for the cover than the book description 😉 Bad habit, I know!!

I really enjoyed Haley’s character! She’s sassy and strong.

The story is rather predictable and it’s a nice romance but that’s it … A like, not a love! But this is personal. If you like a short romance without too much drama, suspense this is the book for you!

3 stars for “Men of Inked – 04,5 – Rebound by Chelle Bliss”

Sam already made an appearance in the previous books in this series as Izzy’s friend with benefits. Unfortunately he silently hoped to get more from Izzy but she fell madly in love with James.

Now Sam is in New Orleans to go through his heartbreak. In a bar he meets Fiona who recently divorced after catching her husband with his secretary.

This was a little bit too short for me but nice and well written. I didn’t always like Sam in the previous books but love him with Fiona and am glad he got his dream girl and HEA!

I loved the Gallo family in the previous books in this series!

3 stars for “Harper’s Cove – 05 – Cheryl and Samuel at 323 Harper’s Cove by Deanndra Hall”

This is the fifth book in the Harper’s Cove series. Every book presents a couple with a different lifestyle. In this book Cheryl and Samuel Danvers are both ministers and married but in love with other people. The H is gay and the h lesbian. The Gholsons live together too but in their case also only for appearances.

All 4 characters are in their early forties and in a happy relationship for already 17 years. But this is a long time to lead two separate lives. They are ready to marry the person they love, get children, … but society isn’t that understanding yet.

And then there is Gloria. This alcohol loving, snoop and busybody is watching every couple in the neighbourhood. Same for the Danvers couple. Her husband keeps on telling her to mind her own business but she just can’t… so someone else will have to put her in place!

I like this series with short, hot, entertaining stories!

The other books in this series:
Book 1 : Karen and Brett at 326 Harper’s Cove => organize sex parties on Saturday for their group of friends
Book 2 : Becca and Greg at 314 Harper’s Cove => Master/ Slave which temporarily have another woman live with them to be trained
Book 3 : Donna and Connor at 228 Harper’s Cove => Dom/Sub couple which counsel other couples
Book 4 : Savannah and Martin at 219 Harper’s Cove => Swingers which have a weekly get together with other couples