Review: My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

February 7, 2017

438 pages

Genre: Women's Fiction, Chick-Lit

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

Ok, so the real truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers.

But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?

Until her not-so perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.

Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams? Or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman with everything – have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems.

And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

So this was a cute read. I liked the overall message that not everyone's life is as perfect as it may seem. Wealth does not equal a perfect life. But what I struggled with was the pace and length of the book. Truth be told, it took two tries to get into the book. I was bored with Cat/Katie initially and the storyline in general. After skimming and skipping ahead, I found the excitement I was looking for and was able to get into the story. So there were definitely highlights to the story, especially the more I got into the Katie/Demeter/Alex craziness. There were certainly some lovely moments that engaged me to these characters. On the other hand, I continued to skim bits and pieces until the end. Perhaps for me, the ramblings and repetition needed to be trimmed down a bit. Overall, though, a cute read with a lovely message and a happy ending.

Amazon ~ Goodreads 

Review: Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife by Julia Kent

Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife by Julia Kent

(Shopping for a Billionaire #8)

March 23, 2016

268 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Comedy 18+

Contains: strong language, explicit sex

Who needs a SWAT team to escape from their own wedding? Me.

My Momzilla turned us into hostages at our own ceremony, so Declan and I are getting married the good old-fashioned way, just like everybody else.

By calling in his private security team, stealing away before the ceremony by helicopter, connecting to his corporate jet and heading for Las Vegas.

The Boston wedding of the year is about to become a trashy Elvis drive-thru ceremony.

Until the best man spills the beans and Mom, Dad, my sisters, his brothers, my maid of honor, my friend Josh, and even my cat, Chuckles, all come along for the ride.

I can’t win, can I?

Oh. Yeah. I already did.

Love conquers all.

Even my crazy family.

***
Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife is the 8th book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shopping for a Billionaire series. After Declan convinces Shannon to escape from their own wedding minutes before the ceremony begins, the madcap adventures are just getting started. When the mother of the bride pries their location out of the tortured best man, the whole crazy crew follows the bride and groom to Las Vegas in this romantic comedy from Julia Kent.

In this installment, we have the continuing story of Declan and Shannon trying to get to the altar. They'd almost gotten there in the last book, but with Marie's crazy momzilla nightmare wedding plans, Declan and Shannon finally jumped off the crazy train, realizing nothing in the wedding Marie planned for them was what they actually wanted. So here we are in Las Vegas, hoping that through the crazy, Declan and Shannon will finally get to say "I do."

I'm still enjoying this series, but this wasn't my favorite. For one thing, there was too much going around in circles. This could have easily been cut own to a novella. And Marie is killing me. She's become too much in these last two books. Her wackiness has taken over the storylines to the point of distraction. And I have mixed feelings about the actual wedding. I found one missing element disappointing, even though I was proud of Declan and Shannon for finally getting it together.

But I still love Declan and Shannon, and Andrew and Amanda. I look forward to more adventures with them (though, less Marie would be nice).

Amazon ~ Goodreads 

Review: Tempted by a Vampire by Susan Griscom

Tempted by a Vampire by Susan Griscom

(Immortal Hearts of San Francisco #1)

October 27, 2015

196 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance 18+

Contains: explicit sex, language

Cian DeMarco, a sexy, rockstar billionaire vampire has lived in San Francisco's prestigious Cliff Side neighborhood in his beautiful mansion overlooking both the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean for seventy years. Happily—or so he thought. Until the rare beauty that is Magdalena De la Rosa sits down at one of the front-row tables in Club Royal where he and his band perform once a week.

Magdalena De la Rosa has it all—Bachelor's degree in journalism, a job she loves in California, a gorgeous apartment in San Francisco, and a dream guy. Except her boyfriend lives and works in Sacramento—an hour and a half drive from the city Magdalena has always fantasized about living in. All her dreams change, however, when she and her girlfriend find their way into an upscale nightclub and she's suddenly swept off her feet by the lead singer of that night's performing rock band, The Lost Boys.
Sparks ignite between the two until a threat that was thought to no longer exist returns to wreak havoc on Cian's and Magdalena's lives. Will the temptation to be together outweigh the reality of what Cian must do to keep Magdalena safe from harm?

A stand-alone book. The first in the all-new Immortal Hearts of San Francisco series. 18+ due to adult content.

'Tempted by a Vampire' is a quick read. I flew through the pages, compelled to get to the end and see Cian and Maggie's story through. So for that I give this story great readability. Maggie is new to the city where Cian has been living as a vampire for years. From their first meeting to the final scene, we get a fairly straight-forward love story with some interesting twists thrown in for good measure. We also have additional side characters who add a little something to the story, and I imagine at least a few of them will later get their own books. So, though my rating isn't super high, I will say that I was entertained.

There were some things that kept me from loving this book. For one, I almost DNF'd it in the first chapter. Cian did something that I felt was entirely unnecessary and felt like it was added in for shock value. It worked. I was shocked and bothered by his actions and the author's justification. Had this scene been modified, I would have liked this story so much more. But this was my first impression of Cian, and it remained in the back of my mind for the entire book. Though Cian did remain entirely faithful to Maggie from the moment he met her, and he has some other great qualities. So I blame the author on trying to be shocking, but instead casting shade on a hero.

Otherwise, the story really drew me in. But with the quick pace of the story, I would have liked a little more character and relationship development. This was insta-love through and through. Now, I don't entirely object to insta-love, but I wanted to see more in their relationship than the physical attraction. I feel like they could have developed emotionally better. It also took a bit to like Maggie. She was a weak character in the beginning. It was nice to see her grow a backbone. I've already said why I didn't like Cian in the beginning. He did grow on me, however. And I'm a sucker (pun intended) for a vampire love story. Oh, and one more thing: this story was pretty sexy. I'll admit to jumping my husband in the middle of the night when I was reading this book ;)

For spoilers, see my review on Goodreads.

2.5 to 3 Stars

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Review: Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent & Elisa Reed

Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent & Elisa Reed

(On Hold #1)

October 5, 2016

388 pages

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance 18+

Contain: sex, some language

Having it all is a fantasy, right?

Chloe Browne knows all about fantasy. Fantasy is her job.

And she’s very, very good at what she does.

As director of design for the O Spa chain, a sophisticated women’s club that is trending its way into being the Next Big Thing, Chloe’s ready to take on the world.

One baby at a time.

Her home study’s done, and she’s about to adopt, a thirty-something single mother by choice. Who needs to put her life on hold for the right guy when the right baby is waiting for her?

Besides, talk about fantasy.

The right guy?

Pfft. Right.

And then in walks Nick Grafton, with those commanding sapphire eyes and wavy blonde hair and a sophisticated mouth that only smiles for her.

He’s perfect.

But the last thing Nick wants is to start fresh with a new baby as his college-age kids fly the coop. A single father for more than fifteen years after his wife walked out on her family, Nick finally tastes freedom.

But he likes the taste of Chloe more.

'Our Options Have Changed' is the story of a single thirty-five year old business woman ready to adopt a child and start a family and a single forty-two year old father on the brink of being an empty-nester. Both are at a crossroads changing the steps of their futures. But then they meet, sparks fly, and these two have to decide where their hearts lie and if they can move forward together.

I enjoyed the overall storyline and the tough decisions that Chloe and Nick had to face. Chloe and Nick have no easy task to face when Chloe adopts a baby. Nick is on the verge of "freedom." He has to really consider what he wants his future to look like. And Chloe is fresh off a relationship with Mr. Wrong. She has to consider if she's willing to risk her heart again. It was an honest look, and well developed.

My favorite part (or person) of this entire story was Nick. He is this amazing single dad with a heart of gold. I loved his interactions with Chloe. I loved his interactions with his kids. He was funny and serious, sexy and sensitive. He was amazing! Five stars for Nick! His kids were also hilarious and added a fun level to this story. And Chloe's friends Henry and Jemma were terrific (even if I didn't love Henry's job).

My problems with this story revolved mainly around the heroine, Chloe. I had a difficult time relating to her. I abhorred her relationship prior to Nick. It really put a bad taste in my mouth for her. I know this happens and she admitted to being stupid. But considering the length of the relationship, I hold her completely accountable. Now, she did grow on me, and I really liked her and Nick together. I also didn't love the business she was in. I'm not a fan or certain parts of that industry, so I imagine that some of the scenes and discussions that were meant to be edgy or funny were kind of a miss for me. There was also a distant ex of Chloe's that didn't help the storyline, except to give it a layer of eww. But these are personal feelings that other readers may not share.

Overall, though it took me time to warm up to the story, setting, and main heroine, I did find myself hooked on the story and the outcome. This was mostly due to Nick and his amazing character. The story got better as it went and I really liked Chloe and Nick as a couple. I liked the interaction of the adoption and the baby. The story built up in a very sweet way. I found the abrupt ending lacking, though, and wished for more. But my final feelings were much warmth for Nick and Chloe and their sweet "family".

Amazon ~ Goodreads 

Review: Close to You by Kristen Proby

Close to You by Kristen Proby

(Fusion #2)

August 9, 2016

320 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance, 18+

Contains: mature language, explicit sex

Camilla, “Cami,” LaRue was five years old when she first fell in love with Landon Palazzo. Everyone told her the puppy love would fade—they clearly never met Landon. When he left after graduation without a backward glance, she was heartbroken. But Cami grew up, moved on, and became part-owner of wildly popular restaurant Seduction. She has everything she could want...or so she thinks.

After spending the last 12 years as a Navy fighter pilot, Landon returns to Portland to take over the family construction business. When he catches a glimpse of little Cami LaRue, he realizes she’s not so little any more. He always had a soft spot for his little sister’s best friend, but nothing is soft now when he’s around the gorgeous restauranteur.

Landon isn’t going to pass up the chance to make the girl-next-door his. She’s never been one for romance, but he’s just the one to change her mind. Will seduction be just the name of her restaurant or will Cami let him get close enough to fulfill all her fantasies?

'Close to You' was my first Kristen Proby book. It's part of a companion series, about five friends who start a restaurant together, but I had no trouble reading it as a standalone. Cami is the accountant of the group, and her forever crush is Landon, a wounded Navy pilot, who also happens to be her best friend and co-restaurant-owner's brother.

This is essentially a light, sweet romance of friends who grew up together, liked each other from afar, but not until they were adults and had gone through some things on their own, did they finally get together. The characters are all likable for the most part. They go through things we can all relate to in one way or another. And the love story between Cami and Landon is sweet and something I easily cheered for. But if you're looking for angst, this one is way low on the angst scale. These are adults who know how to handle their problems for the most part, so when you have characters who are mature and know what they want in life and a relationship, you get a sweet read low on major conflict, and conflict that is easily resolved. And you know what? That's okay. Not every romance needs the hero and heroine acting like idiots. But just be warned, there isn't a lot of drama, though a few twists and turns were thrown in there for good measure.

Overall, I did enjoy this one. If you're looking for a light afternoon read, a sexy romance, and a sweet couple who can handle their drama, this one's for you.

Amazon ~ Goodreads 

Review: Soft in the Head by Marie-Sabine Roger

Soft in the Head by Marie-Sabine Roger

June 28, 2016

Translated from French

Genre: Fiction

Contains: strong language and sexual references

Source: eARC for Honest review

A humorous, heartwarming story follows the intellectually dim-witted 45-year-old Germain as he meets and slowly gets to know 85-year-old Margueritte, who sits in the park every day watching the pigeons and reading. She speaks to him as an equal, something his friends rarely do, and reads to him, sparking in him a previously undiscovered interest in books and reading. When she reveals to Germain that she is starting to lose her eyesight to macular degeneration, he is inspired for the first time in his life to work at reading so that he can read fluently to his new friend.

This is one of those rare times that I will say that if this were made into a movie, I would probably like the movie more than the book. The blurb about this story - a 45 year old dim-witted man becoming friends with an 85 year old woman - sounded amazing. I couldn't wait to read it. While the concept is fabulous, the execution didn't quite meet my hopes and expectations.

This story is written from Germain's POV, but this writing style is primarily internal dialogue with frequent train of thought changes. Germain best describes the story's format by way of explaining his thought process:

"I don't always explain things the right way round like educated people: first a, then b, then c" and "I always stray from the point. I start off with one thing, that leads to another and another and another, and by the time I get to the end of the sentence, I don't even remember what I was talking about. And if I get interrupted, I get even more confused and end up in a complete muddle."

This is exactly how the story progresses. Now, things start to clear up toward the end, particularly as Germain grows into himself. But if this type of writing isn't your thing, like me, it detracts from the enjoyment of the story.

I really liked the developing relationship between Germain and Margueritte. It was beautiful how they stumbled upon each other, and fate matched these two family-less strangers into an adoptive family of their own. A teacher and a student. A grandmother and a grandson. Knowing Germain's abusive upbringing and Margueritte's lonely advanced age, it was sweet and touching to see them together. I just wish more of the story was about them.

We learn a lot about Germain's life, his childhood, his horrible mother, his delayed learning, his interesting friends, his patient and gentle girlfriend. This was all important in order to see Germain's life transform, though the scenes with them were in excess of what I thought the story would be about (Germain and Margueritte). But I definitely liked seeing his growth, how he came into himself, how his life changed, and even how he affected those around him.

"And gradually, you see everything differently."

The big picture of the story was lovely. If Germain and Margueritte were the true stars of the show, I would have loved it more. The writing style, however, was less than ideal. I will say that the second half improved, and the ending was very sweet and hopeful.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Review: Showmance by LH Cosway

Showmance by LH Cosway

May 16, 2016

376 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Contains: strong language, explicit sex

Source: eARC for Honest review

Damon Atwood was Hollywood’s golden boy. Having won an Oscar at the tender age of thirteen, he had the life many could only dream about. But his success came at a price, and after a short but fruitful film career, he chose to live a life of obscurity on a remote Scottish island. Almost a decade later he’s finally ready to make his return, starting with a lead role in a musical on London’s West End.

As a choreographer’s assistant, Rose Taylor has always faded into the background. She watches shows come to life from the side lines, but has never craved the attention of stardom. When rumours begin circulating of Damon’s involvement in her latest gig, she doesn’t predict how she will be thrust into the limelight, nor how the mysterious and strangely introverted man will need her to teach him how to be a star again.

Rose knows that show crushes don’t last. Actors fall for each other during the intensity of a production, often losing themselves in their roles. These kinds of affairs burn bright and then they fade. The question is, should Rose let herself shine with Damon, or guard her heart from being broken after the final curtain call?

So, mixed feelings about 'Showmance.' I loved Damon. Loved, loved, loved him! He's this endearing tortured soul you want to wrap your arms around and breathe comfort and love into. Which is what Rose did, and that's what made their story so sweet and special. Rose was a sweet, romantic soul, looking for love in all the wrong places, until she met Damon. They both came from such interesting (and heartbreaking) backgrounds, but put them together and you can't imagine them with anyone but each other. They really are the sweetest match and I loved them together.

So the love between the two main characters was lovely and beautiful. But the story itself was slow. Not slow-burn slow, just slow. Now, I love friend-building and relationships built on more than just lust. But in this story, there was a lack in the building department. Damon and Rose would have these wonderful sweet moments, but they would be too brief and infrequent to fill my need for friendship-building and relationship-building. If you're going to have the slow burn build-up, you need to have an accumulation of moments to back that up. Just when they were getting started on the road, they were interrupted. Then when they restarted, so much unnecessary drama was thrown in. I mean seriously, it was just silly. It felt like high school instead of grown adults who could stand up for themselves. The Alicia stuff was ridiculous. The Blake stuff I got, and then it got ridiculous too. I'm not a fan of forced drama, and that's what this was. Luckily, the drama got resolved.

Overall, I enjoyed 'Showmance' but didn't love it. Damon and Rose captured my heart, though I wanted more. If the slow parts had been edited down, I would have been a bigger fan. It's a great read for the main characters alone. Cosway has a fascinating way of creating characters.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Review: RoomHate by Penelope Ward

RoomHate by Penelope Ward

February 3, 2016

280 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Contains: Explicit sex, mature language

Source: Personal purchase

Sharing a summer house with a hot-as-hell roommate should be a dream come true, right?

Not when it’s Justin…the only person I’d ever loved…who now hates me.

When my grandmother died and left me half of the house on Aquidneck Island, there was a catch: the other half would go to the boy she helped raise.

The same boy who turned into the teenager whose heart I broke years ago.

The same teenager who’s now a man with a hard body and a hardass personality to match.

I hadn’t seen him in years, and now we’re living together because neither one of us is willing to give up the house.

The worst part? He didn’t come alone.

I’d soon realize there’s a thin line between love and hate. I could see through that smug smile. Beneath it all…the boy is still there. So is our connection.

The problem is…now that I can’t have Justin, I’ve never wanted him more.

Author's note – RoomHate is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

What do you do when a friend highly recommends a book to you, but after starting it you feel like DNF'ing it? Well, that was my experience with RoomHate. Honestly, I would have DNF'd in the first half of the book because I was just not feeling the story or the characters. But I figured my friend would not have recommended it unless it got better. And it did. Eventually.

The first half was a real chore for me. The dynamic between the main characters was uncomfortable. I get that they had years apart after a misunderstanding, so I get the awkwardness between them. But it went beyond that. Plus, the fact that he had a girlfriend and the MC could hear them having sex in the other room really grossed me out. My friend said there was no cheating, so I felt I needed to stick it out with the story, but it wasn't because I was in love with it. I was desperately trying to find the point of redemption in the story.

What can usually save a story for me at this point is great characters. Characters that I sympathize with and that I want to root for. Unfortunately, I just didn't love Amelia and Justin. Both of their behavior in the past was stupid and immature, but they were young. But now, nine years later, Justin is older but beyond immature. He's a crude jerk. I get that he was hurt by her past actions. I get that he has unresolved feelings and he's confused. Doesn't mean I have to like him. Now, he does eventually redeem himself, but it was a long road for me to like him. Amelia isn't as bad as Justin in the beginning. I felt sorry for her, and could see that she was trying to make up for her past mistakes. So Amelia had the opposite effect on me. She gradually declines in my view. She gets more and more insecure and whiny. The second half was frustrating with her insecurities and neediness. Good thing Justin started looking so much better. He made up for her decline.

Fortunately, the story started to grab me with the introduction of another important character in the second half. I did find the way Justin and Amelia went in circles to be exhausting, but I was much happier with the change of events in the story, and in Justin. I wanted the heartfelt story that so many others experienced, and was glad to finally be approaching it. The last quarter of the book was definitely my favorite. If the entire story had been like this, I would have loved it. I can see why some people love this story because the ending is absolutely wonderful. It was tender and sweet and exactly what I'd hoped for in this story.

My absolute favorite parts were with Justin and Bea. Always Bea. She was a breath of fresh air and the perfect addition to the story. I could have lived on the pages of Justin and Bea. I wish I could have given the story 5 stars just based on Justin and Bea, but I can't. But truly they were the absolute sweetest, and between them and the ending, redeemed the story.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Review: Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

(Assassins #1)

April 23, 2013

545 pages

Genre: Sports Romance 18+

Contains: strong language, explicit sex

Source: Personal purchase

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough, let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing. That is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She was feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life.

Can Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her, or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy.

I actually bought this book quite a while ago, but as any e-reader knows, it's very easy to one-click books, but not as easy to stay caught up on your reading pile. So I was randomly looking through my e-books, alphabetically by author, and this one popped up. I was actually hoping for a sweet read, and lucked out. 'Taking Shots,' Shea and Elli's love story, was just the sweetness level I was looking for, but with the right dosage of hotness as well.

I waivered between rating this 3 or 4 stars. Back and forth. Until the end. Here's a brief breakdown of my likes and dislikes:

Liked:
1. SHEA. Actually, I loved Shea! He's the best part of this book. If the authors was trying to write an amazing book boyfriend, she hit the nail on the head. Sexy? check. Geeky glasses? check. Sweet and attentive? check. Loves kids? check. Loves dogs? check. Hockey Captain? check. Awesome family? check. Loves a curvy gal? double check.

2. Elli. For much of the book I actually did like her. I could relate with her shyness, though her reasons for her deep insecurties were beyond my experience. But I liked how she encompassed the everyday girl, and also the deep insecurties that many women face. She had a unique sense of style, and when she got out of her head, she was a blast.

3. Shea's family. I especially liked his relationship with his sister. They felt like real life characters. They gave each other crap. They gave each other unconditional love. They were spot on. Then the nieces and nephews were the super bonus.

4. Harper and Jakob. I really liked them.. Really, really liked them. I liked them as a couple. And I liked their friendships with Elli and Shea. I only wished we got more of them. Because the two of them seemed to have a great backstory, and I would have loved more of them.

5. Love story. I did not expect to read this one as quickly as I did considering its length, but I got really sucked into Shea and Elli's love story. Since I genuinely liked them, it was easy to get absorbed into their lives. I even got a bit emotional at one point, and I was not expecting that at all.

Disliked:
1. Book length. This one got a little too down in the details, into the minutiae of everyday life. Did it make me feel like I was living right alongside Shea and Elli? Yes. But it also dragged the pace down, to the point where I found myself skimming. And I hate skimming. I like living inside a book when I'm reading. This one could have been edited down in length.

2. Elli. I know I said I liked her. But there came a point where I simply wanted to strangle her. I even thought, yes, you're right, he is too good for you. Oh, the crazy coming out of that girl drove me crazy. The denial. The lies. The therapy she should have been getting all these years. Oh, Elli, Elli, Elli. Why you gotta drive us all crazy? And why on earth would you believe your insane family? Serously, this girl was so dang prideful and stubborn and pigheaded!

3. The ending. Now this may be misleading, because I did like the ending and liked where the characters were at in the end. I just felt like there should have been groveling or begging or something. Am I just mean? I don't know. I just felt like after all the crazy, there should have been something more. And then, I wanted an epilogue. Which makes no sense since I thought the book was already too long. But I wantedone. And I wanted it to include Harper and Jakob, too.

So overall, I did enjoy 'Taking Shots.' I loved Shea, and like Elli, until I didn't, until I did again. Fortunately, Shea makes everything better.

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Triple Review: Ivan, Dimitri & Yuri by Roxie Rivera

Ivan by Roxie Rivera

(Her Russian Protector #1)

February 24, 2013

111 pages

Genre: Romantic Suspense 18+

Contains: Explicit sex, language

Source: Personal purchase

Desperate to find her sister, Erin goes to the only man in Houston who can help her--Ivan Markovic. The intimidating, tattooed Russian operates one of the most elite mixed-martial arts training centers in the world but it’s his shadowy past and reputed connections with Houston’s underworld that interest her most.

To find her sister, she’ll need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.

I liked Ivan. It was a quick, entertaining, sexy novella. Ivan and Erin may have had a major case of insta-love, but I gotta admit, Ivan was pretty swoony. I wished there was more meat to the story, because I found the overall premise pretty intriguing. But this little novella has me hooked, and I definitely plan on continuing the series, because Ivan and his buddies and pretty cool.

Dimitri by Roxie Rivera

(Her Russian Protector #2)

April 1, 2013

285 pages

Genre: Romantic Suspense 18+

Contains: Explicit sex, language

Source: Personal purchase

Refusing to lose her brother to the violent Hermanos street gang, Benny turns to Dimitri, the dead sexy Russian who lives in the apartment above her family's bakery. He's the only man tough enough to get through to Johnny and save him from a life in prison—or worse.

There's nothing Dimitri won't do for Benny, even if it means dealing with her troublemaking brother. He quickly realizes that it's not just Johnny and his thug friends that pose a threat to Benny. A shady real estate developer needs to buy her bakery to secure a multi-million dollar deal and he'll stop at nothing to make her sell.

Threatened from all sides, Benny finds safety in Dimitri's strong arms—and in his bed. Her big, sexy Russian has no intention of ever letting her go—and he'll brave the fires of hell before he lets anyone harm her.

Reader's Note: Dimitri is an incredibly passionate man with a dominant streak—and Benny is only too happy to indulge his need for a little…restraint.

I really enjoyed the overall storyline of Dimitri and Benny. I loved that they were friends first, both liking the other from afar, yet holding off on their feelings for one another until they just couldn't take it anymore. A little unplanned intervention from problem family members forcing them together didn't hurt. Benny and Dimitri had a great chemistry about them, and their feelings felt authentic. I did have to skim the repetitive sex scenes. Fewer scenes or more variety with the words/phrases used would have helped. Otherwise it was an exciting story and a great romance.

Yuri by Roxie Rivera

(Her Russian Protector #3)

May 17, 2013

332 pages

Genre: Romantic Suspense 18+

Contains: Explicit sex, language

Source: Personal purchase

While clawing her way out of Houston's worst neighborhood, Lena vowed to never let any man have power over her. After a lifetime of broken promises from her criminal father and a mother who abandoned her, Lena believes that love makes you vulnerable. She's never been tempted to test that belief…until Yuri.

Sexy as sin and with a dark reputation, Russian billionaire Yuri Novakovsky survived a miserable childhood of poverty and neglect to ascend the pinnacle of success. He enjoys the perks of his massive wealth without much thought to the consequences…until Lena.

When Lena's father and cousin blunder into an international art theft operation, Yuri seizes his chance to be her protector. But when past misdeeds catch up with him and threaten Lena's safety, Yuri puts her love and trust in him to the test.

He'll show Lena he can be the man she needs—a man she can trust and depend upon—one sensual, wicked kiss at a time.

Yuri and Lena were a lot of fun. Having already met in the previous books, you could tell it was only a matter of time before these two got together. These two each had really rough childhoods, so one thing I really enjoyed about this story was how much they related to one another. And with that understanding of the other, they were able to help one another and it made their chemistry even more tangible. I could feel their bond and the building of their love and trust. Add in the excitement of the criminal activities around them, and this was a great read. I'm definitely sticking with this series.

Currently a Freebie!

"Her Russian Protector" Boxed Set 1-3

*AMAZON*