Review: Jagger (Heather C. Leigh)

Jagger
Series: Broken Doll, #2
Author: Heather C. Leigh
Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Publisher: Shelbyville Publishing, Inc.
Genre: Dark Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

I sell drugs. Heroin to be specific. And I’m fucking good at my job. Enough to fight my way to the top position, controlling all of Austin’s supply.

So what if I had to kill the previous boss to do it. I do what has to be done. Never cared about consequences because I never had anything to lose.

Until I met Miri. My doll. She’s my weakness and somehow, my enemies found out about her.

If they hurt her, they will regret the day they ever heard my name. Boss. They call me Boss for a reason. What I say goes, including the price on the heads of anyone who dares to fuck with what belongs to me. My Miri.


Jagger is the second book in the Broken Doll series by Heather C. Leigh. It picks up right from where the first book in the series, Junkie, left off. Jagger, or Boss, is Austin’s drug dealer king. He’s fallen for Miri, a junkie who had the nerve to stumble onto his property and ask for drugs. When his relationship with Miri is discovered by his enemies, Jagger will do anything to protect the woman he loves. That’s all you’re getting for the plot because I don’t want to spoil the cliffhanger Junkie left off with.

The second book in the series was just as dark and twisted as the first. The brutal scenes immediately start off in Austin’s drug world and continue throughout the book. There’s barely a break in drama and intensity for more than a chapter or two. Heather C. Leigh did an amazing job portraying a dark and gritty world filled with violence. I have to warn this book is not for the faint of heart. There are way too many gruesome details. I found myself having to take mental breaks to combat the intensity of it all.

Jagger and Miri’s relationship continued its surprisingly sweet and sexy path through the violence and destruction of the drug world. The romantic in me loved the parts of the book were when they were interacting with each other. Those were my favorite moments in this dark tale. Jagger and Miri proved their willingness to do anything it took to be together. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the sensual moments that had with each other were so erotic.

Jagger was a great conclusion to a twisted series. Readers who enjoy dark romances are bound to enjoy the Broken Doll series.

Review: Sucker Punched (Kelley R. Martin)

Sucker Punched
Series: Knockout Love, #2
Author: Kelley R. Martin
Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

Macy Dunham” is synonymous with “off-limits.” Not only is she practically a virgin, but she’s a walking, talking angel whose way too good for a devil like me. She’s straight-up beautiful, and so far out of my league I want to cry. Did I mention she’s also the godmother to my future niece or nephew?

Now I have to play nice with “Aunt Macy” for the next 18 years. There’s just one tiny problem—the first night I met her, I played with her a little too nice.

Macy was only supposed to be a hook-up. I was supposed to show her a night she’d never forget—give her a little taste of what it’s like to be bad—and then send her on her way. She wasn’t supposed to stick around, and she damn sure wasn’t supposed to become my best friend.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to pretend like I don’t know how soft her skin feels, how good her lips taste, or how perfect it feels inside her? It’s torture. I’d give my left nut for another chance to sink inside Macy, but I can’t afford to mess this up and that’s exactly what would happen.

It’s too bad “Blake Whitmore” is synonymous with “screw-up.” Macy’s a sweet girl who deserves an epic love story. She deserves romance, and a knight in shining armor who slays dragons. I’m not the knight in this story.

I’m the fucking dragon.


I’ve been waiting for Sucker Punched for what feels like a very long time. I fell in love with Kelley R. Martin’s writing and characters in Down and Out, and I couldn’t wait to read more of her work. Sucker Punched takes us back to the world of Down and Out. This time Declan’s brother and Savannah’s best friend get the chance to fall in love. Some of the story overlaps the same time period as the first book and, although Sucker Punched is a standalone novel, I would recommend reading Down and Out first for the back story.

Sucker Punched was an intense forbidden love story. Blake and Macy’s relationship was just as complicated as Declan and Savannah’s. It started out based on their intense sexual chemistry, but quickly became more than just sex. There was a deep emotional connection between them that I loved. They were constantly fighting their feelings for each other and trying to keep their desires hidden. There were so many obstacles for them to overcome in this story. The dual points of view made it easy to empathize with each of them — even when it made me uncomfortable.

Normally, I try to post spoiler free reviews. I tried to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but I do feel the need to warn sensitive readers of something. If you don’t want to know, don’t read the rest of this paragraph!!! *TRIGGER WARNING SPOILER** Sucker Punched does include intimate scenes where the hero is involved with other women. If you can’t handle that, you will want to skip this book. Some of Blake’s actions were really hard to read. There are people who aren’t going to be able to stomach the other women in this story. *END SPOILER*

Sucker Punched was a highly emotional read. Blake and Macy’s road to happy-ever-after wasn’t always fun, but their story fit them perfectly. I enjoyed getting to know them better and seeing their characters grow. I would recommend this book to readers who have loved the Knockout Love series from the beginning.

Review: Four Letter Word (J. Daniels)

Four Letter Word
Series: Dirty Deeds, #1
Author: J. Daniels
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Fate. Hate. Love. Lies.
Which four letter word will change their lives forever?

Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words “wrong number” in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend’s heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.

Brian Savage is living a life he’s quickly come to hate-until Sydney’s wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .


Why have I not read anything by J. Daniels before? Seriously. I’ve been missing out!

J. Daniels’s writing was impressive. Four Letter Word was told from both Sydney and Brian’s points of view. I loved the dual narration. Being able to read what was going on in both of their minds really helped cement their connection and the story. The banter between them was witty, sexy and so fun. I couldn’t get enough of it!

Sydney and Brian were amusing characters. How they met and how their relationship developed was fascinating. Their characters had such intriguing pasts. Sydney was coming to terms with the fact that her life wasn’t going the direction she always thought it would. Brian was struggling with past decisions and couldn’t see the good in his life. Their random phone call sparked a connection they never could have imagined. It was so much fun to watch the story unfold.  Plus, it was super sexy! I have to admit that I was constantly fanning myself!

Another thing I loved about Four Letter Word was the supporting characters. They were awesome! Every one of them brought something fun to the story. I could see so many possibilities for upcoming books in this series. I was super excited to see the next book is about Legs and Jamie! It’s December 6th release date can’t come soon enough!

I loved this book so much! There wasn’t one thing I would change about it. New adult readers will enjoy this incredibly sexy and funny romance.

Review: Lessons in Gravity (Jessica Peterson)

Lessons in Gravity
Series: Study Abroad, #2
Author: Jessica Peterson
Publication Date: April 4, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Maddie Lucas is only looking for a one night stand…

While studying in Spain for her semester abroad, Maddie hopes to escape the drama surrounding her parents’ divorce—a divorce she may or may not have caused—while researching Spanish architecture for her thesis. And if she hooks up with hot Madrileños along the way? All the better.

But handsome Spaniard Javier Montoya wants so much more.

Guitarist Javier is ready to set aside his rock star ways and settle down for good with his gorgeous ex-girlfriend. But after a one night stand with sexy, passionate Maddie blossoms into genuine friendship, he begins to wonder if Maddie might be the forever girl he’s looking for.

Too bad Maddie believes forever is more fiction than fairy tale. Can Javier prove to her that fairy tales exist? Or is Maddie right to think she doesn’t deserve happily ever after?


Lessons in Gravity takes us back to Madrid and the characters we met in Spanish Lessons. The story picks up right where Spanish Lessons left off, but this time it’s Maddie’s turn to find love in the beautiful city of Madrid.

Maddie is happy to be spending the semester abroad avoiding her parents’ divorce. The only way she’s been able to keep her mind off of the turmoil at home is to devote herself to school work and hooking up with gorgeous Madrileños. When Maddie meets Javier, she knows he’ll be the perfect man to take her mind off things for the night. Javier reluctantly agrees to one night of passion with Maddie since he isn’t looking for a one-night stand. He’s returned to Madrid to win back his ex-girlfriend and settle down. But one night with Maddie has him rethinking his plans. Now, he just has to convince Maddie there’s a happily ever after in store for them.

Lessons in Gravity was ¡Muy caliente! Jessica Peterson turned up the heat WAY up in this novel. It started with instant attraction and the passion increased exponentially throughout the entire story. It was a mixture of lust and love, and I loved it!

It was really nice to get Maddie’s point of view this time around. She wasn’t my favorite character in Spanish Lessons because of the way she handled the Mia-Rafa-Maddie love triangle, but she totally redeemed herself in this book. Her broken heart was easy to relate to. I could feel her pain throughout the book, and I just wanted to give her a big hug.

Javier was dreamy. Not only was he gorgeous and sexually talented, but he was sweet. The way he was able to console Maddie and be what she needed made me so happy. I loved how he didn’t hold back, no matter how wishy-washy Maddie was. Their emotional connection made their sexual connection so much hotter.

Lessons in Gravity was a great addition to the Study Abroad series. It was beautifully written and had all the things I love in a great New Adult book. It can be read as part of this series or as a standalone novel. I would highly recommend it to readers looking for romances set in countries other than the U.S.

P.S. I can’t leave out how perfect this new cover is for the book! I think it’s one of the best representations of the story I’ve seen on a New Adult cover in a long time!

Review: The Trouble with Mistletoe (Jill Shalvis)

The Trouble with Mistletoe
Series: Heartbreaker Bay, #2
Author: Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

If she has her way …

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her …

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him …

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice …

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work …


The Trouble with Mistletoe is a Christmas romance set in Jill Shalvis’ new Heartbreak Bay series. It’s almost a second chance romance. The characters, Willa and Keane, went to the same high school. When they run into each other in Willa’s pet shop, sparks fly. Neither are looking for a relationship, but they can’t deny their connection.

If you’re a contemporary romance fan and haven’t read one of Jill Shalvis’ novels or are looking to start reading adult contemporary romances, I would highly suggest starting with this author. Her stories are fun, witty and filled with quirky characters. Her books always make me smile and laugh.

The Trouble with Mistletoe did both of those things. Willa was a character who something funny or crazy was always happening to. It was hard not to laugh at the situations she found herself in. She was always trying to save others — people and animals — but she usually ended up being the one who needed saving. Willa had such a big heart. Keane was a lot more reserved than Willa. He tried to avoid love. Keane had a wall built around his heart due that only Willa and Petunia seemed to be able to crack.

The characters who really stole the show in The Trouble with Mistletoe were the animals. They all had such big personalities and created such mischief! I loved that the author included them in this story. It reminded me of her Animal Magnetism series, which I loved.

The only thing I felt The Trouble with Mistletoe was lacking was maybe a bigger conflict. I was waiting for a big something between Keane and Willa. Their conflict was relatable but didn’t stand out that much. In a way I liked that since it was a Christmas story, but I also wanted something a little more dramatic.

Overall, The Trouble with Mistletoe was a really fun Christmas-time romance. I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and light holiday read.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is Books On My Fall TBR List. This list could go on and on, so I kept it at 10. Trust me, there’s way too many books I want to read to list them all. Click on the book title to head to that book’s Goodreads page.


1. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

2. Well Hung by Lauren Blakely

3. To Love and to Cherish by Lauren Layne

4. Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

5. Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

6. The Player by Claire Contreras

7. Someone Like You by Lauren Layne

8. From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

9. The Sexy One by Lauren Blakely

10. Twisted Palace by Erin Watt


Are any of these on your fall TBR?

Review: Carolina Heart (Virginia Kantra)

Carolina Heart
Series: Dare Island, #4.5
Author: Virginia Kantra
Publication Date: July 19, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Determined to leave her wild past behind her, Cynthie Lodge is forging a new life for herself and her daughters—one that’s man-free and drama-free. But not everyone is so eager to let go of the past.

When sexy loner Max Lewis returns to Dare Island, seeing Cynthie again rekindles his feelings for his high school crush. Now he must convince her to take another chance on love.


Carolina Heart was a great addition to Virginia Kantra’s Dare Island series. Despite being a short and sweet novella, it had a big emotional punch. Both Cynthie and Max were trying to move on from their high school labels. Neither could see that they already had. It took falling in love with each other to prove to themselves that they weren’t who they were in high school anymore, they were better versions of themselves.

This novella was a light and easy to read story that was so much fun. It was exactly what I’m looking for when I pick up a contemporary romance. Virginia Kantra’s entire Dare Island series is. I would highly suggest it to adult contemporary romance readers who like a fast-paced and romantic read.

Review: Roman Crazy (Alice Clayton & Nina Bocci)

Roman Crazy
Series: Broads Abroad, #1

Authors: Alice Clayton & Nina Bocci
Publication Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.


Contemporary romances readers — Get ready for a new favorite series!

I absolutely loved Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci’s Roman Crazy. I’ve read collaborations before, but never have I read a collaboration without dual points of view. Avery was the sole narrator in Roman Crazy. Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci’s writing melded together so fluently it read like it was written by one person. I was so impressed!

Another thing that impressed me about Roman Crazy was the setting. The authors made Rome feel like one of the characters. I could easily imagine the streets and buildings. I’ve never thought about traveling to Rome, but this book has me tempted!

Avery was a really great character going through a mid-life crisis. Leaving behind her almost ex-husband opened her eyes to how she was truly living life. She quickly discovered who she was might not be the person she wanted to be. Running away to Rome and reuniting with Marcello added even more depth to her discovery. It allowed her to come to terms with her decisions over the past ten years and fight for what she really wanted for herself.

I adored Avery and Marcello’s love affair. No matter how complicated Avery’s life was at the moment, their relationship felt simple. They connected in a sweet, but carnal way. Marcello got her in a way no one else did. Their second chance at love made me so happy!

There were also some really interesting twists along the way for readers. I have to admit I was a little surprised by some of the revelations that both Avery and Marcello made toward the end of the book.

Obviously, I was enchanted by Roman Crazy. It was so much fun to read. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy humorous second chance romances.

Review: The Layover (Whitney G.)

The Layover
Author: Whitney G.

Publication Date: January 27, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

I don’t care which city. I don’t care which flight. I just need to get the hell out of here… Paris Weston is tired of all the broken promises her boyfriend has given her over the years. Instead of showing up to their ‘secret’ engagement party, she shows up to the airport—ready and willing to go wherever the next flight is bound. Determined to get away and start again, she’s certain that a week or two away will solve all of her problems. Until she never makes it to her final destination. Until the sexy, dirty-mouthed stranger who sits next to her on the plane changes everything. Until the unintended layover leaves her never wanting to go back home.


This novella by Whitney G. couldn’t have been more perfect! It was delightfully funny, sexy and sweet. I loved Paris and Blake. Things between them were more slow-burn than I expected, but still incredibly hot. And the dialog between them was so witty!

I absolutely loved this novella. The only thing wrong with it was that it ended. 🙁 I wish it would have been a full-length novel instead of a novella. I needed more! I want to know what happened next! Can someone please convince Whitney G. to either make this into a full-length novel or write a Part 2? I would totally buy it.

Review: This Adventure Ends (Emma Mills)

This Adventure Ends
Author: Emma Mills

Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Synopsis:

Sloane isn’t expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that’s exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera’s twin brother and the most serious person Sloane’s ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins’ late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins’ lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.


This Adventure Ends is a coming-of-age story about friendship and how far friends will go to be there for each other. High school senior Sloan has just moved to Florida with her family. She’s hoping to fly under the radar like she did at her old school, but she immediately secures her place in a close-knit group of friends when she defends one of them against a bully.

To be honest, this book was incredibly fun to read, but there were some little things that bugged me along the way. It was almost too character driven. I wondered where the story was headed the entire time because of the adventure mentioned in the book’s title. The adventure seemed to be lying beneath the surface, and I wanted it to pop out at me. I expected it to be an epic adventure. What I got was a mission to find a painting intertwined with a wishy-washy main character who constantly distanced herself from everyone. I guess I just expected more from the adventure part. It wasn’t until the climax of the story that the true meaning of the story jumped out at me. (It was definitely an “ah-ha” moment!) But that didn’t mean that I didn’t love or enjoy the reading experience.

Sloan was an incredibly witty character. I loved her dialog and banter. I would have wanted to bring her into my group of friends in high school, too. She didn’t realize she was cool, though. Sloan couldn’t seem to commit to anything. She wouldn’t admit she wanted a future in singing, that she wanted friends, or that she loved the move to Florida. She was afraid of it all. It made her character feel wishy-washy and kind of blah at times.

All of Sloan’s new friends were entertaining to read about. I loved Vera and Gabe. The twins were so different, but each had something different to contribute to Sloan’s life. The same could be said of Remy, Audrey and Brie. They were such a great supporting cast.

I can’t leave out my favorite character of or favorite thing about This Adventure Ends. Frank Sanger of Frank Sanger Presents was my favorite person/thing in this entire book. I loved every situation and conversation that included him. I found myself eagerly anticipating every part that included him. He made me so happy! I want a book all about Frank Sanger. He was for all people. He was for me.

This Adventure Ends was a book I truly enjoyed reading. There were so many amazing moments and characters in it. I know other readers are going to love this book and the message it sends. This Adventure Ends is a book I would recommend to YA contemporary readers. (Plus, everyone needs to experience the awesomeness that is Frank Sanger!)