Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

A Sweet Read

Geek with the Cat Tattoo is a contemporary romance between a quirky music shop tech and a girl whose father is a famous musician. 

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story told in George/Sam, a cat's POV was a first for me and as it progressed I found myself really enjoying the cat's voice not to mention the sporadic chapters that were in the other protagonist's POV. The character development is done well and I immediately felt for Emerson and Lola. The story is sweet and funny and I enjoyed reading it. There is mention of drinking and a very sweet and sensual sex scene. The cover is nice.

Review of Friday Night Alibi by Cassie Mae

A Sweet Read
Friday Night Alibi is a Contemporary Romance between a entrepreneur who provides alibis to future trust fund babies and a guy who is drawn to her.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is a bit juvenile but given it is an eighteen year old, well you make allowances; I really liked the characters although they were a little bit over the top. The story is sweet, cute, funny at some moments, and at others quite sad. I enjoyed the pace of the story and although some of the protagonist's antics are a bit much as the story progresses the characters grow. There are some quite sensual love scenes although no graphic details or sex. There is some mention of drinking and a couple of cuss words but nothing too graphic. The cover is romantic and perfect for the story. All in all a sweet read.

4 Stars of 5 Stars

Review of The Lost Boys by Lilian Carmine

A Dull Read

The Lost Boys is a YA(?)romance story about a girl with certain perceptive powers and a ghost. 

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is quite immature and choppy; the characters are flat and the protagonist's voice is quite annoying. There are no grammar, spelling, or technical issues with formatting. Unfortunately I had great difficulty reading this book, having to stop ever so often and fill my time with another book is rarely something I do. I almost decided not to finish it halfway through and throw myself at the mercy of NetGalley but then decided to just push through all the exclamation points and choppy sentences. There is one redeeming quality in the writing where the writer wrote a very sweet and tasteful sex scene without all the graphic details. There is cussing, some sensual love scenes, and witchcraft. The cover is nice. 

A dull read.

1 Star out of 5 Stars

Review of ARC of Ruined by Tracy Wolff

A Fast Decent Read

Ruined is an erotic romance involving a CEO/Philanthropist and an intern in the legal department of his company. 

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

The writing is fast paced; the plot somewhat similar to 50 and other billionaire stories out there as the synopsis provided however I found the protagonist's background story to be quite interesting. The characters are sincere though I found Chloe quite perplexing at times. Some parts of the story felt rushed and other parts where I felt there were too many mundane details instead of giving the reader a little more insight; it ends in a cliffhanger so I hope the author will provide more answers in the next installment.There are some passionate sex scenes, cussing, mention of drinking, and rape. A fast decent read. The cover is sexy.

3 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of ARCS -Surrender Series by Priscilla West

A Fast Sexy Read

Reviews for all three books pending. Read them in the wrong order, have to go and read again and take notes. :(

1/31/2014-****SPOILER ALERT****

Forbidden Surrender is an erotic romance involving a self-made billionaire and his wealth manager. 

I received this ARC from Priscilla West through NetGalley & Blackbird Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is okay and story is fast moving as well as interesting. The protagonists are relatable however, it seems their developing relationship is based on physical attraction alone and although other contributing factors are stated, quite frankly the author did not develop it enough to really make the emotional connection between the characters real. I made the mistake of reading the last book Beautiful Surrender first however it ended up being a happy mistake because quite frankly the last book really could be a stand alone. There are a couple of grammar issues but what irritates me to no end is when simple details are overlooked(e.g.,He is wearing slippers in one scene then wearing sandals in the next.) The love scenes are steamy as well as the sex scenes, there is cussing and drinking. There is a cliffhanger with Secret Surrender as the next read to this series. The cover is sexy and appropriate to the story. 

A fast sexy read. 

3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS

Secret Surrender is the continuation and Beautiful Surrender is the conclusion of Vincent and Kristen's love affair. 

I received these ARCS from Priscilla West through NetGalley & Blackbird Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The writing this time seemed a little off, it was almost like someone else took over for a little while. There were a lot of mundane details this time around and it seemed rushed in certain parts the author adding in last minute info just because. The author developed the characters a little more however I am still looking for the intellectual connection. The physical chemistry is nice however it seems that is all they have. Again it ends in a cliffhanger. The sex scenes are steamy, there is cussing, dirty talk, drinking and mention of physical abuse. The cover is o.k.

*********************Spoiler Alert********************
BTW The description of the security detail and their names sound very much like Burt and Ernie from Sesame Street...Kurt and Bernie? ;)

2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS

The writing and the characters are much more developed in this last installment and quite frankly with a few more details this book could be a stand alone. I made the mistake of reading this book first however it ended up being a happy mistake. I really tried to keep an open mind and reread this last book again after reading the other two in the series but I have to say again that this book could have done it for me. There are steamy love and sex scenes, physical, emotional, and mental abuse, physical assault, torture, and cussing. The cover is nice. A fast sexy read.

3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS

Review of Beautiful Addictions by Season Vining

An Engaging Read

Beautiful Addictions is a New Adult romance about a young woman and man whose paths cross again after she is thought to be dead.

I received this ARC from St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is fast paced and the story line is quite interesting; it almost reads like a screen play for an action film. Told in third person with no formatting from one character to the next was at first a little annoying but once I got into the story, all the little things I was nit picking at just faded away. The characters were engaging and I loved the different side stories that all the other characters had tying into the story line.  There were formatting issues; some instances of grammar but certainly not enough to affect the story. I could definitely see this story being turned into a movie. There is cussing, sensual love scenes, sex scenes, kidnapping, murder, mention of drugs, alcohol, and child abuse. The cover is perfect. All in all an engaging read. 

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

"I'm sorry I yelled at you. I just really needed to see you, he admitted."

                                                         "You do see me. You always see me. That's what so scary." -Season Vining

Review of Wrecked by Priscilla West

Wrecked is a New Adult romance between a girl whose tenacity brings her back to college even though the stigma of her tragic past follows her in school and a guy whose reputation as a player follows him as well.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing style is immature and somewhat awkward; at times some of what the writer is trying to convey doesn't make sense nor does it seem possible. The characters seem one dimensional and Lorrie's character is tiresome. The story line is original; there were very few formatting and grammar issues. There is cussing, dirty talk, sex scenes, drinking, and mention of suicide and murder. The cover model is perfect for the book but he has no tattoos. 

1.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

Review of Knowing Jack by Rachel Curtis

An O.K. New Adult Romance

Knowing Jack is a New Adult Contemporary Romance about a young woman and her bodyguard.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is a little choppy and the story line is predictable; it is written in dual POV although we hear more from the protagonist Chloe than Jack. Chloe's version reads a little like a one way conversation, you know the kind where you can't get in a word edgewise and Jack's character is pretty cut and dry. The chemistry between the two reads to be purely sexual because the insta-I-want-to-get-in-your-pants sets in from the start. How they fall in love from one moment to the next is really not believable. I really didn't care too much about the characters because quite frankly they lacked substance, even with Jack's past and his difficult relationship with his father set in the background story. It did hold my attention in the beginning but a quarter of the way through it really started waning.There are sex scenes, an attempted rape, and some drinking mentioned. The cover is fitting. An o.k. read.  

Review of Breaking by Claire Kent

Erotic Read

Breaking is the continuation of Lori and Ander's erotic romance.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have had some serious issues with electronics for about six months including losing all my ARC's to my Kindle, that went to the electronic place in the sky and for that I apologize to NetGalley and the author.  I had a list and was able to finally access my ARC's via computer so reviews will be coming although quite late. 

Breaking as told in Ander's POV, is a series of flashbacks of how Lori and his romance developed and how the couple is managing Ander's past employment as a gigolo. The writing is captivating and the development of Lori and Ander's issues are interesting however it just seemed like this story was a recycled version of Escorted only told in Ander's POV. The steamy sex scenes and banter between the protagonists are again swoon-worthy but again it just seems like a recycled version of the first book. I absolutely love the male POV, I just wish the author would have elaborated a little more. There are definite sex scenes as mentioned above and some cussing. The cover is hot.

Review of Elect(Eagle Elite#2) by Rachel VanDyken

Confusing Continuation 

Elect is the continuation of Trace and Nixon's Mafia romance.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have had some serious issues with electronics for about six months including losing all my ARC's to my Kindle, that went to the electronic place in the sky and for that I apologize to NetGalley and the author.  I had a list and was able to finally access my ARC's via computer so reviews will be coming although quite late. 

Wow. What can I say? I am even more frustrated than I was before. This story had SO much potential and I know that as a Beta Reader we are there to help give feedback or even sometimes catch things however the direction that the author took this story in, I just don't understand. I don't pretend to know a lot about Mafia behavior but I do know from watching all kinds of Mafia, mobster, gangster,etc. movies that "sharing" or at at least pretending to share your love interest is a NO-NO. Men have been killed just for looking at the " Boss' " woman the wrong way let alone letting one make out with her constantly. There were so many different issues but just to keep it simple the story simply didn't gel with me. I applaud the author's effort because this kind of story simply had not been done before but I just can't get past the story line and how confusing the parentage is with the characters. I re-read the chapters several times and I was just as confused if not more. I even went as far as writing notes and just finally gave up. There are very sensual love scenes and one questionable sex scene, drinking, and cussing through out the book. The cover is a little confusing because Trace is supposed to have dark hair right? 

Sorry, I take things so literal.  

Review of Façade by Nyrae Dawn

Heart Wrenching Read

Façade is the second book to the Games series; a spin off to the characters in Charade. 

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book; I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have had some serious issues with electronics for about six months including losing all my ARC's to my Kindle, that went to the electronic place in the sky and for that I apologize to NetGalley and the author. I had a list and was able to finally access my ARC's via computer so reviews will be coming although quite late. 

I had the opportunity to read the first book in this series some time ago and I found Ms. Dawn's writing to be honest and captivating. I have to say that Ms. Dawn definitely wrote a winner with this heart wrenching story that had me smiling and crying through out. Told in dual POV, the lead characters, Adrian and Delaney definitely have chemistry. I really connected with the lead characters; they were flawed and although Adrian's brooding cryptic behavior was depressing I found myself rooting for him. I don't want to give anything away because the previewed synopsis to the book sums it up; I will say that the title definitely fits the bill. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series and reading the rest of Ms. Dawn's books. There are some very sensual love scenes and several sex scenes, mention of drugs and drinking throughout, and cussing. The cover shown is the original one I received with the ARC however the new cover is better.     :)

New Cover

Happy New Year!

I am back! Temporarily but I am back. I am posting as many reviews of ARC's that I have managed to read after months of electronic hell. Computer crashing, Kindle dying, and phone freezing issues however I managed to somehow keep my wits and notes together. Thank you for your patience with me and hopefully this will be a better year!

 Apologies to NetGalley and those authors that sent me their books, reviews are on their way!