Review: Under His Roof by Sadey Quinn

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Under His Roof
Series: Under His Roof #1
Author: Sadey Quinn

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Rachel has had great success in her career, but in the meantime has inadvertently shunned her friends and family from her life. So she seeks the help of a professional disciplinarian to provide her with ‘motivation’ to be kind.

David, the professional disciplinarian, has given up on trying to have a relationship. He’s not willing to break his self-made protocol and hit on a client, but he’s equally unwilling to have a ‘vanilla’ relationship. He needs to be in charge.

What will happen when the unlikely pair meets?

This is a NOVELLA, not a full length novel. Expect about 30,000 words, or half the length of a typical romance book. 

MY THOUGHTS

Under His Roof by Sadey Quinn is the first book the Under His Roof series.

Hmmm…How to put my feelings into words for this read.  That is the problem I am having.  While this book doesn’t go into graphic scenes of sex, it does involve the elements of Dominance and Submission with it being about spanking.  I think my main problem with this book was that I was thinking it was going to be a regular erotica featuring smut, smut, and more smut.  I went in thinking it was going to be the usual read of a new D/s relationship.  Instead, it is focused on spanking as a disciplinary thing instead of a sexual thing.

A good spanking in a erotic read is okay.  I can handle that.  What I can’t handle — or even comprehend in my brain — is the need to be treated like a two year old receiving a punishment of spankings and being forced to stand in a corner.  I just don’t understand the dynamics of how this can be a release or in any way helpful as an adult.  I am sure there are people out there who enjoy this, but it is definitely not something I would want.

The other problem I had with this book — and I have noticed that other reviewers had this feeling as well — is that David just takes and takes, but Rachel never gets much in return.  She submits to him for the spankings.  She submits to moving in with him after a matter of hours together.  She also submits to his general rules of living together.  What did David have to do?  Just be allowed to show his caveman mentality of ‘do as I say’.

In short — which this read was rather short — it is a series that I don’t see myself continuing.  While the author does get props and an extra rating for flow and style of writing that wasn’t too bad, this type of read is just not for me.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

Review: A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick

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A Place Beyond Courage
Series: William Marshal #1
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick
Genre: Historical Romance

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

The early twelfth century is a time for ambitious men to prosper, and royal servant John FitzGilbert is one of them. But when the old king dies and his successor is appointed, John faces a terrible choice: he must join the rival faction-his enemies- or risk losing everything. His new wife helps him carry his burden, but his final choice will seal not only her fate, but those of his young children. 

As the fight for England’s crown enters a new phase, John may be forced to make a terrible sacrifice…

MY THOUGHTS

When I first started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect.  Others loved it and raved about it, but I was worried it wouldn’t be one I would enjoy.  Sadly, I was right in my feelings.  While I won’t say it was horrible, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

The writing was actually pretty good.  It had great building of imagery and the balance between dialogue and narration was done well.  I just couldn’t bring myself to really enjoy the characters or just enjoy the plot.  There wasn’t a spark of interest for me that everyone else seemed to have.  This is my first read by this author — and people have said it is a prequel of sorts to one titled The Greatest Knight — so maybe her other works would be better.

Again, I can’t say the exact reason why it didn’t click with me.  Maybe it is because Historical reads are a genre that I am very picky with.  Sad to say that this one didn’t work for me, but I am hoping the authors other works will be better for me in the future.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

Review: Up In Flames by Tory Richards

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Up In Flames
Author: Tory Richards
Genre: Erotica 

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Rachel Masters has had a crush on her sexy boss for three years. As far as she knows the millionaire architect is oblivious to her, walking past her desk every morning with barely a nod in her direction. But when the power goes out and they’re trapped in an elevator, the truth comes out in one steamy episode designed to take Rachel’s mind off being claustrophobic.

James White doesn’t have a crush on his receptionist. He wants her, its as simple as that. He senses there’s a real beauty hidden beneath the granny glasses and professional suites. And he plans to find out how hot she is as soon as the chance presents itself.

MY THOUGHTS

Up in Flames is a short story/novella coming in at 33 pages according to Amazon.  While I don’t usually read stories this short because I feel short-changed sometimes, I decided to give it a try since I have liked this authors writing in the past.

Not much can be said about this book in a review.  It was short. To the point. Filled with lots of sex as well since it is an erotica read.  The writing was good with lots of sexy time, I just wish it could have been longer with more of a buildup for the characters.  I know novellas are rushed and needing to fit within a short amount of pages, but it was too rushed if that makes sense.

If you are a fan of short reads, then this book will feed your hunger for this sort of craving.  If you are like me and have a hard time with short stories, then be forewarned that it is quite short and rushed.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

Review: Fall To Pieces by Vahini Naidoo

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Fall to Pieces
Author: Vahini Naidoo
ISBN: 9780761462170

SUMMARY
(From Goodeads)

When your best friend dies, you’re supposed to know what happened. You’re supposed to know why.

But Ella has no idea what happened the night Amy jumped to her death. She has no idea why Amy would want to die.

Ella’s other friends, Mark and Petal, are hiding something. Ella thinks they know exactly what happened that terrible night. But they’re not talking. Instead, Ella, Mark, and Petal play Pick Me Ups—a game in which they jump from dangerous heights. And every time Ella falls, she begins to remember pieces of that night. . . 

It’s still not enough. So Ella brings a mysterious new guy into the group, hoping he will help shake things up and unearth the truth. But Ella’s “Explosive Boy” has secrets of his own.

And there may be some secrets that Ella doesn’t want to face. The truth—the real truth—about Amy’s death might just be more than she can handle.

MY THOUGHTS

Four friends suddenly become three.  Ella, Mark, Petal, and Amy suddenly become Ella, Mark and Petal after Amy dies.  Ella is having a hard time remembering what happened.When Mark creates a game called Pick Me Ups, Ella starts getting flashbacks of the night Amy died.  Instead of an adrenaline rush, she is getting glimpses into the secrets that are locked within her head.  Then Ella brings Tristan into the fold but he has secrets of his own.

This was a book that led me into the trap of ‘just one more chapter’ before setting it down.  I wanted to know what would happen next and I wanted to learn more about the way Amy died.  I thought the book did great in the time line and gave the reader just enough with each chapter to make you want to keep reading.  So the pace was done okay.  The characters were okay, but they all stood out about the same for me for some reason.  While I enjoyed the book, it was just a mediocre read for me.  I will also mention that the language is high in profanity in case this is a no-no in books that you want to read.  Be warned.  To me it wasn’t a big issue, but to others it can be.  I also just couldn’t connect with the characters in the way the author was wanting.

Not bad for a quick read, but one that does need to be warned of the profanity mentioned above.  Don’t go into it blind.  Like I said earlier, just an okay read for me and one I won’t be thinking about afterwards for long.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

Review: A Night of No Return by Sarah Morgan

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A Night of No Return
Author: Sarah Morgan
Genre: Adult Romance
ISBN: 9780373131044

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Money, charm and sensual skills don’t make up for a heart colder than ice…

Wild parties, wanton women, relentless work—nothing helps tycoon Lucas Jackson escape his dark and haunting past. Arriving at his rural castle in a snarling snowstorm, he craves only complete isolation.… But it seems oblivion can take an unexpected and highly intoxicating form!

Personally delivering the vital file left on her boss’s desk, secretary Emma Gray starts to seriously regret her dutiful overtime mission. She never expected the dark side of the usually controlled Lucas could generate such a primitive, powerful—and entirely inappropriate—reaction.

MY THOUGHTS

I have never been a big reader of the classic Harlequin line and I usually only read the Nocturne books in their serial lines.  For some reason though, the summary drew me in and I decided to give them a try.

The first third of the book is about Emma and Lucas being trapped in a fancy castle that Lucas owns with his partners/friends from work.  There is a bunch of narration in the first third of this book to set up the story that will follow in the rest of the pages.  While I appreciate some initial set up in a story, this one was heavy on it. I liked the mystery of why Lucas was the way he was.  I actually liked Lucas better than Emma character-wise.  Emma seemed dull and at times a little dense.  If this man who is drinking and telling a someone to leave several times while his anger is simmering below the surface, you would think a smart woman would back off at least.  Nope, she continued to push and he pushed right back with sexual need.

The next part of the book is after the do the naughty in front of a fire.  It is about Emma traveling with her boss Lucas out of country to a company party and meeting.  They are trying to move past what they did and trying to bring the relationship back to the professional level.  Lucas repeatedly tells Emma that he doesn’t do love and family.  He is a use them and leave them type of man.  He starts to reveal reasons of why he is like this to her and solves a little bit of the questions on this.

The last part of the book is Emma setting Lucas up to deal with his reasons in not finding love.  I didn’t like the way she went about it and it didn’t seem real plausible.  I am suppose to believe that one night of dealing with something is going to change years of guilt and blame?  It just didn’t feel right for me.  I still couldn’t feel happy about the outcome of this story when I finished the last page.  The chemistry wasn’t that great — mainly because I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy Emma’s role that much — and the ending was not only rushed but far fetched too.

I will say though that this book served as a fluffy romance that was also a quick read.  Something I was initially looking for but wanting more for the next read.

MY RATING

If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!