A Promise To Protect by Liz Johnson

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A Promise To Protect
Author: Liz Johnson
Genre: Romance/Suspense/Inspirational
Source: Author Submission
ISBN: 9780373445189

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer—not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web far more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive….

MY THOUGHTS

If there is one author that comes to mind when someone needs a recommendation for Inspirational Romance,  Liz Johnson is usually the one I mention.

Each character in this story compliments the other in such a good way that it pushes this story into great.  I loved Matt in this story.  He was the perfect hero for Ashley.  Each book that this author writes, gets better in the character department each time.  Her writing is growing and the story proves it.

Suspense is also great in this book.  It flowed at a perfect pace and kept me interested up until the end.  Guessing the outcome of this book was not something I even tried to do while reading it because I was enjoying the story too much to even try and skip ahead.

Even if you are not a big reader of inspirational, this romantic suspense will fit right in with romance readers.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Sneaking A Peek by Eden Summers

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Sneaking A Peek
Author: Eden Summers
Genre: Adult Romance
Source: Author Submission
ISBN: B009ZOZKKW
E-Book Edition
Novella/Short Story

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

She’s either headed for jail…or for the best sex of her life.

Tarney Jensen has been crushing on sexy firefighter Ethan Reid, her best friend’s brother, since her sixteenth birthday. She knows acting on her attraction will ruin their friendship, but she can’t fight the temptation of his sweat-slicked skin as he works out. Every hot-blooded woman loves to drool over a sexy piece of man flesh, but watching one from the shadows of your porch when he has no idea you’re spying on him? Totally illegal.

For years Ethan has watched men go in and out of Tarney’s life, but how’s a guy supposed to put the moves on his kid sister’s best friend without looking like a perv? But when Tarney lets out an ear-piercing scream from her front yard, Ethan drops everything to rush to her aid. And finds out that the woman of his dreams has been sneaking a peek at his workouts…

MY THOUGHTS

Sometimes you just need a quick fix of smoking hot romance to read.  I have been reading serious themed books for a few weeks now and Sneaking A Peek was just what I needed for a break from those serious novels.

Tarney and Ethan have known each other for a long time.  She is best friends with Ethan’s sister, Jenna.  Jenna warned Ethan a long time ago that her best friend is a line he was not too cross.  She also told Tarney that she didn’t want her hooking up with Ethan.  Out of respect for Jenna, neither one has ever acted on the naughty thoughts.

Tarney also happens to live next door to Ethan.  Like many nights before this one, Tarney relaxes on her porch chair in the dark with a glass of wine.  The show is about to begin.  Ethan starts his workout in a room that just happens to be in perfect view for Tarney.  She secretly watches Ethan workout whenever he comes off a shift at the Fire Department.  Only this time she decides to relieve the buildup in the dark with no one being the wiser.  While trying to do this and trying to get a better look at Ethan, she tips her chair back and gets hurt.  Ethan hears the crash and comes running to the rescue.  One thing leads to another and they end up having some amazing sexy time.  A problem does arrive in the form of Tina, but gets handled and put to rest.

I really liked this book.  It is a short and satisfying read with touches of humor, friendship and all around sexy fun.  Just remember going into this book that it is a short story so the romance is quickly rushed.  You have to remember that they have both known each other for a long time.  This is a book that shows you that turning point from friends to lovers with a finished up ending.

A great new read by an author I have already enjoyed.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

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Undeniable
Series: Undeniable #1
Author: Madeline Sheehan
Genre: Adult Romance
Source: Personal Purchase
ISBN: B009N539DS
E-Book Edition

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

***Warning*** 
(This book contains several aspects of the uglier side of life; it is not for everyone.)

The story of Deuce and Eva…

An undeniable connection that stands the test of time.

Unforgettable moments.

Love and pain and everything in between.

I was five years old when I met Deuce, he was twenty-three, and it was visiting day at Riker’s Island. My father, Damon Fox or “Preacher”, the President of the infamous “Silver Demon’s” motorcycle club -mother chapter- in East Village, New York City, was doing a five-year stint for aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon. It was not the first time my father had been in prison and it wouldn’t be the last. The Silver Demon’s MC was a notorious group of criminals who lived by the code of the road and gave modern society and all it entailed a great big f**k you.

“Never forget the day Eva came bouncin’ into my f**ked up life, shakin’ pigtails, singin’ Janis, wearin’ chucks and sharin’ peanuts and straight up stole any decency I had left which wasn’t a whole lot but she f**kin’ took it and I’ve been hers ever since.”

MY THOUGHTS

This is one of those books where not only am I at a loss for words, but you will either love it or hate it.  I am on the love it side of the fence, but that is not to say that the book didn’t have its flaws.

First I will warn you of two things. This is definitely for the adults. Also, it is like crack for book addicts. (Think Motorcycle Man like Kristen Ashley) Yes folks, Tack of MM must have had a secret brother in the fictional world because Deuce is just as sexy, bad and hot as hell as him.

Some people will be turned off because of one of the main things of this book.  Not only is Deuce 18 years older than Eva, but he meets her while he is 23 and she is 5.  He falls for the little girl, but I felt it was not in the creepy way you might be thinking.  Yes, she steals his heart from that moment, but the way the author has written it, I didn’t get it as a creepy-naughty sex way.

Eva has grown up in the Motorcycle Club life.  Her mother abandoned her with her father, but you can tell that Preacher thinks the world of Eva. Granted, I wasn’t a big fan of Eva but she started to grow on me.  Obviously, Deuce is the star of this book for me.  What can I say, I love my tortured and bad as hell fictional men.

I wasn’t a fan of the cheating as well in this book.  It seems everyone is married and cheating in this book.  Maybe this is what goes on everyday in a motorcycle club, but cheating is just big no-no for me.

The side character of Frankie — who is sort of the adopted brother of Eva — was just plain bad.  Not sexy bad in a want-to-jump-your-bones bad, but as in the psycho-needs-a-straight-jacket sort of way.  He has a huge temper problem and when he basically rapes Eva, I was reading faster just so I could see how badly Deuce was going to torture him.

While I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending — mainly because it was rushed — I still found myself reading until the  last page late into the night.  It was dark, moody, messed up and oh-so-right.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see what will happen to some of my other favorite bikers.  Also, it will be great to see if Deuce will live up to his promises.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES

“If his girl was broken, someone sure as fuck was going to die for that.” 

“There are weak men; men who run and hide when life slaps them in the ass. Then there are men; men who have a backbone yet occasionally, when life slaps them in the ass, will rely on others. And then there are real men; men who don’t cry or complain, who don’t just have a backbone, they are the backbone. Men who make their own decisions and live with the consequences, who accept responsibility for their actions or words. Men who, when life slaps them in the ass, slap back and move on. Men who live hard and die even harder.
Men like my father and my uncles. Men I loved with all my heart.
Men like Deuce.” 

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Consequences by Aleatha Romig

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Consequences
Series: Consequences #1
Author: Aleatha Romig
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: B005IP26DG
E-Book Edition

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Besieged by memories of a brutal abduction, Claire Nichols wakes in an unfamiliar bedroom, within a luxurious mansion. Her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met, Anthony Rawlings. 

Unbeknownst to Claire, for a very long time, she has been within Anthony’s sights. Many of the pivotal events in her life occurred, due to his sinister manipulation. Every action has a consequence, and his actions result in their chance meeting. 

More than a psychological thriller, Consequences is a vivid story of one woman’s struggle to survive incomprehensible circumstances. Every aspect of her being suddenly depends upon the tall, wealthy, dark haired, dark eyed businessman. Anthony Rawlings is known to the world as prosperous, benevolent, and kind. Claire quickly learns that he can also be a menacing controlling captor. 

With few options but concession, Claire attempts to earn her freedom, while enduring a hellish existence that truly appears perfect. Persevering tests and trials, she struggles to retain her pure Midwest values and beliefs. Encouraged by memories of a loving upbringing, she gains strength in the simplest of joys: solitude in nature and good in the face of evil. 

His goal in sight, Anthony’s calculated agenda encounters an unforeseen detour. He becomes captivated by Claire’s beauty, resilience, and determination. The interaction of these two compelling characters instigates strong emotions: fear, anger, love, and lust. Claire and Anthony’s tumultuous journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion. 

Utilizing vivid detail, this 167,000-word novel unfolds like a movie, before the eyes of its readers. From the opening criminal abduction, through twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Anthony’s motivation becomes evident. 

Anthony and Claire must decide if they will stay true to one another, or allow preceding actions to result in justifiable Consequences.

MY THOUGHTS

Holy freaking heck!  Yes, that is the main thought going through my mind after completing this novel.  I am surprised I can even get those three words to compute in my frazzled brain at the moment.  After Mandi from Smexybooks recommended this book to me, I thought she was out of her beautiful loving mind.  I thought to myself  that there was no way I would enjoy this book.  No romance? No supernatural plot? Are you insane Mandi? Then I finally decided to read it and step out of my comfort zone.

This is not — and I repeat — NOT a romance!  Also, if you are under 18 or cannot handle difficult scenes that include rape, violence or abuse, then this book shouldn’t be read without proper warning.  I warned Mandi that I would be tweeting her my progress with my thoughts on this book.  She listened and she supported me through the journey. I seriously could not believe some of the things that happened in this book.

I so wish I could give it a proper review with scene by scene playback.  I am not going to do that though for the sheer volume of space it would take.  This novel was huge and I agree with others in the fact that it could have been worked down to half.  The author goes into a lot of details and scene setups that I believe could have been left out.  Not to say that I didn’t enjoy those scenes, but it became too much with the other things that do happen.

I found myself starting to fall into the same Stockholm syndrome that Claire did.  I started to step into her shoes and think that if she just would have done one thing differently, it could have had a different outcome.  I thought Anthony was going to turn out to be a good guy and Claire was something special to him.  She was going to be able to fix him even if he was her captor.  DO NOT go into this book with a weak mind thinking that what I just said is true.  DO NOT think he will be a different person for her.  DO NOT be fooled as she was.  Remember that she was kidnapped and she had no choice in this.

The ending was a jaw dropper.  Not only did the 40% mark make me wish I had more wine to handle the story, but the ending was torture.  When Claire received that box, everything starts to fall in place.  Then when Anthony “meets” the next girl, you just know this isn’t going to go well.

This is one emotional story that will leave the reader hanging on by barely a thread of sanity and belief.  I personally can’t wait to step out of my comfort zone again and read the next book in this series.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders

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The Unwanted Wife
Author: Natasha Anders
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Personal Purchase
ISBN: B009I3UOKQ
(E-Book Edition)

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

All Alessandro de Lucci wants from his wife is a son but after a year and a half of unhappiness and disillusionment, all Theresa de Lucci wants from her ice cold husband is a divorce. Unfortunate timing, since Theresa is about to discover that she’s finally pregnant and Alessandro is about to discover that he isn’t willing to lose Theresa.

MY THOUGHTS

I first heard about this book through my twitter feed from another reviewer that I trust.  I was loving her comments and status updates throughout her reading experience and just knew I had to try this book out.  When I purchased the book, it was a Kindle freebie on Amazon and in all honesty, I wasn’t expecting much from it.  Usually if it is a freebie, and from an author I have never heard of, I get a hard time thinking it will be pleasurable to read.  With “The Unwanted Wife”, I was actually surprised to find a rare gem in the vast pool  of Amazon freebies!

Within the first few chapters of this book I was hooked.  Alessandro was such a rude and cold husband.  I didn’t understand why anyone would find this man attractive and swoon worthy for a main character.  After the book gets moving and the story starts to unravel,  I found myself completely turned around and cheering him on!  I was rooting for the supposed bad guy.  Theresa wasn’t my favorite character, but she didn’t lack in backbone.  This girl could hold her own against quite a bit.  She was strong, willful and stubborn to the point of reader frustration at times.

I will admit that there is some editing problems, but not enough to deter me from finishing it.  The story did seem to draw out longer than it probably should have, but it wasn’t boring enough that I wanted it to hurry up  and end.  A fluffy bit of over-the-top romance, but one that left me satisfied in the end.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!