Mini Review: Retreat by June Gray

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Retreat
Series: Disarm #3
Author: June Gray

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Return to the place where it all began…

Elsie surprises Henry in California in the sexiest way possible, and inadvertently reveals the secret of their relationship to their families. But just when she thinks everything is finally falling back into place, a revelation changes everything…

MY THOUGHTS
Retreat by June Gray is the third installment in the Disarm series.
In the last book, Henry has left for California to go through therapy from his trauma on the base. Elsie finally manages to get some time off from work so she can surprise Henry by showing up.  After briefly visiting her parents, Elsie sneaks off to Henry’s house which happens to be about 2 houses away.  She sneaks in through his bedroom window and surprises him with a special treat to wake him up.  After some much needed sexy time together, they find themselves caught by the parents while in bed.  They were wanting to tell them until they could get both sets of parents together but not in this way. After they spill their news to the parents, it seems their relationship is going to move to a happily ever after.  Then Henry throws another wrench into the plan.  He decides he needs to break up with Elsie so he can find himself. 
Henry gives his reasons on why he needs the break up for a bit, but it didn’t sit well with me.  I can understand his thinking behind it, but the way he goes about it was the issue for me.  One minute they are happy and enjoying a meal, then as he drops her off at her parents house he just simply says that they need to break up.  I was left with a WTH?! moment just like Elsie was.  I know this leads up for the next installment in the series, so I am hoping it will give us some insight into why he is acting this way.  The next book is suppose to focus on Henry’s therapy tapes that he gave to Elsie before they separated so she could get some insight into what is going through his head.  I am hoping it will give me some as well.
Overall, not a bad installment in the series, just one that is leaving me frustrated with some of the actions by the characters.  I guess this could be considered a good thing because it makes me want to read even more!
MY RATING
Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Mini Review: Besiege by June Gray

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Besiege
Series: Disarm #2
Author: June Gray

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

The continuing story of Elsie and Henry…

Elsie has waited six long months for Henry to return from his deployment to Afghanistan. But she learns that, sometimes, the person who leaves for war is rarely the same one who comes home…

MY THOUGHTS

Besiege is the second novelette in the Disarm series by June Gray.

In Besiege, we pick up where we left off in the last book.  Henry has just been deployed to Afghanistan and Elsie is left with being alone for six months.  After finally admitting their feelings for each other in the last book, this proves to be a real test to their relationship.

Elsie learns through another military wife, small things to help in the pain of being left behind at home.  She forms a friendship with this other woman and they both are there for each other.  Dave, a friend of Henry’s and Elsie’s brother, checks on her while Henry is away.  This leads to a small glitch in Henry and Elsie’s relationship with Dave making a move on Elsie.  Add on the stress of learning that Henry’s base was attacked and Elsie starts to fall apart.

When Henry returns though, he isn’t the same man who left.  He is dealing with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and has closed himself off from Elsie.  Together they have to try and figure out a way to help him which leads to him going to California for therapy and to spend time with his family.  Again, Elsie has to watch Henry walk away and deciding what she can do to help.

While this book wasn’t as sexy and hot as the first part in the series, this one does deal with serious issues. While I think that Henry didn’t really need to travel to a therapist, it does create a good set-up for the next part and leaving the reader with another sad cliffhanger.  Even though it wasn’t as good as the first book in this series, I do plan on reading the next book.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Review: Addicted by Charlotte Stein

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Addicted
Author: Charlotte Stein
Genre: Adult Romance / Erotica

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Kit Connor has always led a safe, cautious life. But when her friend points out that her erotic writing lacks something, she decides to attend a Sexual Healing group to improve her knowledge.

Kit expects to find the gritty underbelly of sex, and instead finds louche, laidback, sex-loving Dillon Holt.

He makes a suggestion to her: that he will tell tales of his sexual excess, and help her book get the realism it needs. She agrees, but hasn’t the least idea of what she’s getting into.

Dillon doesn’t have simple advice in mind … he has lessons to teach her. Lessons on everything she’s never dared to experience, from kink to real passion.

Now Kit is never sure: is Dillon the addict, or is she just addicted to him?

MY THOUGHTS

After reading a previous book by Charlotte Stein, I have been watching out for new releases by her.  The last book I read was a short story, but this one is a full length that I was highly anticipating.  Ms. Stein can right descriptive scenes like a master story teller.  It actually feels like you are the character in the book with all of the emotions pouring from the pages into your body.

I absolutely loved Dillon in this book. He was so carefree and funny that it was refreshing in this genre.  After reading so many books about Alpha/Dominant men with having to have the upper hand, it was delightful to read about a main male character actually being kind and very generous to the woman in the bedroom.  This is not to say that he is not a strong and alpha man — the man is freaking huge in height and “length” — but he has a tender side as well.

Kit was just as funny, but she did get on my nerves at time with her inner dialogue and embarrassment at every little thing.  This is something that could be overlooked, but at times I just wanted her to get over it and quit making up such random things in her head.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  It had the steamy factor, the hot male lead, the chemistry, the humor and the wonderful writing I knew Charlotte Stein could deliver.  Another hit by an author I am “Addicted” to now!

MY RATING
Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

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The Siren
Series: The Original Sinners #1
Author: Tiffany Reisz

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she’s sure it’ll be her breakout book…if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora’s fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it’s no deal.

Nora’s grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him…or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

MY THOUGHTS

This is one of those books where you want to read it so bad, but you also don’t want to start it because of fear.  I have heard amazing things about this series and was told on numerous occasions to read it.  I have also heard that it delves deep into the BDSM world with heavy emphasis on the S&M.  While I am huge fan of erotica books,  I now realize that everything before was tame compared to this book.

The first half of this book was hard for me.  I couldn’t get a real connection with Nora formed and my feelings for her were just ho-hum.  It is hard to explain in words my exact feelings for her because she was so far off the map of my comfort zone.  I loved her banter with Wes and Zack, but I was actually scared of her character just as much as Zack was.

Soren was also a character I wasn’t sure about.  Was he a bad guy or a good guy?  While I am still not sure which side of the camp to place him in,  I can honestly say that the camp is starting to blend together into one. There really isn’t a good side or a bad side. For now I am going to hold him in the neutral zone even with the revelations that came throughout this story.

Wesley.  Oh sweet Wesley. I think he was one of my favorite characters in this book.  My heart hurt for him so much.  I seriously hope the next book in this series will give me some peace with his heartache.  I really want him to be happy.

Then we have Zack.  Brooding and British.  The London Fog. Those two sentences are Zach, but he is also so much more.  He is a man who is hurting, who is looking for freedom from his guilt, and a man who is trying to understand how Nora can live the way she does.  This man has been through a hard time with his wife and you desperately want him to have happiness again.

This book really pushed me to the end of my comfort zone.  If you think you can handle BDSM in your erotic reads, then just consider them tame and vanilla compared to what you will read in this book.  There were even spots I had to stop reading and reassure myself that it was just a book and continue on.  It might not have started out great for me as a read, but it definitely converted me into a fan of this author and the characters by the last half of the book.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Review: As Twilight Falls by Amanda Ashley

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As Twilight Falls
Author: Amanda Ashley
Genre: Paranormal Romance

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Photographing ghost towns across the American West, Kadie Andrews takes a wrong turn and ends up in Morgan Creek—a spot that isn’t on the map. It’s a quaint little place, but there’s something off about its complacent residents. And when twilight falls, it takes on a truly sinister air…

Unable to run or to find any way out, Kadie finds herself a prisoner, hunted for her blood. Still more disturbing, her spirit and beauty have captured the attention of the town’s leader—the mysterious Rylan Saintcrow. When he looks into her eyes, she can see his hunger. When he takes her in his arms, she can feel his power. When he presses his lips against hers, she can taste his need. Saintcrow may be the most powerful creature she’s ever imagined, but Kadie knows in her heart that he is also a man. A man who needs a woman. To want him, desire him, crave him. To be his willing prisoner—for all eternity…

MY THOUGHTS

I know this review is early, but it is hard for me to contain my excitement when it comes to books written by this author.  She is one of my favorites when it comes to vampire romance.

When Kadie Andrews gets lost and runs out of gas, she finds herself trapped in the town of Morgan Creek.  When she is taken in by one of the town vampires, she can’t believe vampires exist.  When the town people start revealing piece by piece why they are trapped in Morgan Creek, Kadie still refuses to accept being trapped like cattle.  Even though she starts to fall for the head vampire named Rylan Saintcrow, she still craves her freedom and hoping to return to her sick sister and parents.  While Kadie struggles with her feelings for Rylan and for captivity, Rylan is dealing with the few vampires in town planning a mutiny.  They are tired of following his rules and are wanting to embrace their predatory vampire nature.

The main reason I enjoyed this book — and every book written by this author in the past — is because of the way the vampire lore is portrayed.  There are no sparkles and not all of the characters are always perfect.  The vampires have killed — they still kill at times — but they do fall in love.  There is fluff and there is shake-your-head moments with the characters, but it gives you a feel good feeling of reading what true vampire/paranormal romance books used to be and what they can continue to be.

Another great book by and author who stays true to her writing roots and always has me swept away from page one.

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!