Mini-Merger: Guys on Top by Riley Simpson

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mini merger

 

Mini-Merger: Guys on Top
Author: Riley Simpson

Gabe smiled mischievously, “Are you proposing some kind of mini-merger between us?”

Gabe’s not interested in players – he’s interested in serious business. As the VP of Summers Enterprises, he has to oversee an intense company merger with Chaucer Enterprises, but his counterpart at Chaucer, Jag, seems to be all about seduction and fun and games.

But as Gabe gets to know Jag, and why the man is known by that name, he discovers a sexy charmer who’s hard to resist. Perhaps there’s more to Jag than meets the eye, and one unexpected late night encounter will tell Gabe everything he needs to know.

This book was not a hit for me. I expected a M/M romance but got something else. This is a short read that comes listed at 21 pages.  I understand that 21 pages are hard to flesh out character personalities and actual romance.  Being that short of a book makes not only the romance almost nil, but leaves the reader with feelings of no connection with each character.  I felt like I was reading a submitted short story to a men’s magazine.  It was short, to the point and almost clinical in character feeling. If you are looking for a short read with no depth or swoon worthy moments of love, then skip this 21 page story. Go for a full length novel. Yet, if you want something quick, straight to the point and mainly just a sex fueled chapter, then this is your go to read.

[sc:rate1 ]

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Hate F*@k by Ainsley Booth

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hatef@ck

 

Hate F*@k
by Ainsley Booth

Warning: This is just the start. This doesn’t end well. And it’s going to get much worse before it ever gets better.

Cole:
I push her buttons. I want to push them in the good way. Dirty, up-against-the-wall, my-hand-in-her-pants kind of way.
But that’s not possible, because I’m dark and she’s light, and we both know it.
So I push her buttons in the bad way, making her hate me.

Hailey:
If a genie granted me three wishes, I’d ask for Cole Parker to never look at me again, that I’d forget the dark promise in his eyes, and that just once, before he vanished from my life completely, that he’d push me up against a wall and fuck me.
Then I’d go wash my mouth out with soap.

I seriously feel like I read an entirely different book than everyone else.  I see reviewers giving this book high praise and glowing recommendations while I sit here at a loss on the last page just blinking my eyes in confusion.  What the heck did I just read?

The characters were dull and hate each other but we don’t really know the real reason to the hate. They are attracted to each other though and have some steamy and smutty scenes together. Then we have an ending that leaves you on a cliffhanger of sorts.  Hailey was snobby and came across as better-than-thou. Cole was a dirty talking bad boy but protective and secretive.  This book was just s hot mess for me.

MY RATING
[sc:rate1 ]

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Quickie Reviews For You (2)

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I am horrible.  I have been reading like crazy but slacking on actually posting reviews about them.  I have this list going with the name of the book, rating, and a few notes to remember about each one.  So at least I have something to give you!  Below are a few books that were on that list.  I have more but I thought I would break it up into a few posts so it wouldn’t overwhelm you like it has me!

 

rulesaccordingtogracieThe Rules According to Gracie by Stefanie London
3 Stars
-This was a cute, but short read. Coming in at a listed 98 pages made for a quick build up for the two characters. While I liked Des, I wasn’t too excited about Gracie.
GOODREADS / AMAZON (currently $0.99)

 

DectheHollsDec the Holls by Jasinda Wilder
3 Stars
-Another book that was good but would have benefited with being a bit longer. This one came in at 51 pages but would have been better if we would have gotten just a smidgen more of Declan and Holly. Yes, it is focused around Christmas, but good to read any time of the year.
GOODREADS / AMAZON (currently FREE)

 

falloutFall Out (SEALs Undone #1) by Zoe York
3 Stars
-Coming in at 155 pages, this book had the length I needed, but the characters were just mediocre for my taste.  The writing was well done, but the plot had too many ups and downs for my liking. The romance just didn’t seem to click for me either.
GOODREADS / AMAZON (currently $2.99)

 

knowinghissecretKnowing His Secret (Year of the Billionaire Part 1) by K.C. Falls
1 Star
-177 pages of characters I couldn’t stand.  That about sums it up.  We have a hero who is a jerk and a woman who is dull.  Not only were the characters not to my taste, but the book is a serial which is not something I read too often.
GOODREADS / AMAZON (currently FREE)

 

giftsinjarsGifts in Jars: Recipes for Easy, Delicious, Inexpensive DIY Gifts by Margaret Lowe
3 Stars
-I got this one around Christmas time when my kids were looking for ways to make home made gifts for the teacher and aides.  Let me tell you, there was some yummy sounding jar gifts in this book.  If I had actually had the time, we probably could have thrown together a few.  Maybe next year though.
GOODREADS / AMAZON (currently $2.99)

#Review: Back to Buckhorn by Lori Foster

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back to buckhorn lori foster

 

For odd-girl-out Zoey Hodge, the best thing about Buckhorn, Kentucky, was leaving it behind. And now she’s back—at least until she can nurse her mother back to health and hightail it out of there anew. But there’s one person she doesn’t mind seeing again. Garrett Hudson was one of the few who was always kind to her. Now he’s a firefighter—still one of the good guys, but with a sexy alpha charm that’s tempting her inner bad girl.

In school, Zoey was smart, witty and unafraid to be herself. Garrett fell hard back then, and he’s falling even faster now. As far as he’s concerned, there are all kinds of reasons Zoey should stick around. Her pet grooming business. Her mom. And the chance for him to prove that he can be her real-life hero in every way that matters…

This series is the one that made me fall in love with author Lori Foster’s writing. I love her Buckhorn boys! Be forewarned though that you will want to start at the beginning of this series.  Not only will starting at the beginning give you all the back story, but you will understand how each person is connected in this story.  Also, this is novella length –Amazon has it listed at 90 pages– so don’t expect a huge read either.

As a person who doesn’t usually enjoy quick novellas, I found that Back to Buckhorn was actually pretty good lengthwise.  It flowed better than other novellas and didn’t feel rushed to me.  I loved thecharacter of Garrett and I even came to like Zoey by the end of the story.  While the plot line was pretty good, I did have some issues with it -namely that quick ending, it wasn’t enough to turn me off from reading more in this series.

Again, if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading any books in this series, I urge you to please start with one of the earlier books, if not at the beginning.  It can be read as stand alone, but you might find yourself a little confused at some of the character references.

[sc:rate4 ]

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#Review : Ablaze by Morgana Black

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17236443Ablaze
Series: Fireside #1
Author: Morgana Blaze
Release Date: 1/17/2014

SUMMARY
From Goodreads

Cheyenne is planning the perfect weekend with her partner to be Collin. But when the weather turns ugly she finds herself trapped in a cabin with dangerously attractive Luke, one of her father’s ranch hands. When the power goes out Luke and Cheyenne make the decision to keep each other warm, in more ways than one.

MY THOUGHTS

First, this is a very short story. It is a novella that is Part One in a series by author Morgana Black.  When I mention short story, I mean “chapter-like” short story.  I can understand it being short for a series or parts, but this could have been one chapter of a novella.  With that being said, you can understand the frustration at the speed and abrupt ending the reader is left with.

Short stories need to tell quite a bit in a short amount of time. I understand that. Really, I do.  Yet as a reader, I still want parts of my story to be full and give me an experience of connection with each character. I know that is a lot to ask for, but with Ablaze, I couldn’t find myself finding the footing needed to ground myself to the two characters of Luke and Cheyenne — At lease not with this small sample of a story.  When the two start to warm each other up during the snow storm, it was rushed and I still didn’t find myself really excited about it.  It was rushed and then we get the big regrets from one of the involved people.  With little background on the characters, it made the connection hard for me.  I am not going to be waiting on pins and needles for the next in the series, but I am still a little curious as to see if the author will bring some background to the characters and see if a spark finally ignites for me.

MY RATING
[sc:rate2 ]

GOODREADS / AMAZON