REVIEW ~Beg. Tease. Submit. by CD Reiss~

Title: Beg. Tease. Submit.

Author: C.D. Reiss

Series: Songs of Submission #1-3

Release Date: November 23, 2013

My Rating: 5 Stars

Beg.

This novella is the first in a series.

My name is Monica. I’m a singer born and raised in Los Angeles.
I’ve stopped dating. When I cut a record, or win a Grammy, maybe then I’ll be with someone, but every man in my past has done everything he could to make me submit myself to him, and it’s gotten in the way of my career. I won’t do it again.

But there’s Jonathan. He owns the high-rise hotel where I work, and he is gorgeous and charming. I refuse to fall in love with him, even though when he asks me to submit to him, I want nothing more.

Tease.

When Jonathan was gone I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and the first thing he did when he got back was demand more of me. I’m willing to give him my orgasms and my time, but I find myself giving up pieces of my heart.

My career is on track, and even though I can’t write a thing, I can sing. So I’ll go to the art opening with him, because his ex wife will be there. I feel this need to protect him from hurt, though in bed, his domination brings me to my knees.

This man is going to break me into a million little pieces.

Submit.

"You’re mine. The minute I told you to spread your legs and you did it, you were mine. When I told you to beg for it and you did, you were mine. When you put your hands behind your back without being told, I owned you."

No. God, no.

My name is Monica, and no matter what Jonathan says, I am not submissive.

The first sequence in the Songs of Submission series has got me ALL tangled up and confused, and frankly- loving every bit of it. Beg Tease and Submit as a package is simply flawless from a readers standpoint, yet a bit screwy from a real world aspect. These novellas dealt with some major traumatic experiences that gripped my heart so tight. It wouldn't have been so bad if Ms. Reiss hadn't made me fall so in love with the characters only to give them an even further shitty hand in life. However, Jonathan and Monica have already been through the ringer before, I think they both thrive off the challenges life throws at them. You take the erotic and peculiar relationship of Jonathan and Monica coupled with the emotional blitzes in all three novellas and I was left with my head spinning and wondering how in the world I made it this long without Jonathan Drazen in my life.

Let's expand on our dear and beloved Jonathan. He's definitely got some skeletons in his closet, and a past he just can't let go of. I'm positive we will see more of his demons in the later books. Side note: Holy hell this man is hot. As in alpha, down and dirty, sex god hot. Monica, on the other hand, is just trying to make her break in the music world. While she tries to act like an Ice Queen, she melts even at the sight of Jonathan (who can blame her?), and is eventually twisted up in several different webs of half truths, lies, and deceit. It'll be a miracle if they can both continue down this road fairly unscathed. From the get-go I wanted Jonathan and Monica to drop the aloof act they were laying out. I mean they screwed each others brains out but, they'd never let it go further. In comes a few third parties who are trying to play cat and mouse with the couple. Suffice it to say there's a shit storm or two. Throughout the entirety of this set I couldn't pinpoint where it was going next. I enjoyed most of the surprises but, a few of them almost hurt too much to read. But, I got through it. One thing you can always count on CD Reiss for, is to never give you a cookie cutter book. She's not capable of it. Her books give mind fuckery a good name. 

These novellas simply rocked my world. I devoured them, and can't wait to get my hands on the next set as well. I love when I can read a book and feel like I'm experiencing everything for the first time. The world of Monica and Jonathan is so unlike my world and any other world I have ever read. It's dark and light, bad and good. I can never solidify my feelings when I'm reading these books. It's the ultimate escape. To get personal for a second, I had one of the worst weeks ever last week. This book was able to absorb my full attention, and I got an extremely needed and blissful break from reality. I'm not sure many other books would have been able to do that. So for that, I thank you Ms. Reiss. In short, I recommend this set, series, etc to the moon and back. It's a one-of-a-kind gem that I enjoyed thoroughly!

Happy Reading!

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

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REVIEW ~Pretending She's His by Kelsie Leverich~

Title: Pretending She's His
Author: Kelsie Leverich
Series: Hard Feelings #2.5
Release Date: November 19, 2013

My Rating: 4 Stars

New York Times bestselling author Kelsie Leverich continues her series in her new Hard Feelings novella, where a tempting little lie turns into so much more…

Eva Riley is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding and it just so happens that her ex is the best man. Eva’s a straight shooter and definitely not the damsel-in-distress type. But with her pride on the line and her ex’s heart on his sleeve, there might not be enough champagne in the world to get her through this weekend…

Trevor Owens may be one hell of a good friend to Eva, but he’s always wanted to get the fiery redhead between the sheets. So he swoops in and offers a solution to her ex problem: they can pretend to be together—just for the weekend. But when their little game of make-believe is over, will they be able to tell what’s real and what’s only pretend?

This was my first Kelsie Leverich book, and she has become a new favorite of mine. Her characters are the perfect blend of witty, and loving. In a nutshell Pretending She's His was about two friends being in the right place, at the right time. On the weekend of her best friend's wedding, Eva needed someone to help her dissuade her ex-boyfriend against wanting to get back together. And Trevor is the faithful friend, who steps up to the plate. Eva and Trevor are both caring, independent characters. While, their similarities would normally draw them to each other, Trevor's bed-hopping tendencies have always put off Eva. But when Trevor comes to the rescue and plays her boyfriend for the weekend, the line blurs between friendship and something more.

I usually find novellas lacking in some aspects but, Pretending She's His is a full package book. It had the development that I want my characters to experience and depth to the story. Eva and Trevor are so incredibly, adorable together and I loved reading about their inner confusion. It was hard for both of them to tell if this relationship was actually going further than they had intended, or if it was just for show and a quick fling. But, their story turns into so much more than a quick weekend. I also loved that, had they not ended up together, I could still see them being close friends like before. I love the relationships that build from friendships, to me they're almost stronger and you definitely see that reflected throughout the book.

Overall, this is a terrific novella, and I just one-clicked the heck out of Ms. Leverich's other books. This book is well-written, engaging, with a hilarious cast that I can't wait to read more about! So, please go check it out. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more of Kelsie Leverich, and I for one can't wait :)

Happy Reading!

*ARC provided by the publisher/author in exchange for an honest  review*

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ARC REVIEW ~Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst~

Title: Searching for Someday
Author: Jennifer Probst
Series: Searching For #1
Release Date: November 26, 2013

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love...only to find herself falling for him along the way.

Searching for Someday was a great reminder of why I love Jennifer Probst's books so much. She can spin a mix of eclectic, hilarious and steamy aspects into a fabulous book. Searching for Someday is a loosely tied spin-off of Probst's Marriage to a Billionaire series. While this series introduces a new set of characters, that I cannot wait to read about, we also get a glimpse of our previous couples :) And the main link between them all is the book of love spells. A book that enables the current owner to make a list of characteristics she wants her perfect man to have and then chant a spell in hopes of finding said perfect man. Which is exactly what down in her love-luck, Kate, did as a last ditch effort to bring herself love and not just everyone around her. Kate and her two best friends own a dating service. And while they mostly operate on their brains and savvy business ideas, Kate also helps out with her witchy powers. She is able to feel the spark when two people are meant to be, and more than once she has found the fated other half of her current date/boyfriend. So, Kate has become exhausted finding everyone else love while she stays single. She makes a deal to just throw herself into her work and give up on ever finding herself a husband.

Enter Slade, in a rage, and throwing insults and accusations at Kate. He believes she's nothing but a con artist out to steal from his sister. So the two butt heads from minute one. Kate is dead set on proving Slade wrong by finding him his own true love- or at least a life companion, because this jaded divorce lawyer does not believe in love. Only one problem, despite his distaste for her profession, Slade can't help but feel a magnetic attraction to Kate. Through a series of up and down events these two will fight tooth and nail against their fate. But when a little bit of magic is involved there are always consequences. Will Kate and Slade suffer at the hand of those consequences or give in to a love they don't believe can exist?

Slade is my type of guy. He is hot, successful and once he falls, he falls hard. But then there's the flip side of him being so frustratingly stubborn, that I would have to curb my urge to smack him on an hourly basis. Kate, bless her heart, as some of the same tendencies. Once she finds what she's been looking for she throws up every excuse not to take it. But no matter the level of their stubbornness Kate and Slade can't keep their hands of one another. So much, to the point that they almost cause irreparable damage emotionally to one another. It was a lot of back and forth between the two. But, their weakness for one another was just too strong to overcome sometimes. Truthfully, this was Probst's best book yet. I could feel the raw emotion between the characters and still had times where I was laughing at their antics. And while I was completely enthralled in Kate and Slade's story, I absolutely cannot wait for Gen's story! The glimpses of the secondary stories kept my attention just as much as the main story. Overall, this is a fantastic read! Also, just a note here- I would not categorize these books as paranormal. They have very minor magic aspects but, are still mostly contemporary.

Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY ~Remy by Katy Evans~

Title: Remy
Author: Katy Evans
Series: Real #3
Release Date: November 26, 2013

My Rating: 4 Stars

Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control.

Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.

The Seattle crowd is wild tonight. Backstage, the noise reverberates between the walls, bounces off the metal lockers in the room where I prepare with some of the other fighters. I watch Coach bandage the fingers of one hand, and all I can think of is how Brooke Dumas is out there among the spectators, sitting in one of the seats I bought for her.

I’m so jacked up I feel like I’m plugged into a fucking electrical outlet. Blood pumps heady through my veins. My muscles are loose and warm and ready to contract and strike anything in my path. I’m ready to put on a fucking show and there’s one girl, one lovely girl, that’s got me tied up in knots, that I want to see me fight.

I hand Coach my other hand and stare at my bare knuckles as he shoots off the same instructions he always says.

My guard . . . patience . . . balance . . .

I zone out, letting his words slip through me and into my subconscious, where they belong. Right before a fight, I find a calm. I can hear all the noise but listen to nothing. A clarity comes with fighting. Every detail sharpening in your mind.

This sharpness and awareness makes me lift my head to the doorway. She stands there like out of some childhood dream, looking at nobody but me.

She wears a pair of white jeans and a pink top that makes her skin look even tanner than it is and so damn lickable my tongue hurts inside my mouth. Neither of us so much as twitches as we stare.

Hammer steps into my peripherals, and when I see him head straight for her, my anger ignites.

With deadly calm, I grab the tape from Coach and throw it aside as I stalk over to her. Then, I position myself directly behind her and to her right, taking my spot in a way that lets the dipshit Hammer know I was born to be here. Beside, behind, and by her.

“Just walk off,” I warn him, my voice low but lethal.

He doesn’t seem inclined to listen, instead narrows his eyes in contest. “She yours?” he asks with narrowed eyes.

Nodding, I narrow my eyes and let my gaze burn into him. “I can guarantee you, she’s not yours.”

The asshole leaves, and I notice Brooke doesn’t move for a long second, as if she doesn’t want to step away from me in the same way I don’t want her to go anywhere. Holy god, she smells good.

I drag her scent to my lungs like a junkie, and suddenly every inch of my body wants to cup her hips and draw her into me so I can scent her more. She turns her head to mine and softly murmurs, “Thank you,” but quickly leaves. I duck my head and haul in as much as I can before she walks away.

I remain standing there, feeling dizzy, my shorts ridiculously tented.

“Riptide! Hammer! You’re up next!”

Exhaling as I hear my name, I glance narrowly at Hammer across the room, who seems amused as fuck that I am clearly in deep shit with this girl.

He’s in even deeper shit with me.

“Remington . . . are you listening to me?”

I whip around to Coach, who’s fixing that last bandage he couldn’t secure. I keep glaring at Hammer as Riley extends my satin robe, and as I ram my arms into the sleeves, I decide Hammer better be prepared to vacation in a coma for a while.

“I said don’t let that bastard get to your head.” Coach knocks his knuckles to my temples. “And that girl neither.”

“That girl’s been in his head since the first fight here,” Riley tells him with a smirk. “Hell, he wants to carry that girl around with him like an accessory on tour. Pete is drafting the contract as we speak.”

Coach pokes a finger into my chest and I feel it almost bending. “I don’t give a shit what you’re planning to do tonight with the girl. You keep your head in the fight going on right now. You got that?”

I don’t answer, but obviously I get it. I don’t need to be told these things. Half a fight is in your head. But Coach likes feeling useful, so I just roll with it and trot out. I’ve fought all my life to stay sane. To keep focused, driven, and centered. But tonight, I fight to show one woman my worth.

Ok, this is going to be a bit of a different structured review. Instead of me just spouting out whatever is on the top of my head, I'm going to separate it into categories- The Positives, The Negatives and the Final Consensus sections. The reason being this book was a first for me and I just automatically starting dissecting it by those three sections. So here we go!

The Positives:
I have to say this was my first re-telling from a different POV and I really liked it! I could seriously read Remy and Brooke all the time and never tire of wanting more of their story. I think because the books so intense that when I re-read them I see something that I missed the time before. Or sometimes a certain scene strikes a deeper meaning with me the third or fourth time around. And Remy was the same way. It is the reflection and remembrance of certain scenes from Real and Mine from Remy's POV. The best part is we also get glimpses of Brook and Remy's church wedding. For me, it was kind of like a "The Best Of Brooke and Remy." It retold some of my favorite scenes and it gave them deeper meaning because it was retold from Remy's POV. I think being inside Remy's head gives much more insight to his thoughts and reasons for his actions. You experience him both going black and become blue again. And it really helped me understand him more. Katy Evan's drives home the point that he has an illness, and while he is 100% aware of that fact, he also can't help his triggers. At certain parts it hurt my heart to see Remy almost defeated by Brooke, Pete or Riley's actions. Like he knew they were coddling him and he didn't want it but, he needed it. So, I think this offers a facet to the series that was definitely needed and will show the readers what exactly goes on his mind. Because it is much more than just Remy being an alpha male, or extremely possessive. It enlightened me as to how Brooke is literally his livelihood, and the constant struggles that Remy experiences. Oh, another positive is the little tidbits into the current goings-on with Melanie and Riley and Pete and Nora. Because I absolutely cannot wait for those stories to unfold!

The Negatives: 
Obviously by my gushing above there won't be many negatives but, with any book there are always those few tweaks the readers wish they could make. My only problem with this book is that, I wish it had more "Present" moments. I understand the importance of showing us the scenes from the first two books, and I enjoyed those. But I also wish it had gone a bit further or started a bit earlier in the present storyline. I did however, immensely enjoy what present storyline there was. I just wanted more of what Remy and Brooke are doing now. Yeah, I know I'm greedy. But I don't care! These two are one of my favorite book couples so of course I want more! :) Anyhow, other than more present moments, there was nothing else I found lacking in this book.

Final Consensus: 
For fans of Mine and Real, you will want to pick this up. It is just that little bit of more that some of you are looking for. For those of you who, heaven forbid, did not like Remy as a character: maybe try this one out. It gives you insight that you didn't have before and opens up a whole load of explanations as to the thought process that Remy experiences. To me, Remy was the perfect tie-in to the previous books. It offers whys and hows to questions previously unanswered and really helps bridge that connection between Remy and the reader. Overall, a fabulous book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I urge you all to go pick up a copy and let me know your thoughts once you've read it!

Happy Reading!
*ARC was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*    

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Meet Katy:

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!
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RELEASE DAY + REVIEW ~Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye~

Title: Hard As It Gets
Author: Laura Kaye
Series: Hard Ink #1
Release Date: November 26, 2013

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Oh this was a fantastic read! Hard As It Gets is the first in a brand new series by Laura Kaye and I was wowed throughout the entire book. This is one of those perfectly blended books. Just the right amount of heat, suspense and thrilling story all rolled up into one gripping book. It was also a very unique setting, the home base for the story is a tattoo shop that is eventually packed with a handful of ex-military men. Can you say hot? The story focuses around Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, who, despite their circumstances could not have been more made for one another. The connection is magnetic but, they also understand each other on a whole different level. In an almost eerie way they can preempt each others moods and actions. And they become the support the other has never had before. 

Becca and Rixey are both incredibly strong-willed and stubborn. And while Becca is light to Rixey's dark, and sweet to his gruff, they compliment one another. When her brother goes missing, he leaves Becca clues to help find him. The clues, which lead straight to Nick Rixey. And once a reluctant Rixey realizes there is more at stake than he realized, he agrees to help Becca in her journey to find her brother. With Becca and Rixey it was a lot of push and pull. Both intimately and professionally. They fight their attraction, until they simply can't anymore. I felt like once they gave in physically, they also gave in mentally to one another. They had created such a relationship before they ever fell in bed, it was basically the last stepto take in their relationship. But don't take that to mean there is any lack of heat or sex in this book... because there isn't! But along the way secrets have been kept, and tensions rise higher until all hell breaks loose. Rixey's team has joined the efforts but, not just to find Becca's brother. They believe they can prove the wrong doing of their commander that caused them to be kicked out of the military. A commander who just happens to be Becca's father. And in this twisted web of connections everyone's life is at risk.

Hard As It Gets is a rollercoaster of a story. It's intense, then sexy, emotional, then laugh out loud worthy. This group looking to save a hostage, ends up unfolding a story much bigger than anyone thought possible. And it the midst of it all two people learn to heal and love together when the scenes unfolding should be tearing them apart. Ms. Kaye writes a refreshing and thrilling book that I will be suggesting to everyone! You like suspense and mystery? Pick it up. Romance? Pick it up. You like heated scenes and alpha men? Pick it up. It literally has a taste for almost everyone. It was highly enjoyable and captivated me from beginning to end! So, go forth and buy it!

Happy Reading!

*ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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