Read and Review #23 - Eleanor and Park (Rainbow Rowell)

Title: Eleanor and Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publication date: 26 February 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:

The simplicity in which Eleanor and Park were written in is one of the things that drew me to the book in the first place. The whole thing about this book is simple. The words, the plot, the emotions. Eleanor. Park. 

This book makes me feel young which is weird because I just barely got out of my teen years and I wasn't even born yet in 1986. Walkman. Mix tapes. Talking on the phone. ACTUAL talking on the phone. Absence of cell phone and smart phones. Reading comics on the bus.

I instantly love Eleanor and Park because they are not your every day female and male lead of Young Adult books. Sure, they're both cute. But they're not attracted to each other because of their looks. If I have to call their attraction something, it would be like a slow, building one rather than an instant attraction. They're both so intrigued with one another that they were eventually drawn to each other. 

It's also not depressing in a sense that there are barely any tragic past involved. Eleanor may live an unfortunate life but at least she doesn't wallow in it and let it take over her mind most of the time. She is being a typical girl her age; thinking about that boy that she's interested in. Not distancing herself from everyone and try to appear deep by using irrelevant anecdotes to depict how she's coping with her life.

The thing about first love is that you're always thinking of that person, wondering what they're doing and if they're thinking of you. Going through every single thing that you said to him/her that day. These things are easily portrayed between Park and Eleanor, albeit a little fast. Once they're in, they're in it seriously.

It's a simple, fast read. Thrice the average number of chapters for a book. Minimal depth but there are still character development present. I don't know how, normally I would find books written like this mundane for my taste. But I was so intrigued, interested in Eleanor and Park's relationship. 

If anyone were to ask me to describe this book, it would be fluff. Nothing much going on, little drama, tons of Eleanor and Park. I was not happy about the ending but I think it is a good one. They're both happy, aren't they? If it has a sequel (which is highly unlikely), I would pick it up as soon as I can get my hands on it. Definitely recommended for anyone who likes fluff in their story. (psst, fluff as in cute stuff not marshallows or that thing about pornstars)

Read and Review #22 - Kiss The Sky (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Kiss the Sky

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication date: 22 January 2014

Publisher: K.B. Ritchie (Independent Book Publishers Association)

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared.

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

This New Adult Standalone Romance can be described as Friends meets The Real World. Expect fist fights, drugs, sex of varying degrees, crude humor and competitive alpha males. Definitely for mature readers audiences only.

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:
A very concupiscent read!

Kiss the Sky is a spin off from the Addicted series written by the Ritchie twins. It is a standalone but please, PLEASE read the Addicted series. You'll get to know more about Rose and Connor and the history of their relationship. Not only that, you'll also fall in love with Lily, Lo, Ryke and Daisy as well. It's a rarity to fall in love with all the major couples at the same time but Krista and Becca manage to do that without taking the limelight out of the couple in focus. Each character development is parallel with the storyline, maintaining the focus of the story while getting to know them more in the process. 

When Rose was introduced in Addicted to You, I didn't really have a high opinion of her. She came across as frigid, strict and always try to inject herself in Lily's life. That was before I knew how important her presence is in her sister's life. Rose is the mother Lily desperately needed and from there I began to build my respect towards her.

I was very wary of Connor at first because of his tendency to hang out with people who benefits him. His confidence is his most prominent feature and I was reassured by his calm demeanour whenever Loren or Lily started to crack. To me, Connor has all the qualities of a leader and without a doubt I saw him as the leader of the group soon after. His famous bromance with Loren was a result of constant rebuttals from Loren's sharp tongue in his drinking days. And yes, I do ship them together. 

This book is so much different than the Addicted series. We get to see Rose and Connor as individuals who were affected by the scandal surrounding Lily and Loren. As a sister. As a friend. They are the adults that kept their little group of six together. And Rose wanted to show the world that they were in fact normal people with problems, not spoiled rich kids who lounge around spending their parents' money. And so Princesses of Philly was born.

Now, I watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I sometimes love it, sometimes I don't. Reality television opens a new channel for ordinary people like myself to see into the lives of celebrities. How many of it can you really trust? Do they really act that way in real life? Are any of it staged? Almost everything is real. It only takes good editing (good for production, not necessarily for the cast) to turn something trivial into a big deal, a good thing into bad. Krista and Becca definitely captured that in this book. 

About 61% of the book I was like this:

The other 36% like this:

And the rest:

I take back everything I ever said about Rose when it comes to her being so frigid. I can relate to her, about wanting to lose her virginity to a guy who would stick around. But I didn't expect for her to be a submissive in bed. She's a very fierce and strong woman and I thought that it would translate into her sex life.

"She didn't wish to rule a man in bed. She wanted to be ruled. But she didn't know how to ask without feeling weak. So she thought being alone, unfulfilled sexually was the better option. I'm here to tell her it should have never been a fucking solution in the first place."

 And trust me when I say Connor and Rose are amazing together as lovers. 

Connor is a perfect fit for Rose. The yin to her yang. The Clyde to her Bonnie. They are not very different from each other but the more I get to know them, I feel that they complement each other more rather than these two people who are together because they are alike. Not to mention the way they were so in sync with one another most of the time.

"That's the thing about being fucking smart—I  understand her better than she understands herself."

In a word, I guess towards the ending, it was really unpredictable. I was flummoxed by the change in the wedding plans but after two minutes I started screaming internally because I did not see it coming. And I liked it. LOVED IT.

Kiss the Sky is a story of a sister's sacrifice for her family. A son's desire for a family he never had. A woman's struggle with intimacy. And a man's search for the most important things in life.

Congratulations on your achievement at haunting me for months to come. Now I will cry in a corner because Connor just basically made me rethink of my choices in men.

Upcoming Release #3 - Be With Me (J. Lynn)

Title: Be With Me (Wait For You #2)

Author: J.Lynn
Publication date: 4 February 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Pre-order a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

Teasers:

*Images are taken from J. Lynn's blog.

Initial thoughts:

Jase is a mystery to me. I don't know much about him but I suspected something going on that has to do with his brother. I may be wrong but I'll have to read the book to find out more. He's the total opposite of Cam. At least, that's the vibe I got from him from the multiple appearances that he made in the previous two books.

As for Tess, I already love her from reading Wait for You and Trust in Me. Cam is very protective of her and I wonder how he'll react to his best friend and his beloved sister being in a relationship. It would be fun. 

J. Lynn has that style of writing that mostly comprises of dialogues and monologues. I love a descriptive writing but somehow, after two books, I am still interested in reading more of her work. Cam was confident without being obnoxious, Avery sweet without being tacky.

From the excerpt included in Trust in Me, I knew that it would be a good read. I am excited for the release and yeah, pre-order a copy now!

Read and Review #21 - Reviving Izabel (J.A. Redmerski)

Title: Reviving Izabel (In the Company of Killers #2)

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Publication date: 6 December 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:

The story left off at Victor leaving Sarai under the care of Dina Gregory, the woman who truly cared about her. Sarai continued life in Arizona, with a false story of why she left and an excuse behind the gunshot wound she got from Nicolas. But during the eight months since he left, not a day goes by without her thinking about Victor. About their time together. About her first kill.

And Sarai was not done. With a failed attempt at murdering Hamburg, she was then rescued by Victor. The man who she had been dreaming of. Victor had been monitoring her for all those months and after the events of her failed murder attempt, they were forced to go into hiding. And damn if he didn't take the rescuing part into a whole new level. Even in that very short kiss, I can feel the pent up sexual frustration between them.

The thing that I love about this book is the alternating point of view between Sarai and Victor. And a little flashback from Fredrik but I'll get back to him later. We get to see inside the head of Victor Faust and what he really felt for Sarai. He's fiercely protective of her and I am happy to report that he's not as lustful as most male leads where he thinks of fucking her every single time he sees her. No, Victor cares more about Sarai's safety than sex. It also has to do with the fact that he's an assassin and is always wary of his surrounding.

Now, in this book we get to learn more about Fredrik. His past, his job, his relationship with Victor. Before, he's known as Victor's colleague but in this book, he's Victor's subordinate. As for his job? Let's just say I had to grit my teeth when I read about his style of execution. It's so vivid in my head and I can still imagine it long after I'm done with the book. 

Strange and sadistic as it is, I kinda like Fredrik more after reading this book. And I sure am NOT DONE with him. He has a story and I want to know it!

This book has a lot of pain, like the previous. Everything was written in details such that I can imagine it so clearly in my head. It's as gruesome as it was cruel. I expected that when I started reading this book but I was still not prepared for the amount of violence in certain scenes. Like Sarai's training. Fredrik's execution style. Sarai's test. It will put you at the edge of your seat, or the edge of your bed if you're reading it while lying down. A very good sequel to the first book. Highly recommended for those who love this series.

Upcoming Release #2 - Maybe Someday (Colleen Hoover)

Title: Maybe Someday

Author: Colleen Hoover
Expected publication: 18 March 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Pre-order a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.

Initial thoughts:

Based on the books that I've read by Colleen Hoover, I know that I'm in for some emotional roller coaster ride. Good writing, epic soundtrack as usual which totally reminds me, this book already has a soundtrack. No, it's not a collection of songs from various artists made into a playlist. But a real soundtrack. Here are the list of songs in the soundtrack.

Clickety click on this link!

Every girl loves a guy who can play a guitar. And Ridge already won me over with his acoustic skills. All of Ms. Hoover's male lead have managed to capture my heart; Holder, Will and Daniel. And I am ready to make space for Ridge as well. 

Read and Review #20 - Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell (R.L Mathewson)

Title: Truce: The Historic Neighbor From Hell

Author: R.L Mathewson
Publication date: 1 November 2013
Publisher: Smashwords
Get a copy! Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

This is the story before everything..

Elizabeth knows what’s expected of her, perfection. She’s the daughter of an Earl and expected to marry well, say and do the right things with a smile on her face when inside she’s dying for a chance to escape. Thanks to an inheritance her godmother left her years ago, her chance will come with her next birthday. Her hopes of escape abruptly end when Robert, her childhood nemesis that she hasn’t seen in over fourteen years, comes back into her life and does everything he can to drive her out of her mind even as he steals her heart.

He hated her.

At least, he tried to hate her, but it was so damn difficult to hate someone that he couldn’t live without. He tried to ignore her, tried to focus on anything but her, but nothing worked. Somehow she made her way into his heart and started to make him want things that he never though possible, made him smile and laugh even while she drove him out of his mind and started a legacy by turning him into…..

A Bradford.

My rating:
4 / 5

My review:

I started reading this with a friend, Stephanie who actually finished it faster than me. Sorry I took my time reading it. 

Truce is a historical romance; the beginning of the Bradford clan and tells a history of their great appetite. It tells a story of Elizabeth and Robert Bradford who were childhood enemies up till they were forced to marry out of convenience. 

So basically, like all the books in this series, the hero and heroine hate each other. Hate and love have something in common, passion. And I definitely saw passion between Elizabeth and Robert. She refused to have an arranged marriage and would rather wait to receive her inheritance. Robert would rather not marry at all. Typical hero and heroine of the 19th century British aristocracy. 

When they crossed paths again, they met as strangers. And what do you know? When they don't hate each other, they are actually good for each other. One thing led to another and well, let's just say it was pleasurable.

As the story progress, Robert and Elizabeth's relationship began to develop outside their hatred for each other. Passion was always brewing between them but instead of hating each other, they took a 180 turn in their feelings for each other. Did I ever mention that sex with a Bradford man is hot? No? Okay well, not to be disappointed because them boys got their genes (along with their love-making skills) from this man.

I give it a four star because of the writing. I read a lot of books by authors who write both contemporary and historical romances and still manage to feel the differences in their books. However, while reading this one it has that contemporary feel to it that rubbed me the wrong way because I really love how historical romances are written. Maybe 1940s-50s Western but not exactly 1800s British society. It's a good and entertaining read, fully recommended for anyone who loves the Neighbor from Hell series. A refreshing change from the contemporary ones.

Read and Review #19 - A Promise of More (Bronwen Evans)

Title: A Promise of More (The Disgraced Lords #2)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Publication date: 15 April 2014
Publisher: Random House Publishing - Loveswept

Synopsis:

In the second novel in Bronwen Evans’s sexy new Disgraced Lords series, two very independent souls find themselves fighting to resist a deepening passion.

When Beatrice Hennessey sets out to confront Lord Coldhurst, the notorious rogue who killed her brother in a duel, her intent is to save her family from destitution. She’s determined to blackmail the man into a loveless marriage. She’ll make the wealthy Lord Coldhurst pay for the rest of his life. But while greeting his ship, Beatrice takes a tumble into the Thames—only to be fished out by a pair of strong masculine arms that tempt her to stay locked in their heated embrace forever. That is, until she realizes those arms belong to Sebastian Hawkestone, Lord Coldhurst himself.

The little drowned mermaid has an interesting proposition indeed; one that Sebastian is surprised to find quite agreeable. Although he’s had women more beautiful, she is pleasing to the eye, and besides, it’s time he fathered an heir. Beatrice promises to be the ideal wife; a woman who hates him with an all-consuming passion is far too sensible to expect romance. However, it isn’t long before Sebastian’s plan for a marriage of convenience unravels, and he’s caught up in the exhilarating undertow of seduction.

My rating:
3 / 5

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, when I first read this book I thought that it was a beginning to a really good story. But towards the middle, I get overwhelmed by the sudden rush of emotions and passion that came out of nowhere that kind of doubled me over.

Because here's the thing. There's just too much going on that didn't need to be told. All I feel was emotion and to be honest these emotions are redundant at times. Don't get me wrong, I love gut-wrenching moments and crying over revelations but somehow I felt detached from this book.

Basically, there's a story. I have to admit I didn't read the first book but although this could be a stand-a-alone, it's barely holding itself together. At first I was curious about the Libertine Scholars, the six handsome titled lords who were friends and are the backbone of this series. But then, THEN, Sebastian asked Beatrice who the Libertine Scholars were and she started listing them ONE by ONE.

Why? Their names were jam-packed in a paragraph along with their titles and mind you, there were 5 other names to memorize because they appear in the book at random times. It's like the author wants all of them to have equal appearance in the book but really I can only remember 3 of them. Quite a feat I must say, with the emotions brewing in every page.

Sebastian and Beatrice's lovestory is mediocre at best. Sure, there were moments where I felt a lump in my throat when they were fighting and a burst of emotion rolled in after. But it died down quickly because the writing was prolonging the moment and I ended up skimming the whole scene. And also, how could you think about your brother's death and still get aroused rather fiercely five minutes later?

It's an okay read for me. Unfortunately, it won't be a memorable one. The writing is good, but the pacing needs work. The climax felt, well, not satisfying enough. I always love a marriage of convenience and this book definitely hit the emotional part of it. It's just that, there was lack of back story and it felt rushed, like the author spent too much detail in one scene and lacking in another. 

Read and Review #18 - The Do-Over (M.K. Schiller)

Title: The Do-Over

Author: M.K. Schiller
Publication date: 7 October 2013
Publisher: Loose Id
Get a copy! Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Arrogant womanizer Kyle Manchester hates blind dates; however, when best friend, Brad calls in a favor, insisting Kyle take out his girlfriend’s sister, Kyle reluctantly agrees. Attorney Lanie Carmichael’s appearance is no surprise. She is dowdy, awkward, and dressed in so many layers she resembles a wedding cake, but not in an edible way. Her brazen attitude though, astonishes him, especially when she explains she has no interest in gorgeous Kyle. Lanie Carmichael is in love with Brad, and wants Kyle’s assistance in winning his best friend’s heart.

Kyle gradually accepts, justifying that the mystery of Lanie has sparked his natural, thirsty curiosity. As an ambitious journalist, he also can’t resist the Pulitzer worthy scoop she offers him. However, as Lanie sheds more layers, both emotionally and physically, Kyle begins to examine his life choices, and his true feelings for this enigmatic girl. With Kyle’s support, Lanie begins to unravel the secrets of her past, and the deep pain that has quietly defined her life. As they each learn more about themselves and each other, both question how a relationship built on fraudulent lies between two broken people could ever survive.

My rating:

5 / 5

My review:

My first erotica of the year! And it's fantabulous!

I was expecting tons of kinky sex with mediocre emotional attachment but this book has more emotional attachment than sex scenes. I immediately fell for Kyle despite his arrogance and shallow thinking of women. I mean, he's the typical arrogant, womanizing hero. But Lanie, now she's one of those rare heroines. She didn't fall for Kyle immediately. She didn't even try to act all pretentious around him. Their first encounter spoke nothing but intelligence and I am glad to have read that so early on in the book. No 'He's so fucking hot' and 'His biceps are amazing and his eyes are a beautiful shade of the fucking ocean'. I am so done with those shit. Best of all? No beating around the bush. No sugarcoating anything. 

At first, I didn't understand the way Lanie kept hiding herself under thick layer of clothings and became such a pushover around others except for Kyle. She was a fierce woman who knows what she wants and wouldn't hesitate to ask for it. And she wanted Brad. Brad, her colleague, a nice, charming guy and also, her sister Cassie's boyfriend. And to get Brad, she needed Kyle's help.

Now, having read tons of books like this I already expected what's going to happen and I thought, 'Well here goes the same ol' story again'. And I wasn't wrong. However, I was expecting it to be accompanied by hot sex and all that kinky-ness. 

But each sex scenes were so tender and full of emotion, mainly in Kyle's part. I mean, the man told her that they would be friends with benefits but it seems that he had been too involved earlier than her. Lanie kept her distance although I have an idea when she actually fell for him. Took him a while to coax her out of her shell that was built from self-preservation.

They have similar reasons for acting the way they did and as their secrets were unravelled, I began to understand them more. I like Lanie who was fierce without being annoying or bossy and Kyle, whose faux arrogance hid a sweet, sensitive guy.

You know who I definitely despise though? Cassie and her mother. They were so pretentious and the way they treated Lanie as if she's a disappointment made me want to punch some sense into them. I get the reason why but they were so enmeshed with their past and really, they don't deserve Lanie's love for them. When Lanie had enough of them and decided to cut them loose, I felt like it wasn't satisfying enough. I just wished someone punched Cassie at least. (I do realize that my name is also Casey))

Great read. I can't believe I finished it in one sitting. I always thought that erotica had this bunch of sex scenes in various positions, involving toys and maybe a little BDSM but this is definitely just purely emotional sex. If there are erotica written this way, I wouldn't mind venturing into this genre more.

Read and Review #17 - Just One Night (Lauren Layne)

Title: Just One Night (Sex, Love and Stiletto #3)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 11 March 2014

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Synopsis:

In Lauren Layne’s sizzling Sex, Love & Stiletto series, New York’s hottest “sexpert” has been living a lie—and it’s up to one man to keep her honest…all night long.

Riley McKenna knows sex—good sex, bad sex, kinky sex…Her articles in Stiletto magazine are consistently the publication’s most scandalous—and the most read. But Riley has a secret…all that sexy talk? Not an ounce of it comes from personal experience. Her own bedroom escapades are more limited than even her best friends know. When her editor requests that all columnists write something more personal for Stiletto’s anniversary issue, Riley turns to the one man she’s always been able to count on and calls in the favor of a lifetime.

Sam Compton would do anything for Riley McKenna. Anything except be her experimental sex toy. He refuses her request. At least until she tells him that it’ll either be him or she’ll go to someone else. And that, Sam can’t accept. Reluctantly he agrees to her terms—one night of completely meaningless sex in the name of research. Riley thinks she’s prepared for what awaits her in Sam’s bed. After ten years of writing about sex, actually doing it shouldn’t be that different, right? So wrong. What starts as “one time only” becomes “just one more time.” And then one more. And before they know it, Riley and Sam learn first-hand that when it comes to love, there’s no such thing as just one night.

My rating:

5 out of 5 people want it to be more than just one night

My review:

*ARC generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love love love Lauren Layne's work! So far she has 4 published books and I have read and reviewed each and every one of them. Not to mention, some of her influences are my absolute favorite authors.

Just One Night is the third book of the Sex, Love & Stiletto series which as of November 2013, became my new favorite contemporary romance series. This series revolves around the lives of three best friends; Julie, Grace and Riley, the princesses of a famous female magazine called Stiletto. Princesses because they write the most read columns in the magazine that focuses on dating, relationship and sex. Or in Mitchell (Julie's fiance's) words "Kiss, Cuddle and Fuck". Technically, he didn't say that first but PICK UP THE FIRST BOOK AND READ IT TO FIND OUT.

Anyways, Riley writes about sex—anything and everything about sex. Her best friends are envious of how brazenly she acts or talks but get this, their little sex kitten of a best friend, is almost a virgin. YES. ALMOST. A. VIRGIN. 

With the 50th anniversary of the magazine coming up, their fabulous editor in chief, Camille decided to do something to celebrate their success over the years. Each writer would write an article that is related to their column and how much of it reflects their lives. In Riley's case, she would write an article basically revealing her sex life to her readers. And based on what she had wrote over the years, she had a colorful sex life. NOT.

So since everything she had written over the years had not been from personal experience, Riley decided that she wanted to experience proper sex to be able to write her article. And who better to experience sex with if not with Sam Compton?

Sam Compton has known Riley McKenna for a decade, and had been admiring her since the day he laid eyes on her in her kitchen. But his attraction towards Riley had to be cut short when he promised her older brother, Liam that he would not make a move on her. That promise lasted a full decade, until Riley approached him with a proposition—to have sex with her.

This is a guy who had been denying his feelings towards his best friend's sister for 10 years. And for her to come to him and propose something that crosses the line between friends is like a test that he didn't want to fail. But Sam was done. Done denying his feelings towards her. Done pretending that he's not attracted to her. And definitely done turning away from her. 

I love best friends turn lovers kind of story. Even more if they don't get along. Riley and Sam definitely don't get along at some point but they are more friends than enemies. And I like it. Their interaction, filled with years of building frustration gets to me and I can't help but get upset with Sam because he refused to act on his feelings. And kudos to Riley for pushing him again and again to pursue his feelings. 

"I thought I was doing the right thing by letting her go, but what I really was doing was pushing her away before she could push me away. But I pushed too hard, and she's gone. It's what I wanted. But that's a lie."

I like Sam for the fact that he's not like the other boyfriends (Mitchell and Jake) where he doesn't live in upper east Manhattan, clocks 80 hours a week and instead opens up his own business and doesn't live a posh life. He also has a distinct more reserved personality than the other guys and that's what attracted me to Sam in the first place.

A note to Miss Layne (if she ever reads this review), during Grace and Jake's engagement dinner it was stated that Julie is Mitchell's wife but in the epilogue, at Grace's wedding, Julie stated her own wedding is about four months away. So unless they're already married but hadn't have a reception (which I highly doubt), I'm guessing it's a small error.

Other than that, I absolutely love this book. And I KNOW there's a fourth one for Emma and Alex because seriously if they don't get their story I would go crazy. 

Read and Review #16 - When a Lord Needs a Lady (Jane Goodger)

Title: When a Lord Needs a Lady

Author: Jane Goodger

Publication date: 6 February 2014

Publisher: Kensington Books

Synopsis:

Lord Graham Spencer needs a wife. 

But not just any girl will do. She must have the money to save his dilapidated estate and desperate tenants. So when he meets a charming American lady’s maid on the beach at Brighton, the last thing he ought to do is kiss her. 

Katherine Wright is hunting a titled husband.

Or at least her mother is. But Katherine can’t get the memory of a most inappropriate kiss out of her mind. The handsome stranger who took her in his arms in Brighton was only a valet, but even if she is an heiress, she’d rather spend her life with him than some stiff British aristocrat. Can true love survive two false identities, two scheming mamas, and two lavish house parties where all is revealed? It can…

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to be rich heiresses

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember reading a bunch of contemporary romances and new adult books before getting started on this book and it was like a breath of fresh air where I don't have to deal with tacky instant attraction (although this book does have instant attraction) and unnecessary ignores. 

Graham Spencer was a broke marquess. Like dead broke. He could barely keep any servants and most of the furnitures in his home were sold so he could provide for his tenants and estate. And that was why he needed to marry a rich heiress. Fast. He was always on the lookout for meetings with heiresses and was known for the increasing debt he had accumulated from his father's reign as a marquess. He was also known to be very cold and distant company during social events, which also contributed to him not being able to find a wife who he could tolerate. While holidaying in Brighton Beach, he stumbled upon Katherine Wright, thinking she was a lady's maid and introduced himself as a valet to hide his real identity and to get closer to her. 

Katherine Wright was a rich heiress in a search for a titled husband, as do most American heiresses at the time. Instead, she met Gray, a valet while out walking in Brighton Beach. Her dress suggested her to be a maid, as to not gain attention from everyone else. Charmed by Gray, she agreed to continue meeting him and they were soon involved in a whirlwind romance. Until her sudden departure to attend a very important social event. 

The two lovers were soon reunited, no longer under false pretences but were met with more obstacles that led one further away from the other. 

I like historical romances for one thing, innocence. It was a fast, sweet romance between Graham and Katherine. I enjoyed this book immensely (probably because I hadn't read any historical romances in a while). I cried towards the end because holy shit I'm a crier and the part where Graham and Katherine's relationship began to take a downside, I really felt the emotions portrayed by both of them.

However, it was missing that one thing, probably the lack of climax (not sexually). 

I still enjoyed it but that one kick I needed in the book was missing and so I kicked one star out of my rating.