Read and Review #28 - Unravel Me (Tori St. Claire)

Title: Unravel Me

Author: Tori St. Claire

Publication date: 24 February 2014
Publisher: Entangled Publishing — Brazen

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

Synopsis:

Letting go might be the key that unlocks her pleasure…

Attorney Cassie Blaire has spent most of her life living by rules. Rules that keep her life sensible, and on the right path. But five years after losing her husband, Cassie is saying sayonara to “sensible.” And it starts now—with indulging a need she’s long denied.

When he arrives in Colorado, all Brad Steele wants is a scotch before he has to play nice in the first face-to-face meeting with his co-counsel in an ugly divorce case. But instead, he finds her—a lush, inviting stranger whose dark eyes invite him to sin...and thirst turns into a raw, undeniable hunger.

Now Cassie is initiated into a world that has nothing to do with being sensible, and everything to do with sensuality. Under Brad’s guiding touch, she’s receiving an education in desire—one that breaks all of the old rules, and explores tantalizing new ones. And once she learns that her naughty one-nighter is her arrogant co-counsel, all of her objections will be sustained...

My rating:
2 / 5

My review:
"ARC generously provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion"

The first few chapters of the book is great. Until I get to the rest of the book. 

I'm all in for people who meet and part after a one night stand. A very hot one night stand. Cassie and Brad's encounter was refreshing and a good opening to the story in my opinion. Strangers meet, have sex then leave. No name, no info, no expectations. I didn't expect anything and that's why it was great. And then came the post one night stand.

It left a bad taste in my mouth because after reading the chapters after, it's like reading about two completely different people. Who is this woman claiming to want to break out of submission? Who is this man trying to be a dominant wannabe? It's hard to process their relationship because while I get that the author wants them to be two different people by day and night, it just didn't work out. 

I gave it a 2 rating out of 5 because of the first few chapters. If only it stopped there.

Read and Review #27 - Tempted by the Soldier (Nicolette Day)

Title: Tempted by the Soldier (Falling for You #2)

Author: Nicolette Day

Publication date: 24 February 2014

Publisher: Entangled Publishing — Brazen

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

Synopsis:

When one touch isn’t enough, why resist?

Road trips are supposed to be fun. Or, at least, full of hot sex. For photographer Lilly Grayson, the fifteen-hour drive to her friend’s wedding with Nate Jennings will be neither. Not that Nate isn’t sexy—the man is six-foot-three-inches of mouth-watering Marine. But Lilly’s been there, done that…and he walked away. Now it’s time for a little payback. The kind that’ll make a man desperate for a taste of what he can’t have. 

And Nate wants a taste—so badly that he can barely keep his hands on the wheel. But the scars and ghosts of his last tour still haunt him. He can’t give into temptation, not this time. Lilly deserves a whole man—one who can love her the way she deserves to be loved, even if she doesn’t believe it can happen. And that can’t be Nate. Not when he’s leaving again in two weeks, and this time, he’s not sure he’ll return...

My rating:
3.5 / 5

My review:
*ARC generously given by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love roadtrips. It's one of the best ways to get to bond with someone and have fun at the same time. In this story, Lilly and Nate were previously linked but Nate left her after a one night stand. I hadn't read the first book, but from the glimpses in this book, it was stated that Lilly and Nate met each other again multiple times after their one night stand, with much hostility on Lilly's part. I mean yeah, she deserves to be mad for being treated like a whore.

The thing is, I don't really find myself connected to Lilly or able to relate to her. She may be headstrong but at the end of the day, she still succumbed to her heart. Her feelings for Nate never died down, so was his for her. Alas, my cold cold heart did not melt at this.

I've read a few PTSD related romance and yes, Nate really made it believable. Not only that, he blamed himself for the death of his fellow comrades. PTSD added with guilt is one dangerous combination. I can understand his need to push Lilly away. And Lilly was determined to help him go through it. 

The sex was HOT. The banter was ridiculously spot on. Emotional turmoil? Don't get me started. However, when you feel so detached from a character, no matter how good the story is, it can rub you the wrong way and tilt your whole view of the story. You start to scrutinize every single thing the character say and do, to find that thing to connect with them. I didn't find that with either Lilly or Nate.

Needless to say, it's a good story. Roadtrips, banter, hot sex, emotional roller coaster. They're all there. It will make your heart (sadly not mine) ache and melt. Maybe I read it at the wrong time, with the wrong mood but it is what it is to me. 

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 #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.

Read and Review #14 - Talking Dirty With the Boss (Jackie Ashenden)

Title: Talking Dirty With the Boss
Author: Jackie Ashenden
Publication date: 9 December 2013
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes and Noble


Synopsis:

Marisa Clair wants to get her artist dreams back on track after a life detour. That means no partying, no shopping…and definitely no men to distract her. Should be easy, but there’s something about her hot and exceedingly uptight boss and she can't seem to stop herself from ruffling Mr. Tall, Dark and Irritating.

Financial consultant Luke McNamara lives his life strictly by schedule – his OCD simply won't allow him to do anything else. And the very last thing he needs is a sassy blonde putting lipstick on his collar and messing with his routine. She annoys the hell out of him so why can’t he stop thinking about the color of her panties…and how free he feels when he’s with her?

Marisa and Luke’s plans to steer clear of one another are shot to hell after a hot office encounter. Now the two of them will have to learn to get along as they face a much more permanent reminder of their lack of self-control – a pregnancy.

My rating:

3 out of 5 flirt at work

My review:

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

Okay so apparently I jumped two books and got straight to this one. But I was never made aware of this series so what the hell, I'll just review this and be done with it. OCD is not something to mess around with. I am a little OCD, especially when I do sketches or do any written work. I get very uncomfortable looking at mistakes, especially visible ones and sometimes it will take me hours to get a perfect sketch or paper. I can understand how Luke deals with his OCD, everything must be in place, must be in order so his life can go on. It's excruciatingly frustrating and it can really make you look like a freak. 

But I couldn't somehow relate to him breaking out of his OCD, being so reckless at times around Marisa. Not only him, but I couldn't relate to Marisa as well. The whole situation was a little off to me but I continued on till the end because it was interesting and I wanted to know how Luke's OCD would fit into their lives.

"She was like a princess escaped from the palace, slumming it with the plebeians. And that offended his sense of order, too." 

I find the whole princess thing a little weird. He's not that very affectionate and suddenly he calls her a princess? It totally messes with my head because when I read princesses, I think of little girls in pink tutus and a golden wand! 

I gave it a 3 for the interaction between Luke and Marisa. Although I can't relate to them like I do with most couples, they are entertaining and maybe there are some people who would love them.

Read and Review #12 - Catching Claire (Cindy Procter-King)

Title: Catching Claire (Love & Other Calamities #2)
Author: Cindy Procter-King
Publication date: 1 October 2013
Publisher: Blue Orchard Books
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

When Claire Merriweather hires hunky future doctor Ridge Pederson to strip at a friend’s bachelorette party, she never imagines she’ll wake up in his bed. Well, she imagines it—but now it’s happened. 

Big problem: Claire’s memory is fuzzy. Did they do the bouncy? Or did Ridge reject her? Either way…oh-oh, her heart’s in trouble!

My rating:

3.5 out of 5 women suggest a hook-up with a stripper at least once

My review:

*A copy was given generously by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Well, this is a very short read. Like 39 pages long. Everything is fast-paced and on the verge of unrealistic. But keep in mind, it's supposed to be a sweet, short love story. 

Claire Merriweather hires Ridge Pederson, a stripper to perform at her best friend's bachelorette party. When she found herself in his bed the next day, she is mortified with the thought that they may had have sex the night before.

This is one of those love at first sight sort of thing. They are so attracted to each other that they kissed just hours into knowing each other. And then he became her date to the wedding. And basically it's a happy ever after ending. Oh look, so much spoilers. 

Not recommended to those who likes instant attraction.

Read and Review #10 - Deeper (Robin York)

Title: Deeper

Author: Robin York

Publication date: 28 January 2014

Publisher: Random Publishing House Group - Bantam Dell

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

My rating:

3.5 out of 5 bread consumed

My review:

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

I was not sure how to rate this book. I liked it but I wasn't in love with it. I took my sweet time reading it because the choice was either continue on and be frustrated or take my time and let the frustration ease. 

We have Caroline Piasecki, a college student whose ex-boyfriend post their sex pictures on the Internet. She's a normal, nice college girl. On her way to be a lawyer. Who makes straight A's and doesn't fool around at parties. Once the pictures are out for the public to see, she started getting harassed by strangers who want some of the action they've seen in the pictures. She found comfort in West, after witnessing an altercation between him and her ex, Nate. 

West Leavitt is the go-to guy for drugs in Putnam College, dealing from the bakery where he works. He majors in Biology, studying to be an anesthesiologist. Aside from dealing drugs, he also waits table, shelves books at the library and caddies at the golf course. West has plans, and it doesn't involve Caroline. But living across her in the dorms, seeing her every day made it hard for him to ignore her existence. 

I actually like Caroline and West, when they're not thinking about mauling each other every time they are near the other. I guess it's the hormone but really, it's like they only like each other for the sexual vibe they give out.

But sexy-time with them is hot. And I mean really hot.

And the funny thing is, once they let out their pent-up frustration, they actually think about something other than sex. Like West's family. And Caroline's family finding out her sex pictures. 

The ending felt rushed for me. The last two chapters anyway. There is so much going on that for a second there I was confused. I guess the word I'm looking for is easy. There is a bunch of thing left unsettled, unexplained and there is still this huge wall between Caroline and West by the end of it. Well, that's what cliffhanger means, right?

Favorite thing ever that I can relate to!

"I took this job expecting to be left alone, working when nobody was awake, not having to be polite or say words I don't mean, to act like I'm somebody I'm not."

Read and Review #8 - Either Side of Midnight (Tori de Clare)

Title: Either Side of Midnight

Author: Tori de Clare

Publication date: 11 July 2013
Publisher: Tori de Clare
Get a copy! Amazon


Synopsis:

WHAT IF THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE TURNED INTO YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE?

When nineteen-year-old Naomi Stone is snatched from her husband at knifepoint on the night of their wedding and taken to a deserted cemetery, she knows her life is finished. Drugged and disorientated, she loses consciousness as she lies in an open grave with a gun to her head.

But the following day, she mysteriously awakes to find herself unharmed and secured to a bed. She's in a beautiful bedroom in a secluded cottage in open countryside. Only one person knows she’s there – the man in the balaclava who’s holding her, feeding her, revealing nothing. Naomi senses the unfolding of a plan. She should be on honeymoon in the Caribbean.

Instead, she’s trapped with an emotionless psycho with no hope of escape . . . And his voice is chillingly familiar. Who is he? What does he want? What's happened to her husband? Where is she? Will anyone find her before it's too late?

My rating:

4 out 5 thinks the hero is scrumptious 

My review:

*A copy was provided generously by the author in exchange for an honest review*

It was a thrilling ride, this book. I may be a fan of mysteries but hardly ever when reading about them. Romance is more to my liking. However, when Tori told me about it, I was intrigued. And so began my journey from debating whether I want to read it to finishing it with an internal scream 'WHY END IT'. 

Before I get to the good points, I just feel like I should get all the bad out. 

1) While the writing is good, I get confused sometimes because there are too many point of views.

2) Shouldn't Camilla and Henry be called Mum and Dad? I mean, I know it's written as a third person but even though I know they're the biological parents, I can't help but think of them as step-parents because of the way Naomi and Annabel referred them by their names. I may sound ignorant because maybe there is a name for this style of writing that I'm not aware of. 

3) Certain parts can be polished to sound better and less confusing. Like the part where Nathan called Lorie for the first time and revealed the twist in the story. I mean, were it written in a less confusing way, I would  digest the information in a rather dramatic 'WHAT THE ACTUAL FAHK' kind of way.

4) The almost unrealistic connection between Dan and Naomi. It's the romantic in me saying, wait hold up a second there. I saw this coming, but there are so much missing in the middle! I ended up assuming they bonded behind the scenes.

I wasn't peeved that much by those, they're easily brushed off and aside from some minor retracing, I was able to focus on the plot. I love a good mystery. Not the paranormal kind, more towards the crime kind. And this book definitely delivered. The plan was detailed and realistic. But because I'm a sucker for romance, I was hoping for more interaction between Dan and Naomi. I was made aware that this book has little romance but once it's written in there, I can't help but want more. 

It's a good read, confusing if you don't keep up with the story (like I did) and recommended for those who likes mystery with a little romance kind of story. I enjoyed it, a bunch others enjoyed it, so why not give it a go?

Read and Review #7 - Love the One You're With (Lauren Layne)

Title: Love the One You're With (Sex, Love and Stiletto #2)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 9 December 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

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

Synopsis:

As a leading columnist for Stiletto, Grace Brighton has built a career warning women about rotten, cheating liars. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. After Grace takes a heart-mending hiatus, her first assignment is to go on a couple of dates with a counterpart from the men's magazine Oxford and report her impressions. Grace 1.0 may have been instantly smitten with the gorgeous correspondent, but Grace 2.0 has sworn off relationships for six months, and she's not falling for his outstanding bod and trophy-winning kisses... or is she?

Jake Malone wants to get back to the fly-by-night, who-knows-what's-next guy he used to be, and he knows exactly how to do it. Oxford is adding a travel section, and Jake—with no wife and no kids and a willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, do everything—is perfect for the job... except that his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. To get the gig, he must agree to a fluffy joint article with Stiletto. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace Brighton, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously...

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to live in Tribeca

My review:

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

First off, I like Grace. She's this good girl determined to not be fooled by another man after the love of her life cheated on her. Among the trio (Julie, Grace and Riley), she's the timid one. The peacemaker. She's not as flirtatious as Julie or exudes sexual confidence (wait is that the right term?) like Riley. And the one thing she thought she had mastered left her single and bitter. When an opportunity arises for her to be Grace 2.0, she wasted no time and decided to take the chance. 

The first time meeting Jake could have put him in the what-a-jerk category but the way he carry himself makes him so likable despite his playboy ways. I don't know what his deal is with wanting to be single but damn if his actions say otherwise. My favorite parts in this book all consist of Jake. Did I mention that Jake is hot? 

I find that the banter between Jake and Grace are realistic enough. The idea of getting two people trying to compete on who can read the opposite sex better is great especially because these days, both genders claim that they are able to read the other better. And the discussion is pretty heated most of the time. 

It's a cute read. Sweet without being tacky. And I read it pretty fast too. It's fully recommended for anyone who likes a cute and fast read. Looking forward to Riley's story!

Read and Review #6 - After the Kiss (Lauren Layne)

Title: After the Kiss (Sex, Love and Stiletto #1)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 26 August 2013
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and "I do"—she'll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

 Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie's "research." But what Julie doesn't know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he's looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he's exactly what she wants.

My rating: 

5 out of 5 wants to marry a Wall Street broker

My review:

*I received a copy from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have to admit, the reason I was drawn to this book was because of the author. I read Ms. Layne's Isn't She Lovely (psst, I wrote a review about it!) and enjoyed it immensely. I liked the way she writes her stories and I was hoping I'd get that in this book. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I liked this book just as much (maybe more).

Julie Greene is a columnist for a magazine called Stiletto who writes the dating column in the Dating, Love and Sex segment of the magazine. She had never been in a relationship that lasts more than a couple of weeks and most of them are for research in her columns. When her editor told her to write a column on taking the next step in a relationship, Julie almost declined because she doesn't write about being in love. She writes about how to date a guy. And so she decides to do a research: be in a relationship with a guy and make it to Movie Night. In search of a subject to use as part of her research, she met Mitchell Forbes.

Mitchell Forbes, a Wall Street broker wanted nothing more than to prove to his colleague that he is able to have flings instead of safe, boring relationships. Being a workaholic, he opted to stay in a relationship even when he didn't want to. And so he made a bet. He would have a fling with a woman and dumps her before she starts to feel anything for him. And who better to have a fling with if not the notorious serial dater, Julie Greene? 

This is not one of those instant love at first sight kind of story. In fact, they don't even like each other that much at the first meeting. They are the total opposites of each other, hating the other's way of thinking. But eventually, they found that underneath their clothing and jobs lies a different person that they can tolerate and fall in love with. 

Normally I don't like reading about falling in love at such a fast pace but the way this story is written, the idea of falling in love that quick doesn't seem tacky or strange. Their relationship is sweet and towards the end I couldn't stop crying. 

"Here was a short-term kind of girl begging for a long-term relationship from a long-term kind of guy who wanted a fling."

"For the past few weeks, I've been doing something I've done an awful lot of. I've fallen in love. Then I went and did something crazy. Something wonderful. I stayed in love. I stayed past the first kiss, the first inside joke, the first fight. But I did it all wrong. I played it like a game, and I broke someone's heart. And I broke my own in the process." 

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was how short it was. I'm a very dramatic kind of girl and while this book managed to jerk the tears out of my eyes, I wanted more. It's fully recommended for those who enjoyed banters, love/hate relationship and just plain old crying over fictional characters. 

Read and Review #4 - Addicted to You (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Title: Addicted to You (Addicted #1)

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publication date: 22 August 2013

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

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom. 

 No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own. 

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment. 

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. 

Their real vice may be each other.

My rating:
5 out 5 recommend this without alcohol consumption

My review:

*A copy was given to me generously by the authors via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to one of my friends on Goodreads (Jennifer) for the status updates while reading this book that made me curious out of my mind that I finally cave in and decided to read this book. I knew about this book the day it was published (because I stalk Goodreads every day) and when I read the synopsis I was a little interested but the idea of a sex addict is sort of a turn off because I thought it would lead to sex after sex and eventually turn this new adult book into an erotica. Again, I was wrong for my judgement in books.

The opening scene didn't hold back. No sugarcoating it with happy college experience like first day of school, meeting new friends etc No, it started by introducing us to Lily's addiction, then Loren's. And what better way to introduce them than a frat row?

A sex addict is not the same as someone who likes to have sex. Constantly horny =/= addicted to sex. It's a disease, something you can't get out of. Like drug addiction. A sex addict needs relief not just for fun, but because without it they'll start to feel the withdrawal, the shaking, the anxiety, basically losing their mind if they don't get their fix. That's how Lily is. She has one night stands with numerous guys every day just to get her fix, so she could function well and act like a normal person. She's so accustomed to having sex that she goes to a bar every night to get her daily dose of sex with an anonymous guy.

Unlike most characters in books, Lily doesn't have one night stands because she's suffering from some sort of abuse or is emotionally crippled. Strangely but understandably enough, her addiction just sort of started and she hadn't stopped since.

Most people don't realize they're alcoholics until they stopped drinking. In Loren's case, he's in denial. And like anyone in denial, he gets angry when being confronted of his problem. He acknowledged it but he refuses to accept it. 

The part where Lily was trying so hard to make him drink less broke my heart because he refuses to listen which made her use her addiction to distract him from his addiction. 

"We should talk, but what do I say? Lo, I wish you would stop drinking. And he'd say, Lily, I wish you'd stop having so much sex. And then we'd look at each other and wait for the other to say okay, I'll change for you. But there'd be silence so deep and cutting that I'd feel ripped open and bare."

They feed off each other's understanding with their addiction, which made their whole relationship convenient. It wasn't until they started being together for real that their convenience was shattered. He drinks more because she started to panic over being monogamous and he doesn't want her to suffer from withdrawals. She has sex with him more to distract him from drinking more. I mean, they care for each other so much but they are feeding their own addiction trying to cure the other.

This book has three prominent side characters; Rose, Connor and Ryke. All three play major part in both Lily and Loren's life. I thought Ryke was the most interesting the moment he was introduced into the story. All I could think of was, Lily must be salivating over him. Because he sounded exactly like the guy I thought she would end up with.

The ending was bittersweet. I don't know how the book could end better than the ending that it has. When I'm done, I felt so bereft that I wasn't sure what I was doing and the time and everything around me. All I can say is that it's a good read and it's hardly erotica.  

And now I'm off to the next book in the series!