Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

Erika 

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. 

His name is Michael Crist. 

My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He is handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. 

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away. 

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore. 

Because he’s finally noticed me. 

Michael

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway. 

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college. 

In my city. 

Unprotected. 

The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out. 

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true. 


***Corrupt is a stand-alone dark romance with no Cliffy

Well.....
The first 70% of this book I was completely engrossed and really curious to see how it was going to end!!
 It was crazy, effed up and down right twisted.  
The male characters were harsh, they were intriguing, especially Michael,  and holy hell something was going on and something major was going down!!!

After that point though, when the shit actually hit the fan and secrets were revealed....
I pretty much was stopped in my tracks! I had a complete WTF? moment.

Don't get me wrong, this was supposed to be crazy, this was supposed to have slightly disturbing characters, I got all that and I enjoyed all of that.. but certain events occurred and the reactions and behaviors from that point on didn't make a lick of sense to me!!

The first almost three quarters of the book was a resounding 4 plus stars, but after that it just went down a peg or two. :(

Unfortunately the ending seemed to be rushed and certain 'activities' were thrown in that added nothing to the story. Nothing but an eye roll. Shock value maybe? 

I was left feeling quite disappointed after such a strong beginning.

I know I'm in the minority when it comes to my feelings on this book, but to each his own.

Amazon US / UK

Carolina Book Fest 2015~ Charlotte, NC

I had a great time at this signing! 

I made new friends, met new authors, saw favorite authors once again and was able to catch up with old friends!

I had the pleasure of finally meeting Beth Flynn, who is an absolute sweetheart and Heather C. Leigh, who I now have a girl-crush on! 
Unfortunately, I did not take as many pictures as I had planned on taking! Shame on me. Oh well, there's always next time!!

 Friday night before the signing. 
Cover Me, Darling's Marisa Shor, Shannon Lynne, Rachael Duncan, 
and Alexis Noelle

My coveted Beth Flynn goodies, including blue bandanas!! #teamgrizz

Here are the books I took with me!

 Beth Flynn's table!

The lady herself... Beth Flynn!!! Such a sweetheart!

 The always smiling and amazing M. Leighton!

Heather C. Leigh!!! 

My new obsessions!! But don't tell her that. She'll think I'm a stalker!

The awesome Alexis Noelle!

My BOO Rachael Duncan

And this is what I left there with! 
No, no, they're not all mine! This is our Bookaholic Girls' haul! There's a little something for everyone!

Nine Minutes (Nine Minutes #1) by Beth Flynn

 

On May 15, 1975, fifteen-year-old Ginny Lemon is abducted from a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale by a member of one of the most notorious and brutal motorcycle gangs in South Florida. 

From that moment on, her life is forever changed. She gets a new name, a new identity and a new life in the midst of the gang’s base on the edge of the Florida Everglades—a frightening, rough and violent world much like the swamps themselves, where everyone has an alias and loyalty is tantamount to survival. 

And at the center of it all is the gang’s leader, Grizz: massive, ruggedly handsome, terrifying and somehow, when it comes to Ginny, tender. She becomes his obsession and the one true love of his life. 

So begins a tale of emotional obsession and manipulation, of a young woman ripped from everything she knows and forced to lean on the one person who provides attention, affection and care: her captor. Precocious and intelligent, but still very much a teenager, Ginny struggles to adapt to her existence, initially fighting and then coming to terms with her captivity. 

Will she be rescued? Will she escape? Will she get out alive—or get out at all? Part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age novel, filled with mystery, romance and unexpected turns, Nine Minutes takes readers into the world of one motorcycle gang and inside the heart of a young girl, whose abduction brought about its fall.

Wow! 
I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading 
and I was pleasantly surprised.

This is a biker book, 

biker gang, 

people get killed, 

crazy things happen, 

but then again... 

it wasn't like any biker book I've ever read!

it was better!!!

It was sweet and sad. 
It was such a different kind of love story and the way it was told.. I just loved it!!

I thought I was stunned with the beginning.. 
but that's because I hadn't made it to the end yet! 

WTF? 



Wow! 

I was shocked!

Bring on the next book. 

I need more!!

AMAZON

Worth the Risk (The McKinney Brothers #2) by Claudia Connor

When a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.

Two hearts locked away . . . Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.

Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.

Both desperate for a second chance . . . Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.

LOVED!!

This was such an emotional read! I laughed, I cringed, I cried! 

Trust...

Love...

Forgiveness...

Is it really worth the risk?

Both Hannah and Stephen have been hurt. Their lives have been horrifically changed by tragedy. How does one move on? 

I fell in love with each of these characters. They are alike in so many ways, yet so very different.

Hannah is strong, sweet, and brave. 

Stephen is intelligent, assertive and absolutely gorgeous! 

Their journey is an emotional one. 

You'll be laughing and crying! 

Standalone? Kind of.

You don't necessarily need to read the first book, which is about Stephen's brother Matt, and a completely different and awesome story, but if you didn't and plan to after, then this book will spoil the first one for you, as Matt is ever present, as is the entire McKinney clan!

I love the McKinney brothers!!

I am so excited for the future and the books of the other brothers. 

Speaking of brothers.... Hannah has some pretty hot ones of her own. Future books there also?? I sure hope so! 

AMAZON

Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers #1) by Claudia Connor

They meet on a beach. . . . 
Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. 
And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, 
a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . 
Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. 
Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. 
This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . 
Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. 
And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. 
Something utterly, completely worth falling for. 

Absolutely LOVED this book! I am in love with each and every character. 

Not only is Matt and Abby's story sweet and beautiful, but the kids!! 

Oh my God the kids will tug at your heart. 

I laughed and I cried!!

This is a story of love and loss, abandonment, trust and family.

Definitely "Worth" the read!! I look forward to more from Claudia Connor!


AMAZON

Tell Me You Love Me (Fire Me Up #1) by Julie Prestsater

Stay. Stay with me. Stay here. Stay close. Stay like this forever. Stay as happy as I am right here in your arms, always. 

* * *

All I’ve ever wanted was to be loved, but if this is what true love is…I’m not so sure I want it anymore. It also makes me wonder if any of my memories of our once happy marriage are even real. Maybe I just conjured up the fairy tale in my head because I wanted…no…needed it so much. Who the hell knows?

“Molly just called to remind you about your book club meeting this afternoon.” He turns away. “I told her you’ve never missed a meeting and I doubt today would be any different.”

The door shuts behind him before I let a smile creep across my lips. Instantly, the hurt from this morning flees my mind and I feel nothing but giddiness. I have a book club meeting today, and let’s just say it’s not your everyday book club. 

Sure, my husband may never truly love me again…but who needs love when you’re about to get an eyeful of hot firemen? 

* * *

Tell Me You Love Me is the first in a four-book series called Fire Me Up—a sweet romantic comedy series about a group of sassy neighborhood women who have a serious love for steamy romance novels and sexy firemen. Lucky for them the local firehouse is just a few steps away and is in no shortage of hot firefighters to fill their wild imaginations.

I don't like the new trend of authors making the heroine 'into books' or the hero having a huge library at his house... that just bugs me. I think it's stupid and overused. 

This story is NOT like that! 

Lizzy works at a library, she goes to book club, she fantasizes over book boyfriends, 
she's one of us!!

I really enjoyed the dynamic of her group of friends and their interactions with the hot firemen. 
Yes, I repeat.. HOT FIREMEN!

This book is sweet and easygoing, yet hits its objective spot on. 
Love yourself and if others don't love you for who you are and how you look... 
then they aren't worth your time!

Ryan is a sweetheart. He was raised right and this book will have you swooning for him!

Super cute, funny, quick and sweet read.

AMAZON

On Solid Ground by Melissa Collins

When Jacob “Dax” Daxton returns home from war, he has to fight a new battle – the one to find his place in the world. The man who normally has a clear path to victory surrounded by brothers in combat is suddenly lost and alone. After meeting Beckett Ridge, a bearded tattoo artist, Dax’s journey begins winding down an unexpected path. 

Still reeling from events that shook his foundation, Beck has never been part of anything meaningful. Now faced with responsibilities foreign and daunting, Dax’s broken spirit mends Beck in ways he never even knew he was destroyed. 

As both struggle to find balance, they are healed by the comfort they find in one other. On the other side of chaos, they hope to find themselves On Solid Ground.

                                       

Dax is a young Army vet who is suffering from PTSD. While trying to adjust to life post military and frankly trying to find himself, he meets Beck a tattoo artist with his own set of demons and struggles. 

The first 40% was amazing, sweet and funny. I felt Dax and Beck's chemistry and friendship building and was totally immersed in their story. 

Unfortunately, for me, that's when things got a little too far fetched, sometimes silly and frankly it felt like every tragedy/obstacle known to man was thrown in. 

I am so torn about how to rate this book, so I'll just leave you with... emotional subjects, steamy sex and two hot men!

AMAZON