Desperate Chances by A. Meredith Walters

Sex changes everything.

And love can turn into an enemy…

Mitch Abrams, the bassist for the popular rock band Generation Rejects, has been in love with Gracie Cook for years. But Gracie, a complicated girl with a lot of baggage, was too blind to see how she felt about the man who had always stood by her.

Until one night of passion brought them closer than they had ever been before.

Feeling off balance and out of control, Gracie does the only thing a girl with self-destructive tendencies can do: end things with Mitch before they can really begin.

So Mitch moves on. With his band, his friends, and a new girlfriend.

Yet he can’t seem to forget about the girl who threw his heart away.

Gracie, who is still struggling to build a life after crashing to the bottom, finds it hard to forget about her one night with Mitch. And even as she tries to convince herself it was only sex, her heart knows differently.

But life is full of chances and desperate moments. And when Mitch and Gracie are thrown back into each other’s lives, will they seize at the opportunity to do things right?

Or will the rock star and the less than ordinary girl crash and burn?

My Review

Friends to lovers gone wrong!

Like the blurb says, 'sex changes everything'. 

Sometimes it makes your relationship so much stronger and other times, it ends them all together.

Unfortunately for best friends Mitch and Gracie, it was the latter.

Ugh, the angst and heartbreak!!

I felt for Gracie. 

She's trying to change her life, mend her ways and make a new path for herself,  yet her family just couldn't believe in her. 

Her mother's behavior towards her made me want to reach in and smack her!

Then there's Mitch!

I liked him a lot!

His feelings for Gracie were so raw, and so real! He wasn't afraid to show his emotions.

Sadly for him, his big heart was stomped on and crushed to bits!

Their connection was so strong that even I could feel it. 

I was rooting for them!

This story is filled with love, pain and sorrow! 

But, there's also friendship, camaraderie, and laughter!

I loved the incorporation of all the previous characters. 

Not only was this Mitch and Gracie's story, but it was like a big family reunion! What is everyone up to? What does the future hold?

The laughter I mentioned... Viv and Cole!!! Need I say more? 

Their naughty antics had me constantly laughing out loud!

This was the perfect way to wrap up a series!

Amazon US / UK

The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C Cherry

BLURB

I was warned about Tristan Cole.

“Stay away from him,” people said.
“He’s cruel.”
“He’s cold.”
“He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty.
We were both looking for something else. Something more.
We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.

Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe

MY REVIEW

Sometimes the only way to read a book is to go in blindly. 

No hints. No teasers. Not my opinion or anyone else's. 

That is the only way to fully experience the greatness of a novel. That fact is true for this beautiful and heart breaking story, which is why I won't say too much, except... read the book!

This was a deeply moving tale that had me crying my eyes out. 

Both characters are broken and lost.

"How did two people so broken find each other's shattered pieces?"

You will need tissues because you too will be shattered!

Don't be afraid though, along with grief you'll have utter sweetness and beauty. 

There's also plenty of laughter, friendship, love and hope!

There are many characters that each serve a unique purpose. 

I loved them all, but thank goodness for Faye and the ever blowing wind!!! 

Laugh out loud moments, mostly from her, for sure round out this beautiful and poignant story.

"Life was never truly broken; it was simply bruised some days. and bruises healed with time."

Brittainy C. Cherry knows how to make this girl cry! 

She also knows how to write a damn good book! 

Amazon

Crazy About Cameron by Katy Regnery

Blurb

Crazy about Cameron is the third of four books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome Winslow brothers who are all on the look-out for love. 

(Say what? Not so much...Brooks and Pres are OFF. THE. MARKET, and Chris is so distracted with his campaign, he can't see what - or who - is right under his nose.)

With her stiff posture, black-rimmed glasses and chestnut waves in a tight bun, Cameron Winslow’s downstairs neighbor, Margaret Story, has long been the unaware star of his filthiest dirty-librarian fantasies. But with a floundering business eating up all his time, Cam doesn’t have the open road he’d need to date a lady like Margaret.

Margaret, who grew up down the road from Cameron, has always thought of him as a cross between a bully and a tease, as likely to pull her braids as pull her leg. But he’s grown up to be a smokin’ hot businessman, and Margaret can't help daydreaming about what it would feel like to be under, um, with someone like him.

When hot-headed Cameron and buttoned-up Margaret start using the same shady contractor for apartment renovations, Margaret may find herself in some unexpected trouble, which forces long-hidden feelings to come out of hiding...and might just make way for two unlikely fantasies to finally come true.

Return to the world created in the English Brothers books with this fresh foursome of scorching hot Winslow Brothers! 

My Review

This is book 3 in the Winslow Brothers Series, but the first that I have read! Luckily, they can be read as standalones! But... I am intrigued by this family and want to read them all now!

Crazy About Cameron is a light and quick read.

Margaret and Cameron are childhood friends enemies frenemies! 

Their families and friends grew up together, until the unexpected happened and Cameron and his family moved away. 

Now as adults, as their paths cross once again, lingering feelings arise. They actually never went away! Elevator fantasies come in to play. Daydreams of what could have been interrupt their lives!

Lucky for them, and us.. this is not an angst filled read. These characters are no nonsense grown ups. They know what they want and say how they feel!

Sexting has never been hotter!!

This is a refreshing, no games, steamy story! Add in a touch of mystery and you've got yourself an easy going and hot romantic read!

Amazon US / UK

Sins of Sevin by Penelope Ward

Blurb

What happens when the one you want is the only one you can't have?

My name is Sevin.

Homeschooled and sheltered by my ultra-religious family, I was always taught that lust was a sin.

Elle was the girl who'd been carefully chosen for me.

After a long-distance courtship, I'd be moving into her family's guesthouse so that we could get to know each other in the months before the wedding.

Boundaries were set: no inappropriate touching, no kissing, no sex before marriage.

I'd accepted those rules and my fate.

Until I met the one I wanted to sin with.

That was when restraint became a problem...especially since THE ONE wasn't Elle.

It was her sister, Evangeline.

You know what they say about best laid plans.

My name is Sevin, and I have sinned.

**Told in alternating points of view, Sins of Sevin is a full-length standalone novel. Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. Only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.

My Review

"You're my truth. Everything else is a lie."

OH MY GOD!!!! 

What an emotional story! My words won't do it justice.

The book took turns I wasn't expecting, had me gasping through my tears!!

Forbidden, sweet, agonizing, sexy and so incredibly emotional!

I think it's the best of Penelope's books so far!!!

I was left in tears! Good tears, but tears nonetheless. 

Unconditional love should be the name of this book, it's definitely the theme! 

What would you do for the ones you love? What would you give up?

Agonizing decisions were made and my heart broke on more than one occasion.

"Sometimes, we don't get over painful things, we just learn to live with them."

I don't want to frighten anyone away with all my blubbering because this is a must read in every way. There's laughter and friendship. There's chemistry and steam. You want it, you got it! An absolutely well rounded, perfect in every way read!

"This was the one man my mind knew it could never fall for, and yet my heart had other ideas."

Vulnerability. Heartache. Intensity. Loss.

Amazon US / UK

Altered Allies: A Short Story by Cat Waters ((Tara Sue Me)

Synopsis

This is a short story and is not part of The Submissive Series. 

Includes a bonus excerpt of Cat Waters new novel, OBSCURED, releasing October 12, 2015! 

Emma Olson is out of options after being wrongly terminated from her nursing position. As a last ditch effort before starting over as a grocery store bagger, she interviews with William Richardson, a well known computer geek, said to go through nurses like tissue paper. 

William needs a live in nurse for his terminally ill Grandmother. He doesn’t think spitfire Emma Olson is the one for the job, but unfortunately, she’s the only one applying. 

When Emma moves in, the combination of her sass and his sarcasm will either keep them apart or show them they might be fighting for the same thing.

My Review

Quickie.

A short story is just that... short!

Because of the length, everything needs to be packed into one quick pretty little package.

Started out intrigued, she's looking for work, he's a tall, dark and handsome nerdy tech guy.. or so she thought, offering her a job. He turns out to be anything but!

His kinks come out quite quickly, and although she tries to hide it, she's intrigued.

I wanted more. I know it was a short, but it felt rushed. I believe you definitely can build a connection in that small amount of time, but it didn't quite make it for me. I didn't get much of a connection or feeling from them.

It was a quick roll in the hay with a touch of bdsm on the side.

What added an extra star is the added bonus of the first 4 chapters of Obscured! That looks like it's going to be good!!

Amazon US / UK

Lost in the Fire by Draven St James

Blurb

Aaron Evans embodies every complication Wren Tucker knows he doesn’t need. 
The tempting go-go dancer refuses to leave him alone and his attempts to get into Wren’s bunker pants don’t stop at the club, even the walls of the Firehouse aren’t safe. Wren’s control is only so strong, and his desire for Aaron is turning into a clawing need that’s digging through the many reasons keeping Aaron at bay.

Aaron is two cold showers away from hypothermia if the hot fireman of his dreams won’t give in to the lust Aaron sees blazing in Wren’s eyes. The only issue is, Wren is a forever man, and Aaron doesn’t have that in him to give, not with so many secrets locked behind the glitter and gold of his beautiful world.

As Wren begins to cave to Aaron’s delicious demands, he gets a deeper view of the tarnished landscape Aaron exists in. A murky pit of drug addiction that’s slowly dragging Aaron under, and Wren is going to have to fight like hell to save Aaron from it, to even have a chance at a new beginning with the man who has brought him out of the shadows. 



My Review

Wren is a gentle giant. He's a big, beautiful fireman who is also sweet and protective, not just of others, but over his heart and his feelings. 
He's hiding something. But what?


Aaron is larger than life. He's all that glitters and sparkles. Very flirtatious and full of life! 
But not everything and everyone is as it seems.

Wren doesn't feel worthy of Aaron.... or is it the other way around?  
Their insecurities broke my heart.
I enjoyed the sexual banter and innuendos that always left Aaron's mouth!
There's laughter and some sexy, sexy scenes. But overall there's also a sense of sadness. There's some tough subjects tackled here and it was all done very well.

Oh and did I mention Wren was a fireman? I think I did... so let me just leave you with a thought... wall sex! 
With a fireman!! 
Wall sex with a fireman I tell you!!
Um... yes please!!!

Fade to Red by Willow Aster

Synopsis

Dancing in pop superstar Beckham Woods’ entourage was the last thing Roxie wanted. Her life with little Leo was blissfully ordinary; she didn’t have time for the drama that stirring up old memories would surely cause.

But when Roxie took a spot on an international tour with Woods and rock icon Ian Sterling, the lure of financial security and her passion for dance pulled her into an emotional storm that threatened to spin out of control and hurt the ones she loved most.

Just as she began to adjust to her new life, it became apparent that danger was in the shadows, waiting for a chance to move...

***Fade to Red is a standalone novel featuring characters from True Love Story.***

My Review

I was really surprised by this book. It took turns that I did not see coming!

For me, this was really three stories in one!

Beckham and Roxie, Ian and Sparrow AND a mysterious someone.

Ian and Sparrow

If you are a fan of True Love Story, like I am, then you'll be ecstatic to know that Ian and Sparrow's journey continues in this book.

Where are they now? How has their relationship progressed? Has Ian really changed?

"The broken parts that made him who he was had been welded back together. The scars were there to make him appreciate what he had, but new skin had grown in its place."

"You didn't lose the love of your life and then get her back and not learn something from it."

LOVE!!!

Ian and Sparrow's love for each other has only gotten stronger and oh what a bonus it was to have those parts in Ian's POV!!!

Their moments together are not only about love and passion, but also filled with humor and real life.

Beckham and Roxie

Beckham is a rock god. Sexiest Man Alive. Celebrity musician since his youth and with that spotlight comes everything you'd imagine a rock star's life to entail.

Roxie is a beautiful dancer. She's talented beyond belief.. She's also struggling to provide a happy life for her family.

From the moment these two meet. sparks fly! Their chemistry is off the charts, especially when they dance on stage together.

You want them together!! 

The way he looks at her and the way she makes him feel!! UGH butterflies!!!

But Roxie is more cold than hot, leaving Beckham in a state of confusion.

 She has her reasons for keeping her distance, but the pull towards Beckham gets harder and harder to resist.

The mysterious narrator???

Who is it? WTF is going on? Can you feel the creeps?? I sure did.

This one has it all, sexual tension, romance, humor, sweet and adorable. But mixed in with all of that are twists and turns, creepy craziness and SUSPENSE!!

The ending... what the F***????

Amazon US / UK

Blow (Tainted Love Duet #1) by Kim Karr

2 fatal sides.

1 epic love.

7 days to survive.

They met in the face of danger. They weren’t looking for love. They both knew better. But they couldn’t stay away, and they fell hard.

He is heart-stopping handsome, fearless—and haunted by deadly ties.

She is breathtakingly beautiful, determined—and in harm’s way.

They should have parted. They didn't. They never should have fucked. They did. And now time is running out. One hundred sixty eight hours. That’s all that remains. While Logan McPherson fights to save them, Elle Sterling is forced to make a choice that could change everything.

When torn between right and wrong, tainted love doesn’t have a chance...or does it?

**Book 1 in The Tainted Love Duet** 

I was intrigued from the very beginning. It had quite the mysterious start to it.

What's going on, who done it??

Then came the attraction between Logan and Elle. 

Even with deadly danger hanging over their heads, their connection was too strong. 

"Like magnets, we were drawn together."

The lust and need was palpable. 

They were perfect for each other in every way.

But, they're both hiding secrets, they both have major hang ups. 

Elle's childhood has skewed her views on relationships and sex. 

And Logan's connection to the mob and all the craziness that that entails has left him scarred and broken.

Will she still want him if she knew his past?

Would he want her if he knew hers??

"When we were like this, we were in a bubble, and all the troubles of the outside world faded away."

These two are electric together! 

The story is fast paced, intriguing and sexy as hell!

But I must say..... WTF Kim Karr? Really? 

Why would you do that to me??? 

Is it November yet? I NEED Crush!!!

AMAZON US / UK 

A Desperate Man: Volume 3 by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine

Sex. Addiction. Lies.

One night changed everything.

With the sins that stand between Evan and Reagan, can a relationship emerge from a past that is so broken?

Or will the weight of their deceptions crush any hope of redemption?

"Smart. Sexy. And dirty as all hell. She was his equal in every way imaginable."

In Volume 1 we meet the desperate Evan and the little minx Reagan.

Volume two, true feelings start to arise and a relationship begins. 

"She was a fiery-hot temptress, and her appetite more than matched his own."

BUT, feelings were hurt, secrets were kept.. and then IT ENDED!

Volume 3 picks up right where the other left off!!! Thank goodness!

Who's lying to whom? Seems like in this volume, every has something to hide.  

What secrets are being kept and why? 

Can they be forgiven? 

"The question is, are you willing to wash your hands of him for good, or do you want to have this guy on his knees begging you to be with him?"

The push and pull of their relationship is very entertaining, not to mention HOT!

One minute they're pissed at each other, the next they're... well, you know...

"A good hate fuck never hurt anyone."

These two are perfect for each other. 

 

We've seen Evan change and grow throughout the 3 books and I am proud of him! 

He's a fictional character, I know, but I am!!

There's funny, there's sexy, naughty, dirty, sadness, hope and ultimately happiness!

"She tasted like heaven. Like something he'd heard existed but something he never thought he'd be able to attain."

Perfect ending to the series, and an excellent collaboration between two authors I love! 

Amazon US / UK 

Ride Steady (Chaos) by Kristen Ashley

The ride of her life . . . 

Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . . 

In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . .

Typical biker gang club.

You're my woman, I'm your man... let's ride!!

But then again, it's not. This club is all about family,support and brotherhood. There's no skanks, whores, women being paraded around. There's no murders, bar fights or drugs.

There are of course problems and danger, ok, and there was a fight and actually there was a murder... but that's not my point!

The point is, these bikers are a family. They love one another. They love their children, their women and their brothers. That part I absolutely loved!!

Carson's early upbringing and the beginning of the book was just devastating! I cringed and I got teary eyed. I was so intrigued and was just devouring this!

Later on things got a little confusing for me. There's a lot of names, people and goings on and if you're not familiar with the lingo or characters, you might get a tad lost. 

Ok, I got a tad lost!

Then comes Carissa. She brought silliness and goofiness to this rough and tough bearded biker that Carson turned out to be!

And let me say that I just absolutely loved Carson. Everything about him!

BUT, he was all mysterious and tight lipped and damned if one smile from a chick didn't turn him into Betty Crocker! That might not be the best analogy, but to me he seemed to change over night. It was all well and good, but just a little odd.

Regardless of all that, I did enjoy it and will be reading the next one!

Let's ride!!!!

AMAZON US / UK