Rough Ride by Kristen Ashley

   

Rosalie Holloway put it all on the line for the Chaos Motorcycle Club.

Informing to Chaos on their rival club—her man’s club, Bounty—Rosalie knows the stakes. And she pays them when her man, who she was hoping to scare straight, finds out she’s betrayed him and he delivers her to his brothers to mete out their form of justice.

But really, Rosie has long been denying that, as she drifted away from her Bounty, she’s been falling in love with Everett “Snapper” Kavanagh, a Chaos brother. Snap is the biker-boy-next door with the snowy blue eyes, quiet confidence and sweet disposition who was supposed to keep her safe…and fell down on that job.

For Snapper, it’s always been Rosalie, from the first time he saw her at the Chaos Compound. He’s just been waiting for a clear shot. But he didn’t want to get it after his Rosie was left bleeding, beat down and broken by Bounty on a cement warehouse floor.

With Rosalie a casualty of an ongoing war, Snapper has to guide her to trust him, take a shot with him, build a them…

And fold his woman firmly in the family that is Chaos.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Everything you expect from a Chaos novel and more!
I love KA's MC world. 
Sass and sarcasm combined with hotness, protectiveness, love, and family. 

"...we take care of our own."

I enjoyed Rosie and Snapper's story—quick but filled to the brim with all I needed.

This story starts of with a bang...quite a few of them really. 

When all hell breaks loose, Chaos won't leave a man...or in this case...woman behind. 

They rally together and do whatever it takes to protect one of their own.

"Life, Rosie," he said gently, "is not about goin' it alone. It's about finding the right people to share it with who will make it better when it's good and be there to hold you steady when it's not."

Snapper! Ugh, what can I say? He is the quiet, sexy, man-bun wearing biker.

Hot as hell and loyal to the end! 

"Only thing you don't know about me is the way my cock feels buried inside you and only thing I don't know about you is how sweet you'll feel closed tight around me."

Super sweet, sexy, and like a walk down memory lane with all the previous characters present. 

The epilogue had me smiling and feeling all sorts of warm and fuzzy... then it left me intrigued. 

What does the future hold for Chaos? 

I can't wait to find out!

Amazon US/UK

Tease (Temptation Series) by Ella Frank

Tease - verb: to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it....unless your name is Tate Morrison.

It’s been four years since Logan Mitchell walked into Tate’s life and irrevocably changed it. Four years since the sexy as sin lawyer dared him to try, and four years since Tate won his love.

Now, as they approach the next chapter of their lives Logan is determined they won’t end up like many of their friends. Settled. Domestic. Boring. However, that’s easier said than done. With busy careers and working odd hours, finding time for one another is becoming increasingly difficult.

But that sh*t isn’t going to fly with Logan or Tate.

The two of them are determined to compromise to get what it is they want, and what they want is each other.

Tease is the sexy, tantalizing continuation of the two men who stole your heart... and popped your cherry.

What do you do when one of your favorite authors announces she's adding to one of your favorite series?? You do a little dance... that's what! After you finish screaming, that is!

Tease to me was a loving and very sweet, where are they now kind of read. Not only that, but some matters that were previously left unfinished/unanswered where brought to light and touched on.

It wasn't a drama-filled... OMG what happens now... it was like visiting with old friends for me (unfuckingbelievably hot friends that do unbelievably hot things to each other).

A sweet revisit of our guys... 

I know, Logan and sweet? no worries, still lustful and hot as only L&T can be, but at the same time, so very loving with a  family-esque feel to it!

"kiss"

Can't wait to see what happens next!!

Amazon US / UK

Mack Daddy by Penelope Ward

They called him Mack Daddy. No, seriously, his name was Mack. Short for Mackenzie. Thus, the nickname. Perfect, right?

So was he: perfect. The perfect physical male specimen.

At the private school where I taught, Mack Morrison was the only man around in a sea of women.

Everyone wanted a piece of the hot single father of the sweet little boy.

I was riddled with jealousy, because they didn’t know that—to me—he was much more.

They didn’t know about our past.

He’d chosen my school for his son on purpose, because Mack and I, we had unfinished business.

As my friend Lorelai so eloquently put it: “Unfinished business between two people who are clearly attracted to each other is like an eternal case of blue balls.” And I was suffering in pain from my case.

I was still intensely attracted to Mack. I tried to resist him, immersing myself further into a relationship with another man just to protect my heart.

Not to mention, getting involved with a parent was strictly against school rules. But seeing Mack day in and day out was breaking me down.

And soon I might be breaking all the rules.

Author's note – Told in alternating points of view, Mack Daddy is a full-length standalone novel.

This book had such a different feel to it. It put off a vibe of melancholy, of deep longing, of honesty.

Yes, there's hot hot hotness going on, there's much laughter and sarcasm, and a hilarious next door neighbor... but the overall vibe was different for me, and I really enjoyed it.

I appreciate how you get what you want right off the bat! Penelope doesn't drag it all out to the end to find out WHAT HAPPENED in their past. I feel like you get it right smack in the face from the beginning. Yes, more is revealed along the way, so much more... but you don't go through biting your nails trying to figure out what their connection is. It starts right off with it!

"...regrets. That's what it's all about, living with no regrets."

This book was honest. Is that weird to say? There's no games, there's no lies... well... okay, there's a few times I wanted to cut a bitch... but...

The connection between Mack and Frankie was incredible, the chemistry, the realness.

I laughed, I teared up, I just loved it. 

"Well, once you go Mack, you never go back."

Amazon

Worth the Wait by Claudia Connor

Blurb

The first in a spin off series of the New York Times Bestselling McKinney Brothers, WORTH THE WAIT takes readers on a journey through young love into adulthood in a heartwrenching, second chance love story.

Nick Walker thought nothing could destroy what he had with Mia. He certainly never thought he would be the one to destroy it.

Now ten years later, Mia James is in Special Agent Nick Walker’s path once again and this time he’s determined to shed the weight of regret and finally claim the future that was always meant to be theirs.

It won’t be easy. Mia’s heart was shattered by Nick and now, just when she’d pieced it back together, it’s been broken again, bringing their past to the surface, including her own secret about that day everything went wrong.

***Every title by Claudia Connor is a Contemporary Romance and a full stand alone novel. No cheating, no love triangle, no cliff hanger.

My Review


Grief. Guilt. Loss. Love. Regret. 

Nate and Mia's story encompasses all of that and more.

Told in both past and present, I enjoyed the flashbacks into their younger years very much, the meat and potatoes of the story, if you will.

You see Nick's pain and struggles to raise his younger brothers and sister, you feel them in your gut, and you finally understand.

I must say though, I feel there was a missing chapter that was needed to connect the past Nick and Mia to the present Nick and Mia. Although you know how still so much in love they are with the other, their "reconnecting" was too instantaneous for me. After so many years apart and the way they left things, I needed more. 

Regardless of my feelings on that, I enjoyed this story very much.

If you're a fan of this series, there's a little bit of everything here for you. Not only do you finally get Nick and Mia's story, which brought me to tears more than once, but you get a little more about young Hannah, more Matt and Abby, and a little dangling carrot on Luke... perhaps Zach as well?  

Looking forward to the next book already! 

AMAZON US / UK 

The Bachelor Auction by Rachel Van Dyken

BLURB

Cinderella never had to deal with this crap.

Jane isn't entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn't she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes---or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire---maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn't anyone's dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk---even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it's karmic retribution that he's tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can't have. But while they can't have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . . 

MY REVIEW

Evil sisters, missing shoe, fairy godmother, mice... oh my!!

I really liked Brock in the beginning, when they first met, how he behaved, how he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders... I wanted to know his story.

The twins are like non-other. Silly, crazy... a complete handful.

Jane was a bit of a pushover, I must say, and I'm not sure if finding her backbone so late in the book was enough to redeem herself for me.

There was silly/funny banter, boy-meets-girl, family/brotherly love and a couple sad moments, but overall this Cinderella remake was just an okay read for me.

Amazon

Silent Waters (Elements, #3) by Brittainy Cherry

Blurb

Moments.

Our lives are a collection of moments. Some utterly painful and full of yesterday's hurts. Some beautifully hopeful and full of tomorrow's promises.

I’ve had many moments in my lifetime, moments that changed me, challenged me. Moments that scared me and engulfed me. However, the biggest ones—the most heartbreaking and breathtaking ones—all included him.

I was ten years old when I lost my voice. A piece of me was stolen away, and the only person who could truly hear my silence was Brooks Griffin. He was the light during my dark days, the promise of tomorrow, until tragedy found him. Tragedy that eventually drowned him in a sea of memories.

This is the story of a boy and girl who loved each other, but didn’t love themselves. A story of life and death. Of love and broken promises.

Of moments.

My Review

Silent waters... turbulent waters.
It's true, life is made up of moments, some more significant than others.
All it takes is one. One moment can change everything.

"Not all broken things need to be fixed. Sometimes they just need to be loved."

That's what this story is about... in so many ways and to pretty much all of the characters.

Brooks and Maggie's journey is an intense one. They relationship is like no other, as is this story.

"Being in love with someone didn't mean you only loved them during the sunbeams. It meant you stood by their side during the cloudy nights, too."

There's sadness, love, happy and sad tears.
To me this book was very unique, as was the way it was told. 
There's a different feel to this book, even in the way it was told. 
Brittainy Cherry is one hell of a storyteller. 

"The world keeps spinning because your heartbeats exist."

Amazon

Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens

The first in an emotion-fueled, New Adult series from the #1 bestselling author of the Thoughtless novels!

Too fast, too furious—and way too hot to handle…

Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father's talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team's newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie's skin. His insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who was handed her career fuels her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she's racing against Hayden.

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense—and strictly forbidden—attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind...

He's the cocky, sexy, street racer all the girls flock to.

She's a stick in the mud, strait-laced, disciplined, daughter of a legend.

She has something to prove. Her family depends on her.. the future of her family's company depends on her.

There's something about him that had me intrigued. What is he hiding? What is he trying to prove?

"We were both struggling for respect, we were both fighters, we were both underdogs."

They have uber chemistry, but can't act on it. They are enemies. Their relationship, friendship, is strictly forbidden!

You know where this is going...

I could not wait to read this. Anyone said to be "better" than Kellan Kyle has my attention! Who said that? Don't remember, but wish they hadn't gotten my hopes up that high!

Although Hayden is very likable and charming...

The beginning was a little slow for me, to be honest. I felt there was a lot of internalizing on Kenzie's part. It took me a bit to get into it. Around the 50% mark I got more of what I was looking for. 

Their relationship started to blossom. Things were getting real.

I started to see the characters change and grow. Especially Kenzie.

"I was beginning to feel very...free...with him."

Unfortunately things seemed to kind of veer off course a bit...

and things became a little far-fetched. 

It had a little who-done-it feel in the middle of a budding romance... but things resolved quickly while others had very strange outcomes.

Can't exactly tell you who done it, but I was just left a little perplexed.

Their connection was strong. Their chemistry explosive.

I just didn't get completely wrapped up in it as I was hoping to.

Not sure if this is a cliffy per se... but I was left a little slack-jawed in the end.

Will there be a book two? I'm not sure... but of course I'll be reading it!

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Bittersweet (True North) by Sarina Bowen

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago. 

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

Loved!!!

This story was sweet, lighthearted and sexy! The characters were funny and sassy, just like I like 'em! Each character brought something different to the table and I greatly enjoyed them all. All I could do was wonder who would be in which following book! I want to know everyone's story now!

I enjoyed the dynamic of their relationship as well as the electric chemistry between Griff and Audrey. 

Griff!!!

Griff is a sexy lumberjack farmer. Need I say more??

This story gave off a very close family-bond vibe. I felt very much at home. Families gather around the table with food and chatter, theirs did like mine does. I loved it!

And food!! There is so much talk of food, produce, cooking... I was in heaven!

A very cute book and great beginning to a new series. I can't wait for more!!

Amazon US / UK

Fighting Fate (The Fighting Series, #6) by J.B. Salsbury

Axelle’s broken.
I live to hold her together.

Killian McCreery only has two dreams . . .
Fight for the UFL.
And Axelle.

He’s watched her give her time and her body to men who don’t deserve to breathe her air. He’s waited, worked hard to become the kind of man she deserves, hoping one day, when the time is right, he’d get the opportunity to make her happy. After a painful anniversary, he finally gets his chance.

But life has a way of sucker-punching its victims—striking when they least expect it in the most devastating ways.

Killian loves me.
But I screwed up. Big time.

Axelle Daniels appears to be the typical college student—parties, hangovers, and men. No one knows that inside she’s a mess, and no amount of booze or meaningless relationships have managed to fill the cracks in her heart. But Killian knows. He’s been there since the night it all began and has never left her side.

When she wakes up one morning to find the consequences of her actions have caught up to her, even Killian’s white-knighthood can’t save her now.

Fate is put to the test when, for the first time in their five-year friendship, they no longer have each other to lean on. When he becomes a UFL superstar, she hardly recognizes the man he used to be. And she no longer needs him to hold her together.

With the foundation of their friendship gone, they’ll discover that even a love that is meant to be needs to be fought for and destiny is a choice

This was a great read! 
There was a certain point where I was trudging along, enjoying the story but about to update my status and call it a night. 
I happened to see a couple of reviews that said they cried like crazy! 
I thought... WTF? 
Why am I not feeling it like them? 
Why am I not crying?? 
I don't get it.

Well, Judy... 
because you hadn't turned the page yet!
OMG, did I cry!
I may have cried the last half of the book!

Killian and Axelle! 
I've been waiting for their story and I was so not disappointed. 

Axelle, we all know her story. She's had it rough in the trust and abandonment department. Her insecurities are endless. Is she worthy enough? Will this one stick around? Will he love her?

"Some of our biggest mistakes end up being our greatest blessings."

Killian is amazing. He's everything you want in a friend and lover. He's kind, considerate and thoughtful. He's gorgeous and talented, but not boastful. He's protective and he'll do absolutely everything he has to for those he loves.
He's the ultimate book boyfriend.

JB knows how to write big, tough men with a heart of gold, and that is exactly what Killian is!
This story was sweet, tender, and loving. It was funny and sexy! At the same time it kept me on my toes. There was angst, drama and the unknown. 
Will he? Won't he?

As with all the books in the Fighting Series these characters are a family. 
All for one and one for all! 
I know, wrong tag line, but still, I love the camaraderie and friendship that is ever present.
KO for sure!!

Amazon US/ UK

Worth it All (The McKinney Brothers #3) by Claudia Connor

-BLURB-

She’s fighting for control. . . . Paige Roberts learned to fend for herself growing up. Now she’s doing everything possible to give her daughter, Casey, the stability she never had. But when the vivacious five-year-old decides she’s done wearing her prosthesis, Paige faces her toughest challenge yet: trusting a handsome, brooding stranger who simply wants to help.

He’s struggling to connect. . . . JT McKinney lost more than his leg in a car accident that stole his dreams of pro football. Eight years later, he's made a new life for himself far away from his old one. His business is developing cutting-edge prosthetics and he’s more than happy to turn his attention to machines instead of people. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing.

Will they take a chance on love? . . . When JT gets the chance to help Paige’s daughter, he takes it. He never planned on the two of them tearing down his walls or teaching him to believe in himself again. Paige might not believe in happily ever afters, but JT wants more than anything to be her prince. They’ll both have to let go of the past if they want a future.


-MY REVIEW-

This was such a great story. 
I am a huge fan of Claudia's writing and her McKinney men!!!
JT was perfect!



Emotionally and physically scarred as a teen, he's harbored feelings of guilt, resentment and anger for years.
Unlike his brothers and sister, married with children and all living nearby, JT lives clear across the country. He's a loner. He sticks to his job and his close nit group of friends.

Paige is adorable. She's sweet and kind and one hell of a mother! This is where Claudia knows how to get you! She's throws in a kid! One who you can't help but fall completely in love with!!!
She got me again!
Paige's daughter is a delightful little girl that melted my heart.... and JT's!



This story was sweet and tender. There were funny moments, times of sadness and let's not leave out the sexiness going on!

Although a tiny bit of angst in there, this story was an easy going, sweet romance about life, love and family! 


Amazon US / UK