Category: Romance

Size Matters – Alison Bliss

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Size Matters

Find it on Amazon

I was at the library looking for a book by another author, and this caught my eye. So, I grabbed the three books in the series.

Being plus sized myself, I love the idea around plus size romance novels, but a lot of time the execution is way off. It’s usually a “plus size girl” who is really a Size 10 with big tits. Or, it turns into some weird fetish stuff (and I mean WEIRD). FYI: I have never put food in my vagina.

Back to the book: After a series of misunderstandings, Sam has to pretend to be Leah’s fiance for a weekend getaway with her family. I found the whole weekend and interaction with her family hilarious! At that point he’s trying to offend her family so that Leah will break off the “engagement”, but it’s so funny that there’s not that cringing that normally comes along with setups like that. Alison did a fantastic job of really making it a rom-com and not just embarrassing.

I like the way Sam stands up to Leah’s mom. She is a nitpicker and constantly hurts Leah’s feelings (all lovingly- like that’s an excuse). I loved that he straight up told her to back the fuck off – which is good, because I wanted to slap her too! I have friends who have momma’s like her, and I wanna slap them – Another FYI: You’re not allowed to slap your friends’ parents! ha.. I lucked out in the momma department. I’ve never had to worry about shit like that. But damn, that’ll fuck up your self-esteem!

I like Sam and Leah together. I love their banter. Their chemistry is hot! There’s lots of Sam that remind me of my husband, so I can’t help but love him. ❤

I love that there is a plus-size, rom-com, fake-fiancee book that I can enjoy! My favorite things rolled into a single book!  I’m gonna be looking for more!

 

The Bachelor Auction: A Bachelors of Arizona Novel – Rachel Van Dyken

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the bachelor auction

This is the cover of the book from the Library:

The Bachelor Auction 2

I like the Library cover better.

 

Find it on Amazon

This was so funny! I love a good dirty rom-com. And, by now, I’m sure you’ve realized that I’ve cleaned the Rachel Van Dyken section of the library out. I’ve turned into a super fan of hers! This is the first book in a series about 3 brothers. I can’t wait to read the other 2!

I liked Brock. He was gruff, funny, and loyal. And Jane keeps up with him. I like that she goes head to head with him. She doesn’t care that he has money, she doesn’t let him get away with shit!

It’s a very sweet book about healing and family, and sometimes family sucks and sometime family is awesome. Just like real life. There was a couple of parts that made me tear up. That’s the 2nd book in a row of Rachel’s that has made me cry. AAAh!

 

 

 

Infraction – Rachel Van Dyken

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Infraction

Find it on Amazon

This is the 2nd book of the Players Game Series. As you know, I really liked Book 1, and I’m glad Rachel continued the story and we got to find out what happened to Miller after Emerson and Sanchez got together. Oh Sanchez….I would talk about my love for Sanchez more, but this book wasn’t really about him – though he’s around.

I really liked Kinsey and Miller in Fraternize, and I was glad they got together. I like the bickering will they/won’t they chemistry that Rachel has written into them. This book really made me a fan of Rachel’s. – Like I went back to the library and got her other books that they had there.

As funny as parts of this book were, it also made me bawl. There was a lot of real life going down in the pages. And sometimes, real life sucks.

I was happy that it was also the story of Jax and Harley, it was a sweet and sometimes frustrating bonus to see how Jax’s story goes!

Get some tissues before you read this!

Misadventures with The Boss – Kendall Ryan

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Misadventures with the boss

Misadventures Book 11

Find it on Amazon

So, I found another Misadventures book at the Library! This is my 2nd one in the series I’ve read. They are complete standalones, so they can be read in absolutely any order. I read Book 5 first. This one was just as hot as that one!

This is the first book that I’ve read by Kendall Ryan – though as I searched through my kindle app to see if I’d read anything else, I have several books on there! I’ll have to move them up the TBR list!

I instantly loved the chemistry between Piper and Jackson. It made me a little sad that I’ve never used a dating app! Hahahaha.  And even though it is a “my boss” book, it was sweet and Jackson wasn’t a dominating asshole.  Sometimes it’s nice that the man is just a good guy from the beginning (even if he’s an alpha, I don’t think he ever strayed into that asshole space) and doesn’t need redemption. Lucky for us, Jackson may be a good guy, but he’s pretty dirty when it counts! 😉

Pretty Little Killers – Rita Herron

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Pretty Little Killers

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Another Library book! We’ve been hitting up the library quite a bit lately, and I really like paper books a lot more than reading on my phone, so I’ve been grabbing more and more library books for me.

I’m really iffy about this book. I really liked parts of it, and other parts not so much. The whole book reminded me a lot of the plot of The Blacklist, really. Even though it was nothing like the show. It had that same feel to it.

The vigilante killing of people who deserved to die. I liked it. I liked the fact that it was happening. And I was really kind of irritated that Korine and whiny Hatcher were trying to stop/solve these murders. Ha.

Whiny Hatcher…. that’s what I want to call him. He lied to Korine about being married (albeit separated) , but then seems to take it out on her that he didn’t answer the wives phone call when she needed him. He’s really an ass, I think.

I didn’t realize this had a romance(ish) substory line when I grabbed it off the shelf. And, I would have liked the book a whole lot better as a whole if it hadn’t. I liked the mystery part, and I was totally shocked at how/why Korine’s dad died. But, trying to put Korine and Hatcher into some sort of relationship irritated me. They are attracted to each other, but he’s an ass, why would she put up with that? I don’t know. It just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe that was the point of it? I’m not sure.

I really like Rita’s writing, and though this is the first book of hers, it won’t be the last. In fact, getting the link to the amazon product page I saw that this was the first book in a series. I will definitely read the next book!

 

Fraternize – Rachel Van Dyken

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fraternize

 

Find it on Amazon

This is the first book I’ve read by Rachel Van Dyken. I read it in less than a day. No joke. I read really slowly (only since I’ve gotten older. I used to read incredibly fast – no more!) and I still flew through this book. I could not put it down. Like I was irritated that I needed to cook dinner for the family – Ha!

From the very beginning I liked Sanchez. I even posted on my instagram that I was going to be disappointed because I liked him so much, but I was sure this book was going to be a second-chance romance. Not that I could blame Emerson.  I mean, Miller is nothing to be sad about, but Sanchez is my man. He made me all sorts of sqiggly! Ha

I really liked Emerson. I liked the fact that she was funny and self depreciating sometimes, but she was 100% herself. I loved the fact that Rachel wrote her as a curvy bitch in a skinny world. And made her strong enough to flourish. Some authors try to write that story, but the “curvy girl” always ends up a whiner who is trying to lose weight. I love that this was not that story! And Kinsey! I love her! Sometimes the friends in books really get on my nerves, but Kinsey could be my buddy!

I grabbed #2 (Infraction) when I got this one from the library, and I can’t wait to start it! I am a new fan of Rachel – and sports romances it seems!

 

For real though, in real life, can you imagine how hard it must be to be with a pro athlete?! Women all over them? I wonder if teammates are really the assholes in real life that they seem to be in books and movies. There always is some douche who is trying to get players to cheat on their wives and/or girlfriends. I wonder how accurate that is. I couldn’t imagine being the dude who is pushing someone to cheat on their spouse/partner. That has got to be some bad karma mojo!

 

Misadventures on the Night Shift – Lauren Rowe

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nightshift

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I got this book from the library. I have heard of the Misadventures Series, and have even bought a couple, but I haven’t read any yet. When I saw it on the library shelf, I snagged it up.

I didn’t know they had stuff this filthy at the Library! I love it!!!

Abby is just minding her own damn business when Lucas Ford shows up and lets her be who she is!

That was my absolute favorite part of this book: Abby was able to be who she is. No more hiding. Lucas gave her an outlet to let her freakness out! He didn’t make her hide like other’s in her life, and he didn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to do. Most importantly he didn’t make her feel bad or dirty for what she wanted to do!

I think everybody has a little dirty in them that they feel like they need to hide from the world. Even if it’s just the kind of books they like to read. I don’t put all the filthy stuff I like to read (and I like some filthy stuff) on my facebook page. My grandma reads that shit! Ha. So, I really felt a kinship with Abby. And that scene with Camden, Abby, and Lucas together? Holy Fucking Hotness. That may actually be my favorite scene in any book ever. True Story!

I also like how Lauren hit on the downside of fame. I couldn’t be famous. I mean. Everybody looking at you and wanting a piece of you. Not knowing who you can trust. It’s hard enough just being a regular person to know who you can trust and who isn’t gonna go back and gossip about what you’ve told them. (Obviously I’m still holding on to some trust issues from high-school. hahaha.) Can you imagine if every conversation you have has the potential to end up on the internet (I was going to say “in a magazine”, which goes to show how old I am. ha) I really couldn’t do it.

Read the book. It’s awesome! I’m going to have to search for other Lauren Rowe stuff. I’m a fan! Like, I’ll actually buy this book for my bookshelf!

 

 

Shock Jock – A.M. Madden

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ShockJock

Find the audiobook on Audible

And here’s the book on Amazon

Find A.M. Madden on Facebook

 

This was the first book I read (listened to) by A.M. Madden. I really liked it. While I was looking up the book on Amazon, it’s actually listed as ‘Shock Jock – A Lair Novel’. Vaughn has a cousin who is a rock star who makes an appearance in the book. Turns out, there is a whole series about that band. So, this is a spinoff.. Sorta… I did not know that, and the way that it was worked into the book, I wouldn’t have known had the title on Amazon not gave an indication. So, for those who have read the 4 books in The Back-up Series, this will be a nice cameo. I will have to put those at the top of my “Books to read by A.M. Madden” list. If you haven’t read any of The Back-up Series, it’s way okay. I hate anything that is part of a series or spinoff, not in order. I always feel lost. That was not the case with this story!

I love a good friend to lovers romance. And enemies to lovers too, if you must know. This was great! Not only are Vaughn and Haven best friends, but she is his assistant. He is a radio sex therapist – Think a hot Dr. Ruth. It was sweet listening to Vaughn realize that he was as interested in Haven as she has always been in him. And, in fact, once he realized he was into her that way he jumped in with both feet. Haven? Not so much. I mean. Maybe if you’re in love with your best friend for 10 years and work with them, perhaps you’re overwhelmed a bit. And while she didn’t go so far as to whiny about not telling people they were together and not believing that he was into her, she was close and sometimes I wanted to smack her. Ha.

Haven has a secret. I figured out her secret from the very beginning. So, I assumed some of that was because of her secret. Still irritated me. Ha.

 

Lets talk about Tor Thom’s voice. Damn. He gives me goosebumps. This is the first book I’ve listened to by him and by Charley Ongel. I will have to listen to more! I usually listen to book while I’m in the van waiting in carline to pick up my kids, and some days I was finding myself leaving the house a little early so I’d be in line longer to hear more. I was impressed with both Tor and Charley having several different characters who were interacting with each other having totally different voices. I’m always amazed when I hear good talented narrators.

 

Doll Face: A Doll Face Novel (The Doll Face Series Book 1) – by Sadie Grubor and V Fiorello

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Dollface

 

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Sadie is on Facebook –  Sadie is V Fiorello. I don’t exactly know how that works. I don’t understand the “writing as” someone, and then telling people that that is you. But, it is what it is.

I met Sadie at Naughty Nashville. She is super nice and if I was a little cooler, I’d make her be my best friend. Ha. I was super nervous about the whole thing (obviously) and she was the first author that reached out to me beforehand and let me know to just breathe and that I’d be okay! Plus, she gave out cheesecake in little jars with the cover stickers on them, and I can almost always be bought with food. haha

I started reading Doll Face before Naughty Nashville. But, I put it down and somehow didn’t pick it back up to finish it. My mistake. Maybe. Because as I got to the end of the book, I realized there isn’t an ending!!! AAAAgh. It appears that the next book in the series, ‘The Geisha’, should be out soon according to the author notes at the end of the book. So, I don’t have to wait so long! I hate cliffhangers. I don’t deal with them well. Mainly because my memory is so shitty that I can’t remember the little details later. When something significant happens in “Book 2” that I should pick up on because of some randomness in “Book 1”, I totally miss it! I suck at book clubs! haha

Now, this morning I got on Amazon and like 14 of my deleted reviews are back up. woohoo. I guess. If I had to go through and pick 14 reviews that I have written, the 14 that are back up would not have been the ones I picked. But, it’s a starting point hopefully. So, I left a review of the book on Amazon and it posted immediately! So, maybe I’ll be able to leave reviews on the books that I get through Kindle Unlimited and the ones I buy directly from Amazon. It’s a start!!

My Amazon Review:

I really liked this story! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is that I didn’t know that it wasn’t going to have an ending! I don’t do well with books that have cliffhangers, and I wasn’t prepared for it! I can’t wait for The Geisha to come out!

I’m not into blood play and things of that nature, but this book wasn’t really about that, so those parts weren’t a put-off. This was really a story of two broken people who are both fighting their own demons and the acceptance they find with each other. People are scared of both of them and what they are capable of, but the 2 of them together brings a harmony. And in reality, isn’t that what we’re all looking for? Someone who looks and us and loves us because of who we are and not in spite of it?

I liked Mei for the most part. She was strong when she could have been a weakling for what she had endured. The parts that I wasn’t 100% in love with? Well, you can’t live through the trauma that she did, and come out completely whole. Parts of her personality that would have developed as a normal child into adulthood didn’t, but those holes made her more real!

Saint?! Oh Saint. I love him. He isn’t a good guy. But he is. He’s done bad things, and wants to do bad things, and needs to do bad things, but damn, I love him! He is gruff but can be soft. He sees the broken pieces of Mia and wants to understand them, without wanting to change her by putting her back together.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Sadie Grubor, and I can’t wait to read more. She really brought the whole story to life in such detail that by the end of the book I was bouncing. Especially once I watched the page numbers and realized that there was no way the story was going to end now!

And let us talk about Jacob. I hoooope Jacob gets his own book!

^^ Look at me learning how to change text color! I’ll be able to take over the world soon. And, when they write my biography, that will be the beginning. “She learned to change text color, and that was the catalyst for world domination”… For reference, my 9 year can put together a kick ass PowerPoint presentation, and I fight with the transitions…..

But, anyway! Yeah. At the beginning, with the first time Mei and Saint go at it with the knives and blood and shit, I wasn’t sure I was really going to be able to read the rest of the book, because for real, blood play scares me. But, I kept going and I’m glad I did. I really enjoy horror books, and parts of it had that feel to it. When Mei would flashback to the past, I would totally read that story on how her father got started with all that shit.

And yes, Jacob…. He can spar with me any day! ❤

Fade to Black – M.C. Webb

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Fade to Black

Find M.C. Webb on Amazon

And here she is on Facebook

 

Well, Son of a Bitch! I met M.C. at Naughty Nashville.  She seemed really nice. I didn’t know that she was gonna fuck me up! And this Book – Which is Book 1, so damn!!! – totally fucked me up.

It was hard to get started. Reading about Piper’s experiences with losing her dad and then with her mother and her boyfriend were rough. I mean rough. I didn’t think I was going to be able to get through that, but I’m glad I kept going.

Poor Piper can’t catch a break. When she finds any happiness at all, it’s completely ripped away from her. As she lost the people around her, my heart broke over and over.

M.C. has written a strong heroine who, even though she could easily become a stereotypical “victim”, is strong and tries to be the best person that she can be instead of wallowing in bitterness and resentment. She could easily become hollow and she doesn’t. She is still the light that everyone looks to!

And of course, there is Ryan. I really like him. He’s a good guy who isn’t always good, but who is? He is always good to Piper, and takes things that he needs to take and isn’t an asshole. I can’t wait to read the other 2 books in the series (maybe, cause damn I finished this book sitting in the lobby of my daughters dance class crying like a baby!) and see how he evolves more.

I love Josh. I love Josh more than I did Matthew. Am I allowed to say that? Hmmm. Maybe not, but I will anyway!

Read it! Cry! Keep going and let me know how much the other 2 are going to fuck me up more!