Tag Archives: Humour

Doppelbanger

By Heather M. Orgeron

Synopsis

Doppelbanger; A person who bangs someone solely because they look similar to another person they want to bang.

At thirty-five, Gina Bourque is still playing the field. If he’s single, in his early twenties with dark hair and brooding eyes, there’s a damn good chance you’ll find him in her little black book.

Jeffrey Ryan never imagined that at nearly forty he’d find himself widowed and a single dad. But here he is—stumbling through this thing called life with two impressionable daughters watching his every move.

When Gina and Jeffrey meet while cruising the Caribbean, sparks fly and not in a good way. He’s too old. Too blond. Too stiff. Yet she’s still drawn to him like a moth to a flame. She’s too vulgar. Too sassy. Too wild. But she ignites something inside of him he can’t ignore.

We all know what happens when you play with fire. . . someone’s bound to get burned.

Review

I quite enjoyed DOPPELBANGER, which is the second book from Heather M. Orgeron that I’ve read.

“You burst into our lives like a bomb, when our world needed nothing more than to be shaken up.”

I liked Gina, who has a heart of gold but a mouth that gets her in a lot of trouble. I loved, loved, loved all the kids. Gina’s nephews⏤Landon, Lake and Kyle⏤were a handful and hilarious. Jeffrey’s daughters⏤Evangeline and Willow⏤were feisty and adorable. I loved the scene were Gina and Jeffrey meet, which was awkward and hilarious at the same time.

Unfortunately, Jeffrey wasn’t as likable. Some of the things he said to Gina were so hurtful and some were downright unforgivable. It was so disappointing to see a man—who loves his daughters and loved his wife—treat women so badly. That being said, he was a wonderful father to his two girls, and he did redeem himself in the end, but I still spent most of the book wishing I could kick him in the balls.

DOPPELBANGER is told in dual POVs and, while it has a connection to BOOMERANGERS, you don’t need to read that book to enjoy this one. DOPPELBANGER was very funny, but as with the previous book, some of the humor did feel forced. DOPPELBANGER comes with not one, but two epilogues, both of which were lovely and sweet and perfect ways to end the book. But the extended epilogue—set twelve years in the future—was my favorite one for sure.

Doppelbanger

My Rating:  

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Devoted to Pleasure (A Devoted Lovers Novel)

By Shayla Black

Synopsis

BOUND BY DUTY…

Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty–no matter the cost. Now he’s taking one last high-octane assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.

…TEMPTED BY PLEASURE

As the star of a steamy television drama, Shealyn West knows fame well, but it has come at the expense of her heart. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security and keep her safe, never imagining their attraction will be too powerful to contain.

As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.

Review

In this first full length cross-over book between the Wicked Lovers series and the Devoted Lovers Series we find Cutter having to decide between his heart and his loyalty to his best friend.

This book captures everything that made the Wicked Lovers series so good.  It picks up at the end of Holding on Tighter.  Cutter and One-Mile definitely hate each other.

Cutter is a great guy who believes in loyalty.  He is even willing to sacrifice is own heart to save his friend from small town ridicule and her fathers wrath. When he starts to fall for the woman he is protecting he has to make serious decisions.

Shealyn is also just a good person but she has been caught in a complicated situation with no easy way out. People are depending on her for the show and their personal lives.

I loved Devoted to Pleasure.  It has great characters that just build on each other.  It was fast paced and over too soon.  I really liked the internal struggle that Cutter was having between what to do with his best friend and Shealyn.  And I really liked the mystery in this story. I can’t wait for the next addition to this series to come out.

Devoted to Pleasure

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon

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My Angel (Bewitched and Bewildered # 9)

By Alanea Alder

Synopsis

Vivian Mercy has been running from the past for so long she doesn’t know any other way of life. When a panicked call comes from one of her only friends she finds herself returning to the city of her nightmares where her dedication as a doctor and resolve to help others is put to the test.

Etain Vi’Aerlin has been watching over Noctem Falls for centuries. Sent by his queen he became a silent sentinel in the shadows helping Magnus whenever he could. While the sickness around him claims more lives he discovers what it feels like to be helpless, as an ancient warrior he doesn’t have the skills to fight this unseen enemy.

At any other time finding a mate would be cause for celebration, but Etain wants Vivian as far from Noctem Falls as possible, unfortunately, as the only doctor with an intimate knowledge of diseases she has to stay in the city, and finds herself working tirelessly to discover a cure in the middle of the deadly chaos sweeping the levels.

As Vivian’s past is revealed she finds herself not only combating the terrible virus but also the rebellious faction of the Founding Families. Etain vows to stand by her, even if it means abandoning the post assigned by his queen.

It’s a race against time to unravel the lethal secrets the virus is hiding before the city itself is lost forever.

Review

MY ANGEL is the ninth book in the Bewitched and Bewildered series and was another very enjoyable read. The story continues on from MY DEFENDER and follows the mating of Etain (fae) and Vivian (vampire), and we’re still in Noctem Falls.

Quite a lot happened in this book, all of which was really exciting. I apologize if the below is spoilerish, but it was all so interesting that I can’t help but write it all down.
1 – The mysterious sickness plaguing the shifter children has now started affecting adult shifters and vampires, including Prince Magnus.
2 – The group is concerned at discovering that over 50% of the Vanguard units are unaccounted for.
3 – Two Royal families previously believed to have been extinct are reinstated in front of all the Noble and Founding family heads. Those two families align with the other two Royal families, giving Prince Magnus more support against those who seek to seize power and control of Noctem Falls.
4 – In that same scene, it was demanded that Gavriel prove he was royalty. Not only did he prove it, but he also revealed that he is over ten thousand years old and is also known as the Dark Prince from their history and legends. Without a doubt, this was my favorite scene.

In regards to the two main characters of this story, there’s not much I can say about Etain because apart from being Vivian’s mate and having a close connection to the Fae Queen, there’s really nothing else to him. Vivian stands out more because she was pivotal in quite a few scenes throughout the story.

I’m still having a lot of trouble keeping track of all the characters we’ve been introduced to so far, and the number of characters increases by at least two with every new book. It’s gotten to a point where if I’m struggling to remember who a character is, I stop trying and just continue on with the story, otherwise it does my head in. This does take away some of the enjoyment from the story, but the mystery of what is going on around them keeps me coming back for more, so I’ll just have to deal with it.

MY ANGEL is told in dual POVs, with the epilogue being told in Micah’s POV as he’ll get the next book. While each book is about a different couple, the books in this series cannot be read as a stand-alone and must be read in order.

My Angel (Bewitched and Bewildered # 9)

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Alanea Alder:  Click Here

Bewitched & Bewildered Series

The Kiss Quotient

By Helen Hoang

Synopsis

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases–a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice–with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan–from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he’s making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

Review

The Kiss Quotient is a beautiful story of the journey through life. This story was a story about relationships and how complex they are.  Whether the relationships are between mother and child, siblings or even co-workers they all take work and understanding and this story expresses these relationships with sensitivity.

I love Stella’s character and how she approaches the world.  Her uniqueness draws you to her.  She has Asperger’s which makes relationships difficult for her.  Her passion is definitely numbers.  Her mind solves mysteries by the numbers but matters of the heart are harder for her to understand.  She believes in lists.  I loved the fact that she even had a list for her new teacher on how her lessons should go.

Michael is just a good person.  He has a lot that he has taken responsibility for.  This forces him to pursue a job that he isn’t so proud of.  He meets Stella and knows there is just something special about her which makes him break all his rules.

I think this story is so special. I love Michael’s family and how they are like a real family.  They get mad at each other but they are always family.  I love Stella’s honesty.  Her character had so many levels to her. She doesn’t realize how she affects the world around her. Stella and Michael work so well together.  They make each other better and you can’t ask for more than that.

The Kiss Quotient

My Rating: 

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My Defender (Bewitched and Bewildered # 8)

By Alanea Alder

Synopsis

When a mysterious illness begins to sweep through Noctem Falls affecting the children, Eleanor Kimball is called to the city to see if she can determine what is wrong. As a pediatrician Eleanor loves children and desires many of her own, however, after several dating disasters she has not only sworn off men, but has given up her dream of a family, and the promise of a destined mate.

After discovering Grant in Noctem Falls she is faced with her own insecurities and finds it hard to believe in his love.

Grant Douglas is a man of few words and doesn’t do well surrounded by others. He is scared to death of finding a mate. He believes the harshness of his past, where he struggled to survive, didn’t cultivate a gentle heart. After a series of terrifying nightmares where his mate is at risk, Grant has decided he doesn’t want a mate at all.

When he meets Ellie, he realizes there are some things worth fighting for. Even if it means putting himself out there by becoming the Alpha he was born to be and facing the power he desperately tries to hide.

As Ellie starts to believe in Grant’s love it will take every ounce their combined strength to discover why the shifter children are suddenly falling ill before it’s too late.

Review

MY DEFENDER is the eighth book in the Bewitched and Bewildered series and was another enjoyable read. The story continues on from MY CHAMPION and follows the mating of Grant (wolf shifter) and Ellie (elephant shifter), and we’re still in Noctem Falls.

As I’ve said in my reviews of the last couple of books, the romance and relationship side of the story is lacking, but that doesn’t really bother me anymore. Instead, I choose to focus on everything else that is going on in this paranormal world that connects these books together.

I don’t remember much about Ellie, other than she’s a really sweet, caring and loving woman. I don’t even remember Grant from the previous two books, even though he’s one of the top Unit Warriors at Noctem Falls, and I assume readers have met before. But while I might not have remembered him at the start, I don’t think I’ll be forgetting about him any time soon. From how he comforts children, to hearing about everything he went through between the ages of twenty and fifty, you can’t help but admire his strength, his compassion and his ability to adapt and survive.

MY DEFENDER is told in dual POVs, with the epilogue being told in Etain’s POV as he’ll get the next book. While each book is about a different couple, the books in this series cannot be read as a stand-alone and must be read in order.

My Defender (Bewitched and Bewildered # 8)

My Rating:  

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Bewitched & Bewildered Series

I Flipping Love You (Shacking Up # 3)

By Helena Hunting

Synopsis

Rian Sutter doesn’t usually get hit on in the grocery store, but when she notices a sexy man in a suit checking her out, she thinks maybe it’s her lucky day. Either that or the suit has a thing for sweaty, yoga-pant wearing women with excellent price matching skills.

Turns out it’s neither.

Pierce Whitfield can’t believe his luck when he’s able to track down the woman who scratched up the paint job on his car at the scene of the crime. But when he confronts the hit and run hottie, he discovers there’s not just one, but two of them, and he’s been throwing accusations at the wrong twin.

As repair costs are negotiated, and the chemistry between them flares, Rian and Pierce find out they have more than mutual attraction in common. They’re both vying for the same pieces of prime real estate in The Hamptons and neither one plans to give up without a fight.

Can these passionate rivals turn up the heat on their budding romance—without burning down the house?

Review

When a book has me laughing out loud on page three, I know I’m in for a good read…and I FLIPPING LOVE YOU did not disappoint.

My tank is still dewy, post-exertion, I have terrible under-boob sweat, and my thong is all wonky. If I were alone in this aisle, I’d for sure fix the last issue, but suit guy is here so I must leave the thong where it is for now, wedged uncomfortably between my vagina lips.

I LOVED PIERCE. Absolutely loved him. I loved his confidence and his sense of humor, and he’s probably the best book boyfriend I’ve read in a while. I liked Rian too, but Pierce was definitely the standout character in my opinion. My favorite scene was right at the beginning, where Pierce and Rian first meet in the grocery store, because it was fiery, feisty, exciting and a whole lot of fun. Coming a close second were all the scenes where Pierce was flirting with Rian and trying to win her over with his charm. Oh, and the epilogue. The epilogue was really good too.

“You think it’s sexy that I can do math in my head?”
“Yes. You’re gorgeous, outspoken, and intelligent. It’s a hard-on-inducing trifecta.”

There were a couple of minor things that bothered me throughout the story, like a few repetitive thoughts and scenes, and time jumps that were not identified by breaks within the chapters, which affected the flow of the story at times. But as I said, these were minor and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story.

I FLIPPING LOVE YOU is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series—and characters from the previous book do make an appearance or two—it can be read as a stand-alone as it comes with a HEA for Pierce and Rian.

I Flipping Love You (Shacking Up # 3)

My Rating:  

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The Shacking Up Series

Capture (Seaside Pictures #1)

By Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis

Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair.
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.

Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn’t change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it’s her fault.

It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He’s gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn’t stop her from wondering…if things were different…would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?

Review

Capture was a story that drew me in from the first few pages.  Dani was a character that intrigued me and made me fall in love with her.  I devoured this in a few days.  To watch her grow and heal with the love and support of a beautiful male character was just what my soul needed.

I have not read the Seaside series and you do not need to in order to fully enjoy their romantic story.  You are introduced to many characters but they all have their place in watching Dani return to her family with the help of Lincoln.  A favourite character for me was Demetri and also Zane who provide great humour.

Dani’s story is sad but you can easily understand her way of dealing with her trauma, she lives within herself.  She wants to join the world and communicate and it was wonderful watching her draw strength from Lincoln and return.

Their age gap and physical connection between the two were well written.  I loved the moments of fragility between them and also the constant sexual tension that surrounds them.

The relationship between Dani and her sister was just beautiful and also her brother-in-law whose story is told in the Seaside series.  Capture has made me want to go back and read their love story.

Capture (Seaside Pictures #1)

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon

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My Champion (Bewitched and Bewildered # 7)

By Alanea Alder

Synopsis

Declan Lionhart has been running interference between the Founding Families and the citizens of Noctem Falls since the day he arrived in the city. His hopes of being a simple unit warrior crumbles in the face of their troubles and it looks like he will always be bound by his family’s political legacy. But with current tensions skyrocketing to unimaginable levels, Declan’s laid back persona and easy smile are needed now more than ever.

Kari Delaney has finally achieved everything she’s ever wanted. The business she created from scratch is booming and she has her dream custom built condo in the heart of the small town where she was raised. But all that changes the day she gets her evacuation notice.

Despite being a vampire, Kari hates Noctem Falls and the politics that permeates every aspect of life within the city. Under protest she and her younger brother leave for the City of the Night.

Declan is smitten with his little general and the strength she exudes. But when it’s just the two of them he begins to break down her carefully constructed walls and shows her that even though he’s easy going, he is still an Alpha, and his lion is demanding her heart.

When the entire city erupts into chaos with matings being dissolved and Founding Families making alliances, Declan realizes it will take every trick he learned at his father’s knee to maneuver through the murky political waters swirling around them. Both he and his mate race against time to keep the people of the city safe, despite homesick children, disastrous dinners, Meryn’s wacky revenge plans and an unexpected pairing.

Review

MY CHAMPION is the seventh book in the Bewitched and Bewildered series and was another enjoyable read. The story continues on from MY GUARDIAN and follows the mating of Declan (lion shifter) and Kari (vampire), and we’re still in Noctem Falls. With twenty books planned for this series, I assume that each of the four pillar cities will get five books apiece, and that only the highest ranking Unit Warriors for each city will have stories written about them.

I’ll be honest, I don’t remember much about Declan at all. Kari was a bit more memorable with her take-charge-and-get-things-done personality, but I can’t say much else about her either. Why? Because unlike the first five books in this series, the couple and their relationship hasn’t been the main focus of the story for books six and seven. Instead, the focus has shifted to Meryn and trying to figure out what’s going on in the paranormal world. While I’m very interested in the conspiracies that have been going on for centuries, I’m disappointed that it’s at the expense of the romance side of things.

On top of the lack of romance, there are a few other minor issues. I agree with what others have said about Meryn becoming more childish as the series progresses. I’m hoping we’ll see the old Meryn again in future books, especially when she seems to be connected to everything that’s going on. Quite a few conversations felt disjointed and hard to follow, with topics changing at random before turning back around to a previous topic. Finally, with so many new characters being introduced, they’re all starting to blur together. I found myself having to stop quite a few times and saying to myself “Who is this person again?”.

If you’re still reading this review, you might be wondering why I’ve given MY CHAMPION 5❤ when it sounds like I didn’t enjoy the book. Well, it’s because despite what I’ve said above, I did enjoy it. There were scenes that had me laughing out loud and the story arc has me chomping at the bit for the next book.

MY CHAMPION is told in dual POVs, with the epilogue being told in Grant’s POV as he’ll get the next book. While each book is about a different couple, the books in this series cannot be read as a stand-alone and must be read in order.

My Champion (Bewitched and Bewildered # 7)

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Alanea Alder:  Click Here

Bewitched & Bewildered Series

Hothead (Irresistible # 4)

By Stella Rhys

Synopsis

He’s the hottest player in Major League Baseball, the most notorious playboy in all of Manhattan…
And my fake fiancé for the next three months.

I was drunk-dialing my ex the night I met him.

Six-three, sexy as sin and so incredibly rude I could smack the asshole smirk right off his face. Long story short, we got off to a bad start. But when the tabloids interpret our sparring as Drew Maddox “groveling” with a “mystery brunette,” his agent presents us both a proposal:

Shacking up as a couple this summer.

It’s an alleged “win-win.” I need to prove to my ex that I’m fine. Drew needs to prove to his team that he’s stable. Thanks to his on-field brawling and never-ending lady drama, Drew Maddox has suddenly found himself on the trade block – which means he needs a fast, easy way to show the team that he’s settled down.

Hence this fiance thing.

Our fights are real, our kisses are fake, and thanks to the nonstop heat between us, I’m starting to mix up all my signs. But whether it’s real or fake, there’s one thing I do know:

I’m already addicted.

Review

HOTHEAD is the first book I’ve read from Stella Rhys and, given how much I enjoyed it, it probably won’t be my last. The story was engaging and kept me turning the pages from beginning to end.

I really liked Evie. She was sweet and had a kind heart, but she could also dish out some attitude when the situation called for it. She was definitely too good for Mike, her douchebag of an ex-fiance. The only time she disappointed me was in one scene when she didn’t fight like I thought she should have. She just walked away from those who had hurt her and I felt like that didn’t give her the closure she needed and deserved.

I liked Drew as well, who was very blunt and honest about his opinions. I found it refreshing, even though it was sometimes hard for Evie to hear. He spent quite a bit of this book being an asshole, but when you learn how he’s been hurt and betrayed over the years, it’s no wonder he’s an asshole. 

HOTHEAD is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Drew and Evie. It could use some proofreading, as there were quite a few instances where a sentence was missing a word. While it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Though I will say that while reading, I did wish I’d known the histories of the other couples brought up in this book. HOTHEAD is book 4 in the Irresistible series, so maybe I’ll go back to the start to get better acquainted with everyone.

Hothead (Irresistible # 4)

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon

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Irresistible Series

Justify Me

By J. Kenner

Synopsis

McKay-Taggart operative Riley Blade has no intention of returning to Los Angeles after his brief stint as a consultant on mega-star Lyle Tarpin’s latest action flick. Not even for Natasha Black, Tarpin’s sexy personal assistant who’d gotten under his skin. Why would he, when Tasha made it absolutely clear that—attraction or not—she wasn’t interested in a fling, much less a relationship.

But when Riley learns that someone is stalking her, he races to her side. Determined to not only protect her, but to convince her that—no matter what has hurt her in the past—he’s not only going to fight for her, he’s going to win her heart. Forever.

Review

J. Kenner really made me fall for Riley in Justify Me.  He is a fun character to get to know.

This was a HOT read.  As soon as Riley found out that Natasha was in trouble he went right to her no matter how much she feels like she doesn’t need a bodyguard.  Natasha is perfect for Riley.  They had amazing chemistry.  Plus it had all the elements that stayed true to the Masters and Mercenaries series.  I haven’t read the Stark International series yet but I’m sure that it also stayed true to that series as well.

This story was so much fun to read.  The only thing that I would say about it would be that it was too short. I felt like I didn’t have enough time with the characters.

Justify me

My Rating:  

Buy Links:  Amazon

Visit Author:  J. Kenner